Cracks in Sydney tower raise wider safety concerns

Don't let developers choose own building certifiers, experts urge

Police and firefighters in front of Opal Tower in Sydney on Christmas Day, after residents of the 36-storey building were evacuated the night before, when cracking sounds were heard.
Police and firefighters in front of Opal Tower in Sydney on Christmas Day, after residents of the 36-storey building were evacuated the night before, when cracking sounds were heard. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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Billed as a family-friendly apartment complex, the 36-storey Opal Tower in the geographic heart of Sydney was described by its developers as "brilliant from every aspect".

But the A$165 million (S$161 million project on the site used for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 has since been described by some disappointed flat owners as a "lemon".

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 13, 2019, with the headline Cracks in Sydney tower raise wider safety concerns. Subscribe