Troubled builder BA Murphy abandons major projects worth millions
A Queensland construction company has abandoned millions of dollars worth of projects after its licence was suspended by the building watchdog.
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Troubled Queensland construction company BA Murphy has abandoned millions of dollars worth of projects after its licence was suspended by the building watchdog last week.
The Sunshine Coast firm has told subbies it is exiting all its commercial projects including townhouse developments in Brisbane, Caloundra and Sippy Downs.
BA Murphy, founded by third-generation builder Ben Murphy in 2015, is arranging for developers to take over the sites and “working out what needs to be done to complete the projects.” Industry sources say the company could owe up to $3m.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) pulled BA Murphy’s licence last week after complaints it was not paying subbies.
The firm has reportedly stopped work on a number of projects around southeast Queensland after running into financial difficulties.
Projects affected include Stockland Aura’s 27-unit townhouse at Baringa, the luxury two-storey development Luciana at St Lucia and the Hentley unit development at Sippy Downs.
According to QBCC records, BA Murphy completed 98 projects worth $30.7m in 2020/21 and 100 jobs worth more than $27.5m the previous year.
A Stockland spokesperson said BA Murphy would be unable to complete a small number of contracted home building projects at Baringa, near Caloundra.
“This will impact and delay a small number of homes within Stockland’s Baringa Townhomes project at Aura,” the spokesperson said.
“We have advised impacted customers and are actively working with alternative builders to deliver incomplete homes as soon as practical.”
Ben Murphy said BA Murphy remained committed to “delivering outcomes for our clients” but declined to comment on the financial troubles of the business.
“While our business obviously faces the same challenges as others within our industry, BA Murphy is focused on meeting our business commitments,” said Mr Murphy.
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