74 Opal Tower apartments deemed safe as residents wait for report into cause of the defect

Residents from 74 apartments in the faulty Opal Tower will be forced to move back after the builder announced it would no longer pay food and accommodation expenses for units it deemed now safe to reoccupy.

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Residents from 74 apartments in the faulty Opal Tower will be forced to move back after the builder announced it would no longer pay food and accommodation expenses for units it deemed now safe to reoccupy.

It comes despite nervous residents still awaiting a NSW government-commissioned report into the cause of the defect and up to 137 apartments still being affected by remediation work.

In a letter to residents, Icon said people in apartments that had been given the green light by body corporate-appointed engineering firm Cardno would not be reimbursed for living expenses past Sunday breakfast.

Some residents will be forced to move back in after the builder announced some apartments were deemed safe to occupy. Picture: Tim Pascoe

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It also confirmed about 65 per cent of apartments in the Sydney Olympic Park tower, or 255 out of 392, were ready for reoccupation.

Some residents have been loath to move back until two NSW government-appointed professors of engineering hand down their final report, which isn’t due until late February or early March.

In an interim report released earlier this month, the professors recommended all residents delay moving back until further investigations are carried out by independent engineers.

An Icon spokeswoman on Sunday said the builder had relied on independent advice “at every stage”.

It is still a nervous wait for residents awaiting a NSW government-commissioned report into the cause of the defect. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“That’s been the role of Rincovitch (appointed by Icon) and moreover the role of Cardno on behalf the body corporate,” she said.

“Three engineering firms — WSP, Cardno and Rincovitch — signed off that these apartments are safe to reoccupy.

“We’re continuing to co-operate with all of the engineers including the government engineers.”

Residents who can’t return to the building will continue to be receive full reimbursement until at least Wednesday.

Opposition Leader Michael Daley called on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to step in and protect residents.

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley said residents are telling him they’re afraid of going into the building. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

The NSW government retains ownership of 11 apartments in the tower through the Sydney Olympic Park Authority.

“(Residents) are still telling me they’re afraid — they don’t want to go into that building, they feel unsafe in their own homes,” he said

“Has that independent engineer done the work yet? I don’t know.”

Ms Berejiklian said the government’s priority was ensuring residents have certainty, adding: “We want people to know where they stand”.

“If they’re told their homes are safe, well that’s good news,” she said.

Design engineering firm WSP said it had established a reoccupation schedule for units that are “physically remote from repairs/strengthening works or propping” and safe to reoccupy.

It maintained the tower was “structurally sound overall”.

Opal Tower was first evacuated on Christmas Eve when residents heard loud bangs and watched cracks appear on the 10th floor.