Miles Electrical, Bundaberg Refrigeration among liquidated companies
A tough year for businesses has claimed several scalps across the region, including some companies that collapsed owing millions of dollars.
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The past two years have been tough for businesses across the Wide Bay, with owners forced to deal with shutdowns restrictions, and rising inflation.
While most survived, not everyone was able to escape unscathed with multiple companies going into liquidation across Gympie, the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg, some while carrying big debts.
These are the nine companies that collapsed in the past 12 months, and what they owed when they went down.
Bundaberg Refrigerated Transport
Thabeban-based Bundaberg Refrigerated Transport was put on ice in October 2021, with a liquidator being brought in to clean up the millions it owed to its creditors.
An initial liquidation report by BRT director Michelle Clayton, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, revealed the company apparently owed about $13m to its creditors and employees.
The largest individual amount owed was to former director Allan McDonald, to the value of $8,761,297.
Full details here.
Miles Electrical Contracting
The directors of collapsed Fraser Coast business Miles Electrical face regulatory action that could see them banned from starting a new business in the building industry for three years.
The state’s regulatory building body Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) suspended the Hervey Bay electrical company’s licence on November 5, 2021 for failing to pay an invoice.
The company, that had most recently worked on the $60 million Maryborough munitions plant, had stopped trading in mid-September weeks before it entered creditor’s voluntary liquidation owing $2.3 million.
Full details here.
Heidan Pty Ltd
Bundaberg courier company Heidan Pty Ltd went into liquidation owing thousands to the tax office.
The company was voluntarily placed into liquidation on November 24, 2021 with Paul Nogueira appointed as liquidator.
Liquidation documents lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission showed the company owed $200,000 to the Australian Taxation Office.
Full details here.
Lounge 1868
The cost of repairs to its heritage-listed home proved too much for the Lounge 1868 nightclub in Maryborough, its former owners of almost 15 years revealed.
The company behind the nightclub was carrying a debt of about $480,600 when it voluntarily wound up, documents lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission revealed.
Kleinberg & Eagle Pty Ltd, which owned the Wharf St nightclub before selling the building to new owners in November 2021, was liquidated four months later in March 2022.
Company director Daniela Orelova said Covid was not the cause of the closure, but factors including skyrocketing insurance costs and repair work.
Full details here.
Wide Bay Food Services
Fraser Coast catering company Wide Bay Food Services Pty Ltd, which traded as The Village Caterer and Vegies 2 U, collapsed in April 2022, owing more than $200,000 to creditors.
The company’s collapse came only two years after it was reinvented after it changed hands in 2020.
Full details here.
Gympie Mowing Company
A Gympie lawn mowing service was forced to shut up shop by the Queensland Supreme Court over an unpaid six-figure debt owed to the health and safety watchdog.
Mowing and Landscaping Gympie Pty Ltd was ordered by the court in late August 2021 to be moved into liquidation.
WorkCover Queensland had asked for the wind up on insolvency grounds owing to an unpaid $189,528.25 debt.
This is a separate business to the company now operating under the Mowing and Landscaping Gympie name, which took over the name.
Full details here.
Panichelli Farms
Bundaberg’s Panichelli Farms Pty Ltd was wound up in the Supreme Court of Queensland after it was unable to pay its debts.
The North Gregory grower of produce owed a total of $23,582.22 to Nutrien Ag Solutions Limited, which was ordered by a court to be paid by February 22, 2022.
Full details here.
Morris Sawmillers and Co
A 20-year-old Pie Creek timber haulage company collapsed under the weight of a six-figure tax bill.
Morris Sawmillers and Co, registered in May 2000, was placed into liquidation on Friday, September 23, 2022, by owner Glen Morris.
Initial documents filed with ASIC by Worrells reveal the company owed the Australian Taxation Office $115,704 when it was wound up.
Full details here.
Raucci Enterprises
A six-figure tax bill was a key contributor to the shock closure of popular Gympie burger joint Johnny Dees in September 2021.
An initial report into the company’s liquidation, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, revealed Raucci Enterprises owed more than $235,000 when it wound up.
The largest debt was to the Australian Taxation Office, where $142,344.05 was outstanding.
Full details here.
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