Another Sydney highrise may be at risk at collapse

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Yet another Sydney apartment development is facing serious safety questions. The building commission says the complex of 900 units at Macquarie Park in the city's north-west is at risk of collapse.

Transcript

00:00 The statement from the Building Commission is serious in its nature and its wording.

00:07 In it, the Acting Assistant Commissioner Matt Press says he holds concerns there is serious

00:13 damage to the concrete slab at the joint locations in the building's basement.

00:18 He writes, "This is a defect in a building product or element that causes the basement

00:22 slab to fail, namely to fracture and collapse, leading to the destruction of the building

00:29 or any part, or the threat of collapse of the building or any part."

00:34 He's issued the developer, Greenland, with a work rectification order.

00:39 That means the developer is required to scan the concrete, to undertake a series of engineering

00:45 reports and to fix the defects.

00:48 These buildings hold around 900 units and at the base of those are commercial shops

00:53 and restaurants.

00:55 One of those business owners told me he hasn't been told a thing about these concerns and

01:00 says he is extremely worried about the situation.

01:03 It's a bit concerning.

01:04 I hope it's not that bad.

01:08 All I wish is that we're still here operating.

01:11 The last thing we need is to lose our businesses here or just have to walk away.

01:16 Late Wednesday, the state government said it had received strong advice from the Building

01:20 Commission that these defects don't pose a threat to safety, but they are serious and

01:26 must be repaired to avoid long-term risk.

01:29 Throughout the afternoon, it's been business as usual.

01:33 As residents have come and gone, many are not willing to speak on camera, but they've

01:37 told me they have not been informed about the situation.

01:41 One woman told me that she is concerned and that she no longer wants to stay in this building.

01:46 The ABC has reached out to the developer Greenland as well as the Building Commission.

01:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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