Jordan Springs sinking home owners in limbo as council investigates

Homeowners in Sydney’s sinking suburb will spend months in limbo as authorities try to work out what’s threatening properties worth more than $600m — fearing the situation is devaluing their suburb and homes.

• Fears for over 800 homes in sinking Penrith suburb
• Glenmore Park homes abandoned after subsidence

Strung out homeowners in western Sydney’s sinking suburb will remain in limbo for “some months” as authorities try to confirm exactly what is causing homes to crack and roads to sink.

Yet the local council has taken a stab at the “inherent conflicts of private certification” – a process which removes their ability to police emerging development issues.

Jordan Springs East residents are calling on Penrith Council remove, as quickly as possible, “notations” or official subsidence warnings to prospective homebuyers.

Subsidence at Amit Vohra’s driveway before Lendlease repaired the issue.

The landfill used in the development of the area Lendlease is allegedly insufficiently compacted and is subsiding, damaging homes and ­directly impacting an estimated $605 million worth of residential property built on the land.

Experts employed by developer Lendlease believe only 90 homes in the Armoury Rd area are impacted — a fraction of the council estimates.

Father Amit Vohra, mother Giggle Sethi and son Vivaan Vohra at their home in Jordan Springs East. Their driveway and front lawn sank as a result of subsidence.

Navy Rd homeowner Amit Vohra – whose family home is currently subject to a council notation – called on those involved to get it fixed.

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Six months ago Lendlease repaired Mr Vohra’s driveway and front lawn after it sank.

His neighbouring property remains abandoned because of excessive cracking.

“I have no problems in the internal parts of my home but I am not sure what will happen inside the home in two or five years’ time,” Mr Vohra said.

“We are hoping the council reports will confirm that the issues have been resolved and there is no danger of further sinking of land.”

The street in Jordan Springs East where houses are subsiding. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A damaged house from sinking land in Jordan Springs East. This is not Amit Vohra’s home.

Other residents, who did not want to be named, said “the notations have damaged the suburb’s reputation and devalued homes”.

“There are many people who are considering legal action,” the owner said.

Penrith Council the complexity of the ongoing investigations, involving numerous experts, “means a clearer understanding of the extent of the fill of relative compaction maybe some months away”.

“Our investigations are continuing and will include an assessment of public assets across the Jordan Springs East precinct, such as roads and footpaths, including the impact that fill of low relative compaction may have on the life expectancy of these assets and relevant maintenance costs,” a council spokesman said.

Since the saga began Lendlease has bought back 20 homes and offers remain open on 22 others.

They have also offered to repair any of the precinct’s public assets impacted by excessive ground settlement issues.

Two homes have been ­demolished because of excessive cracking.

Rhys Callaghan’s home, along with 840 others, has a notation on it from Penrith Council warning of subsidence issues in the area. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Speaking about the Jordan Springs East development, a council spokesman said “private certification has been a concern of Penrith City Council, and other councils in NSW, for some years”.

“Council believes that the inherent conflicts with private certification in some cases need to be fixed as a matter of priority to mitigate the risks arising from those conflicts,” the spokesman said.

Lendlease senior development manager Kevin Montier said the company is not aware of excessive settlement issues in any houses outside of the impacted area.

“We’re urging council to provide clarity to customers around the removal of the notation from properties which are not impacted, and we remain committed to working with council for the benefit of our customers,” Mr Montier said.

The company has established a compensation scheme with the Commissioner of Fair Trading and many of our customers are currently accessing that scheme.

“We know how important our customers’ homes and community are, and we are very sorry for stress and anxiety this issue is causing residents,” Mr Montier said.

“Everything we are doing is first and foremost to support them.”

Originally published as Jordan Springs sinking home owners in limbo as council investigates