Minister Courtney Houssos slams delay to remove flammable cladding from NSW apartment buildings

·

The state government remains under fire to act on promises to remove flammable cladding from some 239 high-risk apartment towers. 

Courtney Houssos, Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, says NSW is lagging behind Victoria to remove the cladding.

“At this rate, Victoria will have removed cladding from half of its buildings before NSW even begins,” she says.
 
NSW Labor says the Victorian government has helped 40 apartment buildings remove flammable cladding.
 
The NSW government’s two-year project to remove the cladding, originally scheduled to commence this year, has been put on hold until next year. 

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, whose office is overseeing Project Remediate, says the project was expected to begin as soon as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. 

“We estimate the project is between four and six weeks behind schedule. But we are on track to begin assessment and triage works in the coming months, and remediation works will commence straight after the traditional summer break in the trades industries,” he’s quoted in Sydney Morning Herald.

“COVID-19 has impacted the construction industry and how we can operate through lockdown.”

Houssos says a “badly designed building is not going to be fixed by a badly designed Government program”. 

She says concerned residents are consequently taking matters into their own hands.
 
“The NSW Government’s answer to dodgy developers is to allow defects to be repaired by unlicensed and unregulated contractors,” she says.
 
“The reputable tradies want to get the unlicensed cowboys out of the industry, which is in everyone’s interest.”

The project comes almost seven years after a fire in Melbourne’s Lacrosse apartment tower revealed the dangers of flammable cladding.

The Grenfell Tower blaze in London in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people, further weighted concerns worldwide.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Irene Pnevmatikos resigns from South Australia’s Legislative Council

Irene Pnevmatikos MLC has informed the SA Premier of her intention to resign from the Legislative Council due to ongoing health issues.

George Lekakis AO to lead Victoria’s Multicultural Review

The Victorian Multicultural Review will be led by the respected George Lekakis AO. More information about the view available here.

The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point closed due to COVID case

The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point has closed this afternoon and is being investigated over a potential COVID-19 case.