Combustible cladding still covers Victorian school buildings despite safety fears

Sixteen Victorian school buildings are still covered in dangerous flammable cladding more than a year after the fire risk was first identified.

Dangerous cladding on Victorian school buildings is yet to be removed despite being identified more than a year ago.

Combustible cladding on 16 buildings in 13 government schools across the state will now be removed into next year, despite initial estimates of completion by last month.

The material was found on buildings in 12 metropolitan schools and one campus in Wodonga as part of an audit completed in July 2018.

That audit came after a blaze at a Docklands apartment building in November 2014, sparked after a cigarette butt was left to burn in a container on the balcony.

While removal works at the school sites had initially been planned over five months to September, none of the buildings have yet been stripped of the flammable material.

Damage caused by the fire at the Lacrosse apartments in Docklands. Picture: Aaron Francis

The blaze in the Docklands Lacrosse tower engulfed 13 stories in 15 minutes. Picture: ABC

The schools have not been publicly named due to fears of arson risk.

Revised removal times will now see works completed on 10 buildings by the end of this month, a further two buildings by the end of December and the final four buildings by the end of March next year.

A Department of Education spokesman said it had agreed to some schools’ requests to delay works where independent auditors decided it was safe for students and staff.

“Some schools have requested an alteration in time frames to not disrupt scheduled exams, planned school activities, or the needs of local sporting clubs and community groups who use the facilities out of school hours,” he said.

“There is nothing more important than keeping students and staff safe.

“The Department is working closely with schools to address non-compliant cladding in medium and high-rise buildings in the state.”

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The Herald Sun understands that security was hired to watch over some buildings identified as having dangerous cladding in the audit to ensure they weren’t set alight.

The Victorian Cladding Taskforce identified 1369 buildings across the state with the combustible material.

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Originally published as Combustible cladding still covers Victorian school buildings despite safety fears