The strata manager is being ridiculously unhelpful here (and I suggest you contact our sponsors Strata Answers to give you the right advice immediately).
I have to say that the process as outlined on the NCAT website is unclear. Firstly, anyone can apply for interim orders on this form and the secretary can get authority for this by a simple ring-around. The very idea that you have to wait three days before you can even apply for interim orders is ridiculous.
You also need to apply for mediation (not to go through the process but I think Interim Orders can only be attached to a full application and that requires mediation).
In the meantime, I would have the strata scheme’s lawyers immediately send the lot owners as “cease and desist” letter, informing them that if they continue with the fooring, they will be taken to NCAT where they will be ordered to lift the flooring and replace it with carpet.
Finally, if this was happening in my apartment block, I would arrange for their electricity to be mysteriously switched off (due to a power overload or something “mysterious and inexplicable” like that).
And I would also be calling the contractor and telling them that the work is a breach of your by-laws and if they don’t stop immediately, you will be reporting them to the strata contractors blacklist, and they can look forward to never getting another contract in a Sydney high rise again.
Now, cutting off the electricity supply is highly dubious and I don’t think there is a such a thing as a strata blacklist (but there should be). But if an owner deliberately flouts by-laws and breaks the rules, why should you be the only ones to be squeaky clean.
Act decisively now or face moths of misery trying to put this right. Oh, and it’s probably time to start looking for another strata manager.