MONA builders to oversee flammable cladding fix

A managing contractor has been appointed to run the NSW State Government’s flammable cladding removal program for apartment blocks, in the face of relatively slow progress and limited uptake by apartment owners.  

The job has gone to construction firm Hansen Yucken which is probably best-known – certainly globally – for the MONA Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania.

The appointment comes at a pivotal point in efforts to remove and replace flammable cladding from residential buidings in NSW, with owners corproations facing huge costs to remediate the potentially fatal surface covering and massive insurance premiums if they don’t.

Last month it was revealed that, of the 241 high-rise apartment blocks identified as having the highly dangerous combustible cladding installed, fewer than 40 per cent  had applied for the state government’s Project Remediate assistance.

The program offers 10-year interest-free loans and expert advice for affected buildings. Applications for assistance close next month.

The dangers of combustible cladding became all too evident during the tragic Grenfell Tower blaze in London in 2017, in which 72 people died.

This was preceded by the Lacrosse cladding fire (2105) and followed by the Neo200 blaze (2019) both in Melbourne and neither of which suffered any fatalities.

According to answers provided by the department of Better Regulation and Innovation to Greens MLC David Shoebridge, only 91 apartment blocks out of 241 identified as having combustible cladding on their walls had registered interest in Project Remediate assistance by last month. 

So far, no blocks have actually had their cladding removed and replaced under the program.

Mr Shoebridge had asked how many owners corporations had registered their interest in Project Remediate and how many residential buildings had been identified as having high risk combustible cladding?

“As of 8 July 2021, 91 registrations from owners corporations have been received,” the Finance Department, responding for Better Regulation, replied.

“As of 31 May 2021, 241 residential (Class 2) buildings were recorded as having potentially high-risk combustible cladding under review, assessment, or remediation according to the latest update from the consent authority.”

The government also revealed that Project Remediate has not yet carried out remediation work on any buildings.

However, of the residential buildings known to have cladding issues four, are awaiting assessment, 107 have an expert assessment underway, 28 have a detailed action plan requested or received and 102 have remediation underway or ordered or approved.

Last week Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson today announced the appointment of construction firm Hansen Yuncken as Managing Contractor of NSW’s cladding remediation program.

Hansen Yuncken, which, according to its website,  has a growing reputation for large-scale and innovative residential, commercial and public buildings across Australia. 

Now it will “oversee the delivery of Project Remediate, providing expertise and assurance to Owners Corporations as they go through the remediation process,” according to a government press release.

“The Managing Contractor is fully funded as part of the $139m investment by the NSW Government to provide complete program management for each affected building, making life much easier for strata communities,” Mr Anderson said.

“Flammable cladding remediation isn’t a simple process, and Hansen Yuncken will do the hard work on every owner’s behalf to ensure only safe, compliant design solutions are applied to every building.”

Mr Anderson said the Government’s program provides the fastest and most economically responsible way to remove cladding from NSW’s affected residential buildings.

“Under Project Remediate owners will get an insurable, durable and long-lasting solution for their building and benefit from the economies of scale a managing contractor can deliver,” Mr Anderson said.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said Hansen Yuncken would coordinate the delivery of safe and compliant and solutions for each building, appointing experienced designers, constructors, superintendents and certifiers.

“As an industry, this is not a time to cut corners, and Hansen Yuncken will play an important role in ensuring the work is delivered to the highest standards of safety and quality, while supporting building owners and residents,” Mr Chandler said.

Project Remediate has an expenditure budget of $139 million over four years, to cover project management and assurance service costs. A further $43.06 million has been allocated for loan administration costs.

It will target completion by the end of 2023, with the first cladding to be removed by the end of this year.

Eligible strata communities can download this guide and register their interest at nsw.gov.au/project-remediate by 30 September 2021.