Kensington tower coming down

The preparation of  a high rise tower in Kensington for demolition has been completed.

Before the demolition work began on 72 Derby Street, electricity, water, gas, heating, hot water and fire services had to be re-routed so that adjacent buildings could operate independently.

This involved the installation of new ground-floor plant rooms at 56 Derby Street and 94 Ormond Street.

Work on dismantling 72 Derby Street is now underway with the building being taken apart, panel by panel, and the component pieces of walls and floors lowered to the ground by crane for removal.

The demolition, due to be completed by the middle of this year, is part of a $62-million program announced in March 1998 to improve the whole estate. The improvements will involve upgrading the two remaining high-rise towers and re-developing other parts of the estate, including the demolition site.

The Ormond Street block is being converted to a mixture of one-bedroom and bed-sitter units. Fire sprinklers have also been installed in this building.

Other upgrading work under consideration includes window replacement, new lifts, private laundry facilities and up-graded walk-ways, ground floor entry foyers and community rooms.

A special Advisory Committee, chaired by Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Robert Doyle (MLA Malvern), is continuing its work on recommending strategies for the redevelopment of the whole Kensington estate.

The Advisory Committee includes tenants and tenants' representatives, as well as representatives of local government, welfare agencies, service providers and the Office of Housing.

The committee's report is expected to be handed to the Minister in March.

The construction of a new housing office at the base of 52 Derby Street has begun and is expected to be completed next month.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Housing, February 4, 1999)