Minister admits cladding removal under way on MCG grandstand
In the latest twist to Melbourne’s dodgy cladding saga, government minister Jaclyn Symes has revealed “small amounts” of cladding have been found at the MCG and authorities are working to remove it.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dodgy cladding has been identified at the MCG and stadium authorities are working on its removal.
In the latest twist to the cladding saga facing Melbourne, government minister Jaclyn Symes told parliament on Tuesday night that “small amounts” of cladding had been found on the northern grandstand at the ground.
“They’re not deemed risky, they’re not deemed dangerous,” she said.
As the cricket season begins, Ms Symes said the city’s stadiums including the MCG were “all responsibly embarking on long-term rectifications”.
“I assume that this is something they are looking at as a responsible entity for this venue,” she said.
Flammable cladding has previously been identified on AAMI Park and Geelong’s GHMBA Stadium, and the Sunday Herald Sun revealed last month that urgent works had also been undertaken because of cladding found at Marvel Stadium.
Sports Minister Martin Pakula said there was no risk to fans and the issue was being fixed.
“My understanding is the assessment that has been made is; that it is safe and there is no risk at all to patrons,” he said.
“The fact is the City of Melbourne as part of their inspections identified a small amount of cladding in the northern stand a couple of months ago.
“There is rectification discussions going on between the City of Melbourne and the MCG.
“The Victorian Building Authority has been very clear that this building is safe to occupy and there is no risk at all to patrons.”
The northern MCG grandstands were demolished and redeveloped from 2002 to 2006, in time for the Commonwealth Games.
Ms Symes said the ground had been assessed on numerous occasions and was not part of the government’s rectification program.
Questioned by Opposition Upper House leader David Davis, Ms Symes said the MCG cladding posed no risk to fans.
“There’s cladding everywhere. Just because there’s cladding doesn’t mean it is a high risk to public safety, it doesn’t mean that it is a high fire risk,” she said.
“The advice I have is that Kardinia Park, as does the MCG and as does Marvel Stadium, has an ongoing rectification process due to the age of their buildings and the materials they contain.”
A Melbourne Cricket Club spokeswoman said this morning that the ground had its cladding systems reviewed in 2017 and was “advised it was compliant with the Building Code of Australia”.
“The MCC is working closely with the relevant Victorian Government authorities and has 24/7 security, smoking bans, sprinklers, fire safety plans and various access and exit points,” she said.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to safety at the MCG, we have engaged an independent cladding specialist who is completing a survey on the cladding system in the Northern Stand.
“We are waiting to receive the final survey results.”
MORE NEWS
GREYHOUND TRAINERS SUSPENDED AMID NEW PROBE
SCHOOLGIRLS HURT IN FREAK TREE BRANCH FALL
WHAT PELL’S HIGH COURT RULING COULD MEAN
Opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith called on the government to “come clean” about the MCG cladding, saying they had not been forthcoming about issues at other stadiums.
“I have no faith in what they told parliament tonight about the cladding problem at the MCG,” he said.
“How much will this cladding cost to rectify and honestly how dangerous is it?”
The problem was revealed during a debate in the Legislative Council about the government’s $600 million rectification plan for high-risk residential buildings.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the Opposition’s comments were “needless scaremongering”.
“There is no question that this iconic building is safe to occupy,” he said.
“The Opposition leader really needs to call in his shadow planning minister because it is so inappropriate for him to be naming buildings like this as being unsafe.
“Melbourne City Council is a responsible building surveyor for this for this stadium and they will continue to work to ensure that they get on top of any rectification issues that may be required.
“I can indicate also that there is only a minimal amount of cladding on the building in the northern grandstand.”