Call for full list of buildings with risky cladding

FLAMMABLE cladding concerns have not stopped hundreds of sports fans piling into GMHBA Stadium at the weekend, but they have demanded to know which remaining Geelong and Surf Coast buildings pose a risk to public safety.

After Friday’s revelations that some of the Reg Hickey Stand featured combustible cladding newcomer Western United play a trial match against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Another mass of people descended on GMHBA Stadium yesterday for the second annual Festival of Sport. There is also a packed summer calendar including more A-League, Big Bash League and Crusty Demons.

The revelation comes after the Geelong Advertiser revealed at least 11 buildings in Geelong and eight around the Surf Coast contained combustible cladding.

But the Victorian Building Authority has refused to provide further details about the location of the buildings found to contain cladding.

Spectators on Saturday said the public had the right to know which buildings posed the highest risk.

Mum-of-three Merri Cheyne said she was happy to attend knowing the potential risks and that action was being taken to fix the problem.

“I’m not concerned. I’m here with my three kids and it wouldn’t put me off coming, but to know people are aware of it is a good thing,” she said.

Ms Cheyne called on the State Government to make sure those occupying the buildings knew if they were in the high-risk group.

But Highton’s Julie Marinovic said she felt “uneasy” and slammed authorities for keeping it secret. “We should have a right to know. If it’s a workplace health and safety issue, we need to know,” she said.

Kevin O’Connor, of Geelong West, said he hoped authorities held builders to account so taxpayers didn’t have to bear the cost of repairs.

“It would be good to know, just for information’s sake. To withhold that information almost implies guilt. They should just share the information,” Mr O’Connor said.

On Friday, shadow planning minister Tim Smith labelled the cladding an unacceptable fire risk. there was no cause for alarm.

“Cladding was identified at Kardinia Park, in the Hickey Stand, a relatively small patch, I understand, adjacent to one of the stairwells,” Mr Baillieu said.

“The assessment is that it poses no material risk, so I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive officer Gerard Griffin said the Trust was examining the suitability of external cladding materials used in previous stages of the redevelopment program.