Resident threatened with arrest over re-entering evacuated Sydney high-rise
Updated
A resident of a Sydney apartment block evacuated over structural concerns says he was left crying in the street and threatened with arrest after trying to re-enter the building to retrieve his pets.
Key points:
- Emergency services were called to Mascot Towers Friday night after cracking in the building’s beams
- Nearby businesses have been told to stay shut today and cracking has appeared in a hairdressing salon
- Less than six months ago 3,000 residents at Sydney’s Opal Tower were evacuated after beams collapsed
Residents of Mascot Towers in Sydney’s inner-south were forced to find another roof to sleep under last night after the 10-storey building was evacuated after cracking in its beams.
This morning, adjoining businesses have been told not to open and huge cracks have appeared in the wall of a nearby hairdressing salon.
Masa Tatewaki, who has lived in the complex for 10 years, said initially he and his partner were told their apartment was not affected so they decided to move their car from the building garage which was soon to be closed.
When they went to re-enter the building they were stopped by police.
“We were told we weren’t allowed to go back into our unit … they said ‘if you go back in you will be arrested’.”
Mr Tatewaki said he became very distressed as their oven was still on and their two dogs were also inside the unit.
“I was just crying on the street,” he said.
Eventually, Mr Tatewaki and his partner realised another entry to the building was still open and they managed to get inside and pack up a few belongings before leaving.
‘Deterioration has been rapid’
Evacuated residents were not offered accommodation but a temporary shelter was established at Mascot Town Hall.
Mascot Towers consists of two towers built on a single footprint.
In a letter from building management, residents were told an engineer inspected cracking that had developed in the “transfer slab beams supporting the primary building corner”.
“Following the inspection, the engineer raised concerns over the safety for residents in the building,” the letter read.
In a notice from the apartment block’s strata on June 13, residents were told about the installation of temporary building propping in the carpark.
“This is in response to an ongoing and persistent cracking and structural deformation observed within the primary support structure and the facade masonry.
“This deterioration has been rapid, hence expedited propping was deemed a necessary precaution to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants.”
Less than six months ago, 3,000 residents of the Opal Tower building in Sydney’ Olympic Park were evacuated after the building moved ‘1 millimetre to 2 millimetres’.
A report commissioned by the NSW Government found parts of the tower were constructed using “lower-strength concrete” and that “under-designed” critical support beams had burst under extreme pressure.
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