‘Uncontrolled cracking’ uncovered at 13A Third Ave, Campsie

A residential development in Sydney’s southwest has been ordered to carry out rectification works after the state’s building watchdog uncovered “uncontrolled cracking” at the site.

16 defects have been discovered at 13A Third Avenue Campsie

A residential development in Sydney’s southwest has been ordered to carry out rectification works after the state’s building watchdog uncovered “uncontrolled cracking” at the site.

A building rectification order has been issued by Fair Trading NSW to developer JT Interior Lining Pty Ltd following an inspection of an apartment building at 13A Third Ave, Campsie.

An inspection identified 16 separate “serious” defects that, according to Fair Trading, failed to comply with Australian building standards.

The defects included uncontrolled cracking of 2mm to 4mm in the basement with some cracks migrating to the suspended post tension tab with water permeating through.

Inspectors state the issue needed to be “controlled so that structural performance is not compromised”.

have been ordered to rectify defects uncovered at 13A Third Avenue Campsie

Other defects included multiple waterproofing shortfalls, including water discovered inside the building at the stormwater outlet pits and large volumes of ponding water at the roof areas.

Inspectors also found composite aluminium cladding with more than 30 per cent of polyethylene – a potential combustible material – on various walls and panels at the apartment building.

This comes after a notice was issued in August 2018 by the Commissioner of Fair Trading NSW prohibiting the use of aluminium composite panels with a core greater than 30 per cent polyethylene.

Fire safety issues were also raised, including the fire damper – a fire protection product used inventilation ducts to stop the spread of fire inside the ducting system – not being installed correctly inside the building.

There were also defects relating to hollow voids inside concrete walls which was “highly likely to have compromised the structural integrity and reinforcement concrete cover”.

Inspectors also found overflow provisions weren’t installed on the balconies across multiple units which are crucial for “stormwater to be collected and conveyed in gutters and downpipes.”

16 defects have been discovered at 13A Third Avenue Campsie

No overflow provisions were observed on the balconies across multiple units throughout the complex, which is used to collect and move stormwater to gutters and downpipes.

Assistant Building Commissioner Elizabeth Stewart, who issued the order on January 12, has required all defects to be remediated within 120 days to ensure the building meets compliance standards.

“I accept that the order requires considerable further building work that is likely to be costly,” she said.

“However, the cost to the developer must be balanced against the benefit to the occupiers in having the development constructed to the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards.

According to Fair Trading, the developer argued the “composite aluminium cladding was compliant and not prohibited at the time of installation, and is therefore not a serious defect”.