Concerns raised over GCB Constructions as work stops, subcontractors retrieve tools

A major Gold Coast builder’s sites have gone quiet with subbies claiming unpaid invoices and removing tools. One says their boss is ‘unpaid’ and ‘we’re going somewhere else’. Read the latest

A major Gold Coast builder’s construction sites have gone quiet with subbies claiming unpaid invoices and removing tools as concerns mount over company stability.

Subcontractors to GCB Constructions say calls have gone unanswered since late last week. Gold Coast Bulletin’s calls to the office and managing director Trent Clark have gone to voicemail since Friday.

Existing GCB projects include the $160m Amaya Broadbeach, Drift Main Beach and $97m Marine Quarter Development at the northern end of Southport’s Broadwater Parklands.

It was also building the latest tower in the $200m Vantage community at Benowa, Vantage View and just last month signed on to build Aria Property Group’s Canopy House project at Kangaroo Point.

The near-completed first tower in the two-tower Southport project is usually bustling, with traffic controllers on hand to handle the flow of utes and cars moving around it.

On Monday it was near deserted.

Subbies outside said they were collecting their gear.

The GCB Constructions Marine Quarter site was all but deserted on Monday morning, May 8, 2023. Pic: Kathleen Skene

“All I know is my boss hasn’t been paid and we are going to work somewhere else,” one tradie said. “That’s a danger for us as we haven’t been paid.”

Another said he was only onsite to collect equipment.

One business owner, who did not wish to be named, said his company was owed money and the situation “didn’t look pretty”.

“There were a lot of people going around on Friday saying they were going to shut the gates,” he said. “There are plenty of people owed a lot more money than us - I think this one will be far-reaching, maybe worse than Condev.”

GCB staff at the site declined to comment.

The builder’s Broadbeach Amaya site was also empty on Monday.

A crane and earthmover were parked to the right of the empty block, on the border of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The empty GCB Amaya construction site at the border of Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise, on First Ave. Picture: John Gass

Demountables and the site office were deserted.

A woman living next door to the First Ave location said she had not seen as many construction workers at the site in the past week.

“It has been a lot quieter, definitely,” she said.

Another resident said he would often hear trucks coming and going but was surprised to see it so quiet on Monday.

Residents of more than 30 years, Sue and Mark Jamieson, outside the empty Broadbeach site. Picture: John Gass

A married couple walking past and locals of 30 years, Mark and Sue Jamieson, said there had been no progress for “a long time”.

“They had a concrete plant there for a while,” Mr Jamieson said. “It has all stalled.

“There were some big cement tanks, about four, and they have disappeared.

“Nothing has happened there for a while.”

About five workers were spotted removing scaffolding from the Drift Main Beach site on Monday afternoon, but declined to answer any questions.

The GCB Constructions Marine Quarter site was all but deserted on Monday morning, May 8, 2023. Picture: Kathleen Skene

The Bulletin has reported on the company’s troubles since January, when it was revealed it was being sued by a subsidiary of Buildcap, developer of the Marine Quarter towers at Southport, after a disagreement over costs and the project’s timeline.

The case was set for a civil trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court from April 3-11 but was discontinued by the developer on March 17. The trial was vacated.

GCB is also battling a second developer after walking off the site of a $196 million project in Brisbane.

Amaya at Broadbeach design plan.

The builder was seeking more than $10m from a subsidiary of China-owned Poly Global, for which it was building the 243-unit Ascot Aurora residential estate, court records reveal.

That matter is listed to return to court in July.

Marine Quarter is the largest project ever undertaken by GCB, growing swiftly in recent years, leapfrogging revenue categories to now have a licence for work worth up to $240m a year.

In 2017-18 its construction work logged with the QBCC was just $2.7m.

GCB Constructions boss Trent Clark.

Talking to the Bulletin about the resolution of the Marine Quarter court case last month, GCB boss Mr Clark insisted the startling growth was sustainable despite highly challenging economic conditions.

In FY21-22, GCB made $938,755 net profit from revenue of $92.04m. Its net profit the previous year was $1.1m from $67.4m revenue.

A worker removing scaffolding from the Drift Main Beach site on Monday afternoon. Picture: John Gass

Mr Clark said at the time GCB had “other businesses” which would help his company grow sustainably, although he declined to elaborate.

“We’ve got our construction company, but there’s plenty of things behind the scenes that people don’t realise we have,” he said.

“We will still make a profit this year, yes we will.”

Asked at the time whether GCB’s subcontractor payments were up to date, Mr Clark said “we’ve got our agreements with subcontractors and we’ll take them up with them”.

He did not wish to discuss subcontractor payments further.