Fire safety standards motion for Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, a Lake Macquarie Councillor is putting forward a motion tonight for the review of fire safety standards in buildings throughout the region.

On June 14 the Grenfell Tower in West London become a towering inferno killing an estimated 79 people. Combustible cladding used to insulate the tower and improve its appearance is being blamed for the rapid spread of the blaze and now there are concerns for other buildings built using the same material.

Upon reflection, it was found the tower would've failed fire safety standards.

Back home in Lake Macquarie, Councillor Kevin Baker says he's confident a vast majority of buildings are compliant, but every precaution must be taken to avoid a tragedy like that in London.

"As I've said in my motion it's something that needs to be considered across all levels of government and I think it's an issue that is sitting there at the forefront of everybody's minds and now is the time to act to make sure everybody is conforming to the highest levels of safety standards."

He wants to ensure nobody has to live through a horrifying fire and making sure everyone has their standards in line so everyone is safe, is the best possible way to ensure it never happens.

"Generally speaking I'm confident that 99 per cent of the people do do the right thing and I'd really love to hear that any review comes back and finds that everything is perfect. That would be the best case scenario but I think it is important that we do a review," said Kevin Baker.

It's very important that we continue to live: MacDonald

BY JESSICA ROUSE

In the wake of the second attack to hit Britain in as many weeks, even here in the Hunter we are being told to be aware, particularly if we're travelling.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading is urging travellers from the Hunter and throughout Australia who are headed to London to keep their travel plans, but listen to any and all advice given to them by officials around the city and avoid the London Bridge.

It comes after three men brought terror to the streets of London when they killed seven people and injured 48 others in a van and knife attack.

It has now been confirmed three Australians were caught up in the horror.

The three men responsible were shot dead by British officers within eight minutes of their attack.

"Many of us have friends or family overseas in places like London. I was talking to people this morning who have sons or daughters who are spending some time over there with work or study or tourism, so we are concerned about it but I think we've got to maintain our way of life, albeit with a fair bit of wariness," said Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.

There are challenges out there, but he says he's very confident in Australia our police have the intelligence, the networks and the understanding that as Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and Premier Gladys Berejiklian have said, they can't be everywhere all at the same time and be across every person who comes out of the woodwork.

Scot MacDonald says there's no doubt there are threats and that the threat level is high, but we need to keep on living.

"I think everyone in the community needs to be alert, to think about it, to go about their lives; I think that's very important that we continue to live and work as we should otherwise the people that do want to bring us down win."