Temple trustees frustrated

The crack which appeared in one of the Temple buildings – which Temple trustees say is directly related to the building work – has still not been repaired, although the access road built by the developers on Temple property for the purpose of fixing the crack is still being used. The elderly residents who were evacuated have not been able to return.

“The least they [the developers] can do is to put the fence back and stop using our land – the trustees are very annoyed about that. They were given access to that road for the purpose of fixing the damage,” says Henry Tsang, honorary president of the Yiu Ming Hung Fook Tong Society that oversees the Temple affairs. “The elderly still have hope to return to their homes because they want to live in their community and the community has been broken up.”

“The developer is passing the responsibility to the insurance company, but the insurance company is caught up in bigger claims,” MrTsang said. In April a water main burst on Botany Road, which resulted in closure of the road for seven weeks and affected local businesses, including the Iron Duke Hotel which still has not re-opened.

The developers declined to comment beyond saying: “The work is in the hands of the insurance company which is dealing with the Chinese society directly.”

Photo: Andrew Collis- Caption: Temple trustees with Cr John McInerney at gate in front of access road between Temple and development site