Gold Coast embattled tradies get some good news with builder Grocon paying up

TRADIES left unpaid after working on one of the Gold Coast’s biggest projects have got something to celebrate – the development’s builder has finally come through with the goods.

FINALLY some good news for the Gold Coast’s embattled tradies.

All the subcontractors — except one — who were caught up in the Commonwealth Games Athletes Village debacle have now been paid by builder Grocon for what they were owed.

Grocon is understood to have withheld almost $40,000 from just one subcontractor for failing to attend to defects — and it is not being disputed by the subbie, according to a source.

The Athletes Village while under construction (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

But finalisation of the rest of the payments come in the midst of uncertainty for subcontractors on the stalled Jewel site where work has all but stopped as 1000-strong labour-force awaits as developer Yuhu Group’s finalisation of designs.

The Gold Coast Bulletin asked Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones over the weekend if Grocon had made good on it’s promise to pay the Athletes Village subcontractors.

Twenty-nine subbies were left more than a million of dollars out of pocket when one of the project’s major contractors Ware Building collapsed.

MINISTER: PAY YOUR TRADIES

Minister for the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones and GOLDOC Chairman Peter Beattie.

The unpaid tradies were left desperate to be paid for their work but there was little traction until Games Minister Kate Jones stepped in and ordered Grocon to pay up.

“From day one we’ve made it clear that we expected Grocon to pay it’s subbies,” Mr Jones said yesterday.

“It’s great to hear Grocon have advised that they have now paid their subcontractors for work on the Athletes’ Village site.

“Hopefully that means this saga is over and those involved can move on. Everyone deserves to get paid for their work.”

Tradies were left unpaid last year.

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Junior Cioastla Masonry owner Bruce Alker was among those who were owed thousands for their work.

“I think Grocon, they done the right thing,” he said.

“They paid me every cent I was owed.”
Mr Alker said once the guarantee was given, getting paid for the work he had done was a smooth process.

The workers have now all been paid.

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He believed he was one of the first paid, he said.

Fellow subbie Emanuel Ibrahim, of EGI Tile Contractors, said he also had a positive experience getting back the about $100,000 he was owed.

“Grocon have been really good — they paid me what I was owed,” he said.

“I wasn’t expecting any money back.”

Grocon did not return requests for comment.

Timeline:

August 16, 2017: Ware Building goes into administration.

August 17, 2017: Grocon says Ware advised them all debts were paid.

August 18, 2017: Subcontractors claim they are left owed thousands after the collapse Ware.

August 21, 2017: Subcontracts call on Grocon to front up and pay them for work done. They claimed they warned Grocon that Ware was not paying bills. 13 tradie firms lawyer up.

August 23, 2017: Games Minister Kate Jones demands a meeting with Grocon CEO.

August 24, 2017: Ms Jones order Grocon to pay up.

August 25, 2017: Grocon gives assurances they will up the subbies.