SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

More work, more info needed on Opal tower

A NSW government-commissioned investigation is yet to uncover the exact reason why cracks appeared in the structure of the 36-storey Opal Tower in Sydney.

The Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park
The Opal Tower needs significant rectification work, but is structurally sound, a report has found. (AAP)

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Residents of Sydney's cracked Opal Tower still have no timeline for when they can return to their apartments, despite an independent report declaring the building is structurally sound.

People continue to live in temporary accommodation, more than three weeks after the first cracks were noticed in the 36-storey building they had been calling home.

An interim report released on Tuesday ruled out dodgy materials and extreme weather causing the large cracks on Christmas Eve.

But numerous construction and design problems were detailed, including reinforcing bars in some areas being the wrong size.

"While we have isolated the probable cause to localised structural design and construction issues, we need more information to make definitive conclusions about the cause or causes of the damage," the report's authors, Professors Mark Hoffman, John Carter and Stephen Foster, said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"More work is also needed before we can provide recommendations on what needs to happen to avoid incidents like this in the future."

They recommend independent and qualified structural engineers be contracted to check final proposals in detail before major rectification works begin.

Opal Tower body corporate chair Shady Eskander says hundreds of residents won't consider moving back in until a comprehensive review of the building is completed.

"The worst thing that can happen is that in a couple of years down the track we have an incident occur again," Mr Eskander told reporters.

"People were buying into the Australian dream and unfortunately this has become an Australian nightmare for us. We have suffered."

Mr Eskander said that he expected the matter to go to the courts.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world