Storm rips off roof - developed by Auburn councillor Ronney Oueik

Lidcombe residents face months away from home after fierce storm

arry Choi is one of 200 Lidcombe residents facing an uncertain future, with little idea of when he can return home.

Mr Choi's son was home at their Water Street apartment on Saturday night when a ferocious storm swept across the area, taking the unit block's roof with it.

"My bedroom wall cracked, ceiling cracked," said Mr Choi, who had been renting the apartment with his family for 12 months.


Workers survey and make temporary repairs to 14-22 Water Street, Lidcombe. Photo: James Alcock

"Many people are without a house. Some people sleep in the car park."

More than 50 units were evacuated after Saturday night's storm, with residents given 10 minutes to gather what they could and get out.

Now they have been told it could be up to two months before the building, developed by Auburn councillor Ronney Oueik, is deemed safe enough to return.

About 200 residents were forced out of the unit complex, with 40 given emergency housing and the remaining calling on friends and family for help.

On Monday, tradesmen were at the site attempting to check the apartments, most of which were bought in 2014 and 2015, were safe.

Buyers were lured with the promise of "every luxury appointment imaginable" and a building "built to the highest standard".

Two-bedroom units sold for about $600,000 each.

However the complex is looking a little worse for wear with the roof torn off and most of the debris lying in the courtyard.

Ashley Lee was at home with her three cats and about to order pizza on Saturday night when a firefighter came knocking on her door.

"He said you have to evacuate and you have 10 minutes," said Ms Lee, who had lived in the unit for nine months.

"I couldn't even bring my cats."

Ms Lee, a university student in the middle of masters degree in forensic science, was initially told she might be out of her unit for a few days.

She said authorities had since told her that time frame could stretch into months.

Ms Lee's friend has allowed her and her cats to stay at her place for a week but uncertainty lies beyond that point.

She has tried animal shelters in a bid to have her cats cared for as she can't have pets in a hotel but she hasn't had any luck.

"I've given up on that (Lidcombe) place now, I am going to find a new place," she said.

"I don't care about my furniture, I need to get a place and settled in and work."

As crews assessed the damage on Monday, Cr Oueik, a developer and local Liberal councillor, went to ground.

He neither answered his phone nor returned written questions from Fairfax Media.

But the council strenuously denied a decision to grant Cr Oueik a modification to the building's roof led in any way to its being more prone to storm damage.

"This modified the roof structure to [remove] a central box gutter and provide a traditional pitched roof," a spokesman for the council said.

"The proposed modification to the roof structure was of minimal impact and resulted in substantially the same development."

The modification was passed by the council in 2008, in a vote at which Cr Oueik excused himself and declared an interest.

Cr Oueik is responsible for a string of multi-million dollar residential tower projects in the area and is a member of Auburn council's controversial "super six" majority bloc that includes Salim Mehajer.

The majority group on council have come under scrutiny for business relationships between Cr Oueik and Cr Mehajer and the council's mayor, Le Lam.

Cr Oueik is a former mayor of Auburn and ran as the Liberal Party's candidate in the state seat of Auburn in last year's NSW election.

Records show he contributed $150,000 of his own money to running that campaign.

The council is likely to be suspended by Local Government Minister Paul Toole this week, after it was given two weeks' notice to make the case for why it should not be suspended.



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There's a special news report on mehajer tonight I think.

 

Subbies, builder, engineer & certifier last seen all running for cover.

 

"But the council strenuously denied a decision to grant Cr Oueik a modification to the building's roof led in any way to its being more prone to storm damage.
"This modified the roof structure to [remove] a central box gutter and provide a traditional pitched roof," a spokesman for the council said.
"The proposed modification to the roof structure was of minimal impact and resulted in substantially the same development.""

Well...
I'm sure that had nothing to do with it.

 

Can someone please post the Mehajir report when it's up? (where is it showing?)
Urgh.

 

The latest news report states that his demerit points miraculously appear on a students record. Fraud, deception etc... Drama.

 

The guy is as dumb as they come.

 

He wants the top job!

 

Yeah I heard him. He brings new meaning to the word 'delusional'.

 

The girl who's having to give up her three cats because of this is heartbreaking. I hate to think of having to ever give up my pet.

Edit to add - just read that report. Hope that ending is right, ie these guys' political careers end etc etc - but I doubt it.

 

Silverwater could be his new pad.

 

Same municipality.

 

Surely some development can be done within the four walls.