flaxriley7's blog

Treachery the Other-side of Connecting Walls: A Neighbour's Calamitous Impact on Our Award winning Refuge

In the heart of Lawrence street Melbourne we had renovated our gorgeous sanctuary of some 30 years, a secret garden amidst the noise of the city streets. For over 20 years, it was a gorgeous refuge of solacement, a oasis of beauty and safety.

As an honoured architect, my friend had graced our city of Sydney with numerous municipal design proposals, but of these none were more personal that the progressive design of the Lawrence Street, Alexandria, Sydney, Victorian style conversion. Conspicuously in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was acclaimed as a creative masterpiece, blending old-world magic with neo elegance.

The Victorian conversion was a testament to architectural creativity—a three-story addition and renovations to a late Victorian terrace, offering a house for a family and a studio. The premier feature was the light tower, high above the roof with floating stairs, capturing the essence of the south east and northwestern skies. French sash windows dressed the main bedroom, while timber casement windows embellish in the bathroom frame the views and filter the light.

However, our beautiful existence was shattered when a new neighbour, a builder, moved in next door. Initially welcomed with open arms, his illegal actions soon created absolute chaos threatening the safety of everyone in the area. Without proper notification, he began demolishing our brick supporting wall, the main load-bearing wall of our master bedroom. At one point he had constructed a hose from his roof diverted water into our office, causing several thousand dollars damage to the upstairs rooms, and undermining the footing of the house.

In addition to outline the lack of building experience, we discovered that the intermediate wall did not meet the legal fire rating, a critical omission that threatened our well-being. In spite of our urgent efforts to seek resolution the problem with the neighbour's and contacting the council, we were informed the builder's inspector had already signed off on the building renovations, ignoring our concerns and leaving us vulnerable to harm.

In spite of receiving a judgement in their favour and recompense for restitution, the toll was abysmal and created many unpleasant memories. They were forced to sell their beautiful home, we mourned the loss of our award winning sanctuary, another victim of government negligence and dangerous construction practices. The lack of proper oversight and appropriate governance by local government created the environment for this tragedy to unfold, heightening the necessity for greater responsibilities and protection for owners.

As we wrestle with the consequence of this ordeal, we are left to ponder: What recourse do homeowners have when their sanctuaries are made vulnerable by the neglect of others?

When to Begin - Vote the Competent and Unqualified Building Companies in Commonwealth of Australia..?

The Insolvent, Defendant, and the Collapse of Building CompanyToplace

from June 2023

A Fugitive adviser was comprehensively concerned with getting his insolvent registered company a very moneymaking construction contract — managing the dissolution of Suspect Jean Nassif's business empire, which drowned under financial obligations surpassing $1.24 billion, including $88.5 million payable to suppliers and tradespeople.

New disclosures about the downfall of Nassif's Toplace group have emerged in documented evidence shown to the Australian Federal Court this month by administrators from dVT Group of Companies. These papers uncover that secured creditors, such as banks with mortgages on Toplace properties and offshore lenders in tax havens like the British Virgin Islands, are owed one thousand million.

Further Applicatory Subject Matter:

Jean Nassif, and Toplace's Skyview construction in Castle Hill.

Creditors without Security, have made claims totalling an est. $244 million.

Australian Federal Court claims also tell that Riad Tayeh, company founder of dVT Group of companies, which played a central responsibility in assuring his companies designation as administrators. In spite of being proclaimed bankrupt in May last year with millions in debt in debt, Tayeh, now a business consultant, and business colleague Antony Resnick attended important business meetings with Toplace executives in the weeks leading up to the firm's appointment as administrators.

Included in those involved at the meetings on June 2020 was Jean Nassif's 29-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, whose legal practicing certificate has been suspended while she fights charges related to a $150 million fraud bound to Toplace's Skyview construction development in Castle Hill.

Riad Tayeh was legally financially bankrupt in June 2022.

Just days before the meetings, an arrest warrant was issued of Jean Nassif, 55, who escaped to Dubai in December 2022. Jean and Ashlyn Nassif are accused of creating false documentation to secure a $150 million loan from Westpac.

In June, Resnick and fellow dVT partner Suelen McCallum were nominated voluntary administrators for Toplace. by Jean Nassif, its sole director The bankruptcy managers now face the task of handling one of Australia's biggest corporate bankruptcy's.

According to Toplace's website, Jean Nassif's company has delivered around 30,000 residential units, shopping centers, and commercial properties throughout Sydney. Despite this, several owners' corporations have filed claims amounting to nearly $124 million to address serious defects in Toplace's buildings.

Further complicating the administrators' task a staff member suggested there may be another $400 million in loans involving Nassif entities that are not yet under administration. adding that Toplace's financial books had not been properly updated since 2021.

Unveiling the Shadowed Realities of Urban Development:A Call to Action for Justice and Accountability

In the bustling urban landscapes of our modern cities, where gleaming skyscrapers pierce the heavens and vibrant communities thrive, lies a shadowed underbelly of systemic issues plaguing the building industry. Behind the facade of progress and prosperity, a complex web of social, financial, and justice issues unfolds, casting a pall over the lives of countless individuals.

Social Issues: Within the heart of our cities, amidst the glittering skyline, lies a tale of dispossession and displacement. Hardworking Australians, striving to build a future for themselves and their families, find themselves ensnared in a web of deceit and betrayal. Behind closed doors, corporate entities manipulate the legal system, stripping individuals of their homes and livelihoods with callous disregard for human dignity.

Financial Issues: As the towers of commerce rise ever higher, so too do the stakes in the high-stakes game of urban development. Bent building codes, crumbling infrastructure, and shady dealings characterize an industry teetering on the brink of collapse. Behind the glossy facades of luxury apartments and office complexes, lies a landscape littered with broken promises and shattered dreams.

Justice Issues: In the halls of power, where decisions are made and laws are enacted, the voice of the people often falls on deaf ears. Despite mounting evidence of corruption and malfeasance, the guardians of justice remain silent, complicit in the systemic failures that perpetuate inequality and injustice. From neglected building inspections to lax regulatory oversight, the failures of governance are laid bare for all to see.

Examples of Problems in the Building Industry:

1. Mascot Towers: The Mascot Towers debacle serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by lax regulatory oversight and corporate greed. Residents, once proud homeowners, now find themselves facing financial ruin as their homes crumble around them. Despite years of warnings and red flags, authorities turned a blind eye, leaving residents to bear the brunt of the consequences.

2. Opal Tower: In Sydney's Opal Tower, cracks began to appear shortly after its completion, prompting a mass evacuation and raising questions about the integrity of the building's construction. While investigations continue, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in rushed development and inadequate quality control measures.

3. Building Defects Epidemic: Across the country, reports of building defects and structural failures have become alarmingly common. From leaking roofs to collapsing balconies, the epidemic of building defects underscores the need for urgent action to address systemic issues within the industry.

Summary:

As the shadows of injustice loom large over our cities, it is imperative that we stand together and demand accountability from those entrusted with our safety and well-being. The time has come to shine a light on the systemic failures that perpetuate inequality and injustice in the building industry. Through collective action, we can hold the government accountable for its failure to protect our basic human right to trust that proper governance is carried out. Let us unite in solidarity, petitioning for justice and initiating legal proceedings to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and that the wheels of justice turn for all.

Paul Meek Builder,