Carruthers Contracting says solar farm owes it another $1.5m
A Sunshine Coast company awarded $1.3m for unpaid work on a massive renewable energy project north of Gympie says it is now owed another $1.5m.
Gympie
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A subcontractor who previously won $1.3million in unpaid work on a major solar farm is once again fighting for money he says he is owed on the job.
Sunshine Coast-based Jim Carruthers claims PCL Constructions still owes his company, Carruthers Contracting, about $1.5million for work done at the $130million Woolooga Solar Farm, about 35km northwest of Gympie.
Mr Carruthers has asked for the Queensland Building and Construction Commission to adjudicate his claim.
PCL Construction has been contacted for comment.
It is the second time Mr Carruthers has gone to the state’s industry watchdog to fight for unpaid bills.
In November 2022, he won a $1.3m claim against PCL Construction, the company engaged by developer Lightsource BP for the project.
No suggestion of wrongdoing has been made against Lightsource BP, and a spokesman for the group declined to comment at this time.
In the November ruling, adjudicator Edward Smithies agreed with more than two-thirds of the 34 claims for money owed to Carruthers Contracting.
PCL was also ordered to pay the full costs of the adjudication.
A decision on the latest adjudication claim is expected in early June 2023.
Mr Carruthers said Monday it was “simply appalling” companies could operate in the country without paying their workers.
“The last couple of years has been tough enough with the wet weather and Covid-related issues, without missing out on money that’s owed to us,” Mr Carruthers said.
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