More Opal Tower units to be reoccupied

The builder of Sydney's damaged Opal Tower won't pay for temporary accommodation and food for residents of 97 units that have been declared ready to reoccupy.

Residents being offered information at the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney on 26/12/18.

Residents being offered information at the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney on 26/12/18. Source: AAP

Residents of nearly 100 apartments in Sydney's damaged Opal Tower can move back into their homes with the builder cutting off payments for food and temporary accommodation.

Icon won't pay for food and accommodation after Sunday breakfast for residents of 97 apartments after the body corporate's engineers Cardno declared those units safe to occupy.

It follows Icon's announcement on January 27 that 74 apartments in the Sydney Olympic Park building were ready to be reoccupied.
A resident asks questions of Icon Managing Director Julian Doyle at a press conference on 26/12/18.
A resident asks questions of Icon Managing Director Julian Doyle at a press conference on 26/12/18. Source: AAP
"It is important to note that the we are continuing to work with all the engineers to ensure all queries are thoroughly addressed and that the extent of apartments with actual remedial works is minimal," Icon said in a statement on Sunday.

Icon has extended its temporary accommodation and food to February 9 for residents whose units have not yet been cleared for reoccupation.

It's been nearly six weeks since residents were first evacuated on Christmas Eve after hearing and seeing cracks in a wall.

A group of residents who own units in the tower last week sent a letter to the prime minister, NSW premier and state planning minister about the "pain, loss and deceit" they have experienced during the ordeal.

They called on the state government to assess the habitability of Opal Tower and to ensure those behind the "crisis" take responsibility.

Some of the residents of the units cleared for return have refused to move back because they say the building is still a "construction zone".

Design engineers WSP maintains the building is structurally sound overall - a verdict also made by the government's independent engineering experts.

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