By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A safety issue at John Pandazopoulos Hall has been swiftly fixed by Casey Council, averting a threatened shutdown of the hall.
After a month of talks with the council, the hall’s president Brian Oates told Star News on 21 February that he’d close the hall due to recently-installed acoustic panels dropping from the ceiling late last year.
The 3-x-1-metre panels were affixed with glue, which had evidently become unstuck in warmer weather, Mr Oates said.
Hours before the 9am scheduled shutdown the following day, council officers and builders attended the hall to reinforce all the panels with large screws.
Mr Oates said the council had been slow to act since being informed of the danger four weeks ago – despite being liable for any injury to a variety of users of the hall.
“It’s been going on for a month and they told me the builders still were going to look at it.
“And now within 24 hours we’re very pleased we don’t have to shut the place today.”
Last April, the hall had re-opened after a $1.2 million revamp, including the new ceiling panels.
The 58-year-old hall is home to nine community groups, and named after the former Berwick Shire mayor and Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos.
City of Casey’s active communities manager Callum Pattie said a maintenance request was lodged and actioned on the same day as the issue was brought to the council’s attention.
Council officers reinforced the panels with “additional fixings”, he said.
“Council is confident that both the panels and ceiling are secure and do not pose a safety hazard.
“The fixings applied go beyond what is recommended by manufacturers.”
