Ware Building hits wall as Grocon steps in to finish Gold Coast Commonwealth Games village

A SITE contractor of the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games athletes’ village has collapsed forcing the developer to step in to finish the project.

THE developer of the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games athletes village says a site contractor’s collapse won’t affect it.

Grocon — overseeing delivery of the Parklands athletes village — yesterday revealed subcontractor Ware Building Pt Ltd had gone into voluntary administration.

Ware was delivering 82 townhouses to house Games athletes at the site.

The Athletes Village on the Gold Coast at Parklands won’t be affected by building firm and site subcontractor Ware Building going into administration, says site developer Grocon. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

In a statement, Grocon said it would “complete the finishing touches on the few townhouses yet to be completed”, involving landscaping and standard “defect rectifications”.

Ware Building had advised Grocon it had paid all debts to its subcontractors, Grocon said.

The townhouses were on schedule and there would be no impact on the deadline or work quality, Grocon said.

A general view of the Athletes Village on the Gold Coast — site overseer Grocon is stepping into to finish 82 townhouses after subcontractor Ware Building went into voluntary administration. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“Grocon will use some of Ware’s subcontractors and its own team to manage completion. A precise work plan will be confirmed in the next couple of days.”

Gold Coast builder Condev Construction absorbed a lot of NSW-based Ware Building staff recently as Condev eyes southern expansion.

Condev also took on Ware Building director Matt Ware as NSW general manager.

Condev Construction managing director Steve Marais: “(Matt Ware) is a good person. He’s trying to be honourable. They probably just grew too quickly and the systems weren’t there to accommodate a big jump in turnover.”

Gold Coast-based Condev managing director Steve Marais said Condev would retain Mr Ware who was “absolutely flat”.

“He’s a good person. He’s trying to be honourable. They probably just grew too quickly and the systems weren’t there to accommodate a big jump in turnover,” Mr Marais said.

The Parklands development will be leased to the Queensland Government this year as the Games Village during the sporting extravaganza in April.

Afterwards, it will eventually become a mixed-use residential hub with 1250 dwellings for rent.