Council sues developer

Damages sought for cement setting in sewer line

THE Gold Coast City Council has started a battle with a developer after damage caused by concrete getting to the sewer lines in one of their building sites left ratepayers with a giant bill, according to court documents

The Gold Coast council is claiming more than $169,000 from Draycon Building after a piling rig used at their Bauer St,

Southport development hit the sewerage line, according to documents filed recently in the Southport District Court.

As well as cash for the repairs to the infrastructure, the council also wants interest and legal costs to be paid by the developer.

The documents claim Draycon Building was erecting their Adore unit complex on October

2 last year when the sewerage infrastructure was struck by a piling rig.

“As a result of (the council’s) sewerage infrastructure being struck and damaged, wet concrete entered (the council’s) sewerage infrastructure and set, causing further damage to (the council’s) sewerage infrastructure,” the documents said.

The council claims it cost $169,420.77 to fix the damage.

In court documents, the council also alleges Draycon was negligent by “failing to identify (the council’s) sewerage infrastructure” and “failing to properly supervise, direct and/or control” it’s employees or contractors who were doing the work.

The council also alleges

Draycon did not exercise reasonable care or take reasonable precautions to alleviate risk of harm to the council’s property.

“The damage and further damage were a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the negligence of (Draycon), it’s employees, agents and/or services for which (Draycon) is liable,” the documents said.

Draycon is yet to file a response to the claim.

The company, which is based in NSW, describes the Adore project on it’s website as a 74-unit, 14-storey business and residential tower.

The estimate cost is $22.5 million.

Construction started early last year and is expected to take about 20 months.

Draycon has also recently completed another complex in Southport – the Marquee.