Building Commissioner bars owners from moving into Skyview project at Castle Hill

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has told Skyview project developers Toplace their property has “serious defects”, leaving more than 200 apartment buyers waiting.

One of the towers in developer Jean Nassif’s mega project at Castle Hill has just hit a major stumbling block, threatening to delay the project for months.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has issued Skyview development owners Toplace with an order which effectively prohibits residents from moving into the $900 million development.

The Commissioner has found “serious defects” in relation to the concrete slabs and ordered that an occupation certificate not be issued until such time as the problems are fixed.

The prohibition order is the latest headache for the company, which had NSW Fair Trading officers inspect the building in April after a whistleblower sent pictures of cracked slabs to a number of state MPs.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler. Picture: Tim Hunter

The order also means more than 200 off-the-plan purchasers will be waiting even longer before they can move into their new homes, some of which are worth more than $1 million.

“Our office issued an occupation certificate prohibition order on Toplace Groups’ Skyview apartments complex in Castle Hill following an independent review,” NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said.

Remediation works at the Toplace building. Source: Supplied

“We (have) been assured by the company that they intend to stand by their building and that they will address the matters raised.

“The Office of the Building Commissioner and NSW Fair Trading will work with Toplace to formalise their undertaking and we will then review the prohibition order.”

The prohibition order says the basement ground slabs “show extensive signs of cracking due to no saw joints being installed”.

There are also missing expansion joints in the basement slabs and suspended slabs that are not independent of one another, according to the order.

Toplace property developer Jean Nassif.

The problems were described as “serious defects”.

“I, David Chandler, an authorised delegate of the Secretary, am satisfied that there is a serious defect in the building and accordingly make an Order under s 9 of the Act prohibiting the issue of an occupation certificate and the registration of a strata plan in relation to the building,” Mr Chandler said in the prohibition order.

But a Toplace spokesman said the company will ensure remediation works will be “monitored by an independent structural engineer and that Toplace (will) provide surety that it will stand behind the development”.

“Toplace is organising for that surety to be provided, which will occur shortly, and anticipates that once in place an occupation certificate will be issued,” a Toplace spokesman said.

“Mr Jean Nassif has offered to personally guarantee the works.”

Cracks in the basement carpark. Source: Supplied

The development plans to have more than 900 apartments over five separate towers.

Mr Nassif was the little-known property developer until his Instagram video of wife Nisserine – “Congratulations Mrs Nassif – you like?” went viral.

The 2019 video, where he is gifting his wife a $480,000 yellow Lamborghini, spawned a host of spoof videos.