Approval process could delay Opal Tower repairs for months
Work to fix apartments at the trouble-hit Opal Tower could be stalled for months in the latest blow to residents, some of whom have been out of home for more than a month.
Work to fix apartments at the trouble-hit Opal Tower could be stalled for months in the latest blow to residents, some of whom have been out of home for more than a month.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that builder Icon must secure a chain of approvals before work can begin because new plans for the internal communal gardens — where cracks first appeared on level 10 — differ from the original design of the building.
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It’s understood Icon will need to get the tick of approval from owners of every apartment where remediation and rectification works are occurring as well as the body corporate.
Three areas require rectification and strengthening works on levels 4 and 10 — where engineers reported finding “major damage” — and level 16.
However, it’s not known exactly how many owners on these floors will need to sign off on the plans.
It comes as residents from 74 apartments will likely be forced back into the so-called “construction site” this week after Icon announced it would no longer pay for food and accommodation expenses in units it deemed safe to reoccupy.
A source close to the Opal Tower investigation said the complicated approvals process could significantly delay much-needed remediation work.
“It could mean at least 2-3 months before a hammer is even laid on the building,” the source said.
“It’s a lot more complicated than the builder originally thought.”
Asked whether remediation works could be put off for months because of the necessary approvals, an Icon spokeswoman confirmed: “It may”.
“(We) require owners’ consent and BC (body corporate) where we are working in common areas,” the spokeswoman said, adding the process was already underway.
She said the builder may need approval from owners of four units but would not know until the final remediation solution was delivered.
A Department of Planning and Environment spokesman said there was “no requirement” for it to approve remedial works at this stage.
The NSW government owns 11 units in the building that are rented as affordable housing.
The Telegraph understands some frustrated residents now want the developer Ecove to buy back their apartments.
But Ecove director Bassam Aflak said: “I’m not aware of any requests for buy backs”.
The 36-storey tower in Sydney Olympic Park was evacuated on Christmas Eve after residents heard loud bangs and watched cracked appear.
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