High-rise Iglu Brisbane student accommodation barred from housing residents
Brisbane Times
By: Cameron Atfield
28 January 2016
A high-rise student accommodation building in Brisbane's CBD that was
due to open its doors this month has been barred from housing residents.
The 23-storey Iglu Brisbane at 65 Mary Street was due to open this
month, but issues with the building materials have prevented its
certification.
Comment has been sought from Iglu, but Fairfax Media's calls have not been returned.
The building is subject to a state government Building and Development
Dispute Resolution Committee hearing, due to "non-conforming building
products" being used in its construction.
The 23-storey building has not been certified. Photo: Bradley Kanaris
It is understood the non-conforming products relate to fire safety.
Brisbane City Council lifestyle chairman Krista Adams said the council
was alerted by Queensland Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de
Brenni's office about the issues and started its own investigation.
"Council's investigation confirmed that the building has not achieved
certification, which would allow it to be lawfully occupied," she said.
Cr Adams said the council issued an enforcement notice to Iglu in
January that required the building to remain unoccupied until it was
certified.
"The enforcement notice requires the building to remain unoccupied until a certificate of classification is in effect," he said.
"Council is monitoring the building to ensure no persons are residing
there until such time a certificate of classification is in effect."
Cr Adams said the council had authority to withhold permission for the
building to be occupied without certification, but the certification
itself was the responsibility of the state government.
Comment has been sought from Mr de Brenni.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has introduced incentives to attract new
student accommodation development to Brisbane, which has yielded a
surge in new approvals.
However, a spokeswoman for Cr Quirk said Iglu was approved on December 19, 2013, before the incentive program was introduced.
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