THOUSANDS of high-rise buildings could crack like Sydney's Opal and Mascot ...

Thousands of new high-rise buildings are at risk of cracking like Sydney's Opal and Mascot Towers, an expert has warned. 

Residents of 122 apartments in Mascot Towers, inner-south Sydney, were evacuated after concerns were raised about the structural integrity of their building on Friday evening. 

Cracks in the basement of the decade-old building had widened in the lead up to the last minute evacuation, with many pointing blame at the newly built and unoccupied building next door. 

The cracks at Mascot Tower followed the Christmas Eve evacuation of Opal Tower in Sydney Olympic Park after residents heard 'cracking noises'.   

Residents of 122 apartments in Mascot Towers (pictured), inner-south Sydney, were evacuated after concerns were raised about the structural integrity of their building on Friday evening

Residents of 122 apartments in Mascot Towers (pictured), inner-south Sydney, were evacuated after concerns were raised about the structural integrity of their building on Friday evening

Cracks in the basement of the decade-old building had widened in the lead up to the last minute evacuation, with many pointing blame at the newly built and unoccupied building next door

Cracks in the basement of the decade-old building had widened in the lead up to the last minute evacuation, with many pointing blame at the newly built and unoccupied building next door

Property consultant Edwin Almedia suggested these cases were not coincidences but a reflection of a larger problem. 

'The issue is broader (than Opal and Mascot) and not only contained to high-rise development,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Low-set and basically new construction has a grey cloud over it – low quality, toxins, bad ventilation and very low quality imported materials used.

'More and more blocks will be evacuated and a lot should already have, been given the levels of mould and water penetration you find in a lot of apartment blocks.

'Not to mention emergency sprinkler systems not working.'

Mr Almedia said there were three main problems; the deregulation of building processes, using land not suitable for high rise apartments and a lack of builders liability. 

Property consultant Edwin Almedia suggested these cases were not coincidences but a reflection of a larger problem. 'More and more blocks will be evacuated and a lot should already have,' he said

Property consultant Edwin Almedia suggested these cases were not coincidences but a reflection of a larger problem. 'More and more blocks will be evacuated and a lot should already have,' he said

At Mascot and Opal Towers the 'list goes on' with foundation issues, deterioration of the sub-basement areas, excavation around it, contamination deteriorating the foundations and low quality concrete, he said.  

'More at risk, one reason is the over-building in adjoining land,' he said.  

Mr Almedia is not surprised by problem-plagued Mascot Towers after standing at a complex next door five years ago to question the 'million dollar ghettos'. 

'Apartments sold for close to a million dollars and plus for the three bedroom penthouses but yet there's a lot of rectification work that needs to be done to these buildings and their only a few years old,' he said at the time.   

But speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, Mr Almedia said: 'A large portion of buildings are beyond rectification.'

'These are just two of the thousands that are going to be evacuated in the future,' he told The Australian Financial Review. 

For the future Mr Almedia recommended greater accountability.

'Make builders and developers jointly accountable for at least seven years and hold back no less than 10 per cent of the value of the end sale in a Trust Account to be supervised/managed by a Government body,' he said. 

'Accountability and liability was deteriorated with Private Certification and changes in 2014-2015.'   

The cracks at Mascot Tower followed the Christmas Eve evacuation of Opal Tower in Sydney Olympic Park after residents heard 'cracking noises'

The cracks at Mascot Tower followed the Christmas Eve evacuation of Opal Tower in Sydney Olympic Park after residents heard 'cracking noises'

Residents at Mascot Towers were not provided alternative accommodation by their insurance when they were booted at about 9pm and most were forced to fork out money on hotels and Airbnbs. 

Others stayed with friends, slept in their cars or accepted the kindness of strangers by crashing on their floor.

On Monday morning, Alan Jones used his 2GB breakfast show to slam Ms Berejiklian's government and failure to look after the residents of Mascot Towers.

'Here are people buying properties which have been signed off and approved, now they can't live there and nor they can't sell them,' he said.

'If you can buy a dodgy toaster you can take it back.

'Apartment owners have nowhere to turn and no one to sue.'

Mr Jones said 'every politician in Sydney would be walking through the rubble throwing money at them' if they lost their homes in a bush fire.   

'But instead these people are sleeping in their cars, let down by appalling regulations,' he said. 

'How dare the government pretend this is not there problem.

'I'll be talking to Gladys on Wednesday, I expect you by Wednesday to tell me what your government is doing about Mascot Towers and Opal Towers.' 

Pictured: cracks at Sydney Olympic Park's Opal Tower last year

Pictured: cracks at Sydney Olympic Park's Opal Tower

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