❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the fire safety and structural integrity of state government-owned apartments following the Shergold Weir report. The response details compliance measures, inspection frequency, and data limitations regarding structural issues.
AnsweredQoN 5449Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 September 2019
Member
Portfolio
Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth; Asian Engagement
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the report titled "Building Confidence: Improving the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement systems for the building and construction industry across Australia" by Peter Shergold and Bronwyn Weir, released in Feburary 2018, and I ask; as at 1 July 2019: (a) What proportion of, and how many, State Government-owned properties are apartments; (b) Do all of these apartments meet fire safety standards; (c) Following the report, has the Housing Authority reviewed the construction work on the apartment blocks it manages; (d) How often are inspections carried out on properties for overall building maintenance and structural integrity; (e) How many State Government-owned housing properties have had structural integrity concerns identified; (f) How many State Government-owned housing properties are marked as having potential structural integrity concerns; and (g) What is the projected cost for rectifying structural integrity and safety issues for State Government-owned housing stock?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 October 2019
Responded by
Minister for Housing; Veterans Issues; Youth; Asian Engagement
Response time
8 days
(a) As at 30 September 2019, 14 per cent of the Department of Communities’ total residential properties were flats or apartments, which is 6,091 total dwellings.
(b) All Department of Communities’ residential apartment properties are designed and built in compliance with the National Construction Code, and its provisions relating to fire safety, relevant at the time of construction.
(c) The Department of Communities has an annual audit process in place to ensure all apartment complexes comply with the current fire safety standards outlined in the National Construction Code; including adequate fire equipment such as extinguishers and fire hoses, and access to appropriate exits.
(d) At a minimum, the Department of Communities inspects all of its residential properties annually. Building maintenance issues, including structural issues, may also be identified by tenants or during ad-hoc property visits made by staff. Where specific concerns are raised regarding construction or structural issues, a more thorough investigation is undertaken to remediate any identified issues.
(e) – (g) The Department of Communities does not maintain data specific to structural issues. Where structural concerns are identified, properties are inspected by an appropriate, qualified person as a matter of priority; and rectification works or provisions to make the property safe are arranged as required.
(b) All Department of Communities’ residential apartment properties are designed and built in compliance with the National Construction Code, and its provisions relating to fire safety, relevant at the time of construction.
(c) The Department of Communities has an annual audit process in place to ensure all apartment complexes comply with the current fire safety standards outlined in the National Construction Code; including adequate fire equipment such as extinguishers and fire hoses, and access to appropriate exits.
(d) At a minimum, the Department of Communities inspects all of its residential properties annually. Building maintenance issues, including structural issues, may also be identified by tenants or during ad-hoc property visits made by staff. Where specific concerns are raised regarding construction or structural issues, a more thorough investigation is undertaken to remediate any identified issues.
(e) – (g) The Department of Communities does not maintain data specific to structural issues. Where structural concerns are identified, properties are inspected by an appropriate, qualified person as a matter of priority; and rectification works or provisions to make the property safe are arranged as required.
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