Six non-compliant Darwin multi-storey buildings still not fixed, Parliament hears

INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Eva Lawler has revealed that work still has not been completed to fix six non-compliant buildings identified across Darwin and Palmerston

Minister for infrastructure Eva Lawler said work to fix six non-compliant buildings identified across Darwin and Palmerston still has not been completed

INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Eva Lawler has revealed that work still has not been completed to fix six non-compliant buildings identified across Darwin and Palmerston.

The Department of Infrastructure, Logistics and Planning (DIPL) launched an audit in July 2017 into the alleged noncompliance of multi-storey building designs across Darwin by structural engineer John Scott from JWS Consulting.

The investigations found nine buildings were found to have transfer slabs that did not meet the National Construction Code.

In parliament on Thursday, Minister Lawler revealed that only three of the nine building rectifications have been completed.

“Two have commenced under valid building permits and four are still progressing on that work,” she said.

The Minister said she became aware of the non-compliant buildings this April, months after DIPL received a final assessment report in January 2018 that all nine building were non-compliant.

“Our focus is on absolutely moving forward and rectifying this,” she said.

“I was made aware of this issue in April this year and I have been concerned about the timelines for the investigation but I have been assured by the Department that there was considerable technical details that had to be worked through.

“One building was originally identified, there were then audits done and there were nine future buildings where the transfer slabs were identified as having issues.

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“An independent engineer and engineering company was then put in place to review that.

“They then worked through with the structural engineer that had been responsible for these buildings. They had to work out exactly what sections of the National Construction Code that weren’t adhered to.

“A building notice had to be completed, there had to be referrals to the building practitioners board.

“I have been assured that the process was worked through carefully to make sure natural justice did occur and a result could be worked through.”

Originally published as Six non-compliant Darwin multi-storey buildings still not fixed, Parliament hears