The developers of a building neighbouring the trouble-plagued Mascot Towers in Sydney have insisted they have seen no evidence to support a claim works at their property may have contributed to its structural problems.
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Owners of Mascot Towers, where cracks were discovered in the primary support structure and facade masonry some months ago, have pleaded with developers of the Peak Towers building next door to "do the right thing" and allow engineers inside to investigate.
The 132-unit residential block was evacuated in June, with recent advice suggesting cracks are continuing to widen as new ones develop.
Engineers say they need to conduct urgent work to ensure soil under the building's foundation slab can bear the force of the necessary repairs.
Mascot Towers spokesman Patrick McGuire says tests have revealed a loss of soil from the areas next to the neighbouring Peak Towers building owned by development company Aland.
That's where the Mascot cracking and structural problems first appeared, he said.
Mr McGuire on Tuesday repeated a call for Aland to allow Mascot Towers engineers access to Peak Towers to help provide owners with the fastest and cheapest solution.
In a statement on Wednesday Aland managing director Andrew Hrsto said they had not been provided with "a report or any evidence" linking the problems at Mascot Towers with Peak Towers.
"If the Owners Corporation or their legal representatives agreed to provide Aland with this evidence, we would be happy to review its findings and provide a response. However, it is not possible for us to comment on the findings of tests or a report that we have only ever seen referred to in media reports," he said.
Mr Hrsto added that the provision of access to the building is a matter for the owners of Peak Towers, not the developers.
"We have been advised requests to access the building have been agreed to by the Peak Towers owners' corporation, however the standard conditions of access have not been complied with by the owners corporation of Mascot Towers. Consequently, access has not been provided," he said.
At an annual general meeting on Tuesday evening Mascot Towers owners voted to enter into the minimum $5 million, 15-year commercial loan to fund repair works instead of using a previously approved special levy.
Australian Associated Press
