Temple Terraces to be repaired

They were joined by representatives of Baseline Constructions, whose insurance has paid for repair work recently completed on two of the temple’s terrace houses, under a public liability policy.

In late 2007, some of the temple’s elderly residents were evacuated from those terraces when differential settlement of the building caused by the neighboring construction made it uninhabitable. For over a year they have lived in alternative accommodation while negotiations for repairs took place. President of the Yiu Ming Society, Henry Chan, said the elderly residents were anxious to return to their homes.

“They would like to come back to our house instead of [living in a] Government housing area,” Mr Chan said. He said the Chinese immigrants spoke very little English and felt isolated residing outside the temple community.

The Yiu Ming Society has raised money through donations to fund additional renovations to the interiors of the terraces, which are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

“It’s an old building,” Mr Chan said. “A lot of work has to be done before the people can move in.” Louis Chow, of Tsang and Lee Architects in Haymarket, said the work would include new doors, partitioning, kitchens and bathrooms.

Baseline Constructions has also offered to paint the exterior of the terrace buildings. A Baseline spokesperson described the work as a “gesture of goodwill to the Temple Society for the inconvenience the damage to the buildings has caused”. He said the painting also served as thanks to the Yiu Ming Society for allowing Baseline to use the backyards of the terraces during construction. Kam Lau, Baseline Constructions’ Contracts Manager, said: “We always consider the temple as our next-door neighbour. We want to maintain a good relationship.”

Henry Tsang, Honorary President of the Yiu Ming Hung Fook Tong Society, said: “I’m particularly happy that the builder has been kind enough to paint the exterior of the building. That’s very generous.”

Mr Tsang also extended his thanks to Andrew Ferguson, Secretary of the NSW branch of the Construction Forestry Mining and Engineering Union, for his involvement in prompting negotiations between the Yiu Ming Society, Baseline and its insurer. As Baseline Constructions is the principle contractor on the development site its insurance has paid for the repairs, however a dispute over responsibility for the damage is currently being litigated.

Source: South Sydney Herald August 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au