Gold Coast builder Empire Constructions licence suspended in wake of Q1 Homes drama

QUEENSLAND’S building watchdog has suspended the licence of a company closely linked to collapsed builder Queensland One Homes.

Paul Travis Callender and Amber Patrice Callender. Photo: Facebook

QUEENSLAND’S building watchdog has suspended the licence of a company closely linked to collapsed builder Queensland One Homes.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has been investigating Ormeau-based Empire Constructions Pty Ltd since July, after Queensland Homes collapsed owing more than $5.8 million.

The sole director of Queensland One Homes, Paul Callender, is the husband of the sole Empire Constructions director Amber Callender.

Paul Travis Callender and Amber Patrice Callender. Photo: Facebook

Allegations of illegal phoenix activities have been referred to ASIC, while a third company, FRD Homes, is also being examined by the QBCC.

FRD, run by former Olympic swimmer Dwade Sheehan and ex-world champion rower Cy Pearson, has 25 of their clients’ new homes contracted to Q1 Homes, and then novated to Empire Constructions.

Former Olympic swimmer Dwade Sheehan and ex-world champion rower Cy Pearson are directors of FRD Homes Pty Ltd. Photo: Instagram

Q1 Homes liquidator Michael Caspaney last week revealed he had been unable to obtain crucial company records from Q1 Homes after hard drives were left in the back of a ute in the rain, where they became too wet to recover files from.

Other hard drives were missing from a company server, the liquidator said.

Mr Caspaney said he would bring those involved with the collapse before a Supreme Court public examination under the Corporations Act.

Ms Callender had written to subcontractors denying her company was being investigated and claiming it “has and always will” pay subcontractors what they’re owed.

The QBCC has suspended the builder licence of Empire Constructions Pty Ltd, run by Amber Callender. Photo: Supplied

The company has responded to payment requests from subcontractors with legal letters claiming media reports about them are “false” and “sensationalist”.

The QBCC has repeatedly confirmed the company remains under investigation.

Meanwhile the watchdog has revealed it suspended 15 contractors in the last financial year due to insolvent trading or other serious risk.

Despite suspensions increasing by seven licences compared to 2012-13, the commission’s cancellations of individual licences have sharply decreased.

The QBCC has cancelled the licence of Paul Callender's collapsed company Queensland One Homes. Photo: Supplied

Where they cancelled 283 individual licences in 2012-13, only 123 were cancelled in 2016-17.

The number of company licence cancellations has also fallen, from 139 to 85, as has the number of permanent exclusions, which have dived from 123 to 33 in the past four years.

In their annual report, tabled in parliament last week, the QBCC flagged “improved effectiveness of building laws” in the coming year due to new powers currently before the State Parliament.

“Exceeding Expectataions” - Gold Coast builder Queensland One Homes has gone into liquidation. Photo: Supplied

The report revealed the commission had issued significantly more demerit points in the past year, 5342, than they had in the previous four years, when between 1292 and 1842 were issued.

It showed the QBCC’s income from its home warranty scheme insurance premiums had decreased from $107.4 million to $96.2 million.

Payouts on claims for defects reached a three-year high in 2016-17 of $22.1 million, with the commission approving a total of $45.1 million in claims including $17 million for non-completion claims and $6 million for subsidence.