Page 8 - Climate Control News Magazine August 2019

News
Victorian government to fund rectification works
The grant will fund works on hundreds of buildings in Melbourne.
FROM LEFT: Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews Planning Minister, Richard Wynne.
THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT has an- nounced a $600 million package to fix build- ings with combustible cladding.
The grants will fund rectification works on hundreds of buildings, found to have high-risk cladding, to make sure they’re safe and com- pliant with all building regulations.
In a joint announcement Victorian Pre- mier, Daniel Andrews and Planning Minis- ter, Richard Wynne, said the works will be overseen by a new agency known as Clad- ding Safety Victoria.
The new agency will manage funding and work with owners corporations from start to finish.
Wynne said the cladding problem isn't just about safety but it's also about fairness.
“It’s about fairness for people who bought apartments in good faith and were let down by dodgy builders or dangerous building products,” he said.
The government will directly fund half of the rectification works and will introduce
changes to the building permit levy to raise the other $300 million over the next five years. Rectification of buildings with high-risk cladding and the establishment of a dedicated cladding agency were key recommendations from the final report of the Victorian Cladding
Taskforce released earlier today.
The Taskforce was established in 2017 to iden-
tify how many buildings had combustible clad- ding and to find potential solutions to fix them.
The Taskforce has also recommended the Victorian Government seek a contribution from the Commonwealth to help fund rectifi- cation, as combustible cladding is a national problem.
“Combustible cladding is a national prob- lem and we want the Federal Government to be part of the solution here in Victoria,” the Premier said.
The Taskforce, headed by former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and former Deputy Pre- mier John Thwaites, has worked with the Vic- torian Building Authority to identify 15 build- ings that will have their cladding fixed first.
Work on these high-risk buildings was funded in the Victorian Budget 2019/20 and will begin in the coming weeks. Cladding Safety Victoria will also be contacting owners corporations and property owners shortly, starting with buildings that are at greatest risk.
The government will also review the state’s Building Act to identify what legislative changes are needed to strengthen the system and better protect consumers.
Product development driving growth
FUJITSU GENERAL AUSTRALIA has made in- ternal promotions and expanded its product de- partment to continue driving growth and devel- opment within the air conditioning industry.
Kyle Rafter has been promoted to national product manager, following the recent departure of John Bourke.
Rafter has more than 10 years’ experience within the industry, joining Fujitsu General Australia in 2015 as its commercial business development manager.
Fujitsu General Australia and New Zealand managing director, Philip Perham, said Kyle brings a wealth of knowledge and all-round experience within the industry, having previously held vital po- sitions in the commercial sales and product team.
Following Kyle’s promotion, David Rooke, has moved into the role of product training manager developing Fujitsu General’s product training program for customers and internal staff.
Meanwhile, Paul Saliba has moved internally from Fujitsu Assist to the newly created position of product and controls specialist.
Francia Evangelista has also joined the team as compliance and technical officer.
Visit www.fujitsugen- eral.com.au
Fujitsu General managing director, Philip Perham.
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
8