If you live or work near the Hoffman Brickworks site, you will be familiar with the large scaffolding which has surrounded a historic chimney for over three years. The scaffolding was erected in 2021 after an inspection by Heritage Victoria led to an urgent repair order. 

The damaged chimney has created problems for the local community, including pushing up insurance costs as much as 45% for some owners in the Brickworks site. And young people are climbing the scaffolding regularly, meaning there is the ever present risk of a serious fall.

The chimney has been the subject of multiple repair orders from Heritage Victoria and the County Court but these have not resulted in any actions. 

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Timeline (scroll down for latest updates):

Oct 21: In October 2021 an Emergency Order and direction from Heritage Victoria were issued to the owner to protect and make the chimney safe, including an order for scaffolding to be erected around the chimney as a precautionary measure.

28/06/23: Merri-bek (then Moreland) Council announced that scaffolding had enabled a closer examination of the structure and alongside Heritage Victoria they were currently determining the scope of works needed to stabilise and make the structure safe.

2/7/23: Heritage Victoria issued a repair order under section 155 of the Heritage Act 2017 which required the landowner to undertake repairs to the chimney.

11/10/23: I was contacted by a resident concerned that no progress had been made to repair the chimney, and the scaffolding had remained for years. I wrote to the Minister for Planning and Heritage Victoria asking for an update on the timeline for repairs and ultimate removal of the scaffolding. 

13/2/24: The Minister responded to my letter with updates on the outstanding repair order. The order required repairs to be completed by mid-2024. But 2024 came and went, and the scaffolding remains. 

28/8/24: A local resident shared an update they received from Heritage Victoria, stating that the owner is engaged in a commercial dispute with the scaffolding company. We have since learnt that this dispute was in relation to the scaffolding contract. The dispute also led to the scaffolding being de-tagged and could not lawfully be accessed by the owner or their representatives until the dispute was resolved. Due to this dispute, Heritage Victoria extended compliance with the repair order.

3/9/24: My office requested updates from the Ministers office twice in September, first on the 3rd and again on the 17th.

19/9/24: A local resident asked me to sponsor a parliamentary petition which I agreed to. 

17/10/24: The petition went live.

21/11/24: After following up with the Minister’s office we learnt that;

• In October 2024, the owner was presented with a notice to show cause to address additional repairs that are now required given the long period of time since the original order was presented. The owner was due to respond to this in early November and we have since been advised that they did respond. 
• The owner settled their commercial dispute with the scaffolding company in September 2024, and was presented with a County Court Order that required the owner to undertake ‘make safe’ works to the chimney and remove the scaffolding. We understand the scaffolding was re-tagged following the settlement of this dispute.

29/01/25: I wrote to Brickworks’ developer to ask why there have been delays and when repairs will be carried out. They did not respond.

30/01/25: Heritage Victoria served a third repair order to the owner to address additional works and repairs now required given the long period of time since the original order was presented. This repair order was due to be completed by the end of April 2025. Failure to comply with this order means the owner can be fined up to $948,432. 

04/02/25: The community petition was tabled in Parliament with 285 signatures. 

06/02/25: I spoke in Parliament to the issues at Brickworks and asked the Minister to stay on top of the developer and ensure works were completed. Full speech here. 

09/02/25: I held a community meeting at the Brickworks site to discuss next steps. 

18/02/25: I wrote to the Minister for Worksafe and the TAC about the developer’s possible breaches of WHS regulations in failing to make the scaffolding inaccessible to the public. In response, the Minister advised me that the site is not currently a workplace. 

06/03/2025: I asked the Minister for Planning two Questions on Notice about Heritage Victoria’s enforcement provisions.

13/03/24: I wrote to Brickworks’ developer again to ask why there have been delays and when repairs will be carried out. They did not respond.

14/03/25: I met with Merri-bek Council’s Planning Coordinator to discuss Council’s role in the campaign to fix the chimney. 

27/03/25: I held a second community meeting at the Brickworks site to discuss a campaign plan and advocacy suggestions.

30/04/25: Heritage Victoria’s third repair order lapsed. 

15/05/25: I had a briefing with the Minister for Planning’s office to enquire about Heritage Victoria’s plan after the repair order lapsed.  

30/05/25: I met with Heritage Victoria to enquire about their plan after the repair order lapsed. 

31/05/25: I held a third community meeting at the Brickworks site to discuss a campaign plan and advocacy suggestions.