Council backs better building safety   

For immediate release — Tuesday 11 July 2023

East Gippsland Shire Council is launching an educational campaign to improve essential safety measures for compliance in commercial, industrial and public buildings. While the campaign will include residential buildings such as hotels and apartments, it will not apply to domestic dwellings, houses or units. 

The Essential Safety Measures campaign starts this month, when Council's building services team will begin conducting audits of selected buildings in Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, with a focus on commercial spaces that offer services to the public. Additionally, for larger buildings, Council may engage the assistance of Country Fire Authority officers to assist the building services team with the auditing process. 

Property owners will receive notification about the audits, ensuring a collaborative approach to scheduling and carrying out the inspections, most of which will take around 30 minutes to complete. 

The key objective is to foster awareness among property and business owners about the importance of consistent and timely maintenance of essential safety services in buildings and the importance of these safety regulations. 

If issues are found during an inspection, Council’s building services team will collaborate with property owners and provide guidance to rectify identified issues.   

Cindy Edwards, Manager Regulatory Services, noted that this is about protecting lives and building assets. 

"Our main concern is the safety and well-being of our community. By educating property owners about essential safety measure maintenance we aim to cultivate a safety-conscious built environment throughout East Gippsland," Ms Edwards said. 

The campaign aligns with the Council's obligations under Section212 of the Building Act 1993. 

For more information about the Essential Safety Measures campaign, visit Council’s website or the Victorian Building Authority website. 

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