Wolli Creek crane collapse: Hundreds still unable to return home

NSW Fire and Rescue and contractor Probuild are now working to remove the 30-metre crane, which smashed into a penthouse apartment of a 10-storey building, crushing a balcony and leaving three workers in need of rescue.

Four temporary cranes have now been moved into the area to extract the larger structure.

A spokesperson for NSW Fire and Emergency said the process to remove the fallen crane may take until Wednesday or Thursday.

All of the apartment complexes on Brodie Spark Drive were evacuated when the crane fell into the Arc building on Sunday morning, damaging two buildings.

Resident Daniel Gomes, a site manager who has worked in the construction industry for 15 years and has been unable to work since the incident, said the lack of transparency from developer Frasers Property and contractor Probuild was disconcerting.

"I doubt the cranes they've moved in to get it out will work though, they are too small," Mr Gomes said.

Mr Gomes and his partner slept on the floor of a friend's house on Sunday and were given just 10 minutes access to their apartment on Monday. They have been granted emergency accommodation but are being moved to new hotels every night along with hundreds of neighbours.

The couple had to make their way into the city on Monday night, 16 kilometres from their home. They are now preparing to spend the night in a hotel in Mascot.

"We've been given $100 vouchers for room service between two of us for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some of the dishes are $40 each. Some other people have been given the same but they have families. There is a man here with four kids to feed. I'd guess about 260 people are still affected," Mr Gomes told Fairfax Media.

"We're lucky that my car was out. Some people can't get to theirs and have to take taxis everywhere. Each night we get a note slipped under our door at 10pm telling us where we are going next.

"They keep telling us to save our receipts for reimbursement but who knows what will happen. I contacted my real estate agent and they weren't aware of what was happening so I'm also still paying rent too."

Another resident Daniel Wallace was in the process of moving out of his apartment when the crane collapsed.

He is due to vacant his rental property in Wolli Creek on Wednesday but has been unable to access the unit for more than a "few minutes" since then.

"I'm feeling like a bit of a gypsy and I'm kind of over it," Wallace said.

Wallace has only been granted one extra day from his real estate agent before he has to hand in the keys.

"When I contacted them to let them know they weren't aware of accident so I had to explain the situation to them. I may lose my bond as it looks like we won't be allowed back in until the end of the week."

A Frasers Property spokesperson said "the site will be largely restored by Saturday afternoon."