Removal of flammable cladding from apartment blocks under the NSW Government Project Remediate program will commence following the summer holiday period, after it was previously expected work would begin by the end of this year.

“The project has made a lot of progress including appointing a managing contractor, onboarding the Global Façade Consultant and briefing strata communities,” Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said today.

“The next step is to begin triage works in the coming months on those building that have signed up to the project, before commencing remediation straight after the traditional summer break in the trades industries.”

Mr Anderson says the program is complex, given each building is unique and will need a specific detailed plan to remediate, with the focus on completing the work as efficiently and safely as possible.

“I remain confident it will be completed by the end of 2023,” he said.

Building firm Hansen Yuncken has been appointed as managing contractor for the program, which has received Budget funding of $139 million.

Mr Anderson said in February that it was estimated that high-risk combustible cladding would be removed from about 225 buildings across the state.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the start of flammable cladding removal has been delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.