Tradie, lighting designer seek thousands allegedly owed by Caxton St venues

A lighting designer and an electrician are demanding two venues on Brisbane’s famous Caxton Street honour thousands of dollars of work they carried out during a recent revamp.

Neue director Dean Brosnan and electrician Lyle Rodgers outside Enzo and Son's in Caxton St. Picture: Darren Cartwright

A LIGHTING designer and an electrician are demanding two Caxton St venues honour thousands of dollars of work they allegedly carried out during a recent revamp.

Neue Lighting director Dean Brosnan and sparky Lyle Rodgers, owner of UPEC Solutions, said they have been trying for three months to be paid for work they undertook on Enzo & Sons and Ruby Tramp on Caxton St.

Company director Glenn Gration said some money had been paid but there was an ongoing dispute over the balance due to delays in the broader project.

Mr Brosnan said he spent two weeks on the project, including design work and the removal of signage and fixtures and the installation of lighting in June.

Lighting designer Dean Brosnan and electrician Lyle Rodgers outside of Enzo's and Sons in Caxton Street. Pic Peter Wallis

He had received a $2500 payment, but was still owed more than $10,000 while Mr Rodgers alleged he was owed $3000, Mr Brosnan said.

“They wanted to contract us again (for Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall) and apologised for not paying because they struggled at the end of the financial year,” Mr Brosnan said.

“They said, ‘we love your work but we need more done because there’s football games on’.

“We told him we were owed $10,000 and they promised a $2500 down payment, but it was never paid … and then again they drop off the grid and you can’t contact them.”

Mr Rodgers said he was close to declaring bankruptcy over the alleged outstanding debt, having just refinanced because of another payment issue with a builder.

The sparky said it may seem an insignificant amount, but the timing could not have been worst.

Sparky Lyle Rodgers installing lights underneath the bar at Enzo and Sons which he says owes him several thousand dollars for work conducted in June. Pic: Supplied

“I’m sick of it. I need the money to maintain my cash flow and business,” Mr Rodgers said.

“They have promised us and promised us every week for 10 weeks and now I am looking at wrapping the business up, partly because of this.

“I know it’s not much but I had just got a business loan to get me out of a hole and it was one of the first jobs after that and I was relying heavily on them to hold up their end of the work.”

The licensees for the two venues, as well as Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, are all under different companies although they have the same sole director.

The licensee of Enzo & Sons is Urban Asset Management 3 Pty Ltd while Urban Entertainment No. 2 which owns Ruby Tramp.

Gold Coast-based Glenn Gration is the sole director of both companies and Arklow Pty Ltd that is the licensee for Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall.

Mr Gration said in a statement that $2500 had been paid and there was an “ongoing dispute” over the outstanding invoices while “the broader project” had been delayed.

“The work was part of a larger lighting project for the precinct which was yet to be finalised,” Mr Gration said.

“Management has been in regular communication with Mr Rodgers and Mr Brosnan, and most recently had a conversation with them a fortnight ago.”

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall where an investigation has started into the alleged disappearance of more than $12,5000 of alcohol. Pic: Darren Cartwright

Separate to the dispute over invoices, Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall staff had made rumblings about not being paid and one former worker said he left because of it.

Mr Gration said final payments to all staff were “processed today” and superannuation would be paid by the end of the month with accordance with ATO requirements.

Mr Gration said what was of concern was the disappearance of more than $12,500 worth of alcohol since late July.

“CCTV footage from the venue, examined as part of the investigation, may now be handed to police,” Mr Gration said.

There was no suggestion that Mr Brosnan or Mr Rodgers were at all linked to the disappearance of alcohol.