‘Corkman cowboys’ not restricted from developing as cladding found at their apartment buildings
The illegal demolishment of Carlton’s historic Corkman Pub sparked public outcry in 2016, but the rogue developers behind the unlawful act are still in operation — and have built at least two apartment complexes with flammable cladding.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The rogue developers who illegally demolished the historic Corkman Pub have built at least two apartment complexes with flammable cladding.
But despite copping fines of $1.3 million, Raman Shaqiri and Stefce Kutlesovski are not banned from developing more properties, with Mr Shaqiri suspended as a builder and demolisher only because he did not pay his registration fees.
The alarming loophole has prompted calls for an urgent inquiry into Victoria’s building laws.
The Opposition says the “Corkman cowboys” must be prevented from working in the industry.
The Herald Sun can reveal that a 200-apartment development in Lygon St, Brunswick East, has been assessed as a “moderate risk” because of the use of flammable cladding.
It was developed by Makshaq, with company records showing Mr Shaqiri and Mr Kutlesovski are both directors.
The same company is behind another apartment block in Hawthorn that was inspected in April and had emergency rectification orders issued in May, with owners now having to find thousands of dollars to make their homes safe.
Blair Warren-Smith, who owns an apartment in the Hawthorn building, said the body corporate had received no response from the developers on the issue.
Opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith said the Andrews Government had been “completely asleep on the cladding crisis” and that the Victorian Building Authority was “a farce”.
“There must be an urgent inquiry into their poor performance in regulating the building industry,” he said.
“There needs to be sanctions against these developers that prevent them from practising in the building industry again.”
MORE: CORKMAN DEVELOPERS ORDERED TO CLEAN UP MESS
COUNCILS STRIPPED OF CLADDING CRACKDOWN RESPONSIBILITY
Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s spokeswoman said the government expected to receive the cladding taskforce’s final report soon and would have more to say when it had assessed the findings.
The government last year set up a scheme allowing apartment owners to pay off cladding rectification works via long-term, low-interest loans as part of their council rates.
But with three-quarters of owners in a building needing to agree before the loans can be issued, not a single agreement has been signed since the laws came into effect in October.
A City of Boroondara spokesman said apartment owners were “innocent victims” and that the cladding rectification agreements were “not a workable solution” to help them.
The state government spokeswoman said: “We know how concerning cladding problems are for apartment owners, that’s why we’re making sure the VBA is working closely with the people affected.”