Collapsed walls at Mount Waverley building site

Published on 16 July 2015

Monash Council has met with WorkSafe representatives and the relevant building surveyor at a Mount Waverley building site this morning, following a second wall collapse at the site overnight.

Monash Council issued an Emergency Order yesterday (15 July) on the owner of the site at 170-174 Highbury Road, Mount Waverley, to secure the site and work out a process to stabilise the site within 48 hours. A second order was issued on the owner of an adjoining townhouse yesterday (15 July) to vacate the building until it is deemed safe. The other townhouse in this location was also evacuated overnight.

The site is being managed by a private building surveyor, the Gardner Group. Council issued a planning permit for a development on the site, while the Gardner Group issued the building permit.

The planning permit, issued last year, provides for a three-storey building with a basement car park on this site. The building is to house a child care centre, medical centre, cafe and nine units.

There has been a collapse in two areas of the site. The first on Wednesday 15 July undermined the foundations of a neighbouring townhouse at 176 Highbury Road, resulting in the evacuation of six people from one townhouse and impacted the adjacent laneway.

The second collapse occurred overnight (16 July) in the driveway area of the excavation. A second townhouse had to be evacuated by Victoria Police.

Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris said it will be a massive task to stabilise the site.

“Our responsibility as a council is to make sure the area is safe for people living near the site and for passers-by,” Cr Klisaris said. “We have fenced off the laneway alongside the site and we are erecting fencing to close the footpath to ensure people can’t go near the site.”

Council has had discussions with the Victorian Building Authority to seek their assistance in investigating why this occurred and in rectifying the situation.

“In Victoria, building permits can be issued by either councils or private building surveyors registered with the Victorian Building Authority,” Cr Klisaris said.

“Due to the seriousness of this matter, we think it is only appropriate that the statewide authority get involved so they can ensure this doesn’t happen again.”