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In reply please quote:MCR: 2712344

15 July 2013

Mr Alan HarrisSave DimmeysEmail: savedimmeys@gmail.com

Dear Mr Harris,Thank you for your email to Councillors dated 10 J uly 2013, regarding the Dimmeysconstruction site in Swan Street, Richmond. I have been asked to reply to you aboutthis correspondence.

Councils Municipal Building Surveyor (MBS) attended the Dimmeys site on Friday 12J uly, accompanied by the appointed developers engineer. The engineer conducted atour of the site, and explained the protection measures that had been employed, andthen provided information about the structure that is being preserved.

Councils MBS is satisfied that the project is being well managed and under control,and that there is no reason for Council to intervene in any of the activities being

undertaken at this time.

In Brief:

I can advise that what is left of the original structure is made of structural steel coveredin concrete, for fire protection rather than reinforced concrete. Cracking to concrete isnot a structural defect as the load of the building is taken by steel beams and columns.

The tower and east side of the Swan Street faade is braced by the original floor androof structure, which is in turn braced with steel cross bracing to support columnstogether with a steel prop at the rear of the tower. The so called matchstick supportcolumns to the tower are in fact structural steel columns.

The remaining walls are all supported by a large steel gantry construction supported bydeep piers into the ground at the rear, and counter weights to the north and east side.The underpinning work being undertaken is progressing with a cautious approach toensure no movement in the original walls.

A monitoring system is in place that provides immediate advice to constructionpersonnel if movement tolerances are exceeded, as follows:

1. Each of the remaining walls and the tower are being monitored by MotionDetectors. If the allowable tolerance for movement is exceeded, these detectorsgo into an Alarm mode. An SMS alert is then sent to the site supervisor whoceases works in that area, they then contact the appointed engineer who assesses

the readings and determines what, if any, action is required.

mailto:savedimmeys@gmail.commailto:savedimmeys@gmail.com

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2. Survey markers are also attached to the building and remaining structure. Theseare checked by surveyors weekly as an additional control measure.

3. Assessment of the structure, any alarm readings and other gathered information isalso assessed 3 times per week by the appointed engineers.

It is the opinion of Councils MBS that the best measures are in place to secure thebuilding to be retained, and no further inspections are required at this time.

Should you wish to discuss the matters raised in this correspondence, please feel freeto contact Steven McMurray, Manager Construction Management, on 9205 5004 oremail steven.mcmurray@yarracity.vic.gov.au.

Yours sincerely,

Bruce PhillipsDirector City Development

cc: - Councillors

mailto:steven.mcmurray@yarracity.vic.gov.au.mailto:steven.mcmurray@yarracity.vic.gov.au.mailto:steven.mcmurray@yarracity.vic.gov.au.