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Fears of a catastrophic apartment fire – like the one that occurred in London’s Grenfell Tower in June – have prompted Macquarie Fields MP Anoulack Chanthivong (Labor) to issue a plea to the state government. Mr Chanthivong and opposition spokeswoman for innovation and better regulation Yasmin Catley have called on the government to identify and mend complexes in south west Sydney which contain flammable, aluminium cladding. Similar cladding was to blame for the ferocity of the fire which killed 80 people in the London blaze. With several areas in Mr Chanthivong’s electorate set to become a haven for high rises, the local MP said it was important to mitigate the risk of current complexes and ensure future buildings were up to standard. “This is preemptive action,” Mr Chanthivong. “South west Sydney has witnessed a high rise boom in recent years. We need to get to the bottom of this cladding issue to ensure any dangerous or illegal material is identified and replaced as quickly as possible. “The government is also planning the corridor strategy which will see high density living (around Macarthur’s seven train stations). “The Grenfell Tower blaze could have been avoided if safety measures were in place.” Ms Catley said it was still not known whether many buildings contained the flammable cladding. “The Berejiklian government should have known about this issue for more than two years,” she said. “It has taken the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower inferno in London to get them to do anything. “We still don’t know where these buildings are and who will pick up the bill to make sure they are safe.” Campbelltown councillor Ben Moroney also called for Campbelltown to take the first step at preventing tragedy by requesting the council deliver a report into local buildings which could have the same cladding. His motion was amended and the council instead decided to write to local members asking them to request an urgent state government investigation into the matter. Mr Chanthivong has also called for the Bronto fire truck – which features a 37-metre ladder and rescue basket – to be returned to the St Andrews Fire Station. The truck is no longer at the station after NSW Fire and Rescue decided mid-last year to replace it with a Telesquirter – a truck with a 15-metre ladder and aerial pump commonly used to fight industrial blazes. The closest station with a Bronto is located in Parramatta. Mr Chanthivong said the Bronto was needed given the predicted influx of high rise buildings. “They should bring back the Bronto for our local community,” he said.

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