5 Dene Street before the unauthorised demolition works.

AN UNAUTHORISED demolition of a heritage-protected Mount Lawley house has seen the son of a former Stirling mayor fined $8,000.

The Building Services Board issued a $4,000 fine to building company Riviera Homes and another $4,000 fine to company owner John Philip Italiano, son of former mayor Giovanni Italiano.

Number 5 Dene Street sits in Stirling council’s heritage protection area, and Mr Italiano had approvals to undertake some limited renovations that were supposed to comply with the rules around maintaining heritage character.

But Stirling council issued a disciplinary complaint with the state building department after discovering the works had gone far beyond what was allowed.

A release from the Building Services Board states the home was “mostly demolished despite requirements to keep key parts.

Slab left

“The approval required sections of the original house to be retained, including the roof structure, front facade, a verandah and particular walls. 

“However, site inspections and other evidence later revealed most of the original building was demolished, with only the slab and part of the front facade kept,” the board said.

The BSB says other unapproved works on the site included a below-ground swimming pool, a loft, changes to the roof, walls, windows and stairwells, and new areas added to the floor plan without approval.

The fines were issued over the company and Mr Italiano’s conduct breaching WA’s builder registration laws. The BSB says Stirling council’s still “in discussions” with Mr Italiano as to whether all the unauthorised works will be approved retrospectively. 

Building and Energy Department executive director Saj Abdoolakhan said a builder