The tragedy of the Grenfell fire in London last month, claiming more than 80 lives has prompted Newcastle Council to consider an audit on the city's high rise buildings.
The consideration of an audit follows the admission the council may not have records of buildings with potentially defective cladding, thought to be responsible for the fire.
Councillors have passed a motion to assess the feasibility of an audit. A senate inquiry has heard as many as 2,000 buildings in NSW could have used the dangerous cladding.
However, the Property Council said it would come at a financial cost and may be unnecessary.
Property Council of Australia's Hunter Director, Andrew Fletcher said to his understanding the cladding was only one of the systems that failed in the London tragedy.
"Council officers methodically check all of the building materials, the buildings are fire rated, the level of engineering and the level of fire safety that goes into these buildings is world leading."
Andrew Fletcher further said an audit would require external consultants and leave the rate payers of Newcastle with a "substantial bill".
"The sort of thing we saw in London, which was an absolute tragedy, is highly unlikely to happen in Australia and certainly in Newcastle."
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| The Council believes the audit could come at a significant financial cost and may be unnecessary given Australia's high standards of buildings and fire safety. Source: Property Council of Australia |
