The University of Queensland’s Properties and Facilities Division (P&F) has been working at UQ’s Herston’s campus during the weekend to repair storm damage to the Mayne Medical School, School of Population Health building, Edith Cavell Building and Old Milk Kitchen.
The majority of damage is broken glass, wet carpet and furnishings. Repairs have centred on re-glazing windows and removing broken glass. In many instances windows have been boarded up with timber ply until suitable glazing can be arranged.
Many rooms have now been cleaned and vacuumed to remove broken glass from carpet and these rooms will be able to be reoccupied early this week.
As an added precaution, much of this carpet will be replaced in the coming months. Some soft furniture will be removed if it has been exposed to glass splinters and will be replaced as soon as possible.
The following areas have serious water damage and many offices, rooms and corridors are littered with broken glass.
Mayne Medial School Building: All Levels of the three-storey building on Herston Road, Herston, sustained significant damage and broken windows, causing flooding in most offices.
Edith Cavell Building and Old Milk Kitchen: The Edith Cavell Building and Old Milk Kitchen are closed due to extreme window, roof and water damage. Both buildings will be closed until further notice and P&F and Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences staff are working on an alternative occupation plan for staff in these buildings.
School of Population Health Building: Flooding in hallways, the stairwell and a central room lead to extensive water damage, partly caused by the smashing of a large window at the end of a corridor.
P&F have advised that in some cases rooms will not be safe to re-occupy today. Signs will be attached to these rooms. Generally, rooms that have extensive saturated carpet and broken windows are not suitable for use until further notice.
Anyone intending to work from their damaged rooms this week are strongly advised to wear completely covered shoes. Glass fragments and splinters may be hidden from view. Pedestrians moving in and around buildings are also advised to exercise care. Shattered glass is still spread around some building perimeters.
There a several areas of minor damage, which have not yet been addressed and staff are asked to be patient until work crews are allocated.
UQ staff should contact their managers, details below, to seek advice on work arrangements in the coming days.
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Contacts:
School of Population Health: Wayne Pitman, 0438 485 622, w.pitman@uq.ed.au
Edith Cavell Building and Old Milk Kitchen: Dr Harmony Rose, 0411 659 533, harmony.rose@uq.edu.au
School of Medicine: Christina Balmori, 0409 266 316, c.balmori@uq.edu.au
Media: Bernadette Condren, Media Manager, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, +61 7 3346 5309, b.condren@uq.edu.au
