Hills Shire Council investigates fire safety order at Quest apartment and medical, office building

Almost 20 fire safety issues were identified at a Sydney hotel and a commercial hub, including issues with hydrants, signage, and fire exits. See the full list of concerns.

A Quest Hotel and mixed use commercial building will have to address a series of Fire Safety Orders after Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) uncovered a spate of issues.

FRNSW handed The Hills Shire Council a report with a laundry list of defects found at each of the Bella Vista sites after inspections on August 14, 2023, including issues with hydrants, signage and gauges, and stairways.

Neither site had a copy of their respective annual fire safety statements (AFSS), either.

Quest serviced apartments at 24 Norbrik Dr, Bella Vista. Picture: Supplied/Quest

The Quest Hotel at 24 Norbrik Dr, Bella Vista lacked gauges and signage to its hydrant booster and had “maintenance issues” with its hydrant pump.

FRNSW also found “household items and building materials being stored within a fire isolated stairway”.

Meanwhile, the multipurpose commercial space at 29-31 Lexington Dr, Bella Vista had an even longer list of defects – 14 to the Quest’s five – including “disengaged” fire hose reels, a fire indicator panel “displaying disablements”, building materials stored in fire exits, signage faults, and a cupboard for a hose reel and protective equipment “was found to contain non-firefighting equipment”.

Fourteen fire safety issues were identified at the mixed-use commercial space at 29-31 Lexington Dr, Bella Vista.

One exit stairway lacked “required signage”, had a “build-up of moisture” and its doorway opened to a space containing “a step over 190mm”.

FRNSW’s inspection report was issued to The Hills Shire Council on December 22, recommending council staff conduct their own inspections.

By the time council’s fire safety coordinator inspected the premises, “a number of matters … [had] been rectified” at the buildings.

Both of the buildings’ owners or managers have been advised of the outstanding issues and “agreed to rectify the matters raised on a voluntary basis”, according to council documents.

Council advised the FRNSW Commissioner it would not issue a fire safety order of their own with either premises “as the matters raised are being addressed appropriately”.