New South Wales Building Commissioner David Chandler has expressed horror at the “third world” and “nightmare” safety conditions observed at two construction sites in Newcastle.

During a joint inspection with representatives from SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading, the officials reportedly visited five sites in total, uncovering potential construction-related building concerns at two locations, including 106 Brunker Road in Adamstown.

Mr Chandler did not mince words when describing the state of affairs at the Brunker Road site. 

“The status of safety on the job was evident. It was non-existent… it was just an absolutely appalling nightmare both from a safety point of view and from a building compliance point of view,” he said. 

Notably, NSW SafeWork Inspectors had already issued a prohibition notice for unsafe scaffolding and working near powerlines.

Given the gravity of the situation, Commissioner Chandler expects SafeWork NSW to issue a stop-work order imminently. 

Another site raising concerns is located on Watt Street in inner-city Newcastle. Owned by developer Keith Stronach, the site had already received a prohibition notice. 

Commissioner Chandler indicated that a stop-work notice would be forthcoming this week. Although not as dire as the Brunker Road site, it still presented significant issues.

“The ordinary electrical cable had been hardwired into the back of a switchboard to actually energise another powerboard on another floor,” the Commissioner said. 

“It's just unbelievable, and I couldn't get to the basement in that building because it was such a wreck of a site in terms of blockages and rubbish.”