Adore building on Queen St, Southport delayed by Covid, mould

A string of problems has seen this Gold Coast tower fall more than a year behind schedule. Here’s what’s gone wrong.

The developer of a heavily delayed unit block says he is “praying for good weather” so the project can be finally finished.

Construction of the 14-storey Adore tower in Southport – originally due to be completed by late 2020 – has been beset by problems including border closures, labour shortages and record rainfall.

The latest drama to strike the project has been an infestation of mould which has forced developer Draycon into making urgent repairs.

“It was coming through the ceilings, all the kitchen sides, it was everywhere,” an insider told the Bulletin.

“That building’s well over 12 months behind now. It’s just been sitting there as a damp building growing mould.

“The whole thing is just an absolute joke.”

An image of mould inside the Adore building on Queen St in Southport, which has now been rectified.

In an enforcement notice issued on May 4, a Workplace Health and Safety inspector said he had inspected levels 3 to 11 of Adore and found mould in most of them.

“I observed and photographed mould on the skirting areas of both the foyers and units of each level except level 10,” the inspector wrote.

“The mould did not appear to have visible spores however presented a risk of further contamination that may affect the health of workers if not removed.”

Workplace Health and Safety said officers also found other problems at the site during its May 4 visit.

“Enforcement action was taken against the principal contractor, Draycon Building Pty Ltd, for issues relating to fall from heights, plant maintenance, storage of materials, switchboard compliance, hygiene and fire extinguishers,” it said in a statement to the Bulletin.

The safety regulator said the notices had since been complied with.

The tower pictured last week. Picture: Richard Gosling

More rain has been recorded on the Gold Coast in 2022 so far than normally falls in an entire year.

Howard Dabit, who co-owns Sydney-based Draycon with brother Robert, said the downpours had made finishing the Adore tower extremely difficult.

“We can’t wait for this job to be finished,” he said. “It’s been the longest project we’ve ever had running.

“ … I actually went to church on Sunday to pray for good weather. That’s how desperate I am for the weather to change so we can proceed with waterproofing and outdoor tiling and those kind of works.”

Mr Dabit said it was the latest issue to delay the project following border closures and difficulties sourcing trades, who were also under pressure.

“Covid has been one of the biggest causes (of the delays),” he said.

“We’re a Sydney-based company and being able to manage a Queensland project was difficult when the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, wasn’t letting us in.

“ … Another factor that is also causing delays is the trades are super-busy. They’ve taken on more work than they can handle because they’re being offered ridiculous money.

“Now they’re engulfed with work that they truly can’t keep up with.”

An image of mould inside the Adore building on Queen St in Southport, which has now been rectified.

An image of mould inside the Adore building on Queen St in Southport, which has now been rectified.

Mr Dabit said the mould issues at Adore had been tackled, and with sunshine finally returning to the Gold Coast, he hoped to be able to press on and get the building finished.

“The mould was not on every floor but it was on five or six floors. Since then it’s been cut out and removed by the appropriate people and replaced with new Gyprock, so we don’t have to worry about that. We have taken photos and informed Workplace Health and Safety and they have now taken that off their notice.

“ … It’s not in any of the apartments, it’s just in the lobby space. In saying that it’s only kind of three or four hundred off the floor, and that’s just been cut out.

“If water’s getting into the building then mould will eventually show up, it’s the nature of the beast kind of.”

Mr Dabit said units at Adore would not be put on sale until the building was completed, meaning buyers could inspect the units before deciding to purchase.

“We’d like to say (building will be finished) end of July. That’s what we’re forecasting.

But it all depends on the weather,” he said.

“At the moment we’re pushing contractors as hard as we can.

“ … Some good weather and a good push by the trades, two months and we’ll be done.”

Follow @keithjwoods