SIX months after a tragic wall collapse killed three people, there are still no answers on the tragedy.
Four separate organisations have failed to return public reports on the March 28 incident.
WorkSafe, Grocon, Victoria Police and the Coroner’s office declined to release any details of their investigations this week.
But Grocon revealed that it was planning to build a memorial for the victims - Bridget and Alexander Jones and Dr Marie-Faith Fiawoo - on the vacant Swanston St site, which is to become an apartment and retail complex.
WorkSafe spokesman Peter Flaherty was unable to give a deadline for the agency’s report.
“This comprehensive investigation is ongoing, but given the complexity of the task, it remains in its relatively early stages and will take some time to complete,” he said.
The 19-year-old Jones twins and Dr Fiawoo, 33, were walking along Swanston St when a brick wall, which had a wooden hoarding bolted to its facade, collapsed in 102km/h wind.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/sites/default/files/imagecache/ra...http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/4602040-1x1-340x340.jpghttp://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin/sites/default/files/imagecache/ra_arti...Ms Jones, who had been sheltered by her brother, was rescued but later died in hospital.
Mr Jones and Dr Fiawoo, a French national who had been working at Monash University, died at the scene.
Investigations were expected to focus on the condition of the red brick wall and why a wooden hoarding was bolted to its facade.
The Herald Sun revealed in April that there were significant cracks in the base of the brick wall at least four months before it fell.
The City of Melbourne also confirmed that Grocon did not have a permit to attach a wooden hoarding to the wall.
The hoarding, which was higher than the brick wall, may have increased the load on the wall beyond its design and acted as a sail during its collapse.
Grocon spokesman Mike Zorbas said it was too early to comment on its investigations.
“We have been working with the relevant authorities in relation to their formal inquiries into the matter. This has included the Coroner, the police and WorkSafe,” he said.
“We have begun to make arrangements for an appropriate memorial on the site.”
Victoria Police confirmed its investigations were continuing.
Criminal charges could be laid over the incident, which could delay the probes further.
Sheree Argento, a spokeswoman for the Coroner’s Court of Victoria, said Judge Ian Gray would seek an update from the investigating police member before fixing the next hearing date.
“As indicated in the mention hearing held earlier this year, His Honour is concerned about controlling any unnecessary delays in relation to this investigation and will seek to proceed with this matter as soon as practicable,” she said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/still-no-answers-on-swanston-st-wall-c... But no we'll fine the Union for bringing to light safety concerns & then get rid of those concerns by simply calling the regulations RED TAPE & scrapping them.
Think how much profits will increase if we don't have safe work places or nosey people talking about death & injury at work.
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