Laz Dzufer enters Nexus Building Group into voluntary liquidation

A prominent Sunshine Coast builder says pressures of honouring contracts amid cost rises and supply shortages is causing widespread mental health challenges within the industry.

Nexus Group Development owner Laz Dzufer.

An award-winning Sunshine Coast builder has called time on his construction company as increased material costs and labour shortages take a toll on the industry.

Director and founder of Nexus Building Group Pty Ltd Laz Dzufer began his building career on the Sunshine Coast more than 4o years ago, completing a number of high-end, unique projects under his own company as well as spending more than a decade working with the late respected businessman, Vern Scott.

Nexus Building Group entered liquidation, appointing SV Partners, on November 30, 2023 after operating on the Sunshine Coast for seven years, delivering projects such as multimillion-dollar Tangalooma Residences.

Mr Dzufer said all suppliers and contractors had been paid in full.

The Tangalooma Residences broke record prices in Mooloolaba on the site of Fred Eager's iconic Pink House.

Mr Dzufer said he had experienced changes in the building industry throughout his career, however the recent cost increases and labour shortages were pushing employees to the brink.

“I really feel for these young guys, things are getting tougher as time goes on, these are young and enthusiastic guys who are willing to do the work but we hear from all of them juts how difficult it is to get everything together,” he said.

“If a builder locks in a contract then all of a sudden there is a shortage of materials or the material cost goes up, that has a huge impact on a builder who has to honour his contract.”

Nexus Group Development owner Laz Dzufer in Tangalooma Residences development in Mooloolaba.

Mr Dzufer said he has seen the toll increased pressures have had on builders while working on large projects such as the Botanica Riverside in Maroochydore.

“We made a point of getting people up from Brisbane to do a talk to the workers on mental health because we just had so many guys working there,” Mr Dzufer said.

“We put on a lunch and there were about 3o guys there and two of them just broke down, there is that side of things that people don’t want to talk about.

“When it gets to the point you are continuously fighting and struggling, you just don’t want to do it anymore.”

Botanica Riverside in Maroochydore.

Mr Dzufer said as he heads into retirement and looks back over his career the Tangalooma project on the Mooloolaba River stands out as his clear favourite, especially after initially being told “it was never going to work”.

“It was put up against $100m projects and there we were, a couple of local bums coming runner-up to a $100m project in Brisbane,” Mr Dzufer said.

“At the time everyone thought we were crazy and seven years ago trying to sell a unit for five or six million wasn’t achievable, but in one weekend two of them sold.”

For the younger builders still in the industry Mr Dzufer said he would always be happy to sit down and have a chat.