Two illegal builders have been convicted and ordered to pay homeowners thousands

Two men have been convicted and ordered to pay thousands of dollars to homeowners after carrying out building work on their homes while unlicensed.

The QBCC has prosecuted two illegal builders which were convicted and ordered to pay compensation to homeowners.

A Brisbane man, described as a ‘recidivist offender’ by a magistrate, is one of two men prosecuted by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) for illegal building activities in recent weeks.

Sapati Michael Faraimo had a conviction recorded for unlawfully carrying out building work and a penalty of $10,000 was imposed in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court. He was also ordered to pay $19,815 in compensation to the homeowners and the Commission’s costs of $2111.

In passing sentence, his Honour Mac Giolla Ri said Faraimo, who was not present in court, was a ‘recidivist’ who had been issued with a penalty infringement notice prior to the offending.

His Honour said the fine was warranted due to Faraimo carrying out work with three homeowners at Shailer Park while he was unlicensed. Faraimo received a total amount of $131,910 from the homeowners while he was unlicensed.

The other man, Andrew Leonard, was fined $12,000 and had a conviction recorded in the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court when he was found guilty of three offences.

Leonard, who also did not appear in court, was convicted of unlawfully carrying out building work, starting work before a regulated contract complied with requirements, and demanding and receiving an excess deposit.

His Honour Magistrate Costanzo also ordered Leonard to pay $801.49 in compensation to the Petrie homeowner and the QBCC’s costs of $2000.

QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy.

This year, the QBCC has had outcomes in 19 prosecutions against individuals and companies, resulting in a total of more than $280,000 in fines, costs and compensation.

QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy says the regulator has been pulling out all the stops to crack down on illegal activity in the building and construction industry and that this is reflected in the high number of prosecutions throughout 2024.

“We know from our ongoing compliance and education campaigns and audits around the state that most people in the industry are doing the right thing,’’ she says. “However, the QBCC has zero tolerance for unscrupulous operators, especially in relation to unlicensed contracting.

“It is an illegal activity which poses a significant risk to consumers and community safety due to the potential for substandard or defective work. It also undercuts hardworking QBCC licensees who do the right thing. By stamping out this activity, we are ensuring a level playing field for licensed contractors.”

Takeoff

It’s a new era for LifeFlight as construction starts next week on a Sunshine Coast base for the aeromedical organisation.

The development of the Sunshine Coast LifeFlight base was kickstarted by $18.51m in state government funding and deliver the organisation’s most significant infrastructure to the region in 45 years.

LifeFlight announced Newlands as the builder of the three-hangar base in the Aerospace Precinct, which at 1500 sqm is close to three times as large as the current hangar.

The not-for-profit has an affinity with the region and traces its roots back to 1979 when the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service was founded by the late Des Scanlan and others and launched from the base.

At the sod-turning on Friday were LifeFlight Australia chairman Jim Elder, member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson, Sunshine Coast base founder Hayden Kenny and Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills.