Gosford scaffolding collapse: Investigation still going seven months later

When tonnes of scaffolding collapsed in Gosford’s CBD crushing eight cars and hospitalising a woman it made national headlines. But where is the SafeWork NSW investigation up to?

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Seven months after tonnes of scaffolding collapsed in the heart of Gosford, crushing eight cars and almost killing a female pedestrian, there are still no answers.

A SafeWork NSW spokesman said the investigation was continuing and could go for up to two years.

“The SafeWork NSW investigation into the scaffolding collapse at Gosford is ongoing. No further comment is available at this stage,” he said.

Scaffolding accident on Mann St in Gosford has seen eight cars and one ute crushed. Picture: Fiona Killman

It was the same response on the afternoon of August 19 last year when a wall of scaffolding several metres high collapsed at 3.20pm.

Incredibly a woman aged in her 40s or 50s was the only person injured after she was hit on the head by a steal pole.

She was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.

The construction site on the corner of Mann and Donnison streets at Gosford where scaffolding collapsed on cars on August 19, 2020.

But several other motorists were very lucky not to be hit when the falling metal took out a street light, which collapsed on a white ute narrowly missing the driver.

A witness working in an office across the road said construction workers had started to take the scaffolding down that morning.

“There were signs up saying the footpath was closed on the construction side of the road so thankfully no one was walking there,” she said.

However she said when the scaffolding was erected prior to the demolition works in early July the parking on the western side of Mann St — where all the cars were damaged — was blocked off.

Scaffolding accident on Mann St in Gosford has seen eight cars and one ute crushed. Picture: Richard Noone

“When they did put up the scaffolding they blocked the parking but not when they were taking it down, which I found strange,” she said.

Meanwhile the Bureau of Meteorology reported a wind gust at Gosford of 59km/h just moments before the scaffolding came crashing down.

Three NSW Fire & Rescue trucks, police and an ambulance were at the scene.

The building site was where the old Union Hotel was being demolished to make way for the multi-tower $400 million Archibald development.

Under the Work Health and Safety legislation, SafeWork NSW has two years from the date of an incident to make an enforcement decision

The construction site on the corner of Mann and Donnison streets at Gosford where scaffolding collapsed on cars on August 19, 2020.

EARLIER:

Probe starts into shock scaffolding collapse

By Fiona Killman, August 20,2020

Investigations into the shocking scaffolding collapse that wiped out eight cars in Mann St Gosford continued on Thursday.

The scene had been cleared on Thursday morning, with police tape sealing off the section of the construction site where the scaffolding collapsed during high winds around 3.20pm on Wednesday.

The scaffolding crushed eight cars, with the impact of the collapse also resulting in a street light falling on a white ute as it drove down Mann St.

Luckily the pole fell on the ute tray, however a lady was taken to hospital with a head laceration from the fall.

Police have taped off the section where the scaffolding collapsed. Picture: Fiona Killman

Witness Natalie Smith, who returned to the scene today, told the Express about the moments before the collapse. Ms Smith was heading into Chemist Warehouse, directly across the road from the construction site, as strong wind gusts soared down the main road.

“You could hear the scaffolding rattling in the wind,” she said.

“Then all of a sudden it went and there was a huge bang.”

She said the driver of the white ute immediately got out when the light pole hit the tray and just looked shocked.

The site of the scaffolding collapse in Mann st Gosford on August 19 2020, as investigations begin. Picture: Fiona Killman

The driver of this white ute was lucky to escape unharmed with a street light pole falling onto the ute as it drove down Mann St. Picture: Fiona Killman

“Everyone was shocked, it was just crazy … very lucky no one was killed.”

SafeWork is investigating the collapse and have been contacted for comment on initial findings. Construction company Civil 1 has also been contacted however has declined to comment at this stage,

The Bureau of Meteorology reported a wind gust at Gosford of 59km/h just moments before the scaffolding came crashing down.

The building site is where the old Union Hotel was being demolished to make way for the multi-tower $400 million Archibald development.