More than 50 buildings in Stonnington inspected for dangerous flammable wall cladding

DANGEROUS flammable wall cladding in Melbourne’s inner east is under review, with a council audit finding that 22 out of 55 buildings needed work – raising fears of a Grenfell Tower-style disaster.

AN AUDIT of buildings clad in potentially dangerous flammable material has led to fears that a Grenfell Tower-style disaster could happen in Stonnington.

The council and the Victorian Building Authority looked at 55 buildings — and issued notices to the owners of 22 of them.

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Council officers wrote that the process was ongoing and could take a year, but they flagged the council’s ability to assist in the future would need to be “reassessed” if the VBA stopped reimbursing them $1295 for each inspection.

Earlier this year, the State Government proposed a financial contribution for councils who assisted in the audit process between March and June.

But council officers said the money only partly offset the cost of participating in the audit.

Councillor Matthew Koce told colleagues at last Monday night’s council meeting (September 17) flammable cladding was a “big issue” and it was the State Government and the VBA’s responsibility to resolve it.

A fire caused by a discarded cigarette butt caused significant damage to the Lacrosse building in Docklands in the early hours of November 2014.

“At the end of the day, the council is not responsible for issuing building permits,” Cr Koce said.

“This is an example of regulatory failure across Victoria.

“This is an issue that needs to be dealt with. It’s really a ticking time bomb.”

Cr Sally Davis said it was “appalling” the VBA seemed to be “handballing” the matter to councils.

A Victorian Cladding Taskforce was established in June last year to investigate the use of external wall cladding after a fire ripped through the 23-storey Lacrosse building in Docklands in late 2014.

Last year, 72 people died

in London after a devastating blaze caused by a small kitchen fire tore through the 24-storey Grenfell Tower.

Combustible exterior wall cladding played a part in the severity of both fires.

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