14/07/2009

14 July 2009

Shake Rattle and Roll Legal Time Bomb at Rozelle

Home owners being given out industrial-strength earmuffs in Rozelle on Sunday night, to cope with noise from massive road works should be demanding dilapidation reports are carried out on their homes to record any damage done by these road works, according to Archicentre.

Angus Kell

Angus Kell, ACT & NSW State Manager of Archicentre said the dilapidation reports are a protection for both the home owner and the State Government Contractors as they clearly outline the condition of homes and public property before work begins. "What we are talking about here is a massive amount of earth works and blasting and it is only reasonable that home owners have their largest lifetime investment protected against structural damage without having to enter into a costly protracted legal argument in relation to proving the extent of the damage. "A dilapidation report records and tracks damage providing accurate evidence for both sides." "At the very least all home owners should be taking a digital photographic record of their homes and its condition inside and out with a date stamp on the shots to record the condition of their home for any legal disputes in the future or have an independent report carried out

"Without such evidence home owners can be trapped in a legal nightmare with work in Rozelle expected to continue non stop for the next five years," Mr Kell added.

Road widening work began on Sunday in preparation for the Inner West Busway, part of the $156 million Iron Cove Bridge duplication project that began in May. Construction of the new metro station at Rozelle is expected to overlap work on the bridge project, then the Tigers League Club will undergo a $200 million expansion, construction will begin on the main metro site at White Bay, and an Overseas Passenger Terminal will be built there.

Work is expected to continue non-stop for the next five years and - on current forecasts - could go on intermittently well beyond 2020.

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Angus Kell ACT & NSW State Manager Archicentre (02) 9555 5111 Mobile: 0412 565 023
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201