In reply please quote: MCR: 2712344

15 July 2013

Mr Alan Harris Save Dimmeys Email: savedimmeys@gmail.com

Dear Mr Harris, Thank you for your email to Councillors dated 10 July 2013, regarding the Dimmeys construction site in Swan Street, Richmond. I have been asked to reply to you about this correspondence. Councils Municipal Building Surveyor (MBS) attended the Dimmeys site on Friday 12 July, accompanied by the appointed developers engineer. The engineer conducted a tour of the site, and explained the protection measures that had been employed, and then 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 covered in concrete, for fire protection rather than reinforced concrete. Cracking to concrete is not 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 and roof structure, which is in turn braced with steel cross bracing to support columns together with a steel prop at the rear of the tower. The so called matchstick support columns to the tower are in fact structural steel columns. The remaining walls are all supported by a large steel gantry construction supported by deep 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 to ensure no movement in the original walls. A monitoring system is in place that provides immediate advice to construction personnel if movement tolerances are exceeded, as follows: 1. Each of the remaining walls and the tower are being monitored by Motion Detectors. If the allowable tolerance for movement is exceeded, these detectors go into an Alarm mode. An SMS alert is then sent to the site supervisor who ceases works in that area, they then contact the appointed engineer who assesses the readings and determines what, if any, action is required.

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Survey markers are also attached to the building and remaining structure. These are checked by surveyors weekly as an additional control measure. Assessment of the structure, any alarm readings and other gathered information is also assessed 3 times per week by the appointed engineers.

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It is the opinion of Councils MBS that the best measures are in place to secure the building 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 free to contact Steven McMurray, Manager Construction Management, on 9205 5004 or email steven.mcmurray@yarracity.vic.gov.au. Yours sincerely,

Bruce Phillips Director City Development cc: Councillors