A stop-work order has been placed on 319 Liverpool Road in Strathfield after serious structural defects were found.

A stop-work order has been placed on 319 Liverpool Road in Strathfield after serious structural defects were found.Credit:Rhett Wyman

They include a 10-storey apartment building at Forster known as The Cove,which had defects in waterproofing and external cladding,and townhouses at 12 Beaconsfield Parade in Lindfield. The latter’s defects related to wall and bathroom tiles and waterproofing.

The latest orders come after the commissioner ordered an immediate halt to work by OandE Developments on a six-storey apartment project at 319 Liverpool Road in Strathfield late last month due to serious structural defects.

Mr Chandler said the Strathfield project was one of the worst he had seen,leaving him no choice but to issue a stop-work order on the building.

“We are absolutely serious. I want consumers to understand that I am their dog in the fight. I will be out there every single day to make sure they are getting what they paid for. We need to get consumers back into the market,” he said.

Serious structural defects were found in the six-storey apartment project on Liverpool Road in Strathfield.

Serious structural defects were found in the six-storey apartment project on Liverpool Road in Strathfield.Credit:NSW government

The prohibition orders are among his strongest powers,because they prevent developers or builders from settling apartments until defects are fixed.

“Why should consumers be stuck with cost shifting by a developer or a builder who just wants to cut corners? Some of them don’t do it intentionally – they are just ignorant. But ignorance is not a defence,” he said.

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Mr Chandler said the immediate effect of the increased numbers of orders was that “people are starting to pay attention”,and he signalled more notices would be handed out in coming weeks.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Karen Stiles,executive officer of the non-profit Owners Corporation Network which represents apartment owners,said the prohibition orders would save innocent owners years of financial,physical and emotional stress attempting to have defects fixed after the event.

“These orders are only made when an audit identifies serious construction issues and requires them to be addressed before the apartments can be sold,” she said.

“[They are] a very clever solution to a wicked problem for owners and the broader community bearing the cost of endless litigation.”

Omar Abdul-Rahman,from OandE Developments,said he would do what the commissioner wanted to fix his Strathfield project. “I am doing exactly what the commissioner wants – whatever they recommend,I will do,” he said.

The Building Commissioner’s team has been paying close attention to small developers who fly below the radar and others who have had safety incidents on projects.

A prohibition order has been issued to the developer of 12 Beaconsfield Parade in Lindfield.

A prohibition order has been issued to the developer of 12 Beaconsfield Parade in Lindfield.Credit:Rhett Wyman

Mr Chandler said he would be taking a hard line on builders who ignored critical details in design drawings,while vowing to keep a close watch on engineers who signed off on poor work.

“They don’t like to be called out but I will be calling out some engineers in the coming months. Structures and fire systems are all designed by engineers,” he said.

The commissioner said he was pleased that certifiers “are growing a spine” and pushing back against developers by refusing to sign off on projects if they noticed problems.

Developer Australia YMCI has also been ordered to fix waterproofing problems and defects in tiles in its apartment building known as the Ovation Quarter on Carter Street in Lidcombe near Sydney Olympic Park. YMCI did not respond to requests for comment.

A rectification order has been handed to the developer of Ovation Quarter at 29 Carter Street in Lidcombe.

A rectification order has been handed to the developer of Ovation Quarter at 29 Carter Street in Lidcombe.Credit:Rhett Wyman

The owners of properties in Neutral Bay and Mascot have also been ordered to fix serious defects in mechanical car-stacking systems which were being installed.

Mundarrah,the developer of The Cove at Forster,did not respond to a request for comment.

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