‘Risks to structural integrity’: Photos reveal Sydney apartment tower’s slab defects and leaks

1 week ago 2

For dozens of Sydneysiders who bought into a multimillion-dollar Pyrmont apartment building, their dream of home ownership has morphed into a nightmare after the discovery of serious building defects including “uncontrolled cracking” in the building’s slab and water ingress through multiple sections of the complex.

The NSW Building Commission has ordered the developer of the Harbour Mill apartment tower to rectify a list of serious defects including cracking in the concrete slab and walls in the basement of the 136-unit development.

The rectification order, issued by the commission, identified seven separate defects including “water ponding” and ingress in multiple units, water penetration in the building’s basement, and inadequate structural connections or supports in balustrades.

The commission’s acting director of building compliance, Donald van Keimpema, said the defects had resulted in “water ingress, deterioration of building elements, safety risks, and loss of amenity for occupants”.

He said the uncontrolled cracking identified during inspections could “reduce the durability” of concrete in the basement and “may be a sign of structural distress and failure” of the 10-storey tower on Jones Street.

“The findings confirm serious non-compliance, posing risks to health, structural integrity, the long-term durability of the building and substantiate the need for timely rectification,” van Keimpema wrote in the order.

Ferres Wang worries about her future after buying off the plan more than a decade ago.

The rectification notice followed three inspections by the commission between May and October this year and requires the defects to be repaired by registered developer Edwin Davey Pty Ltd within eight months.

A 94-page inspection report by the commission, seen by this publication, contained multiple photos taken by inspectors showing building cracks in the basement slabs and walls, water ingress, and carpets stained by water damage.

Ferres Wang, who bought her flat off the plan in 2012 for $580,000, said the commission’s findings have heightened anxiety for occupants after previous inspections of the building by the NSW government identified potentially flammable cladding material on its exterior.

Wang said unit owners have already paid a special levy to help cover the $13.1 million cost of replacing the cladding to bring it up to Australian building standards.

She fears the rectification order could result in more costs being passed on to residents.

“When I bought my unit I thought it would be a good investment and now the value has dropped 20 per cent below market price. I can’t move out, I can’t sell it and who would want to buy it?” she said.

“I worry financially and I worry about safety – we have serious waterproofing and systematic leaking issues. There’s one unit [with] water dripping and damaging carpets.

Water leaks were among defects identified by NSW Building Commission inspectors.

“I know it sounds serious, but I’m worried one day the taps are going to explode and we’ll be forced to evacuate.

“My levy has come to $220,000. I’ve got neighbours who’ve gone into bankruptcy because they haven’t been able to afford [the levies]. We’re powerless.

“The system is broken and there needs to be more accountability and support.”

The rectification order was issued after lawyers for developer Edwin Davey Pty Ltd wrote to the commission requesting more time to respond to issues identified during inspection.

The request was partly attributed to unrelated remedial works which lawyers said could impact the ability to carry out the remediation works.

Van Keimpema said the “serious issues” identified during the inspections had “enlivened” his intention to issue the order.

“This is because the serious defects identified pose an unacceptable risk to the safety of occupiers or potential occupiers of the building,” he wrote in the notice. “The benefits to occupiers of the building arising from [the remediation works] outweigh the cost to the developer.”

The order comes amid an ongoing crackdown on building defects and substandard construction works, with the NSW Building Commission carrying out a record 1015 inspections on development sites in the 2024-25 financial year and issuing 405 rectification orders.

Planning records show the Pyrmont Harbour Mill development, on the site of the former Edwin Davies Flour Mill at 280 Jones Street, was approved for construction by the City of Sydney Council in 2013 and completed in 2015.

Developer Edwin Davey Pty Ltd was contacted for comment.