BROKEN DREAMS
Tradies, home buyers stung by building firm’s collapse
TRADIES, staff and propspective home owners have been left counting the cost after the collapse of a Gold Coast building company.
Queensland One Homes, which was put into liquidation last month, owes 133 creditors more than $3.4 million, while 35 customers building their dream homes have been left in limbo.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is investigating allegations of illegal phoenix activity against a related company, Empire Constructions Pty Ltd.
It is the latest in a string of building company failures on the Gold Coast that have cost subbies tens of millions.
THE collapse of a Gold Coast building company has left 133 tradies and staff more than $3.4 million out of pocket and 35 would-be home owners in limbo.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has suspended the licence of Queensland One Homes, which was put into liquidation last month.
A Supreme Court application was lodged last week to wind up related company Empire Constructions Pty Ltd, which is under investigation for suspected illegal phoenix activity.
“The QBCC is investigating Empire Constructions Pty Ltd, and has received allegations of illegal phoenix activity,” a statement from the Commission said yesterday.
“This information has been provided to ASIC.”
The failure is the latest in a string of construction company collapses that have left tens of millions of dollars in bills unpaid and Gold Coast families reeling.
Company records show Paul Travis Callender, 34, is sole director of Queensland One Homes and is also a previous director of Empire Constructions.
His wife Amber Patrice Callender, a plastic surgery nurse, is now the sole director of Empire Constructions, which is licensed for developments between $3 million and $12 million.
A meeting of some of Queensland One Home’s 133 creditors, including tilers, painters, landscapers and more, heard allegations money had been transferred from Queensland One Homes to Empire Constructions shortly before the company failed.
Mr Callender could not be contacted yesterday and a staff member at the office of Empire Constructions said he was “not in the office at the moment, but I can get him to give you a call when he comes back in”.
QBCC records show Queensland One Homes was contracted in 2016-17 to build 25 homes worth $5.7 million and 160 homes worth $35.1 million the previous year.
Empire Constructions logged 17 homes worth $36 million in 2016-17 and just one home worth $249,800 the previous year.
Mr Callender had made his own claim as a creditor owed more than $60,000 by his own company – but the creditors’ meeting heard the company balance sheet showed he and another company he directs owe Queensland One Homes more than $520,000 in loans.
The liquidation of Queensland One Homes is being undertaken by Michael Caspaney, of Menzies Advisory, who said the case was “evolving every day” as information was received.
Mr Caspaney is also the liquidator for fellow collapsed Gold Coast copany Cullen Group. Anyone who believes they have a claim against the company can contact him on 4222 1511.