Expert Witness (Cladding) – Star Casino (Lakes Project, VIP Project & Lift Project)
80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont (2025 – 2026)
Proceeding: [2026] NSWSC 27 The Star Entertainment Sydney Properties Pty Ltd v Buildcorp Group Pty Ltd trading as Buildcorp Interiors.
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Status: was before the Supreme Court of NSW – Judgement dated 6 February 2026 (Link to jundgement).
Tony’s role: expert witness for the insurer for Ausrise Aluminium Pty Ltd (the installer, deregistered), engaged and instructed by DWF (Australia).​​
(Image CC BY-SA 3.0 (Saberwyn Wikimedia Commons)
Description: Combustible cladding was installed in three projects at the Star Casino: two at the Austral Hotel Tower (the Lakes Project and the Lift Project) and one at the Darling Hotel (the VIP Project). The combustible cladding comprises aluminium composite panels with a fire-retardant compound in their core (ACP FR).
Tony was instructed to provide his opinion on whether the installation of the combustible cladding was in breach of the Building Code of Australia. He issued his expert report in September 2025. An expert conclave was held in October 2025 with a joint report issued soon after. The hearing was also held in October 2025. Judgement was handed down in February 2026.