Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) is on track to complete rectification works on all 113 government-owned buildings by the end of the 2021-22 financial year.

CSV Chief Executive Dan O’Brien said the ongoing support and cooperation of the departments and agencies responsible for the buildings was pivotal to the rapid progress.

“Rectification is now complete on 75 government-owned buildings across Victoria, including several large sporting facilities like the MCG, Kardinia Park Stadium in Geelong, and the National Tennis Centre,” Dan said.

A small amount of cladding was identified on both the MCG and Kardinia Park Stadium as part of the Victorian Government’s $150 million commitment to rectify risky cladding on government-owned buildings.

Earlier this year CSV worked closely with the Melbourne Cricket Club, on behalf of the MCG Trust, and the Department of Jobs, Precincts, and Regions (DJPR) to replace a small portion of flammable cladding on the stadium. Higher-risk flammable cladding around the ticket booths and southern entrances was removed from the Southern Stand before the Boxing Day Test in 2019.

The MCG, like all government-owned buildings in the program, has always been deemed safe to occupy. Some buildings have needed safety measures put in place until permanent rectification work is completed.

Cladding work is also complete on Kardinia Park Stadium in Geelong. A small amount of ACP-PE cladding was removed and replaced, with works concluding at the end of May 2021.

Cladding Safety Victoria has also worked closely with Melbourne and Olympic Park Trusts and DJPR to rectify portions of ACP-PE cladding on the National Tennis Centre.

The Victorian Government classified cladding rectification works as state-critical, allowing sites to operate under stringent COVIDSafe plans.

“It’s great to see that the rapid progress we’ve made on rectifying residential apartments is also reflected in the government-owned building program,” Dan said.

The portfolio of completed works includes more than 40 minor works on school and TAFE buildings, all eight police station buildings, and more than 80 percent of public housing buildings in the program.

Audits across departments identified 113 buildings in scope for assistance. Of these, 75 have been completed, 25 have works currently underway, while a further 13 are progressing through design and tender stages.

Cladding rectification works on hospitals experienced delays due to restricted access to buildings because of coronavirus. Despite this, CSV and the departments and agencies responsible for the buildings are on track to complete rectification works for all 113 targeted buildings by the end of the 2021-22 financial year.