Gold Coast council sues luxury home builder for nearly $250K over alleged damaged assets
The council claims the builder of a luxurious Broadbeach Waters pad that generated media buzz at the time of its completion damaged council assets during construction. Here’s what we know so far.
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Gold Coast City Council is seeking more than $200,000 in damages from a luxury home builder amid claims a neighbouring sewer line was damaged during the construction of an Instagram-worthy Broadbeach Waters pad worth millions.
The council lodged a damages claim in the Southport District Court on April 3, naming Mermaid Beach outfit Queensland Coast Constructions Pty Ltd, headed up by director Jackson Emblem, 37, as respondent.
In court documents obtained by this masthead, the council claims that in or about October 2022, the respondent company (or its agents) were undertaking work at 145 Rio Vista Blvd, Broadbeach Waters when it damaged a sewer line under a neighbouring property at 143 Rio Vista Blvd.
The council claims the damage occurred while Queensland Coast Constructions was undertaking screw piling, with the effect the sewer line became blocked.
“As a result of the damage to the sewer line... the plaintiff had to carry out repairs to the infrastructure to repair the damage caused to the infrastructure,” the council said in its statement of claim.
The council alleges it cost $205,635.63 to repair the damage, money it is seeking to recoup from the respondent company, plus approximately $42,000 in interest and costs.
It argues it is entitled to recoup the money by operation of s40 of the Water Supply (Safety & Reliability) Act 2008.
According to the council’s statement of claim, its solicitors, QBM Lawyers, made a written demand seeking payment from the respondent company on March 25, but Queensland Coast Constructions “failed and/or refused to pay the said sum”.
The company is yet to file a formal defence or indicate whether it will in fact defend the matter.
Queensland Coast Constructions were contacted for comment via email and text message.
The developer’s rebuild of 145 Rio Vista Blvd, which is now known by the name Case Olea, generated media buzz at the time of its completion.
This masthead wrote approvingly of its “stately arches, rooftop terrace and sun-soaked water views... [which] intertwines the quintessential Gold Coast lifestyle with a modern Mediterranean vibe”.
According to previous reporting, the property was purchased in 2020 by Willy Landrigan and his wife Natalia Contreras, who set about transforming the home, an 18-month process headed up by Queensland Coast Constructions.
According to real estate data, the pair purchased the property for $1.15m and initially tried to sell it post-transformation for $4.95m. It is now listed for sale for $4.65m.
More recently, Mr Emblem appears to have foregone the name Queensland Coast Constructions in favour of a new entity, Luoma Pty Ltd, trading as LUOMA, which shares the same QBCC licence number as the former outfit.
On its website, LUOMA lists Casa Olea among its completed projects, alongside luxury residences at Broadbeach Waters, Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Hope Island, and Kingscliff.
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Originally published as Gold Coast council sues luxury home builder for nearly $250K over alleged damaged assets
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