The Victorian Government has allocated $25 million to give authorities resources to check more buildings for dangerous and combustible materials.
According to a statement from Victorian Minister for Planning Richard Wynne, approximately $4.3 million of the funding – included in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 – has been committed to the Victorian Cladding Taskforce.
The taskforce was established last year to address “a culture of non-compliance in the construction sector” and detect the extent of combustible cladding in the state, according to the government.
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) – charged with the task of assessing 1,369 priority sites with planning or building permits identified by the Taskforce – has been allocated $16.5 million in the budget.
The $16.5 million will allow the VBA to conduct its state-wide audit and to increase its inspection and enforcement regime.
The budget also includes $4.2 million to increase penalties and make legislative change.
“We’re giving authorities the tools and resources needed to inspect more buildings and keep Victorians safe from cladding fires,” Mr. Wynne said in the statement.
“Events in London have shown that cladding fires can have deadly consequences – and cities right around the world are not immune.”
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