Residents at Claremont subdivision forced out of uncompliant homes that could ‘wash away’ in rain
Mushrooms sprouting from mould in the wardrobe, toilets that leaked when it rained and building materials turned into shrapnel in the wind — residents of a Hobart subdivision have revealed what went on inside. THEIR HORROR STORIES >>
Tasmania
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MORE horror stories have emerged from tenants who once lived in Claremont’s McGill Rise subdivision, with some branding it the “worst development in Tasmania”.
The Mercury exclusively revealed in today’s paper that residents are yet to return home three months after they had to vacate their uninhabitable properties, which were deemed by the council to have an “intolerable risk” in heavy rain which posed a threat to their lives.
The Glenorchy City Council and the state government’s Consumer, Building and Occupational Services have been investigating the stability of cuts, fills and embankments within the McGill Rise subdivision in Claremont.
Salina Cotton rented in McGill Rise while she was building.
“It was hideous – the oven stopped working and had to be replaced and it took me god knows how long to get that done,” she said.
“There were 73 electrical faults and the toilet leaked continuously. No matter how many times I had the plumber back it would leak right out on the carpet.
“The dishwasher wasn’t plumbed in when I first moved in, it was just shoved in the hole and when I turned it on, it flooded everywhere.
Nyssa Browne lived in one of the apartments when they were brand new.
“Air-conditioning wasn’t connected properly so water just poured down the wall when we turn it on,” she said.
“We had mushrooms growing from mould ... The front door leaked every time it rained. The dishwasher didn’t work.
“There was no waterproofing on the roof according to the guy who came and installed Foxtel, he kindly sealed the antenna hole. The side panels of the house came off several times.”
Ms Browne claimed the frame work for the house across the street fell down one night after just being put up, among even more issues.
“The shower leaked. I even complained to council about the health and safety issues as they left building materials on the road and footpaths, it would blow around, we had a piece of wood lodge into the side of the house,” she said.
“Horrible place, we would lay awake at night hoping the house wouldn’t fall down.
“I feel sorry for the people who have purchased these properties and those still living there.”
A council spokeswoman said of the 22 new homes, eight had to be vacated in March after they were deemed uninhabitable following an audit of the construction work and independent engineering advice.
“The audit found the building surveyor engaged by the developer did not provide adequate documentation to demonstrate the stability of building platforms for the construction methods that were used,” the spokeswoman said.
“Engineering reports have identified that there is ‘an intolerable risk’ that embankments for eight properties (out of 22) within the subdivision could collapse in a high rainfall event, posing a significant threat to life for any occupants of the affected properties.
“As a result of those reports, council acted swiftly to vacate the properties [in March] until full engineering assessments can be carried out and any necessary remediation works are completed.”
It is understood those vacated were tenants who have since been rehoused.
The council spokeswoman said current engineering advice did not recommend or anticipate the evacuation of any more properties at the subdivision located off Abbotsfield Rd.
“CBOS has also completed a subsequent audit of all McGill Rise properties to identify noncompliance with the National Construction Code and the Building Act and how any non-compliant work or processes might cause risk to owners, occupants and the general public,” she said.
“Where noncompliances with the National Construction Code have been identified, council has taken the necessary enforcement actions and will work with property owners to resolve.”
CBOS has begun disciplinary action against the building service providers involved in the development, where noncompliance was identified.
A Justice Department spokesman said no further comment could be made at this time as to what the disciplinary action was as the matter was ongoing.
“CBOS continues to monitor the situation,” the spokesman said.
The developers are publicly listed as being Aviation Consolidated Holdings Pty Ltd, with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission listing the current company directors as being UK-based George Ters and Mongolia-born Sunjidmaa Altankhuyag.
It is understood many of the properties within the subdivision are owned by superannuation funds based in Queensland.
Titles searches reveal Dico Superfund Pty Ltd and Blizzard and Ridley Property Fund Pty Ltd – both which have the same address listed as being a PO Box in Southport – as owners of some of the McGill Rise houses.
Despite issues with the vacated homes, PRD Hobart director Tony Collidge, who has the current listing for one of the homes, said interest was strong, with 5000 inquiries since it hit the market.
“This property has been signed off with all the documentation from relevant authorities to say it is compliant,” he said.
Attempts by the Mercury to contact the developers and owners were unsuccessful.
jessica.howard@news.com.au
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