The National Capital Authority (NCA) has cleared the way for part of Bruce Hall to be knocked down, much to the dismay of alumni groups trying to save their former college.
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The accommodation wings of the Australian National University residential hall are set to go, despite an overwhelming number of submissions to the NCA opposing the works.
In emails obtained by Fairfax Media, chief planner Andrew Smith told opponents of the demolition the NCA approved the works as knocking down the accommodation wings was not a controlled action under the EPBC Act, the Department of Environment and Energy had found.
This was despite 127 of the 129 submissions the NCA received objecting to the demolition.
Bec Duncan, president of the Bruce Hall Alumni Association said the group was considering taking legal action to stop the wrecking ball moving in.
"The Bruce Hall Alumni Association still strongly oppose demolition as there are very clear architectural and cultural heritage values that cannot be moved to a new building," Ms Duncan said.
"We have requested a reconsideration of the Department of Environment's referral decision under the EPBC Act. We have also asked the Minister to emergency list Bruce Hall on the Commonwealth Heritage Register as a matter of urgency. Despite all efforts to avoid it, we may need to commence urgent legal action to stop demolition proceeding."
The towers would house more than 800 students and pay "homage" to the old residential blocks, ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt said at the time.
Thee early works approval will cover the demolition of the Bruce Hall accommodation wings and ancillary buildings, works associated with the removal of hazardous materials, in-ground remediation works and the removal of trees.
However a spokesman for the ANU said the approval did not include the dining hall, the fate of which is still being decided by the NCA.
As such, a timeline for the demolition was not available.
In their submissions, opponents rejected the project on the grounds of the heritage and history of the building, the sustainability of the Bruce Hall community if the student accommodation is demolished, lack of consultation from the ANU and the design of the new accommodation.
The referral of the hall's fate to the Department of Environment and Energy under the EPBC Act was seen last year as a last ditch effort to save the half-century-old college.
It came at the advice of the NCA in response to community concerns that the heritage values of the ageing hall were being overlooked, especially after the ACT Heritage Council decided not to add the university residence to the ACT heritage list.
However the ANU spokesman said the uni said set up a special heritage committee to "identify, collect and store significant artefacts, artwork, documents, furnishings, furniture and objects relating to the unique culture and history of Bruce Hall".
"ANU is ensuring the unique Bruce Hall culture, heritage and legacy is preserved and that the Bruce Hall remains a dynamic community of students," he said.
