Botany: Multiple defects uncovered at Pemberton on the Park development in building watchdog inspection
Residents of a major apartment complex built by developer Jean Nassif are facing an anxious wait to find out who will repair a litany of serious defects discovered at the site.
Southern Courier
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Residents in a major apartment complex built by developer Jean Nassif are facing an anxious wait to find out who will repair a litany of serious defects discovered at the site.
The state’s building commissioner has issued a rectification order for the $260m ‘Pemberton on the Park’ complex at Botany following an inspection of the 269-unit complex.
In all, 14 separate defects have been identified at the complex at 1A & 1B Madden Close, 3 Madden Close, 16 & 18 Pemberton Street, 2 Mahroot Street, & 2 & 4 Saxby Close relating to the structure of the building, fire safety standards, waterproofing and essential building services.
An inspection report released by Fair Trading on Friday shows the defects included uncontrolled cracking of a basement soffit and slab which Fair Trading says could further deteriorate if not remediated.
The multiple defects relating to fire safety included absence of sufficient smoke and heat alarms installed throughout the development – presenting a risk to occupants in the event of a fire emergency.
The defects relating to waterproofing included water penetrating into habitable areas of the development and into the basement car park. There was also an absence of a fire hydrant in the ground floor area of the development.
Other defects included no physical protection for pipes running vertically along basement columns within the site which Fair Trading stated “could cause localised flooding leading to damage”.
On Friday, the building rectification order was issued to developer JKN Australia Pty Ltd which ASIC records show is headed up by director Jean Nassif.
The company – however – has been placed into external administration. Last Monday, insolvency firm Dvt Group was appointed as the company’s administrators.
Nassif – whose property empire included Toplace – is currently overseas and hiding in rural Lebanon, as revealed by the Daily Telegraph, while facing fraud allegations. In June, NSW Police issued a warrant for his arrest.
A Fair Trading spokesman said JKN Australia was the developer of the Botany site and Toplace was the builder.
It is unclear when the defects will be fixed – and who will be responsible for the repairs.
“Both entities are currently under voluntary administration and the administration process will determine whether either entity remediates the defects,” the Fair Trading spokesman said.
NSW Assistant Building Commissioner Matthew Whitton said the defects discovered at the Botany development failed to comply with multiple Australian building standards.
“I accept that the order requires specified actions that are likely to be costly. However, the cost to the developer must be balanced against the benefit to the occupiers to be gained from identifying the specific building work that will eliminate the serious defects,” he said.
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