The reforms were announced in February in response to a report commissioned by the federal government which found there were nationwide problems in the construction industry. "[We want] to give people that extra level of confidence that not only will people be held accountable, but we expect the highest level of compliance in addition to people sticking to those rules," Ms Berejiklian said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Mascot Towers' building management said in a residents' update the evacuation was caused by "the stability of a structural supporting beam in the carpark area that has been deteriorating over the past four to five days". The update said residents needed to find accommodation while engineers investigated the damage and anyone facing financial hardship should contact the Salvation Army counselling service.

Loading Small groups of residents were allowed temporary escorted access to the building on Monday to collect some personal belongings, however, others were told they couldn’t enter. Wendy He, who bought her apartment in 2009, said she needed access to her home to access blood pressure medication but wasn't allowed back in. Ms He had to pay for her own accommodation on Saturday night and was now living with friends. Another resident, Top, a student from China, said he urgently needed access to his apartment to get access to his two six-month-old kittens, which he hadn’t seen since Friday.

"I’ve got an auto-feeder for food and water but it only last two-to-three days," he said. “For the people living inside it’s an absolute disaster." Bayside Council mayor Bill Saravinovski said he felt sorry for the residents, who were "basically in limbo land". Residents including Top, second from right, outside Mascot Towers on Monday Credit:Wolter Peeters "There's got to be a better way. How are you forced out of your building in half an hour?" But Cr Saravinovski said the damage to the building had sparked broader concerns given the rise in high-density development in the area and throughout Sydney.

An engineer places movement decals on the side of the apartment building. Credit:Wolter Peeters "There's this big push to have more and more high-rises around train stations and the ad hoc situation where the government has taken planning powers away from local councils," he said. Cr Saravinovski said owners in the apartment block would likely have to pay for the repairs. "The owner's corporation doesn't have insurance because the homeowner's warranty has expired. All the owners will have to foot the bill for the defects." There had been speculation that construction works on a apartment block, Peak Towers, adjacent to the building had caused the damage.

However, construction firm Aland on Monday said that any link was "wrong" and without evidence. "Until these investigations are have been completed, speculation about the cause of the damage is unhelpful," the company's managing director, Andrew Hrsto, said in a statement on Monday. "However, what I can say is that I am confident that Aland's work at Mascot has met design and engineering standards and that Aland is very proud of this quality development." Property Owner's Association vice president James Ruben said the incident highlighted the need for a review, or re-examination, of the building certification system and of homeowner protections. "The system of protections is incredibly complex for owners in terms of actually making claims.