The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Interested in a Corporate TUD+ Membership? Access premium content, site tours, event discounts and networking opportunities
Interested in a Corporate Membership? Access exclusive member benefits today
Enquire NowEnquire
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Partner Lab
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
print
Print
PlanningStaff WriterMon 03 Jul 17

Victoria Forms Cladding Taskforce To Stamp Out Building Fires

grenfell_620x380

A new taskforce has been formed to investigate flammable cladding on Victoria's buildings after the State Government gave the order in response to audit results and recent building fire cases.

The taskforce — co-chaired by former Liberal premier Ted Baillieu and former Labor deputy premier John Thwaites — will audit buildings to ensure they adhere to safety standards.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has audited more than 200 city properties for the combustible material, according to the ABC, after aluminium composite cladding was found to have contributed to the spread of a huge fire at the Lacrosse building in Melbourne's Docklands in 2014.

It was a case similar to that found on the Grenfell tower in London that burnt last month.

Mr Thwaites told the ABC the State Government was concerned the building codes were not working and action was not happening fast enough.

"What I know is that Planning Minister Richard Wynne has asked this taskforce to accelerate action. He's concerned that action isn't taking place fast enough," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"The advice from various fire authorities is that there is, right around Australia, widespread non-compliance with the building code.

"There has to be a system of compliance or people aren't going to be safe."The Taskforce will oversee the continuing audit to identify where cladding has been used inappropriately and ensure buildings are rectified more quickly.

It will also make recommendations to the Government on how to improve compliance and enforcement of building regulations to better protect the health and safety of building occupants.

“This is a critical public safety issue – agencies, stakeholders and all Victorians need to work together to ensure cladding complies with our strict regulations and buildings are safe," Taskforce Co-Chair Ted Baillieu said.

Key agencies Worksafe Victoria, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the Victorian Building Authority, the Municipal Association of Victoria and Emergency Management Victoria will all be represented on the Taskforce.

A stakeholder reference group made up of organisations including building unions, the Master Builders Association of Victoria and the Housing Industry Association will also be established.

The Taskforce will meet for the first time this week.

IndustrialAustraliaPlanningArchitecturePolicyLegalPlanningPolicy
AUTHOR
Staff Writer
"TheUrbanDeveloper.com is committed to delivering the latest news, reviews, opinions and insights into the best of urban development from Australia and around the world. "
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Exclusive

Brains, Guts and Determination: How Salvo Property Shapes Melbourne’s Skyline

Marisa Wikramanayake
5 Min
Fraser and Partners founder Callum Fraser
Exclusive

Saving Our CBDs: Architect’s Blueprint Paves Way for Office-to-Resi that Works

Leon Della Bosca
8 Min
Exclusive

Watchdog’s Court Loss Throws Spotlight on Union Balancing Act

Clare Burnett
6 Min
Time and Place's The Queensbridge Building at 90 Queens Bridge Street in Melbourne's Southbank.
Exclusive

Innovation Keeps Time & Place’s Southbank Skyscraper Rising

Marisa Wikramanayake
6 Min
Breathe Architecture founder Jeremy McLeod in front of his Featherweight Home design
Exclusive

Nightingale Founder’s Bid for Affordable Architectural Kit Homes

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
View All >
Novus on Victoria Chatswood
Build-to-Rent

Novus Plots Second BtR Tower for Chatswood

Renee McKeown
West End Stockwell Vulture Street DA hero
Development

Stockwell Files Tower Plans in West End Stomping Ground

Phil Bartsch
Westmead Gene Technologies Building EDM
Life Sciences

Plans for $272m Parramatta Biomedical Facility Go Public

Clare Burnett
The proposal for the gene therapy precinct at Westmead comes as sector investment continues to ramp up…
LATEST
Novus on Victoria Chatswood
Build-to-Rent

Novus Plots Second BtR Tower for Chatswood

Renee McKeown
2 Min
West End Stockwell Vulture Street DA hero
Development

Stockwell Files Tower Plans in West End Stomping Ground

Phil Bartsch
3 Min
Westmead Gene Technologies Building EDM
Life Sciences

Plans for $272m Parramatta Biomedical Facility Go Public

Clare Burnett
3 Min
Exclusive

Brains, Guts and Determination: How Salvo Property Shapes Melbourne’s Skyline

Marisa Wikramanayake
5 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/victoria-forms-cladding-taskforce-stamp-out-building-fires