‘Serious defects’ uncovered at Liverpool apartment development in building watchdog inspection

A residential development across from a Westfield shopping mall in Sydney’s southwest has come under scrutiny from the state’s building watchdog after more than 40 defects were uncovered.

83 Campbell St, Liverpool NSW.

A residential development across from a Westfield in Sydney’s southwest has come under scrutiny from the state’s building watchdog after more than 40 defects, including cracking, was uncovered at the site.

A building rectification order has been issued by Fair Trading NSW to developer Champs Properties Pty Ltd following an inspection of the apartment building at 83 Campbell St,

Liverpool.

An inspection identified 42 separate “serious” defects that, according to Fair Trading, failed to comply with Australian building standards.

83 Campbell St, Liverpool NSW.

The defects included surface cracking on all return landings of the fire stairs in the two basements, ground floor, level one and level two staircases where there was an additional topping slab.

A string of waterproofing shortfalls included an inadequate slope to the drainage outlets which has led to the accumulation of excess water, including a water ingress into the lift shaft, at the external common area, level seven and the rooftop.

Fair Trading also stated there was “no evidence” of waterproofing or sealing of external basement walls or adjacent property walls within the basement.

Fire safety issues were also raised after inspectors discovered the hydrant pipework installed throughout the basement levels was not protected from damage by fire.

83 Campbell St, Liverpool NSW.

The discharge fire door in the external common area couldn’t be “opened fully due to an obstruction”.

Other defects included a lack of flexible joints at an “apparent expansion joint in the brickwork” and zero brickwork staggering on a continuous vertical mortar joint which could “result in cracks in the wall sections outside of the specified locations” of the basement, ground floor, foyer and lobby.

Inspectors also found bowing to a brick wall, separation of a brick wall to an adjacent wall and a lack of brackets at “regular intervals to provide support”.

A further defect included a lack of brick ties – which are used to provide lateral restraint to the building.

“Due to the apparent bowing and gap between the concrete and masonry units, this appears to be a high risk item,” the report stated.

83 Campbell St, Liverpool NSW.

Assistant Building Commissioner Elizabeth Stewart, who issued the order, has required all defects to be remediated to ensure the building meets compliance standards.

“The potential consequence of the serious defects set out in this Order are that they may negatively impact the amenity of the Development for owners and occupiers of the development,” she said.

According to Fair Trading, the developer’s solicitors argued their client should not be given the order as they were “not the developer of the property”, nor were they the “principal contractor of the property at the relevant times”.

The solicitor also said Champs was “not responsible for the overall co-ordination and control of the building works” and the order can only be issued to the developer of the relevant building work.

However, Assistant Building Commissioner Elizabeth Stewart said “insufficient evidence has been provided to establish that the developer is not the developer” when finalising the order.