Sport
22 February, 2024
Update On The Old Allora Fire Building
In November last year the Allora Community was invited to have a say in a survey relating to the Allora Community Halls and Precinct.
On Monday Michael Bell, Manager of Community Services with the Southern Downs Regional Council supplied information in relation to the old Allora Fire Building.
Recently a Structure Engineer inspected the building and completed a report, which is to follow.
However, during the inspection, the Structural Engineer identified an issue that requires the immediate attention of the Council, more specifically, the issue relates to the lack of bracing/tieback that would normally be associated with tying single-skin brickwork back to reduce the risk of it collapsing.
At present, due to the lack of conventional bracing, if this brickwork was to let go, there is a risk that it could collapse outwards onto the footpath, placing at risk those that use this footpath.
As a result, it has been recommended to the Council to cordon off this section of footpath to mitigate this risk.
With this advice, Council will now take immediate steps to make this location safe until the community survey has been completed and an outcome determined based on this community engagement process around the old Allora Fire Building.
Mr Bell commented on the outcome of the community survey.
Council officers are just waiting on the Structural Engineer’s report to be provided. On receipt of this report, the report will be used with the survey to assist the community in their responses.
As such, Council is just waiting on receipt of this report to release a further survey that will allow the community to have their say on how Council can collectively with the community celebrate/preserve the history of the old fire station. I
would expect that this is a couple of weeks away before the survey will be released, opened to the community, results evaluated and then presented back to Council.
The issue with the old Allora Fire Building will have no affect on the planned repairs to the Community Hall as the contract to complete the remedial works has been executed and contractors will be on site shortly.
