BACK IN BUSINESS
HOME BUILDER’S SUSPENSION LIFTED
THE extra long weekend is about to end for more than 150 subcontractors forced to drop tools after the city’s biggest residential builder had its licences suspended.
Kenfrost Homes was ordered to cease all work earlier this week after the Queensland Building and Construction Commission raised questions about its financial position. The company’s general manager Adam Gowlett said staff and subcontractors would be back in action on Monday.
“Working with QBCC, Kenfrost has reached successful agreement that allows more than 150 subcontractors to be back on the tools and returning to work early next week,” he said.
Mr Gowlett said construction would start again on at least 60 new house builds.
“Kenfrost will continue to work with the QBCC in a collaborative manner and will be providing further paperwork to the QBCC in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“Kenfrost is looking forward to getting back to business as usual. The contribution that Kenfrost makes to the local economy through engaging subcontractors, employing local people and using local service providers like engineers, surveyors and sign writers to name just a few will continue.”
Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt welcomed the decision to lift the licence suspensions but questioned whether it was necessary in the first place.
“I’m always the first person to say we need a strong, well regulated industry,” he said.
“But the fact that we’ve seen the suspension placed and removed within about 24 hours begs the question as to why mediation or some other process couldn’t have occurred in the first place.”
Mayor Bob Manning echoed the sentiment.
“The thing that strikes me as most strange is this has come and gone in 24 hours,” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense to me.
“(Kenfrost owner) John Richardson has been the backbone of residential construction in Cairns for a long time. From what I’ve seen, he’s incredibly generous to sporting clubs in supporting them wherever he can.”
The QBCC has been asked to comment.
Mr Pitt said Kenfrost had taken a reputational hit and the suspension meant the building industry had been put in an uncertain position.
“I’d like to see an explanation why this couldn’t have been mediated,” he said.
“But to have everyone back at work on Monday is an outstanding outcome for those people whose livelihoods depend on us having a strong construction sector.”