Old Maitland Mercury building revamp at risk because of state government constraints

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A developer who wants to revamp one of Maitland’s iconic buildings says rigid state government rules are a deal breaker.

Inside the building.

George Prochowski (at left in image) owns the old Maitland Mercury building on High Street. But his plans to turn the city’s old newspaper headquarters into a restaurant and accommodation at the front and residential apartments at the back have hit a snag that could leave the building unoccupied.
Mr Prochowski wants the residential units to consist of a lounge room and kitchen downstairs and bedrooms on the second floor. However, state government conditions prevent habitable space on the ground floor, because it is below the flood level.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 13, 2016.