Council slaps builders with $270k penalty after Wieambilla murders delay pool job

A family-owned building company has been slapped with a $270k fine after scared tradies fled a community pool job site following the horrific Wieambilla shooting.

A family owned building company has been slapped with a $270,000 penalty for project delays after scared tradies fled a community pool job site following the horrific Wieambilla police shooting.

Townsville business Taylor Builders landed the council contract in Tara in early 2022 and were forced to offer attractive pay packets to retain workers in the small town over 18 months of floods, fire, abuse from locals and violent shootings.

The job, refurbishing the town’s community pool centre, is due to finish later this month – four months past the contract due date – with the Western Downs Council hitting the builders with a $2,500 liquidation fee for each overdue day, totalling more than $270,000.

Owner Chris Taylor said the fee was unfair as company went above and beyond, to get the job done before the September summer pool season, under extreme circumstances.

The Tara Council pool worksite. Picture: Supplied

Mr Taylor said as soon as builders arrived on site in February 2022, they were subject to verbal abuse, with an upset Tara community, including the local swim club, unaware works were due to start.

“One man got out of his car using words like ‘we’ll come back and cut your throat’,” he said.

“But I really like Tara and they're all great people in a town that has had some bad publicity.”

Next came floods, before the Wieambilla shooting that rocked the nation.

On December 12, 2022, Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and local man, Alan Dare, were gunned down by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train.

The horrific murders were labelled by police as “religiously motivated,” with the deaths sending shockwaves throughout the entire Western Downs community.

Weeks later, on January 18, as Tara was still reeling from the Wieambilla deaths, a second shooting occurred.

Four teenagers sent Tara into lockdown after at least eight shots were fired on a suburban street, with police and emergency services coming under fire as officers negotiated with the shooters.

One of the bullets hit fencing at the back of the council pool worksite, in close range of electricians.

Marking left by a stray bullet that hit the back fencing at the pool worksite near electricians. Picture: Supplied

Taylor Builders owner Chris Taylor.

Mr Taylor said the second shooting was the final straw for some workers, who packed up and left the next day.

“Electricians were working on a conduit in the back, they were lucky they didn’t get shot,” he said.

“While they're all pretty brave, I have no doubt that there was an effect that night.”

Mr Taylor said council was “fully aware” of the ongoing hurdles and he was disappointed over the lack of discussion before council issued the damages fees.

“It's like the horse is bolted,” he said.

“We’re a small business, we’re family owned. We’re not some guys that can actually absorb this or have shareholders that can.”

The completed Tara pool ready to be filled. Picture: Supplied

Mr Taylor said he likely paid an extra $300,000 in wages to attract workers at the Tara job site, and couldn’t fathom how council had calculated the excessive $2,500 daily charge.

“I can’t for the life of me see how they (council) will be able to show any financial loss, given the money saved on electricity to have the filter running all winter,” he said.

“They didn’t have to pay to run it right through to when they opened and they would have lost considerably more than whatever they say the project or admin costs have been (during the four-month delay).”

A Western Downs Council spokeswoman said the contractual matters were currently the subject of legal negotiations and council was looking to resolve the issue “amicably”.

“Wet weather concessions have already been awarded to Taylor’s under the contractual agreement,” she said.

“The outstanding delays are currently under negotiation and commercial in confidence.

“Council has an obligation to its ratepayers to ensure contracts are appropriately managed.”

The almost finished Tara pool site. Picture: Supplied

Mr Taylor said council held discretion to treat his company fairly, particularly as the building industry was facing turbulent economic conditions.

“It is really disappointing that it’s not understood the amount of pressure that is placed on us,” he said.

“It just passes down the line, and then guys quit because of burnout and they end up leaving the industry.

“This has not just happened to my business. The more people we lose out of the industry, the worse it's going to get.”