Ecove director puts responsibility on builder and media, saying project is ‘well above industry standard’ even as 51 units remain unsafe to enter

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The developer of the Sydney high-rise that developed a crack on Christmas Eve has said the tower is still “a high-quality building” and the evacuation of residents only became a news story because “it happened over the Christmas break”.

Bassam Aflak, the director of developer Ecove, said the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park was “absolutely” safe for residents and criticised “sensational” media reporting in a Boxing Day statement.

The brand new Opal Tower was evacuated on Monday night after residents heard loud noises and a crack developed on an internal wall on the 10th floor. The next day residents were allowed back into two-thirds of the building’s apartments, but residents of 51 units were still barred from re-entering their homes on Boxing Day.

Aflak said all units were safe to live in, but “a small number” were still being looked at.

“We understand the builders need clear access so they can investigate how to fix the problem,” he said. He added that “full liability” lay at the feet of the builder, Icon Construction.

“We understand the issue is with a concrete panel. Importantly, the authorities have deemed it safe for people to re-enter and they have isolated the issue to a small number of apartments.

An email sent to residents of the 51 units on Tuesday, seen by Guardian Australia, said any access to their apartments was prohibited “due to safety issues”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Damage inside the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park, where cracking was found in an internal support wall on the 10th floor of the building. Photograph: Supplied

Aflak said: “It’s a high-quality building. Ecove has delivered a project that is well above the industry standard. Until now it’s a project that’s gained attention because of its quality.

“The media has understandably investigated this as a sensational story but it’s happened over the Christmas break when there is a scarcity of people who can comment with authority.”

Michael Wu, whose apartment was one of the 51 affected, said he would move back in once it was given the all clear, but only temporarily.

“It was only meant to be a temporary place for me and my wife,” he told Guardian Australia. “We just got married and are looking for a new place. It will quicken the process of leaving the apartment. We were only going to live there for a year max. It’s just bad timing.”

Wu was having lunch near his home on Monday afternoon when the fault first appeared. His wife was trapped inside their apartment when the building shifted, which caused doors to stick in their frames.

Despite the experience, he said he trusted the block’s builders.

“I do my research. In my opinion, Icon are very good quality. I’ve seen some really shitty apartments but it gives me confidence that Icon are a big builder. They’re not small.

“Hopefully all the reports come through and it’s a minor thing in a support wall. That should be OK. If they come back and say it’s something major, I wouldn’t feel comfortable moving back in.

“[But] I think there will always be an element of fear there. Because you never know what’s going to happen.”

On Wednesday the New South Wales government announced an urgent investigation into whether the building complied with the state’s rules and regulations.

In his statement, Aflak said he was “stunned” by events.

“Icon, the builder has full liability on the design and construction of Opal Tower. The company is a well-established high-quality builder. We’ve all been stunned by what’s happened … We, like the residents, are anxious that the builder defines the problem and resolves it as soon as possible.”

An email to residents on Tuesday, seen by Guardian Australia, said a fault had developed from “ground floor to [floor] 35”. On Wednesday they were told Icon would be carrying out building works that day.

Icon has been contacted for comment.

Sydney Olympic Park Opal Tower evacuation: 51 units deemed unsafe Read more

The NSW Department of Planning said on Wednesday its investigation was already under way.

“The department’s compliance team was activated today and we are in touch with emergency services,” a spokesman told Guardian Australia. “The work has commenced, it will take what it takes.”

The planning minister, Anthony Roberts, promised he would make the report’s findings public.

“My heart goes out to those residents who have had their major investments – their homes – affected in such a way and the anxiety it is obviously causing,” he said.

The planning department will not necessarily examine the building’s structure, but will examine whether the conditions of consent for its development were met.

Opal Tower, built by developer Ecove, was completed this year.

On Tuesday, residents received an email from the building’s strata managing agent that said 341 apartments were open.

“We have been notified by both Opal Tower’s building manager and the developer that two structural engineers approved the building safe for occupation and 341 apartments were reopened for resident access,” it said.

“Accommodation facilities have been arranged by Icon Constructions at both the Novotel and Ibis in Sydney Olympic Park at no cost to those 51 residents [still affected]”.

One resident, Samantha Lynn, told Channel Seven on Wednesday morning she was now looking for “somewhere else to live”.

“I don’t fully understand how one third of a building can be deemed unsafe – what does that mean for the other two thirds? I still don’t have the answers to that question. For me it’s about getting out as soon as possible and finding somewhere else to live.”