Angry subbies, creditors in uproar as collapsed builder’s debt doubles to $3.4m and meeting shutdown

Angry creditors are calling for an independent investigation into the collapse of a Brisbane-based builder and for its administrator to be ousted as the company’s debt soars.

Subbies and other creditors are battling to recover $3.4 million owed to them by collapsed Brisbane-based builder Bulkbuild

A FIERY creditors battle has erupted with calls for an independent review into the collapse of a Brisbane-based builder and a bid to oust its administrator as outstanding debts balloon.

Bulkbuild Pty Ltd, a company with a strong track record on major projects, went into voluntary administration almost two weeks ago owing creditors $1.6 million.

Since then, its estimated debts have skyrocketed — more than doubling to $3.4 million.

It also has been revealed the developer of a West End apartment project — where work was still underway when the company collapsed — is claiming it is owed more than $1 million.

Brisbane-based builder Bulkbuild has gone into voluntary administration owing creditors about $1.6 million

Ferro Property Group boss Marco Ferro says work will restart soon on London residences apartment building after builder collapses

QBCC set to take action over the collapse of Bulkbuild

Tensions flared late last week at the first creditors meeting, which was adjourned for a week after a move to replace company-appointed administrator Leon Lee of Moreton + Lee Insolvency.

It is understood there are at least 70 creditors, many of them subcontractors.

Subbies United advocacy group spokesman John Goddard said the meeting had “degenerated into a fiasco … and uproar when the administrator abruptly postponed the meeting”.

He said an overwhelming majority of creditors indicated they wanted the administrator replaced — “almost 2 to 1 against him”.

But Mr Lee disputed the creditors’ vote count, which was based on both numbers and the value of debt owed.

Mr Goddard said the week-long postponement would “come at a cost to creditors and the money trail will be seven days colder”.

Artist’ impression of London Residences, West End.

Mr Lee said he would have been willing to step aside as administrator at the meeting if there was a clear majority but otherwise he would “not be bullied”.

“It was pretty close with slightly more saying they wanted to replace me but they didn’t have the majority in terms of (debt) value,” he said.

Subbies United claims Mr Lee’s count was “at odds” with its calculations.

Mr Lee said the count did not include the largest debt claim, by Fortitude Valley-based developer Ferro Property Group.

He said the developer, which is behind the $27 million luxury seven-storey London Residences project at West End, had lodged its claim “with no paperwork attached” at 4.30pm the day before the meeting and its validity needed to be assessed.

“That claim is for just over $1 million so it is very material,” Mr Lee said.

“I could have put the resolution up at the meeting and it would have failed and I would have stayed (as administrator) … but I decided the prudent thing to do was adjourn for a week.

“So if the developer’s claim is deemed valid in the meantime, then the creditors that want me replaced will have the majority in both numbers and value and I will be rolled.

“But whoever the administrator is, they have to act for all creditors — including the subbies, the developer, trade suppliers, the ATO (Australian Taxation Office) and employees.”

Artist’s impression of London Residences, West End.

Mr Goddard said Subbies United was also pushing for an independent investigation into the collapse of Bulkbuild as the company’s lawyers approached Mr Lee in February about its “impending administration/liquidation” but did not appoint him until May 18.

“In that three months, dozens of creditors continued to pour their resources into Bulkbuild’s projects …(and) fall into the trap which has the potential to destroy some of them,” he said.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is preparing to take action against the director of Bulkbuild. The company is based in Mansfield and its sole director and chairman is Digen Hur.

Bulkbuild’s licence was suspended on March 11 for its failure to meet minimum financial requirements but then reinstated on April 7 after it showed that it had taken steps to improve its financial position to the point where it met its financial requirements.

Artist’s impression of London Residences, West End.

Ferro Property Group managing director Marco Ferro said he was “blindsided” when told Bulkbuild had been put into administration and terminated its contract on the London Residences project at West End.

“At that point the site was at full speed. Our project manager monitors it every day and we had no signs that this was happening,” he said.

According to Bulkbuild’s website, Mr Hur has been involved in a number of high-profile projects in NSW and Queensland worth up to $670 million.

Some of the projects in Queensland include the Jephson Hotel in Toowong, Aldi in the Fairfield Gardens shopping centre and the Yan Jian Australia HQ in the Brisbane CBD.

In NSW projects included were the Sydney ABC television building, UWS School of Medicine, Lidcome Juvenile Justice Centre, Sydney Park Village and the Zenix building in Erskinville.