Cracked towers spark widespread safety fears about high rises: poll

13 JANUARY 2020

Eight in 10 Sydneysiders have safety concerns about the structural soundness of high-rise apartment buildings in the wake of the crisis sparked by the cracked Opal and Mascot towers.

An Ipsos poll of residents for advocacy group the Committee for Sydney found the quality of construction and the structural integrity of towers were by far their biggest safety concerns, followed by fears of becoming trapped in a fire.

Both easily outranked crime as major concerns. Of those surveyed, 36 per cent were concerned and 48 per cent a little concerned about the structural integrity of high-rises. Only 16 per cent did not have any safety concerns.

Karen Stiles, the executive officer of the non-profit Owners Corporation Network, said there needed to be “root and branch reform” of the building industry to restore public confidence. “We need rigour in the system to ensure that buildings are delivered fit for purpose,” she said.

> Full article on The Sydney Morning Herald
Matt O’Sullivan