Safety fears for building
SAFETY concerns have forced the closure of several businesses at the corner of Ryrie and Moorabool streets as engineers investigate a heritage building’s structural integrity.
The City of Greater Geelong confirmed Belcher’s Corner was closed on Monday night after engineers discovered “severe concrete cancer” including cracking and erosion had compromised the buildings columns and beams.
The corner of Moorabool and Ryrie streets was dramatically closed yesterday morning.
The Geelong Advertiser has been told tenants were called about 11pm on Monday and told they could not enter the building due to safety issues.
Last night, the exclusion zone around the site was extended, halting traffic both ways along Ryrie and Moorabool Streets.
Victoria Police was the incident controller, according to council.
Following questions from the Addy, council confirmed concerns about the building’s structural integrity were raised more than six months ago.
The council’s director of planning and development Joanne Van Slageren said Council Building Services was informed of structure matters affecting the building last December.
The Addy has been told concerns raised by a member of the public were dismissed, but Ms Van Slageren said council had issued building orders to address the essential safety measures and structural matters.
She did not say when those orders were issued or if they were acted upon.
“Further structural assessment has been carried out on the building by the owners’ civil engineer,” Ms Van Slageren said. “Council Building Services and the building owners have discussed remedial works to address the structural integrity of the building.”
She said further assessment by civil engineers revealed the full extent of structural issues.
The building was subsequently deemed to be unsafe.
“Completion of structural propping to the basement must be complete before the building is deemed safe,” Ms Van Slageren said.
Police remained at the scene of the busy intersection all day yesterday and into the evening.
They taped off access to about six businesses located at the historic Belcher’s Corner building.
The building’s leasing agent Darcy Jarman Group said it was unable to comment on the building’s closure.