August Towers apartment builder Build 29 completed $35 million tower without builder’s licence blaming administration error

A COMPANY behind a $35 million city apartment tower completed the project without having a builders’ licence but has blamed the oversight on an administrative error.

Build 29, the builder of the August Towers apartment building on the corner of South Tce and Hutt Street, has blamed an administration error for not being licensed. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

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A COMPANY behind a $35 million city apartment tower completed the project without having a builders’ licence but has blamed the oversight on an administrative error.

Build 29, which this week completed construction of the 14-storey August Towers apartments on the corner of Hutt St and South Tce, surrendered its licence on October 10, according to licence details held by Consumer and Business Services.

It is illegal to undertake residential or commercial construction without a building licence with owners potentially unable to make an insurance claim for any defects.

Daniel Sghirripa, of Build 29, told The Advertiser that the information had come to the company’s attention on Tuesday after notification from CBS.

“We are now rectifying the situation as a matter of urgency as the licence was surrendered by mistake as a result of an internal administration error,” he said in an email.

The Advertiser raised the matter with the CBS and Build 29 in the past week after the director of a major Adelaide building firm alerted the paper to the breach.

Build 29 is part of the Sgherza Group, whose director is Sam Sgerzha.

Mr Sgherza and Mr Sghirripa are licensed to undertake residential construction.

A spokesman for CBS said the agency had not received any complaints regarding August Towers.

“Where Consumer and Business Services receives complaints relating to a build those matters are reviewed and investigated as appropriate,” he said.

But The Advertiser has sought further clarification from CBS and Build 29 as to the potential implications to investors from the absence of the building licence, in particular on the company’s builder’s indemnity insurance.

The building licence breach comes after The Advertiser revealed that Build 29 is defending allegations in the District Court that it owes $177,800 to Bianco Construction Supplies.

Bianco has alleged that Build 29 ignored payment demands lodged between June and August last year.