A building ban has been lifted on a company linked to John Barilaro

A property developer formerly employing retired deputy premier John Barilaro was forced to stop work on a $500 million project because of illegal construction work.

An artist’s impression of the Coronation Property high-rise development at Merrylands.

A property developer formerly employing retired deputy premier John Barilaro was forced to stop work on a $500 million project because of illegal construction work.

But the 87-day building ban slapped on the 790-apartment mega-development in Western Sydney was removed last week.

Now a Coronation Property spokesman has confirmed Mr Barilaro quit the company “three weeks ago” — around the time he was appointed to a $500,000 trade and investment commissioner role.

And the opposition is asking why “a former deputy premier was associated with a company that the NSW Building Commissioner had slapped a stop-work order on”.

There is no suggestion Mr Barilaro had anything to do with the reason the stop-work order was issued.

Former deputy premier John Barilaro. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard.

When questioned, Mr Barilaro said: “There is no basis whatsoever (to the questions) and I refute any inferences made”.

In March, Mr Barilaro was appointed executive director of Coronation Property after leaving politics. On April 8 NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler issued the company’s building arm with a stop-work order for a site on Merrylands Rd.

An artist’s impression of the high-rise development containing 790 units at Merrylands.

The order was for the company’s alleged failure to obtain design approval (known as Construction Issued Regulated Design) to build above basement level on two buildings.

A Coronation spokesman said there were no physical rectifications required.

“All works were deemed to be fit and proper — it was simply a documentation violation,” he said of the order.

Opposition fair trading spokeswoman Courtney Houssos said: “These stop-work orders are only issued to stop significant harm to the public or the occupiers of the building.

“It is very concerning that a former deputy premier was associated with a company that the NSW Building Commissioner had slapped a stop-work order on.”

A NSW Upper House inquiry into Mr Barilaro’s trade commissioner appointment resumes tomorrow.