THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1992
UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAD NOT BEEN WIDELY APPRECIATED, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT CUT SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS NEXT ΤΟ PRIVATE PREMISES WERE NOT PART OF NATURAL HILLSIDES OR GOVERNMENT LAND, BUT PRIVATE PROPERTY.
"WE SHOULD NOT ASK THE TAXPAYERS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
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URGING OWNERS TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS AND CARRY OUT MAINTENANCE ON SLOPES, DR MALONE SAID MOST SLOPE FAILURES WERE TRIGGERED BY HEAVY RAINFALL.
DRAINS GET BLOCKED AND MUST BE KEPT CLEAR. SURFACING MATERIALS LIKE CONCRETE OR PLASTER OFTEN CRACK.
"CRACKS MUST BE SEALED. CLEANING OF DRAINS AND SEALING OF CRACKS MUST BE DONE ANNUALLY BEFORE THE WET SEASON STARTS, HE SAID.
MR MALONE NOTED THAT IF AN OWNER FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE SLOPE, IT WOULD DETERIORATE AND MIGHT BECOME LIABLE
TO COLLAPSE AND CAUSE DANGER.
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS THE OWNER TO RECTIFY THE SLOPE. IF HE DEFAULTS, CARRIED OUT BY HIRED SERVICES AND THE OWNER WILL BE BILL.
EMPOWERED TO ORDER THE WORK WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE
MORE THAN 350 STATUTORY ORDERS REQUIRING OWNERS TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR SUB-STANDARD SLOPES HAVE BEEN SERVED FOLLOWING STUDIES.
"ALMOST ALL PRIVATE OWNERS ACT RESPONSIBLY WHEN RECEIVING A NOTICE," DR MALONE SAID.
SUCH
A LEAFLET ENTITLED "KEEP YOUR SLOPES SAFE" HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY GRO. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND ARE BEING SENT TO BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND PROPERTY COMPANIES.
DR MALONE SAID OWNERS COULD NOW FIND OUT THE STATUS OF THEIR SLOPES FROM THE CATALOGUE OF SLOPES KEPT BY GEO,
THEY CAN
AND THE TO USE THE
CHECK WHETHER SLOPES HAVE BEEN STUDIED OUTCOME OF THE STUDY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE.
ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE 10,000 SLOPES LISTED IN THE CATALOGUE
ARE SUBJECT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED AND
TO SAFETY CHECKS ALONG WITH GOVERNMENT OWNED SLOPES.
GEOTECHNICAL STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON ABOUT 5,000 SLOPES. ONE OUT OF FIVE NEEDS TREATMENT TO UPGRADE THE SAFETY STANDARD.
THE UPGRADING WORKS ARE CARRIED OUT IN
PRIORITY
ACCORDING
TO
THE RISK LEVEL.
DR MALONE SAID PROBABLY IT WOULD TAKE FIVE THE STUDIES ON THE REMAINING SLOPES.
то YEARS
COMPLETE
/THE GOVERNMENT
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