Incomplete casino out of bound, court says

 THE National Court has ruled that the incomplete Casino Hotel in Port Moresby should not be demolished.

Justice David Cannings also ordered the National Capital District Commission to take the necessary steps to ensure public safety in the vicinity of building.

Cannings said the NCDC should where  necessary restrict the access of people to the building. The matter returns to Court on Feb 16. 

The NCDC had told the Court on Tuesday that the building was a risk to the people and it could collapse if an earthquake occurred.

Cannings said he was not satisfied that the building needed to be demolished. Cannings said CMSS (PNG) Limited, which built it, had a legitimate commercial interest in it.

The court handed down a ruling on December 31 last year restraining NCDC and the building board from issuing notices to demolish the partly-completed hotel building. 

NCDC told the Court that the order should be varied or set aside as the building was a threat to public safety.