Maurice Freixas permanently banned from working as a private certifier

One of the construction industry’s dodgy figures has been permanently banned from working as a private certifier.

One of the construction industry’s dodgy figures has been permanently banned from working as a private certifier — copping the heaviest ­sentence handed out to a private ­certifier in 20 years.

The demise of Maurice Freixas’ career as a private certifier comes after years of warnings and reprimands by the regulator.

In a decision handed down March 30, NSW Fair Trading said the Dix Gardner Group employee ­“engaged in unsatisfactory professional conduct”.

“Mr Freixas issued a construction certificate and an occupation certificate for a large apartment complex in contravention of various provisions of (NSW planning laws),” the decision said.

“Mr Freixas issued the five construction certificates for four different ­developments when the proposed buildings did not comply with relevant requirements of the Building Code of Australia, specifically the requirements in relation to automatic fire sprinklers.”

Peak Towers (left), and Maurice Freixas, who has been banned as private certifier for life.

The decision to permanently ban Mr Freixas from being a private certifier is the heaviest penalty handed out to a private certifier in at least 20 years, according to NSW Fair Trading’s disciplinary register.

Before this week’s decision, Mr Freixas had already racked up $40,000 in fines and three official reprimands.

According to NSW Fair Trading documents, they included overlooking problems with structural design, emergency egress, ­access for people with a disability, firefighting equipment and emergency lighting for properties in Woolwich, Glendenning, Putney and Gerringong.

Mr Freixas was the private certifier on Peak Towers, the building next to Mascot Towers. There has been no suggestion that Mr Freixas’ certification on Peak Towers is problematic.

About 90 apartment owners in Peak Towers are taking companies ALAND and Church 88 to the NSW Supreme Court alleging ­“defects and noncomplying work which amount to breaches of the statutory warranties”.

In a separate matter, Mascot Towers owners are also suing ALAND.

Mr Freixas was not the certifier for Mascot Towers, nor involved in that development in any capacity.

Mascot Towers owners want more than $15 million because of alleged negligent excavation work at neighbouring Peak Towers. It claims ALAND’s work created a void that undermined the structural integrity of Mascot Towers, leading to the building’s evacuation.

ALAND, which is the major sponsor of the Parramatta Eels NRL team, has previously denied any link ­between Peak Towers construction work and Mascot Towers damage.

It is not suggested that Mr Freixas engaged in any wrongdoing in ­respect of Mascot Towers, nor that he caused any of the problems it is ­currently facing.

Mascot Towers strata chair Gary Deigan has welcomed the decision on Mr Freixas, saying the state government needs to do more to clean up the industry.

“I am happy for the full force of the law to come down against anyone who is not doing the right thing in the building industry,” he said.

Mr Freixas did not respond to ­requests for comment.

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