Court fight over leaking garage

JEREMY Cordeaux dreamed for 20 years of housing his $2 million vintage car collection under one roof.

JEREMY Cordeaux dreamed for 20 years of housing his $2 million vintage car collection under one roof.

In retirement, the radio identity sold all his private garages to finance construction of a waterproof showroom - with roof-top tennis court - at his eastern suburbs home.

Mr Cordeaux moved in his Ferraris, Jaguars and Fiats last July but, days later, the roof started leaking. Mr Cordeaux asked the District Court yesterday to force Vartzokas Constructions to fix its creation.

His lawyer, Thomas Grace, said Mr Cordeaux had taken legal action as a last resort. "This garage houses a collection of cars worth somewhere in the vicinity of $2 million, and it started leaking right after completion," he said.

"Since July, there have been ongoing efforts to remedy and rectify this issue, but everyone seems more interested in pointing fingers left and right than in fixing it. Meanwhile the roof still is leaking, the cars are covered in plastic and my client faces significant collateral damage if the water penetrates."

Mr Cordeaux, 65, began his 42-year career in Sydney, and is best known for his Adelaide talkback program.

His collection includes a 1963 Ford Thunderbird hardtop, a 1950s MG TF and a Jaguar 420G Mark X limousine. He also owns a 2003 Rolls-Royce convertible - one of only 56 made.

The showroom includes a stone fireplace, a suit of armour, leather sofas, artwork and hundreds of books.

Mr Grace said Vartzokas had claimed it served only as project manager and so could not be sued. "It would be astonishing if that were true, it would undermine (state law)," he said. "If builders can enter into contracts with private homeowners and then hand-off their liability, that is something this court should take an interest in."

Michael Hutton, for Vartzokas, said he had just been briefed on the case. He asked for time to consider his client's position, and for the filing of documents.

Master Mark Blumberg adjourned the matter for two weeks.