Building commissioner issues orders to make repairs to 10 developments

Cracked slabs, death trap car stackers and concrete cancer are just some of the issues with 10 apartment buildings - nine in Sydney - that have been ordered to make major repairs. CHECK OUT OUR INTERACTIVE SPECIAL.

Almost 1000 apartments worth more than $500 million are the subject of fix it orders under a crackdown by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler.

The orders relate to 10 developments — nine of them in Sydney — which have issues ranging from shoddy tiles, cracked slabs, death trap car stackers, fire safety issues, concrete cancer risks to waterproofing problems.

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But two developers are now trying to overturn the ­orders in the Land and ­Environment Court.

Since Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson secured landmark building reforms in September last year, Mr Chandler has issued the 10 developers with 17 orders to either fix work, stop work or prevent them from getting building occupation certificates.

The orders are aimed at restoring buyer confidence following the discovery of major build problems in the Opal and Mascot towers in December 2018 and June 2019 – which left people homeless and their apartments’ value plummeting.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The reforms also seek to have problems identified and fixed before people move into new developments.

None of the developers cited are major brands, although Mr Chandler has issued warnings to tier 1 and 2 developers – the largest companies working on projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Real estate agent advertising for two of the ten buildings – in Forster and Lindfield – both spruik “quality” in either their finishes or overall construction. The online ads make no mention that the ­developers of those properties have been served with building work rectification orders by Mr Chandler.

In two separate matters before the Land and Environment Court, OandE Developments, which has a development in Strathfield, and Australian YMCI, which has a development in Lidcombe, are appealing orders dished out by the NSWBC.

Mr Chandler’s office has also audited the occupation certificate of 67 projects, handing out one fine.

Mr Anderson said further reforms coming in July 1 will make the industry more accountable for their work.

“No one deserves to have the Great Australian Dream of home ownership turn into a nightmare of defects and plummeting values, so I’ve made sure that builders will be accountable when their work is not up to scratch,” Mr Anderson said.

Originally published as Building commissioner issues orders to make repairs to 10 developments