Wyndham council is calling on home owners and renters to check and maintain their balconies after two people lost their lives following a balcony collapse.
Cr Kim McAliney, the council’s safer communities portfolio holder, said things to look out for included rotting or loose structural items, creaking or flexibility in joists or beams, loose or rusted brackets and fixings, bowing or cracking of timber, placement of heavy items and overloading, and cracks to concrete or shifting brickwork.
Two people died and 17 others were taken to hospital last month after a balcony collapsed at a Doncaster East house party.
The accident has prompted calls from building surveyors to change laws and introduce mandatory balcony inspections.
Cr McAliney said the accident should serve as a reminder to all home owners or renters to ensure their balconies or decks were safe and make regular checks.
“Balconies and decks are common in Wyndham, and with no regulated inspection requirements, the responsibility is on the owner to ensure they are maintained and kept safe,” she said.
“If you are getting repairs done to your balcony, you should make sure you use a registered building practitioner or structural engineer.”
Go to wyndham.vic.gov.au for more information.
