James Chang, Rockhampton Plaza Hotel, charged over fire safety breaches

James Chang has been ordered at court to pay thousands of dollars in fines related to fire safety breaches at the George Street property.

James Chang, owner of Rockhampton Plaza Hotel.

The owner of the Rockhampton Plaza Hotel has been ordered to pay more than $44,000 in fines after he was charged over fire safety breaches at his fringe-CBD building.

James Hsu-Hui Chang, the executive officer of Chang Holdings, the owner of the hotel property, first faced court over the fire safety matter on August 26, 2022 for 16 charges laid by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services for breaching the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.

Fire exit stairs at the Rockhampton Plaza Hotel.

Mr Chang was charged with failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure Chang Holdings did not breach the Act by failing to maintain at all times a prescribed fire installation in the building to a standard of safety and reliability in the event of fire, namely fire doors, penetrations through fire resistant construction, fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, exit lighting and exit signage.

He faced Rockhampton Magistrates Court again on February 16 where the matter was finalised.

He was ordered to pay $44,137.60, made up of $4004 in professional costs, offender levy $133.60 and a $40,000 fine.

The rear of the Rockhampton Plaza Hotel building from the back laneway.

Chang Holdings has owned the George Street hotel since 1996, when it was purchased for $3 million.

It was leased over the years before closing in 2014 and remaining closed until December 2022 when a new leasee, 161 on George Hotel International, took it over and attempted to revive it.

It closed again last week and has now gone into liquidation; 161 on George Hotel International is a separate business not related to Mr Chang.