Melbourne builder’s cladding pledge after 2014 Docklands tower fire

THE builder of a Docklands high rise that went up in flames has promised to replace combustible cladding which helped spread the 2014 blaze. But the City of Melbourne is warning the new materials must meet safety standards.

THE builder of a Docklands tower has promised to replace combustible cladding that helped spread a 2014 fire.

LU Simon Builders is involved in a protracted legal dispute with unit owners over the damage bill to the Lacrosse building in La Trobe St.

More than 400 people were evacuated from the tower after a fire caused by a discarded cigarette started on a balcony.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade later said it was lucky that no one was killed or injured.

Melbourne City Council has ordered the Chinese cladding to be replaced amid estimates it could cost up to $16 million, or up to $40,000 per apartment.

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Docklands Lacrosse building that suffered extensive damage after fire whipped up the building cladded with flammable material. Picture: Nicole Garmston

In a surprise move, LU Simon has announced it will replace the Lacrosse cladding as a gesture of good faith.

“(This is) so that the owners and residents are not inconvenienced any further by the lengthy legal process which is underway at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal that will decide how the costs are to be divided up between the various parties,” said a statement by the builder.

“As part of the VCAT action LU Simon will in turn seek to recover the cost of the replacement works.”

The Docklands Lacrosse building suffered extensive damage after fire whipped up the building. Picture: Nicole Garmston

It further said that the firm’s director Jim Moschoyiannis was “confident that arrangements with the Owners’ Corporation, the owners and the Municipal Building Surveyor, should be finalised shortly allowing for a start early in 2018 and completion by the middle of the year”.

The Lacrosse fire sparked an initial audit of inner city towers by the Victorian Building Authority which found that half of those surveyed did not comply with safety regulations involving external cladding.

The state government appointed a cladding taskforce in July, which has requested ­audits of other buildings from Port Phillip, Moreland, Greater Dandenong, Whittlesea and Monash councils.

City of Melbourne Municipal Building Surveyor Steven Baxas said the council welcomed welcome LU Simon’s decision to replace the cladding.

“They should be commended for stepping up and taking this action,” he said.

“We are yet to see the details of the proposed new materials but the replacement materials must meet all necessary building and safety standards and be to my satisfaction as the Municipal Building Surveyor,” he said.

“We hope that other builders with buildings also requiring cladding rectification works follow L U Simon’s example.

“Ideally they will also step up and work with building owners to ensure rectification works happen as soon as possible.”

The council, supported by the Building Appeals Board, required all works to be done by July 31, 2018.

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@JMasanauskas