Councils regularly engage in the delivery of construction
projects, including new buildings, fitouts and rectification
following damage. Such projects often see council entering into
contracts with professional consultants such as architects and
building surveyors.
The recent Lacrosse tower decision contains a number of salient
reminders for councils in such situations.
Background
In November 2014, the 23-storey mixed-use Lacrosse tower in
Docklands, Victoria caught fire after Jean-Francois Gubitta, a
resident of the building, left a smouldering cigarette butt in a
plastic food container on a level 8 balcony.
By the time the first fire crew arrived, the fire was travelling
rapidly up the external wall cladding and spreading onto the
balcony on each level. The fire had already climbed to level 14 and
a few minutes later reached the top of the building. About 500
residents had to be evacuated.
