Dunemann Construction fined over workplace health and safety risk

A longtime Sunshine Coast construction company has received a hefty fine after the director reported himself to authorities following a rockslide at his worksite.

Trevor Graham Dunemann appeared on behalf of his company in Caloundra Magistrates Court on November 26.

A Sunshine Coast business owner who reported himself to authorities for a breach of workplace health and safety following a rockslide has been described as a “good corporate citizen” in court.

Trevor Graham Dunemann entered a guilty plea on behalf of his company Dunemann Constructions Pty Ltd in Caloundra Magistrates Court on November 26 to one count of failing to comply with workplace health and safety duty - category two.

Category two is defined as exposing a person to the risk of death, serious injury or illness, which comes with a maximum penalty of $1.5m.

Mr Dunemann was discharged of an identical charge against him personally.

Prosecuting counsel acting for Workplace Health and Safety Kathryn Milbourne told the court the offence related to a construction site in Caloundra which had a risk of rocks or earth falling from an excavated and unsupported rock face.

The offence relates to the risk posed by the rocky slope as no one was injured at the work site.

Ms Milbourne said a geotechnical report was made prior to excavation and sent to the company entailing the risks but Mr Dunemann admitted during investigation he did not read the report.

Two additional reports were never sent to Mr Dunemann.

Trevor Graham Dunemann appeared on behalf of his company in Caloundra Magistrates Court on November 26.

The court heard multiple workers were at the site and concrete tilt panels had been installed as part of the construction to build two homes on the property.

Continuous and heavy rain eventually caused a rockslide on December 1, 2022 which struck the panels, causing them to collapse, Ms Milbourne said.

Mr Dunemann witnessed the collapse as he had gone to check the state of the rock face but no workers were injured as Mr Dunemann had shut the worksite due to the weather.

Ms Milbourne suggested a fine of $70,000 to Magistrate Catherine Benson.

Defence counsel Peter O’Connor said Mr Dunemann reported himself to Workplace Health and Safety following the incident and described his client as a “good corporate citizen”.

He told the court it was an “isolated incident” in Mr Dunemann’s 43 years in the industry, who thought the rock face had been solid as no other workers raised concerns.

Mr O’Connor said the two houses have been completed and Mr Dunemann had reduced his project intake since the incident.

He suggested a $30,000 fine.

Ms Benson ultimately fined the company $45,000 and did not record a conviction.