Developers of new Cammeray, Waitara, Warrawee apartment, commercial buildings ordered to fix defects

Cracks, mould and corrosion were among a list of defects identified during the latest blitz on newly built developments in Sydney’s north shore.

A photo of the Cammeray development – one of three buildings identified with defects in the latest construction sector blitz.

Three new apartment developments have been hit with orders to have serious defects fixed during the latest blitz by the state’s building regulator.

In the space of just one week, the NSW Building Commission issued rectification orders to developments in Cammeray, Waitara and Warrawee following inspections which found parts of each development did not meet Australian building compliance standards.

At 467-473 Miller St in Cammeray, a rectification order was issued to building company Pavilion Residences No. 2 Pty Ltd to remediate nine defects at the site relating to waterproofing and structural systems of the development.

According to the Building Commission, defects at the site included water accumulating in areas of the building and “significant corrosion” to mechanical ducts.

There were also signs of water entering through a ceiling of a bedroom and as well as water “continuously dripping” into basement areas of the development.

The Cammeray development.

Water had made sections of the building “unsuitable to be used” by a tenant/owner, according to the Building Commission’s report.

Pavilion Residences No. 2 Pty Ltd has been given a deadline of up to six months to rectify the defects.

At 51-53A Balmoral St in Waitara, a rectification order was issued to builder Waitara Group Pty Ltd to fix 42 separate defects including “uncontrolled cracking” in the basement slabs of the development.

Other defects included waterproofing works which were deemed by the Building Commission as inadequate to prevent mould and water accumulating in areas of the building.

There were also defects relating to fire standards including hose reels that were not long enough to provide protection to the entire basement carpark in the case of an emergency, and a failure to ensure fire doors were sized correctly to prevent large gaps.

At 2B Heydon Ave in Warrawee, a total of 12 defects were identified relating to waterproof, fire safety and structural systems.

51-53A Balmoral Street in Waitara.

In parts of the building, water ingress has led to “unhealthy or dangerous conditions, loss of amenity for occupants and undue dampness”, according to the inspection report.

Builder Baraz Construction Pty Ltd has been given until May 15 to rectify the defects.

Each order was issued by the Building Commission which regulates the construction sector in NSW to ensure the quality of residential buildings.

The rectification orders are aimed at requiring developers to make sure serious defects are remediated in a timely and cost effective way.