Luxury apartments in a defect-riddled complex are still for sale, despite a watchdog calling it one of the ‘worst buildings’ ever built.
The Crownview Wollongong, a $120 million development about 40 miles south of Sydney, was touted as ‘a striking addition to the Wollongong skyline’ with a twenty-eight-storey tower above a shared podium.
However, construction has been fraught since an inspection by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler in November 2022 resulted in a ban order citing structural issues.
Stakeholders invested $37 million in an effort to resolve these issues, but further flaws were uncovered during efforts to remediate the original defects, resulting in a second ban order on February 12 this year.
Mr Chandler himself inspected the project three days later, issuing a stop work order and labeling the building as ‘terrible’ and ‘one of the worst I have ever inspected’.
A video on social media showed that the building’s post-tensioning cables – which allowed builders to use thinner concrete slabs and still carry the same weight – had not been properly installed.
Individual apartments were said to have panoramic ocean views with high-end appliances and would cost between $420,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and $4.3 million for three bedrooms and a den, according to online listings.
The Crownview Wollongong (pictured) is a $120 million project about 65km south of Sydney
Real estate listings for individual units promised panoramic ocean and city views (artist’s rendering shown)
One-bedroom units sell for around $420,000, while a three-bedroom unit with a den will cost owners an eye-watering $4.3 million.
About 50 percent of the building’s 149 units have already been sold and the deposits are in a trust account, but prohibition orders prevent the new owners from moving in until the defects are resolved.
Some investors bought out the plan six years ago and were told last February that they could move into the property in April, but were then told in June that the property would remain vacant until November.
A month later, the first ban order was issued.
Daily Mail Australia understands some of those original buyers changed their minds after ordering in December 2022 and had their deposits refunded in full.
All potential buyers are informed of the defects. Agencies are still guiding buyers through the building, but no units have been sold since December 2022.
Sales advertisements for some apartments are still on real estate websites.
“Currently under construction and nearing completion,” says one ad, which includes a $519,000 buyer’s guide.
‘This beautiful one-bedroom apartment offers stunning views over the city and the escarpment.’
The most expensive units, worth between $1.3 million and $4.3 million, have not been sold.
The NSW Building Commissioner discovered serious defects in the property (photo)
Stakeholders have already spent $37 million repairing the defects (photo)
One problem was that the post-tensioning cables were not installed properly
The location was first brought to Mr Chandler’s attention in 2021 when problems were discovered in the basement.
Inspectors subsequently determined that there was a need for additional columns on several floors, including 17 in the basement, to support the building’s load.G.
It was subsequently discovered that post-tensioning tendons, an important support for concrete structures, had not been properly installed.
Cables are normally submerged once the steel is tensioned, but closer inspection revealed that many cables were submerged in water rather than mortar.
“Building Commission NSW is working hard to increase the ability of the state’s building sector to deliver the quantity and quality of housing the people of NSW need,” Mr Chandler said.
He explained that projects must be built correctly from the start and that any problems should be addressed during the early stages of construction, long before residents move in and do not have to repair the defects themselves.
“Not only does this type of work risk leaving owners out of money, it can also be dangerous,” he said.
A meeting will take place between Mr Chandler and key stakeholders to determine a path forward.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the construction group and the developer for comment.
Do you know more? Email charlotte.karp@mailonline.com
Pictured: NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, who issued the stop work order