Builder GCB Constructions goes into administration, impacting North Coast workers, suppliers and projects

A major building company has gone into administration, leaving North Coast debts, workers and projects like the Lismore City Regional Sports Hub up in the air. Here’s what we know.

GCB Constructions has gone into administration. Picture: David Clark

A major building company tasked with upgrading the Lismore City Regional Sports Hub has gone into administration, leaving North Coast debts, workers and projects up in the air.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission suspended the licence of GCB Constructions on Tuesday. It means work on all projects in the state must cease.

Now, concerns surround the company’s ongoing projects on the NSW North Coast after months of financial strife and project delays.

GCB, which has also traded as Greg Clark Constructions in Lismore, has been operating in the North Coast region for more than three decades.

Work has been impacted on the Gold Coast and south on the North Coast.

The company has 60 staff at areas including the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Lismore, Ballina and the Tweed, according to the administrator.

It is unclear how many employees in Northern NSW have been impacted.

GCB Constructions did not respond to requests for comment.

While GCB has been forced to halt construction in Queensland, the company still holds an unrestricted building licence in NSW.

Four Clarence Valley construction businesses working on the 50-apartment Uniting Yamba Road development — East Coast Access, Grafton’s Nat Sewell Concreting, Townsend’s Corbett Earthmoving and Stowe Electrical — allege they are owed money.

Work on the Clarence development stalled in October.

A statement from Uniting last week said “disappointingly work on the apartments and clubhouse remains on hold for now”.

Artist impression of Uniting Yamba Road development that has stalled since October last year.

“While it’s expected that there will be a delay, Uniting is committed to completing all the planned works, including the apartments, and building a vibrant welcoming community,” the statement read.

Mr Sewell of Nat Sewell Concreting alleges he is owed money for his company’s work in Yamba.

“It’s just been so stressful,” he said.

Most business owners involved in this project declined to comment, except to say they were taking legal action.

North Coast projects potentially impacted include the upgrade of the Lismore City Regional Sports Hub, with the bill from Greg Clark Constructions coming in at $1.3 million.

An artist impression of the upgrade of the Lismore City Regional Sports Hub. Image: Cox Architecture

It was also tasked to build a new training facility at the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre, Tweed Heads, with the project flagged to be completed in October.

Greg Clark Constructions completed major projects including the restoration of the Lismore Uniting Church after the 2017 floods, the refurbishment of the Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay and more recently refurbishment work at Woodlawn Catholic School following the 2022 floods.

Originally published as Builder GCB Constructions goes into administration, impacting North Coast workers, suppliers and projects