Page 1 of 7 Our network Subscribe Log In MENU SUBSCRIBE 0 POLITICS VICTORIA VICTORIA POLICE Council accused of delaying 'urgent' fire-safety work By Noel Towell 25 February 2018 11:58pm A A A The state government has accused an inner-melbourne council of dragging its heels on urgent fire safety work to an apartment building identified as at risk from flammable cladding. Stonnington Council failed to show up to an inspection of the apartments at 247 Williams Road in South Yarra on Friday and then refused to get moving on "urgent" fire safety upgrades, insisting they could wait until Monday, according to Planning Minister Richard Wynne. The council did not respond to Mr Wynne's criticism when contacted for comment on Sunday, but said it supported the government's efforts on the flammable cladding problem. Mr Wynne says his department has now taken over as the fire safety authority for the building, the first time it has taken that step since the flammable cladding crisis emerged, and says councils are on notice that the state government will not tolerate tardy efforts on known cladding risks. The block at Williams Road is one of more than 1400 buildings in Victoria identified as having potentially flammable cladding by a government taskforce formed in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in the UK, where scores of residents lost their lives to fire.
Page 2 of 7 An inspection team, which included a building surveyor, a fire safety engineer and an Fire Brigade officer, arrived at the Williams Road building on Friday and found serious safety concerns. The inspectors stopped short of evacuating the 18 apartments but issued emergency orders, including the installation of smoke alarms, to be carried out within 48 hours. The inspectors also wanted residents warned to stop using barbecues and heaters on their balconies, and said exits needed to be cleared and fire safety signage installed throughout the building. Planning Minister Richard Wynne. (Photo by Paul Jeffers/Fairfax Media) Photo: Paul Jeffers But Stonnington Council, which did not show up to the inspection of the building, did not see any urgency in the situation, according to Mr Wynne. The minister said the council "initially expressed strong reluctance to inspect and issue orders" and then said it "would not pursue the matter until Monday". Mr Wynne said the Victorian Building Authority had now taken over the statutory role of "municipal building surveyor" for the building in "the interests of public safety".
Page 3 of 7 "The government will always act in the interests of public safety to protect people who live and sleep in these buildings," Mr Wynne said. "We've been clear that the issue of cladding is one everyone needs to address including municipal building surveyors. "If municipal building surveyors aren't going to take the necessary steps to keep Victorians safe from the threat of fire, we'll step in and ensure the work is done ourselves, and that's exactly what we've done." City of Stonnington chief executive Warren Roberts said the council was supportive of the state government's actions, but did not respond to Mr Wynn's criticism of the local authority's performance. "Any information requested of council has been supplied to the VBA," Mr Roberts said. "Council remains supportive and will work cooperatively with the minister and the VBA. "Council will consider any findings or recommendations from the VBA." License this article VICTORIA POLICE Comments are not open on this article Noel Towell Noel Towell is State Political Editor for The Age MORNING & AFTERNOON NEWSLETTER Delivered Mon Fri. Your email address SIGN UP By signing up you accept our privacy policy and conditions of use
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