Ecove remains confident in One30 Hyde Park tower despite growing concerns over cracked Opal Tower

Multimillion-dollar property developer, Ecove, responsible for Sydney Olympic Park’s cracking Opal Tower, is defending other projects under its name.

The lobby interior of ONE30 Hyde Park in Sydney.

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MULTIMILLION-Dollar property developer, Ecove, responsible for Sydney Olympic Park’s cracking Opal Tower, is defending other projects under its name.

Developer Ecove Property Group, currently under a spotlight over a series of frightening cracks appearing in its Opal Tower building, is also nearing completion of a 38-storey residential skyscraper overlooking Hyde Park at 130 Elizabeth St, Sydney.

The $121 million development, which includes 140 apartments, is due to be completed in April and will feature an underground Museum station link earmarked to “improve station entry experience” with a sweeping staircase and circular frameless glass structure

Cracks began to appear in the Opal Tower on Christmas Eve, which caused the building to be evacuated.

One30 Hyde Park.

Director of Ecove, Bassam Aflak said they are extremely confident in the quality of their builder, Built, their partner Aoyuan International and their respective processes for the construction of the One30 Hyde Park tower.

“There is no reason to assume that other projects, including One30 Hyde Park, would have similar issues to those at Opal, as it appears to be an isolated issue still being investigated by Icon, the builder and a range of engineers,” Mr Aflak said.

Opal Tower at Homebush photographed at dusk. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Residents, Vivian Lu (white t-shirt) with husband Eason (blue and red stripes) and her mother Missy (black and white stripes) and other angry residents outside the Opal Tower at Homebush in Sydney's west. Pic: John Feder/The Australian.

“We are extremely confident that the events at Opal Tower are an isolated, unique situation.

“We are dealing with two very different projects with a different team of top-tier builders and engineers.”

Mr Aflak said Aoyuan International is the majority stakeholder in One30 Hyde Park and had been in the lead on the project.

Urban Taskforce chief executive Chris Johnson said despite concerns from Opal Tower residents, stakeholders have not contacted the taskforce regarding other developments by Ecove Property Group, including 130 Elizabeth St, Sydney.

“NSW planning laws are stringent,” he said.

A penthouse at Ecove's ONE30 Hyde Park in Sydney has sold for more than $9-million.

“Large projects must meet the Building Code of Australia standards and the requirements in State Government and Council planning rules covering construction and physical requirements.”

Mr Johnson said building certifiers do not check every part of the building against the Building Code of Australia.

“I believe our construction industry is pretty good particularly for high rise apartment towers but there will always be some form of defect in large buildings that will need attention,” he said.

“The NSW Government has introduced a bond system to keep money to make any rectifications.”

A city of Sydney spokeswoman said the McKenzie Group Consulting Pty Ltd is the principal certifying authority for the One30 Hyde Park development.

“As such, they are responsible for the certification and construction of the building,” she said.

“The City of Sydney does not have final sign off on the development.”

The development was first proposed to City of Sydney Council on January 17, 2014 in a two stage residential application, before it was approved by the Central City Planning Committee on August 6, 2015.

A series of revisions were made to the proposal, which was approved on June 21, 2017.