A house left vacant at Baw Baw Shire’s pound at Longwarry North for more than four years since council bought the property in 2016 has gone under the wreckers’ hammer.

The brick veneer premises, used as their residence by the former owners that ran the Utopia Pet Lodge on the site, had not been used since council’s purchase of the two-hectare property and business.

Demolition of the house was completed earlier this month.

Council’s chief executive officer Mark Dupe has hosed down any fears that asbestos dust may have escaped during the demolition.

Responding to the Gazette after it received concerns about possible asbestos escape, Mr Dupe said the demolition was done by “professionals licenced to undertake the work in accordance with a demolition permit”.

“Any asbestos materials that were in the building were removed by a licenced removalist before the demolition in line with relevant legislation to ensure that there was no risk to staff, neighbours or the public”.

Mr Dupe added the demolition work was part of a masterplan for the site that was endorsed by council in July 2020.

When adopting the masterplan, council allocated $50,000 for the demolition.

It said the house valued at $96,000 would require $90,000 spent on it to become habitable.

Council paid $1.2 million for the property of about two hectares and pet lodge business in 2016 and has since spent additional funds upgrading the facility.