Uniting Yamba calls for new tenders after GCB Constructions placed into administration

A significant North Coast project is forging forward after it hit a costly roadblock following the devastating collapse of builder GCB Constructions. Here’s what we know.

The official turning of the soil at the new Uniting Yamba retirement village site. =

A Clarence development which has been stuck in limbo after the collapse of a major Gold Coast builder could soon be back on track.

The developer Uniting Care had engaged Gold Coast-based GCB Constructions - which has also traded as Greg Clark Constructions in Lismore - to build a retirement village in Yamba, including 34 villas and a 50 unit complex on Yamba Rd.

Artist impression of the Uniting Yamba Rd development.

But GCB went into voluntary administration on July 24, forcing Uniting to call for new tenders for its Yamba development, with work having stalled on the site since last October.

Outstanding contractor claims sit at $1,317,264 for the Uniting Yamba project while the developer Uniting Care claims it will suffer a loss of $16,357,548.

Four Clarence Valley construction businesses working on the 50-apartment Uniting Yamba Rd development — East Coast Access, Grafton’s Nat Sewell Concreting, Townsend’s Corbett Earthmoving and Stowe Electrical — allege they are owed money.

Now, a Uniting spokeswoman has confirmed the organisation has terminated its relationship with GCB.

The collapse of GCB has impacted many projects in northern NSW. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“The administrators will still be working closely with creditors (including subcontractors and Uniting) who have been impacted by these developments,” she said.

“Uniting has invited tenders from a select group of contractors to complete the works – this tender has not yet closed.

“Following receipt of tenders, Uniting will consider who it should partner with to complete the works and their deadline to have this completed.

“Uniting hopes to have appointed the new builder and commenced work by the end of the year, with the aim of completing the apartments by late 2024.”

The Yamba development is just one of several major North Coast projects seemingly left up in the air by the collapse of GCB.

Other northern NSW projects potentially impacted include the upgrade of the Lismore City Regional Sports Hub, with the bill from Greg Clark Constructions coming in at $1.3 million.

It was also tasked to build a new training facility at the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre, Tweed Heads, with the project flagged to be completed in October.