Page 2354 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022
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cladding can be replaced, reducing the risk while ensuring they are not financially pressured to do so.
Unlike other jurisdictions, the ACT government has elected not to mandate how owners corporations should remediate their cladding, or how they fund these works. It remains their choice to find the funding option that is right for them, which could be a levy or up-front payment from each owner. The government’s concessional loan is there for those that would prefer a loan option.
As with any scheme initiated by this government, we will continue to provide education and information to the ACT community on combustible cladding. I have engaged with peak body organisations, including Strata Communities Australia, the Owners Corporation Network ACT and the Insurance Council of Australia. I thank those groups for their ongoing engagement with these issues.
I will continue to engage with our constituents and other stakeholders to offer this support to make the ACT community safer. I wish to thank the owners corporations who have chosen to participate in the Private Buildings Cladding Scheme so that they can make an informed decision about potentially combustible cladding on their buildings.
Finally, as the owner of various buildings, the ACT government undertook detailed investigation of its own buildings which contained combustible cladding in 2020. These investigations involved a multistage process that identified, reviewed and assessed ACT government owned buildings, taking into consideration the type of occupant, the use of the building, nearby ignition sources, and firefighting challenges in the event of a fire.
The Government Cladding Scheme identified 23 government-owned buildings that contained cladding that needed replacing. These sites included schools, health facilities and public housing across the ACT. Of these buildings, 17 have had their cladding replaced under the scheme by Major Projects Canberra and two buildings have been remediated by the Education Directorate. Of the four buildings that comprise the remaining program of work, they are all underway and scheduled to be completed in 2022. The government is well on the way to ensuring the safety of its buildings by removing combustible cladding.
Further details on the financial and practical assistance available to owners of eligible apartment buildings to address potentially combustible cladding is available on the Major Projects Canberra website. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of a small and dedicated team within Major Projects Canberra who are administering the ACT cladding program. I present the following paper:
Combustible Cladding Scheme—Update—Ministerial statement, 4 August 2022.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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