Opal: Roberts steps up while Kean sidesteps strata

If there was any further evidence required of Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean’s waning interest in strata owners, it comes this week as Minister for Planning and Housing (and former strata supremo) Anthony Roberts stepped in to get stuff done about the “cracked Opal” nightmare,

Meanwhile the man nominally in charge of strata, Matt Kean, was limiting his concerns to tenants. That’s fine – tenants should be looked after – but the  people who actually pay for these apartments, and whose consumer rights are well and truly up in the air, don’t even seem to come on to his radar.

Just to explain, in the bizarre Russian doll of NSW politics, strata comes under Fair Trading which comes under the pompusly named department of Innovation and Better Regulation, which comes under Matt Kean.

In a press release issued today, it was announced that Mr Roberts had appointed two Professors of Engineering to investigate what occurred at Opal Tower on Christmas Eve.

In the same document, Mr Kean announced that every assistance possible would be offered to tenants who were forced out of their homes.

And owners? Will every assistance be offered to the people who bankrolled this project to make sure they don’t lose out? Don’t hold your breath.

Anyway, here’s the press release in its entirety, without further comment or edit … except for this:  Tenants already have a well-funded and highly regarded support group call the Tenants Union (tenants.org.au). No complaints there – this is a valuable resource, including for strata where half the residents are tenants.

However, NSW strata owners seeking support have the choice of the cash-starved Owners Corporation Network (ocn.org.au) – who do amazing work despite their oily rag finances – and the  SCA strata managers’ “Owners Section” which may be great but, one would reasonably assume, will do little that runs contrary to the interests of strata managers.

But there’s a glimmer of light showing through the cracks in the Opal – maybe, just maybe, strata will move to Housing and Planning where it belongs, rather than the Mickey Mouse department of dangerous toys and dodgy gym memberships.

We can only hope.  Meanwhile, here is the Press Release:

“Earlier this morning the Secretary of the Department of Planning and I confirmed the appointment of specialist investigators to lead an inquiry into the Opal Tower matter,” Mr Roberts said.

“Professors Mark Hoffman (Dean of Engineering at the University of New South Wales) and John Carter (Dean of Engineering at the University of Newcastle) have agreed to conduct an investigation into:

• the basis of the failure, so we can understand what happened and why?
• the immediate steps that need to occur to ensure the safety of this building for its occupants, and
• make recommendations on what needs to happen going forward to avoid incidents like this in the future.

“The report will be made public when completed.

“While the investigators undertake their work, the priority is to  secure any displaced resident appropriate accommodation and support.”

“I’ve been in contact with the developer and the builder in the last 24 hours and have stressed to them my expectation that these residents are looked after.

“I’d also like to place on record my sincere thanks and congratulations to emergency service workers and the engineers from the Department of Public Works who attended the site over Christmas, their hard work and self-sacrifice during this holiday season is a credit to the State.”

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said support was on offer to renters through Fair Trading NSW.

“My Office has been in regular contact with Fair Trading and its experienced staff are standing by to provide advice to tenants,” Mr Kean said.

“Renters might not know that they don’t need to give notice to leave a property should their property be damaged and wholly or partly uninhabitable.

“If the investigation shows that to be the case, Fair Trading can talk through the issues and even contact a tenant’s agent or landlord, if disputes can’t be resolved.”

Residents of Opal who want independent help and advice from experienced strata owners should contact the Owners Corporation Network as soon as possible.