Strict safety regulations no good for creative businesses, says The Hamlet owner Nik Bulum

Breadcrumb said :

Breadcrumb said :

This makes my blood boil.

Of course, safety is paramount and should never be compromised. But more often than not, I feel like these pop-up initiatives and ventures that are not Government backed are stifled by excessive safety concerns (excessive being the key word) because they do not fit in line with city planning and it’s a tool to stop these spontaneous projects from development that will draw people away from the grander vision that may be intended.

Take a look at The Chop Shop (and now more recently The Hamlet), speak with those proponents about the difficulties in getting that independent, spontaneous – short term project off the ground. Then speak with the proponents of the Government backed West Basin shipping container pop-up and their tale will most certainly have a different tone of smooth sailing……………. just sayin.

dungfungus said :

What pops up crashes down.
That Port Botany replica adjacent to the futsal slab looks very dodgy.
But then if it’s backed by the Canberra oligarchy it’s automatically vibrant and cool.
Does it have bicycle racks?

Agreed Dungfungus, I’m not sure if it has bicycle racks, but it’s one of the most contrived, forced initiatives out there so far that reeks of city planning to raise land value in that particular area. How is stacking shipping containers stories off the ground any more safe than occupying a ground level open warehouse with solid foundations that has had renovation work completed to bring it up to standard? I feel concessions were most probably made because it’s a Government backed initiative.

I just hope that the $1mil or so that the Government poured into the shipping container initiative filters down to the end user being these so called small businesses. People should be asking, was there a tender/consultation process for this development? Could the money have been better spent to incubate pop-ups / creative small business in existing abandoned spaces? Is the Government doing anything to help the existing small businesses in the immediate lake area (ie – the paddle boat hire)?

Let the gentrification begin!

It does compliment the visuals of that other ugly “award winning” monstrosity across the lake called the National Museum of Australia.
God knows what they have planned for the land between Albert Hall and LBG.

Masquara said :

Frogfarinelli said :

Masquara said :

Let’s not go back to the days when the arts were regarded as exempt from basic OHS – witness Canberra School of Art’s complete lack of safety standards until the early 1990s, if not after. You can be creative and follow safety requirements. If you can’t: adjust your project.

there was nothing unsafe and it was an exhibition not a project in a warehouse space and outdoor area.

You’re saying there was nothing unsafe … ACT Govt says otherwise. Frankly, if there’s a difference of opinion on that, safer to err on the side of caution. Sorry.

That’s your opinion I have paperwork that proves it. But thanks.

Frogfarinelli said :

Masquara said :

Let’s not go back to the days when the arts were regarded as exempt from basic OHS – witness Canberra School of Art’s complete lack of safety standards until the early 1990s, if not after. You can be creative and follow safety requirements. If you can’t: adjust your project.

there was nothing unsafe and it was an exhibition not a project in a warehouse space and outdoor area.

You’re saying there was nothing unsafe … ACT Govt says otherwise. Frankly, if there’s a difference of opinion on that, safer to err on the side of caution. Sorry.

Breadcrumb said :

This makes my blood boil.

Of course, safety is paramount and should never be compromised. But more often than not, I feel like these pop-up initiatives and ventures that are not Government backed are stifled by excessive safety concerns (excessive being the key word) because they do not fit in line with city planning and it’s a tool to stop these spontaneous projects from development that will draw people away from the grander vision that may be intended.

Take a look at The Chop Shop (and now more recently The Hamlet), speak with those proponents about the difficulties in getting that independent, spontaneous – short term project off the ground. Then speak with the proponents of the Government backed West Basin shipping container pop-up and their tale will most certainly have a different tone of smooth sailing……………. just sayin.

dungfungus said :

What pops up crashes down.
That Port Botany replica adjacent to the futsal slab looks very dodgy.
But then if it’s backed by the Canberra oligarchy it’s automatically vibrant and cool.
Does it have bicycle racks?

Agreed Dungfungus, I’m not sure if it has bicycle racks, but it’s one of the most contrived, forced initiatives out there so far that reeks of city planning to raise land value in that particular area. How is stacking shipping containers stories off the ground any more safe than occupying a ground level open warehouse with solid foundations that has had renovation work completed to bring it up to standard? I feel concessions were most probably made because it’s a Government backed initiative.

