Backfill works to begin at Mount Waverley building site
Published on 23 July 2015
Backfilling of a hole at a Mount Waverley building site – where there was a landslip last week – is set to begin within days, with preparatory work starting today.
Working under a plan developed in consultation with WorkSafe, contractors employed by the site’s owner will truck in approved fill material to fill the hole.
Under the approved Traffic Management Plan, trucks will queue outside properties in Highbury Road but won’t be allowed to enter - or park in - local streets. Traffic Controllers will assist with this process to ensure the safety of locals and road users.
Mayor Paul Klisaris said the aim of the backfilling was to stabilise the site after which the site’s owner would need to work with authorities to determine the next steps in the development. Cr Klisaris said Council would do everything it could to minimise any inconvenience to local residents.
“The backfilling is likely to take many weeks to complete,” Cr Klisaris said.
“We will be monitoring the area around the site regularly to make sure the trucks associated with the works are staying out of local streets and are only operating at times that are allowed.”
Council expects that truck deliveries will occur between 7am-6pm Monday-Friday and 9am-6pm Saturdays. Any deliveries outside of these times will only be permitted under exceptional circumstances.
Earlier this week, Council installed temporary parking restrictions outside several local properties in two nearby streets, to help with traffic flow while one lane of Highbury Road is closed due to the landslip. Council will continue to monitor these streets to determine if any further changes are required.
Cr Klisaris said it was still a possibility that a townhouse on the edge of the hole could fall at any time.
“Council’s main concern - and the main concern of Victoria Police – has been to ensure the safety of people,” Cr Klisaris said. “The residents of the two adjoining townhouses were evacuated safely and Council is continuing to offer them support to help them get back on their feet.”
Cr Klisaris said Council would be participating in the WorkSafe and Victorian Building Authority investigations into what went wrong at the site.
“The building permit for the site was issued by a private building surveyor not by Council,” Cr Klisaris said. “This meant that the private building surveyor was responsible for ensuring works met the conditions and specifications of the building permit and that the works were consistent with the planning permit,” he said.
“Council is very keen to protect its community and so we really hope that the eventual findings of the investigations will be taken on board by the Victorian building industry and all relevant authorities.”
Victoria Police and Council held a community meeting last night to update local residents. A further community meeting will be held on Saturday 1 August at 3pm at the Burwood Adventist Community Church (opposite the site).
Media Contact: Jo Robertson 0418 391 979 or email Joanne.Robertson@monash.vic.gov.au