Defects found at Mays Hill apartment block on Great Western Highway

A string of defects in a western Sydney unit complex indicate “structural distress” and could lead to “smoke spreading in an uncontrolled manner” if a fire broke out.

Several defects were found at the apartment block at 141-147 Great Western Highway, Mays Hill.

A litany of serious defects have been discovered in a large 84-apartment complex at Mays Hill, where residents’ safety could be compromised in an emergency.

The NSW Building Commission has demanded the defects be fixed after an inspection of the seven-storey dual-building complex at 141- 147 Great Western Highway in June.

Great Western Highway Developments has been ordered to repair the string of faults to meet Australian standards in the buildings, which house a two-level basement carpark with 125 spaces and shops on the ground floor.

Shonky waterproofing systems were found in the carpark, where there was no evidence of drainage along the walls.

“The penetration of water has led to water ingress and caused unhealthy or dangerous conditions, loss of amenity for occupants and undue dampness or deterioration of building elements,’’ the report stated.

Defects pose fire safety threats for residents and firefighters.

Inadequate drainage was also identified in another basement and no pipes in another part of the carpark caused flooding.

Fire safety hazards were revealed with cracks in concrete walls and floors in the switchboard room.

The report stated the crack compromised fire resistance.

“The failure to adequately protect openings could lead to fire or smoke spreading in an uncontrolled manner through the building,’’ it stated.

Residents’ ability to evacuate in an emergency could also be impeded because of the failure to provide fire protective or non-combustible covering or smoke seals in doors to cupboards in public corridors.

“The location of services without protection presents a hazard to the occupants and impedes their ability to evacuate safely,’’ the report continued.

The complex houses 84 units and ground-floor shops. Picture: Google

Also contributing to a safe evacuation was the step near fire doors being a “trip hazard” that could “delay the safe evacuation of the building in the event of a fire”.

Firefighters could also be blocked if a blaze broke out because the hydrants in “multiple locations” had insufficient clearance of 100mm around the valve handwheel.

Fire risks continued with no or inadequate openings through fire-rated concrete slabs and walls.

“The failure to adequately protect openings could lead to fire or smoke spreading in an uncontrolled manner through the building,’’ the report warned.

The lack of a fire hydrant gauge at the top of the stairs on the sixth floor in building A was also a breach of Australian standards.

Both basement carparks hosted “uncontrolled cracking”, between 0.3mm and 1.3mm wide, in the basement slab.

“It was observed that some of the cracks were patch repaired with several different products,’’ the report stated.

“It needs to be confirmed whether the products used are suitable for concrete repairs.

“This was a recurring defect throughout the basement 2 carpark.’

“The cracking reduces the durability of the concrete element, resulting in a reduced service life.

“Additionally, the cracks may be a sign of structural distress and failure.’’

The developer must repair defects between February and June 2025.