Cronulla: Iridium Developments ordered to fix defects at Wavelength apartments

A beachfront Sydney apartment building has been hit with a fresh wave of defects, adding to a growing list of problems that have plagued the luxury residential development.

Cronulla’s Wavelength apartments where more serious defects have been found. Picture: Google

A fresh wave of serious defects has been identified in a luxury Cronulla apartment building which has already been riddled with multiple defects in its short four-year history.

The NSW Building Commission has issued the developers of the Wavelength complex – opposite Cronulla Beach – with a work rectification order which it must repair by March 16.

Following an inspection in December 2023, Iridium Developments was presented with a fresh orders in April last year relating to fire safety systems and ductwork at the building on 49-57 Gerrale St.

The residential building has 67 apartments, ground floor businesses and an underground carpark opposite Cronulla Beach.

Red flags were raised during the inspection which found unprotected openings in a wall required to be fire resistant in the ground floor corridor between a shop and the waste room.

The residential building is riddled with defects. Picture: Google

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

Fire-resistant levels (FLR) in hollow block walls also posed a fire hazard on the ground floor walls.

“The failure to achieve the minimum FLR means that the building element will not be able to perform (structural stability, integrity, insulation) in a fire,’’ the report continued.

“This could endanger occupants and the fire brigade.’’

Unsealed ductwork was also found in fire stairs on all levels where it expelled soot, which the developer said originated from the cooking exhaust of the ground-floor restaurant and was not related to combustion occuring in the building itself.

It said the matter has since been resolved.

It must be sealed to prevent the expulsion of hazardous materials.

The report stated: “The improper installation of the rigid duct could reduce the building’s overall energy efficiency, reduce the air handling system’s capacity and lead to a build-up of objectionable or noxious gases.

How realtors pitched the development before it was constructed in 2018.

“This could endanger occupants and the fire brigade.’’

Worryingly, soot was also detected escaping from a fire protected compartment in the building’s fire stairs because of unprotected gaps between building elements such as floors, walls, beams and columns.

The building inspector warned the failure to adequately protect joints could lead to fire or smoke spreading in an “uncontrolled manner” through the building.

Another fault was the absence of a pressurisation system, or smoke vents, on the ground level.

Along with the developers, the rectification order wasissued to Sutherland Shire Council, the Office of the Registrar General and the Owners’ Corporation.

In a statement, an Iridium Developments Trust spokeswoman said it had promptly engaged multiple suitably qualified fire and mechanical engineers to steadily undertake the required works.

“As it stands, three of the five listed defects have already been reported to the commission as rectified, including issues relating to unprotected openings in a wall required to be fire resistant levels on the ground floor and issues with the pressurisation system.

The building has been plagued with defects since it was completed in 2021.

In April 2023, 13 separate defects relating to waterproofing, fire safety systems, structural systems and essential building services were found.

The Iridium spokeswoman said an order was revoked in September after it complied with the first rectification order and addressed problems with waterproofing, fire safety systems and cracking in concrete slabs.

“Iridium remains committed to working closely with the NSW Building Commission to satisfactorily resolve the situation at Wavelength and looks forward to welcoming additional residents to the building in 2025.’’

Originally published as Cronulla: Iridium Developments ordered to fix defects at Wavelength apartments