Angry victims of Felmeri Group say they are unable to finish building their homes until someone pays to complete a road

Victims of collapsed builders Felmeri Group, many of them young first-time buyers and families, are pleading for help to complete their homes.

First-time homeowners Devon Craig (L) with her daughter Willow, 2, and Zoe Grzeczkowski (R), 32, with her nine-month-old daughter Elena, have been “left in limbo” with unfinished homes. Picture: Shashi Baltutis

Disgruntled customers have been left stranded on the road to building their dream southern suburbs homes, following the collapse of Felmeri Group.

Customers of the failed South Australian firm left with incomplete homes in O’Halloran Hill are calling on the state government to step in because they are unable to finish building their homes because an access road adjoining their street has been left incomplete.

The company responsible for building the road was run by Felmeri Group, and had not completed construction before it was placed into administration.

Without the finished road, homeowners are unable to continue building their homes.

First time homeowner Zoe Grzeczkowski, who was building with Felmeri at O’Halloran Hill, just off Main South Rd, has had her life turned upside down with costs associated with her still unfinished home.

EXCLUSIVE: Pressure is mounting on the state government to step in and help victims of the Felmeri Homes collapse. Customers at O’Halloran Hill have been told their homes will not be finished until someone forks out for a new road. https://t.co/nKiVtkEaYT@AKunowski#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/jlEvoBhtea

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) July 27, 2023

Edward Gilmore says the delay has been devastating for his family. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mother to nine-month-old Elena, Ms Grzeczkowski, 32, has been slugged with paying both her rent at Hallett Cove, where she has been staying during the building process, and her mortgage for the unfinished home.

“We’re left in limbo,” she said.

“We want someone to do the road and do it properly because then at least then our houses can get finished.”

Ms Grzeczkowski was supposed to move into her home in July last year after purchasing in 2020.

At the same site, young mother Devon Craig, with her two-year-old daughter Willow, described the saga as “a gut-wrenching process”.

Ms Craig, 25, bought in 2021 and was due to move into her new home in January this year but now has been forced to live with her partner’s parents.

“It’s just getting harder with the price of living increasing and having to pay bills,” Ms Craig said.

“Driving past (the building site) has been depressing.”

Felmeri Group went into administration earlier this year. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

One of the disgruntled customers, Edward Gilmore, says the situation is an “absolute joke”.

“We’ve had two children since we signed,” Mr Gilmore told 7NEWS Adelaide. “We thought we would be there before the first was walking, and we had our second last year.”

The council could make landowners on the street fork out the bill to finish developing the road.

“Because we’ve reach a certain level of progress, that’s going to fall down on us,” Mr Gilmore said.

Landowners claim they were told by the Consumer and Business Services that the developer “accepted responsibility to complete the road and advised that the development companies are solvent”.

Customers are now fearing the government will not assist by assigning another company to finish the road.

“The government has made it very clear in their budget that housing is a priority, and all we’re asking for is a very small part of the amount put aside to finish this and get families in,” Mr Gilmore said.

Edward Gilmore inside his unfinished home. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“You go into one of these processes thinking that there are things in place to protect you as a consumer, and unfortunately you find out most of them are toothless tigers.”

Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels said there was a specific “legal process” to undergo because “the company is still solvent and hasn’t gone into liquidation”.

Marion Council says it will not be chasing Felmeri customers to pay for the incomplete road, according to 7NEWS.

Speaking to The Advertiser earlier this month, Mr Gilmore said he hoped building indemnity insurance of up to $150,000 would be enough to cover the cost of completing his family’s dream home – which has turned into a nightmare after three years of delays.

State opposition leader David Speirs called on the state government to help O’Halloran Hill customers of the failed builder with financial relief by waiving SA Water bills, Emergency Services Levy and strata fees.

“Behind each of these unfinished properties are a family’s dreams and aspirations of homeownership, so we’re urging Peter Malinauskas to step in and help end this nightmare,” he said.

Mr Speirs also called on the Marion Council to waive council rates and to work with the state government on finishing the road.