Smart Built fined $150k after Wayville precast wall fell on home

The case turns on temporary support. According to the ruling as reported by the ABC, the development included 10-metre high precast concrete wall panels, and those panels had been held up by temporary “propping”. About two weeks before the collapse, the company had the propping taken out so parts of the site were easier to reach.

The court found no engineer checked the precast panels or their permanent structural support before the propping was removed.

The numbers

The ABC said the section that fell weighed 30 tonnes. It fell onto the rear 60 centimetres of the house and most of the outdoor living space.

The court put the cost of structural damage to the house at $85,413.82, with a further $19,211 in damage to its contents.

The mother required knee stitches, while her baby had only superficial cuts. The court said the injuries could have been more serious. Victim impact statements described the profound impact of the offending on the pair, according to the ruling.

The court also observed that remaining sections of the poorly supported wall stood above the rest of the family’s home.

On the day of the collapse, the ABC reported, flooding and storm damage were seen around Adelaide, including at Wayville.

What’s next

The fine has been handed down. The ruling recorded that Smart Built paid $10,000 to the affected neighbours to compensate them for the inconvenience of ongoing building works. It also said the company had assisted with practical measures for repairs, which the family’s insurer was arranging.

For other Adelaide building work, see our earlier report on the Bowden timber tower.