Deregistered Victorian Builders: Anthony Whitby, Rudolf Boscolo, Paul Bouma and more
The financial woes impacting the building industry have led to a string of Melbourne-based builders being deregistered. See the list.
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A swathe of Victorian builders have gone into liquidation and had their registrations cancelled by the state’s watchdog since July for failing to respond to show cause notices about their finances.
And other builders have had conditions placed on them by the Victorian Building Authority, after they had to reach out for assistance because they entered external administration.
The full list supplied by the VBA to Leader shows seven builders had been deregistered, and three allowed to continue with conditions, from July 2021 to April 2022.
They include six based in Victoria, who had businesses based in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne’s east, and as far as Yackandandah and Keysborough.
Another builder, Robert Harder, who is based in Queensland but previously worked or had operations in Victoria, had his registration cancelled on April 28, 2022.
Three other builders are still registered but have had to make adjustments to their businesses or take out additional training due to their circumstances.
The VBA sent show clause notices to each builder after being alerted by the Victorian Managed Insurance Agency, which monitors builders who go into external administration for insurance purposes.
The authority then deregisters those who don’t respond to the notices within 28 days.
If the builders are caught working while deregistered, they can be prosecuted by the VBA and taken to court, and face fines of up to $90,000.
A VBA spokesman said while the authority makes every effort to assist builders with financial difficulties, it is required by law to investigate builders and companies that had entered external administration.
“The Victorian community has an expectation that builders that operate have the financial resources to do so,” the spokesman said.
“Where the VBA does suspend or cancel a registration due to external administration, it’s only after providing the practitioner with the opportunity to respond.
“If we do act, it’s to protect Victorians.”
The building sector has been in the spotlight in recent months as concerns grow over various companies’ futures due to the surging costs of materials, supply shortages and demand to meet pre-signed contracts.
Last month, one of Australia’s biggest home building companies, Metricon, squashed rumours it was on the verge of collapse.
The builder held crisis talks with the state government and its owners tipped $30m into the business to increase customer confidence.
BUILDERS DEREGISTERED BY THE VICTORIAN BUILDING AUTHORITY SINCE JULY 2021:
Data compiled through VBA Prosecution and Disciplinary Register, Australian Business Register and BuildAdvisor.com.au
Paul Bouma
Location: Healesville, Badger Creek, Chum Creek
Roles: Director, Boucon Developments (in liquidation March 5, 2021)
Registration Cancelled: March 15, 2022
Carmine Iacovella
Location: Mulgrave
Roles: Director, L & C Iacovella Builders, CFive Constructions
Registration Cancelled: March 15, 2022
Anthony Whitby
Location: Box Hill North, Mont Albert North
Roles: Director, Pinnacle Builders
Registration Cancelled: March 15, 2022
Darryl Hewson
Location: Yackandandah
Roles: Director, Hewcon
Registration Cancelled: March 15, 2022
Rudolf Boscolo
Location: Keysborough
Roles: Director, Global Metamorphosis
Registration Cancelled: February 17, 2022
Bruce Lyon
Location: Burwood
Role: Director, Lyon Corporation
Registration Cancelled: April 27, 2022
Robert Harder
Location: Rochedale, Queensland.
Registration Cancelled: April 28, 2022
BUILDERS WITH CONDITIONS APPLIED TO REGISTRATIONS
Peter Pirovich
Location: Melbourne
Registration amended: September 1, 2021
Requirements: Must not be named on, or apply for new permits until May 3, 2023, without prior consent of the VBA.
Phillip Callant
Location: Camberwell
Registration amended: December 1, 2021
Requirements: Must not be named on, or apply for new permits until November 30, 2023, without prior consent of the VBA. Must complete a small business financial training course by December 31, 2022.
Craig Wellington
Location: Essendon, Aberfeldie, Strathmore
Registration amended: March 11, 2022
Requirements: Adjust business structure and only to practice in conjunction with Leigh Wellington.
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