If you live or work near the Hoffman’s 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 scaffolding has created problems for the local community, including pushing up insurance costs as much as 45% for some owners in the Brickworks site, creating a safety hazard for falling and loose scaffolding, as well as many accounts of young people climbing the scaffolding – presenting a serious fall risk.

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

Sign up to receive updates and get involved in the campaign to remove the scaffolding, starting with our next community meeting, which will be held in late March. 

Timeline:

10/21: In October 2021 an Emergency Order and direction from Heritage Victoria are 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 announce that scaffolding has enabled a closer examination of the structure and alongside Heritage Victoria they are 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 requires 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: Local resident shares 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 requests updates from the Ministers office twice in September, first on the 3rd and again on the 17th.

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

17/10/24: The petition goes 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

30/01/25: Heritage Victoria serves a third repair order to the owner to address additional works and repairs that are now required given the long period of time since the original order was presented. This repair order is due to be completed within three months. Failure to comply with this order means the owner can be fined up to $948,432. 

04/02/25: Community petition tabled in Parliament with 285 signatures. 

05/02/25: I speak in Parliament to the issues at brickworks and ask the Minister to stay on top of the developer and ensure works are completed. Full speech here. 

09/02/25: Community meeting at the Brickworks site to discuss next steps. Following this meeting, my office is developing a plan to persuade the developer to remove the scaffolding and complete repair works. A second community meeting will be held in late March.