Graham Goodwin left out of pocket after multimillion-dollar joint venture with Felmeri Group

One of SA’s most senior police officers has been left out of pocket after partnering with failed building firm Felmeri Group on a multimillion-dollar housing project.

The Parafield Gardens project pictured in August last year. Picture: Google Street View

One of the state’s most decorated senior police officers has been embroiled in the collapse of home builder Felmeri Group.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Graham Goodwin, who played a major role in SA Police’s emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic, is among a long list of creditors of the failed company after partnering with it in a multimillion-dollar housing development at Parafield Gardens.

The project, which was only partially completed at the time of Felmeri’s collapse, involved construction of about 20 new homes on Resthaven Rd near the Parafield Airport.

An administrator’s report reveals the project was a joint venture between Felmeri Holdings – a company related to the Felmeri entity that fell into administration in May – and Gargood Pty Ltd.

SAPOL acting Assistant Commissioner Graham Goodwin. Picture: Brett Hartwig

ASIC records show Mr Goodwin is the sole director and shareholder of Gargood Pty Ltd.

In minutes of the second creditors meeting held on July 17, where liquidators were appointed to wind up Felmeri Builders & Developers Pty Ltd, Mr Goodwin and Gargood Pty Ltd are listed as creditors with claims of $50,000 and $65,000 respectively.

It is not clear what the debts relate to.

Just five townhouses along Resthaven Rd have been completed at the Parafield Gardens development, while construction had yet to commence on the remaining allotments at the time of Felmeri’s collapse.

Property records show Felmeri Holdings and Gargood retain joint ownership of the undeveloped land at the site.

It is unclear whether any customers of the Parafield Gardens project are owed money as a result of Felmeri’s collapse.

Mr Goodwin – a 36-year veteran of the police force – was earlier this year awarded an Australian Police Medal as part of the King’s Birthday honours list, recognised for his contribution to policing.

During the pandemic he led the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel at the border between South Australia and Victoria to help barricade roads as part of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Parafield Gardens development was one of several projects left unfinished following Felmeri’s collapse, which has left more than 100 customers with incomplete homes and dozens of creditors chasing close to $30m in debts.

It is one of the largest corporate failures of its type in South Australia.

Mr Goodwin declined to respond to questions about his relationship with Felmeri Group and the nature of his financial claims against the company.