NOT SAFE: Orange councillor Scott Munro still has concerns about Dan Murphy’s being given the green light to open before the rest of the Summer Centre. Photo: STEVE GOSCH. 0129sgmunro1
WORKCOVER will not stand in the way of Dan Murphy’s opening, despite ongoing concerns from Orange councillor Scott Munro who believes there are still safety matters to be addressed.
Orange City Council gave Dan Murphy’s the green light to open before the rest of the Summer Centre at a meeting on January 22.
WorkCover visited the site at 8:15am on January 14 and again on the day of the meeting at 2pm.
Cr Munro was one of the councillors who voted against the opening and said the inspections came about because of concerns he raised with senior WorkCover staffer Bill McColl.
“Mr McColl informed me after the rescission motion was voted on that this further inspection of the site had revealed some safety issues that the developer would be required to attend to before the site would be cleared to enable Dan Murphy’s to open for business,” Cr Munro said.
“My concerns in opposing the rescission motion ... have now been vindicated by the action the WorkCover authority has seen fit to take.”
But a WorkCover spokesman said all the safety matters arising from those visits have been addressed - meaning there is no hurdle for the liquor outlet to open.
“Following Orange City Council’s approval of a development application to build a new Dan Murphy’s outlet, WorkCover has been working with the developer and council to monitor the safety of construction work on the site,” the spokesman said.
“WorkCover will continue to work with the stakeholder to maintain workplace safety.”
Cr Munro said he wanted public safety to be paramount.
“I put the hard work in to ask those questions because it’s my job as a councillor to protect not just the public but the public purse,” he said.
Cr Munro said he believed council could be up for a $250,000 fine under the workplace health and safety act 2011 if an accident was to occur at the site after they gave it the okay to operate.
But general manager Garry Styles told last week’s meeting the planning legislation operated separately to the safety act meaning council would not be liable.
Dan Murphy’s is yet to announce an opening date.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
