CATTERY A ’HUGE RISK’
CLADDING FEARS: Shadow minister claims stadium highly combustible but State Govt says situation under control
GMHBA Stadium’s Reg Hickey Stand is covered in “very dangerous” combustible cladding, Victorian shadow planning minister Tim Smith claims.
Mr Smith said the stand was clad “in the most dangerous combustible material” rated at the “highest end of the scale of concern”.
A State Government spokeswoman said the stadium was “safe to occupy” but admitted “rectification” works were needed.
A STAND at GMHBA Stadium is covered in dangerous combustible cladding, state Opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith claims.
He said the Reg Hickey Stand was clad “in the most dangerous combustible material” rated at the “highest end of the scale of concern”.
He called on the State Government to rectify the cladding immediately after learning of it from “sources very close to the construction of that stand”.
“It is very dangerous and a huge public safety risk,” Mr Smith said.
The Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, which manages the stadium, said two sections of cladding were under review.
A Government spokeswoman said the stadium was “safe to occupy” after inspections from the Victorian Building Authority and fire engineers, but “rectification” works were needed. She would not say if the stand would be reclad or the cost.
Mr Smith suspected the Government had known about the cladding since 2018, but the spokeswoman did not say when it was alerted.
Victorian Cladding Taskforce co-chair Ted Ballieu told 3AW the suspect cladding was contained to “a relatively small patch” and the stand wasn’t deemed high risk because it wasn’t a residential building.
But Energy and Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Mr Smith “got his facts wrong” and the stadium was “no risk to the community.”
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin said the trust was examining the suitability of external cladding.
“With the help of government and independent experts, there are two sections of the stadium where the cladding is under review,” Mr Griffin said.
He said strategies to reduce risk included: CLOSING Moorabool St near the Reg Hickey Stand during major events. COMPLETING fire safety checks at the stadium before major events. NIGHTLY security patrols. BANNING “hot works” in the stands, other than in exceptional, urgent circumstances. AUDITING all electrical equipment. REMOVING waste bins adjacent to cladding.
Mr Griffin said there were no plans to close the stadium.