Hi All,

 

An update on the smell issue for J18.  After some detective work and a bit of door knocking, (thanks Jag!) it appears that an adjoining neighbour has had a BBQ at the same time over the past two weeks, positioned very close to our adjoining wall.  

 

The resident apologised profusely and won’t be placing the BBQ close to our adjoining wall in future.

 

 

To end on a nice note, Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums for this weekend.

Kind Regards

Annette

Annette Karydis | Operations Manager            
The University of Sydney                           
Faculty of Engineering, Australian Centre for Robotics         

+61 2 9351 8146  | +61 419 207 097  

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.
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From: Annette Karydis <annette.karydis@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, 8 May 2026 2:26 PM
To: Salah Sukkarieh <salah.sukkarieh@sydney.edu.au>; Stefan Williams <stefan.williams@sydney.edu.au>; everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>; David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>
Cc: Vanessa Davie <vanessa.davie@sydney.edu.au>; Ian Manchester <ian.manchester@sydney.edu.au>; Charlotte Caldow <charlotte.caldow@sydney.edu.au>; Judy Martin <judy.martin@sydney.edu.au>
Subject: [Everybody at ACFR] Re: Attention J18 residents
Importance: High

 

Hi all

 

Can everyone please evacuate J18 now while we investigate again.

 

My apologies for doing this.

Kind Regards

Annette

Annette Karydis | Operations Manager            
The University of Sydney                           
Faculty of Engineering, Australian Centre for Robotics         

+61 2 9351 8146  | +61 419 207 097  

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments.

 

From: Salah Sukkarieh <salah.sukkarieh@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, 8 May 2026 2:14 PM
To: Annette Karydis <annette.karydis@sydney.edu.au>; Stefan Williams <stefan.williams@sydney.edu.au>; everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>; David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>
Cc: Vanessa Davie <vanessa.davie@sydney.edu.au>; Ian Manchester <ian.manchester@sydney.edu.au>; Charlotte Caldow <charlotte.caldow@sydney.edu.au>; Judy Martin <judy.martin@sydney.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Attention J18 residents

 

It’s not just smelly. It is hazy in there - smoke of some sort. 

 

Salah

From: Annette Karydis <annette.karydis@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 12:49:01 PM
To: Stefan Williams <stefan.williams@sydney.edu.au>; everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>; David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>
Cc: Vanessa Davie <vanessa.davie@sydney.edu.au>; Ian Manchester <ian.manchester@sydney.edu.au>; Charlotte Caldow <charlotte.caldow@sydney.edu.au>; Judy Martin <judy.martin@sydney.edu.au>
Subject: [Rio] [Everybody at ACFR] Re: Attention J18 residents

 

Hi Stef,

 

Nothing was found.

 

Its coincidental that the smell has started again at almost the same time.

 

I have to ask, is anyone in J18 doing anything that could be causing a smell.   The garage has been checked, the neighbouring buildings have been checked.

 

The smell is strongest on Level 2 near the kitchen, corridor near our software office.

 

@David Hickling can you please submit a work request if the smell continues and pass it on to Charlotte and Judy.

Kind Regards

Annette

Annette Karydis | Operations Manager            
The University of Sydney                           
Faculty of Engineering, Australian Centre for Robotics         

+61 2 9351 8146  | +61 419 207 097  

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments.

 

From: Stefan Williams <stefan.williams@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, 8 May 2026 12:33 PM
To: Annette Karydis <annette.karydis@sydney.edu.au>; everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>
Cc: Vanessa Davie <vanessa.davie@sydney.edu.au>; Ian Manchester <ian.manchester@sydney.edu.au>; David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Attention J18 residents

 

Hi Annette,

 

Did the source of that smell last week get identified?  I think I'm smelling it again…

 

Stef

 

 

 

 Description: USY_MB1_RGB_1_Colour_Standard_Logo.jpg

Prof. Stefan B. Williams     

Professor of Marine Robotics                

 

 

From: Annette Karydis <annette.karydis@sydney.edu.au>
Date: Friday, 1 May 2026 at 3:21 pm
To: everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>
Cc: Vanessa Davie <vanessa.davie@sydney.edu.au>; Ian Manchester <ian.manchester@sydney.edu.au>; David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>
Subject: [Everybody at ACFR] Attention J18 residents

Hi All,

 

I have spoken to our H&S partner, Vanessa Davie, who has advised that we should evacuate all J18 until we understand what is happening.

 

If anyone is currently in J18, could you please evacuate the building immediately.   

 

If you have any issues or concerns, please let me know.

Kind Regards

Annette

Annette Karydis | Operations Manager            
The University of Sydney                           
Faculty of Engineering, Australian Centre for Robotics         

+61 2 9351 8146  | +61 419 207 097  

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments.

 

From: Annette Karydis <annette.karydis@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, 1 May 2026 12:59 PM
To: Nick McCouat <nick.mccouat@sydney.edu.au>; David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>; everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>
Subject: [Everybody at ACFR] Re: attention J18 Level 2 residents
Importance: High

 

Thanks Nick.

 

We have escalated this and we are expecting Airmaster to be on site within the next 20 minutes.

 

Levels 1 and 2 are not good.  Until we investigate what this is, can I request for all occupants of level 2 to leave the building and anyone else that may not feel comfortable or have respiratory issues.

 

We will provide updated information as soon as know.

 

Many thanks

Annette

Annette Karydis | Operations Manager            
The University of Sydney                           
Faculty of Engineering, Australian Centre for Robotics         

+61 2 9351 8146  | +61 419 207 097  

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments.

 

From: Nick McCouat <nick.mccouat@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, 1 May 2026 12:53 PM
To: David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>; everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>
Subject: [Everybody at ACFR] Re: attention J18 Level 2 residents

 

Just an update, there is now thicker (visible) white smoke throughout level 2, especially down near the J19 end.

 

I had to go in to retrieve my bag, but I wouldn't recommend doing so unless you really need to, as it is pretty dense and smells bad. And this is coming from someone who sits in the software office most days.

 

If you do need to enter L2, it may be worth wearing one of the P100 masks from the workshop, and if in any doubt, perhaps get David Hickling to go in first.

 

Nick

From: David Hickling <david.hickling@sydney.edu.au>
Sent: Friday, 1 May 2026 12:10 PM
To: everybody <everybody@acfr.usyd.edu.au>
Subject: [Everybody at ACFR] attention J18 Level 2 residents

 

Hi J18 Level 2 people,

As you know there a smoky odour wafting around your level. Level 3 and 4 are OK at the moment. We think that it is coming in from outside. We have asked the Air conditioning people to inspect urgently.

If the smell bothers you maybe you should leave the building and take a break or go home?

 

Cheers
David

 

David Hickling

Administrative and Technical Assistant

The University of Sydney

Faculty of Engineering

Australian Centre for Robotics

Level 2, Sydney Robotics Lab J19

74-80 Abercrombie St

Chippendale 2008 NSW

 

M 0404 349 074 | T 02 8627 8279

sydney.edu.au/acfr