Strong winds have damaged WorkSafe’s headquarters a fortnight after its official opening, forcing council to close sections of Gheringhap St and Malop St.
The damage shocked and angered some social media users, while others noted the irony of the situation.
“Will WorkSafe be conducting an investigation?” Andrew Jensen commented on a Geelong police post.
“Has anyone rung Worksafe to investigate?” asked Mark Reid on the same social media alert.
Winds of up to 122km/h wreaked havoc in Geelong on Tuesday afternoon and damaged an eave on the southwest corner of the headquarters about 3pm.
Engineers used a six-tonne crane to carry a scissor lift to the balcony of the building above the old wool brokers on Wednesday afternoon.
They extended the scissor lift while battling 50km/h winds to support the damaged eave and keep it secure.
Employees went to work on Wednesday despite the damage, a WorkSafe spokesperson said.
“Staff are able to access the building safely through the Gheringhap St entrance,” they said.
“The building’s owners (Quintessential Equity) are working with contractors and emergency services to repair the damage.”
Geelong police on Tuesday night warned locals to avoid the area due to safety concerns and expected heavy traffic disruptions during peak hour due to road closures.
But the closures caused traffic mayhem in central Geelong on Wednesday morning despite the warning.
The incident is not the first time strong winds have caused chaos at the site.
During construction on 16 August, 2017, strong winds blew two sheets of plasterboard from the top of the building, which plummeted 14 storeys and shattered on Corio Street.
“If it had have hit someone it would have killed them,” an anonymous witness told the Indy that day.
