STAGE IS SET FOR THEATRE
Report clears CPAC of fire risk in time for opening but there’s one more drama
DOUBT has been cast over a fire safety report clearing the Cairns Performing Arts Centre to open as scheduled in two months on Saturday, December 15.
Cairns Regional Council has declared the $71.1 million project on track after commissioning a laboratory near Canberra to carry out tests on questionable cladding and insulation.
Queensland Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford says the examination was not carried out by a certified tester.
“We don’t want the next Grenfell Tower in our own backyard,” he said.
“There are high standards, and for good reason.”
CAIRNS Regional Council has declared its $71.1 million new performing arts centre safe and has committed to an opening date – but there is still one drama to play out.
An independent fire engineering report conducted by Ignis Labs near Canberra has deemed the cladding, insulation and other materials used on the Cairns Performing Arts Centre to be “low risk".
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services now has 20 days to respond to the study, with concerns already raised.
Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said the laboratory commissioned to undertake the examination was not a “certified tester” as deemed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
“Certainly, I’ve got some concerns around the validity of the testing,” he said.
“But I’ll rely on QFES to do a bit more work there.”
Mr Crawford said it would take QFES about a fortnight to comb through the results.
Mayor Bob Manning is nonetheless notching the report up as a win and is pushing ahead for the grand premiere.
“Should any further concerns be raised, we will continue to work with the QFES to address them in the interest of the Cairns community,” he said.
“In the meantime, we are looking forward to showcasing this fantastic, state-of-the-art performance venue to the community at the opening event on Saturday, December 15.”
The council’s chief executive John Andrejic said three independent fire engineers had reviewed the report and all concluded the building complied with fire safety performance requirements.
“Based on this advice, we have been informed by our building certifier that we are on track to receive a Certificate of Classification for the building,” Mr Andrejic said.
CPAC was among 735 buildings across the Cairns region, which also includes the Cairns Hospital D block, which are subject to the potential safety issue.