I just hope that the $1mil or so that the Government poured into the shipping container initiative filters down to the end user being these so called small businesses. People should be asking, was there a tender/consultation process for this development? Could the money have been better spent to incubate pop-ups / creative small business in existing abandoned spaces? Is the Government doing anything to help the existing small businesses in the immediate lake area (ie – the paddle boat hire)?

Let the gentrification begin!

Planning_ACTGovernment said :

This issue came to light came to light with the Environment and Planning Directorate following an application by the owner to the Office of Regulatory Services for a liquor license for this site. Site inspections by different ACT Government agencies identified both individually and collectively a number of safety related issues at the site.

The number one priority of the Government remains the safety of the community at venues across Canberra.

The Construction Occupations Registrar has, and will continue to, liaise with the owners of the site, the University of Canberra and the other ACT Government agencies involved in this matter particularly ACT Fire and Rescue, WorkSafe and the Office of Regulatory Services to ensure a positive outcome for all parties.

The Directorate is supportive of the creative reuse of sites in Braddon and in other sites across the ACT. In fact, the National Construction Code which applies to every building in Australia is a performance based code which enables a level of creativity to be applied professionally for the safe reuse of existing buildings.

Your information is slightly incorrect and i am happy to meet and discuss with you what happened. The owner did not at no time apply for a liquor license this is false. But i am glad you are willing to support these projects and maybe also apply the safety practices that you say you are all for keeping the public safe to the verges you have control off.

Masquara said :

Let’s not go back to the days when the arts were regarded as exempt from basic OHS – witness Canberra School of Art’s complete lack of safety standards until the early 1990s, if not after. You can be creative and follow safety requirements. If you can’t: adjust your project.

there was nothing unsafe and it was an exhibition not a project in a warehouse space and outdoor area.

alans said :

Safety standards in Australia is what stands between us and building collapses that occur on a regular basis in nations like China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, etc. Building collapses that all to often take large numbers of human life. Business does not have the right granted to it to cut corners just because “insert irrelevant argument here”. There is no other consideration, whether it be cost, or the daginess of Lonsdale Street which ought overcome safety protections.

So is the rule of law. Is it too much to ask for that too?

Let’s not go back to the days when the arts were regarded as exempt from basic OHS – witness Canberra School of Art’s complete lack of safety standards until the early 1990s, if not after. You can be creative and follow safety requirements. If you can’t: adjust your project.

Breadcrumb said :

This makes my blood boil.

Of course, safety is paramount and should never be compromised. But more often than not, I feel like these pop-up initiatives and ventures that are not Government backed are stifled by excessive safety concerns (excessive being the key word) because they do not fit in line with city planning and it’s a tool to stop these spontaneous projects from development that will draw people away from the grander vision that may be intended.

Take a look at The Chop Shop (and now more recently The Hamlet), speak with those proponents about the difficulties in getting that independent, spontaneous – short term project off the ground. Then speak with the proponents of the Government backed West Basin shipping container pop-up and their tale will most certainly have a different tone of smooth sailing……………. just sayin.

What pops up crashes down.
That Port Botany replica adjacent to the futsal slab looks very dodgy.
But then if it’s backed by the Canberra oligarchy it’s automatically vibrant and cool.
Does it have bicycle racks?

This issue came to light came to light with the Environment and Planning Directorate following an application by the owner to the Office of Regulatory Services for a liquor license for this site. Site inspections by different ACT Government agencies identified both individually and collectively a number of safety related issues at the site.

The number one priority of the Government remains the safety of the community at venues across Canberra.

The Construction Occupations Registrar has, and will continue to, liaise with the owners of the site, the University of Canberra and the other ACT Government agencies involved in this matter particularly ACT Fire and Rescue, WorkSafe and the Office of Regulatory Services to ensure a positive outcome for all parties.

The Directorate is supportive of the creative reuse of sites in Braddon and in other sites across the ACT. In fact, the National Construction Code which applies to every building in Australia is a performance based code which enables a level of creativity to be applied professionally for the safe reuse of existing buildings.