Damaged public housing flats to be repaired

Two units were gutted and a stairwell was damaged after fire ripped through block seven of Bega Court Flats on Cooyong Street following an explosion on June 25.

The government said at the time it was unsure if the ruined units would be repaired or left vacant because the complex has been marked for demolition and redevelopment.

But it now plans to pursue the repairs, at a cost of about $400,000.

A spokeswoman for Housing Minister Shane Rattenbury said an insurance assessor would review the units as it was possible the damage would be claimed on insurance.

The work to fix the flats is expected to take the rest of the year to complete. ''Following the fire, the flats were inspected and assessed for damage,'' she said.

''Preliminary estimated rectification works are approximately $400,000 and the expected timeframe is approximately 4-6 months for works to be completed.'' The three tenants affected by the fire had all been rehoused or had found alternative accommodation, the spokeswoman said.

In the days after the fire, investigators said they believed it was started using a flame accelerant. As well as gutting two units, the fire caused smoke damage in six others.

The proposed Cooyong Street redevelopment would involve the demolition of the Allawah, Bega and Currong public housing blocks.

It was originally envisaged the proposal would also include the development of St Patrick's Church and other church buildings.

But the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn told Fairfax Media in May that it no longer planned to sell its land.

The ACT government must vary the Territory Plan to allow for the redevelopment and the archdiocese is also challenging the heritage status of St Patrick's Church. ''We therefore don't have a timeframe as to the development as this will vary depending on the outcome of these matters,'' Mr Rattenbury's spokeswoman said.

Police said no arrests had been made in relation to the fire.