Opal Tower: engineers Cardno say concrete investigation required at Olympic Park

Residents of the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park have begun moving back in, despite an engineer’s warning that major remedial works are still required.

There has been more activity at Opal Tower since the weekend. Picture: Steven Deare

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Residents of the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park have begun moving back in, despite an engineer’s warning that major remedial works are still required.

A small number of residents returned to the Australia Ave property carrying some of their belongings over the weekend after builder Icon allowed some to return permanently.

Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Most residents have been provided hotel rooms at Olympic Park while repairs were carried out to cracks in precast concrete on level 10.

While Icon and the building’s engineers WSP say people can return, owners at the building hired their own expert after they were evacuated on December 24 and 27.

That expert, Cardno Engineering, told residents in a letter it was reluctant to recommend residents return at an early stage.

Residents such as Ehsan and Saghar Jahanandish have endured plenty of frustration since being evacuated.

It said the structural adequacy of the building was still to be confirmed by WSP.

There were stabilising works under way to reduce stress in critical regions, according to Cardno, and these must be completed.

Two investigations also needed to be completed, according to Cardno.

These would confirm concrete strength in damaged areas, and whether the poor reinforcing of the precast concrete on level 10 which suffered “significant concrete spalling” was isolated or systemic.

Some of the propping inside the tower.

Spalling is a type of deterioration which happens due to poor finishing and excess moisture in the concrete.

Propping has been used inside the tower to prevent further damage.

“Because of the considerable disruption that the completion of the major remedial works will cause to residents who may choose to return, Cardno is reluctant to recommend that residents return at an early stage,” the firm said in its letter.

Workers have cut open walls to ensure the stability of the tower.

Residents will continue to be provided hotel rooms until Cardno’s requests are met, according to the strata committee.

An Icon representative was yet to return calls requesting comment.

Two engineers appointed by the government to oversee the repairs are also examining the repairs, and are due to discuss their findings soon.

Developer Ecove unveiled the 37-storey tower in August.

Residents had lived there only four months before they heard cracking inside.

Most residents been allowed limited access to their homes to collect belongings since December 27.