Deadline looms for cladding aid program

NSW strata schemes that have flammable cladding on their walls have just over a week left to register for the state government’s Project Remediate program which offers affected buildings interest-free loans and expert advice to have dangerous cladding removed and replaced.

The government extended the closing date in October, to enable the maximum number of eligible buildings to enter the program before the window closes on December 16.

“We anticipate there are additional eligible buildings who are yet to register for Project Remediate, for a number of factors including litigation, or simply avoiding the problem,” Building Commissioner David Chandler wrote in a Linkdin post.

Minister for Fair Trading Victor Dominello,  announcing the extension of registrations, encouraged building owners to consider the benefits offered through the program, including access to 10-year, interest free loans and getting the work done now to avoid the uncertainty of the current global supply chain and cost uncertainties.

Currently 143 buildings are actively progressing through the program, wrote the Building Commissioner. Of these 91 are progressing through the investigation and scheduling phase, and 52 buildings are in the design and procurement phases. The first of the remediation works are approaching completion for two buildings.

In addition to the replacement of flammable cladding, work has also included the installation of previously absent elements such as fire barriers, moisture management and window heads, among other components.

Government sources say the program is on schedule to be completed in mid-2024 in accordance with the three-year target. Registered buildings will be given priority in the program schedule.

There has been some reluctance in the strata community to applying to the scheme with concerns, as yet unproven, that the involvement of government-appointed experts might lead to unnecessarily expensive “Rolls-Royce” solutions.

Others may still be involved in legal battles with developers and builders while a few may simply have enough cash in their sinking funds or readily available through special levies not to require loans.

However, ultimately schemes that have stayed out of the program will be expected to remove and replace flammable cladding under their responsibility to maintain and repair common property.

“We encourage apartment owners who are or may be eligible for Project Remediate to register on the NSW Government website or to confirm their place in the program before the 16 December 2022 deadline,” Mr Chandler said. 

For more information and to register for Project Remediate, visit the NSW Government website. 

Buildings that remediated before this program was available may be eligible for Retrospective Assistance. Visit this NSW Government website to learn more and apply.  Retrospective assistance applications close 28 February 2023.