'It's a dream turned into a nightmare': Opal Tower residents claim their million-dollar apartments are worthless as builder cuts off payments for alternative accommodation
- Distraught Opal Tower resident says his luxury apartment could be worthless
- 'It's the Australian dream turned into an Australian nightmare,' Mr Neverly said
- Many of the tenants have said they are too fearful to move back into the building
Opal Tower residents who are too fearful to return to their homes have claimed their million-dollar apartments are now worth next to nothing.
The tower block in Sydney's Olympic Park was marketed as luxury living.
However for many of the tenants, their dream of owning a perfect home has come crashing down.
Opal Tower residents who are too fearful to return to their homes have claimed their million-dollar apartments are now worth nothing
Guest reporter for the current affairs program, Nine’s Financial Editor Ross Greenwood, will take a tour inside the tower for the first time
'It's the Australian dream turned into an Australian nightmare,' Mr Neverly (pictured) said
On an episode of 60 Minutes which will air this evening, distraught Opal Tower resident Andy Neverly - who paid $840,000 for his apartment - revealed his fears had come true.
'It's the Australian dream turned into an Australian nightmare,' Mr Neverly said.
'I don't think (the apartment) is worth anything.'
Nine reporter Ross Greenwood will take a tour inside the tower, which will for the first time reveal the abandoned apartments, as well as 'ground zero' where the destabilising cracking occurred.
The special report comes as residents of nearly 100 apartments in the damaged tower have been forced to return to their homes, with the builder cutting off payments for food and temporary accommodation.
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Icon won't pay for food and accommodation after Sunday breakfast for residents of 97 apartments after the body corporate's engineers Cardno declared those units safe to occupy.
It follows Icon's announcement on January 27 that 74 apartments in the Sydney Olympic Park building were ready to be reoccupied.
'It is important to note that the we are continuing to work with all the engineers to ensure all queries are thoroughly addressed and that the extent of apartments with actual remedial works is minimal,' Icon said in a statement on Sunday.
Icon has extended its temporary accommodation and food to February 9 for residents whose units have not yet been cleared for reoccupation (pictured: Opal Tower)
It's been nearly six weeks since residents were first evacuated on Christmas Eve after hearing and seeing cracks in a wall (pictured: Opal Tower)
Icon has extended its temporary accommodation and food to February 9 for residents whose units have not yet been cleared for reoccupation.
It's been nearly six weeks since residents were first evacuated on Christmas Eve after hearing and seeing cracks in a wall.
A group of residents who own units in the tower last week sent a letter to the prime minister, NSW premier and state planning minister about the 'pain, loss and deceit' they have experienced during the ordeal.
They called on the state government to assess the habitability of Opal Tower and to ensure those behind the 'crisis' take responsibility.
Some of the residents of the units cleared for return have refused to move back because they say the building is still a 'construction zone'.
Design engineers WSP maintains the building is structurally sound overall - a verdict also made by the government's independent engineering experts.
