Sadness at company’s demise

A FORMER Rilean Construction Central Otago director says it is ‘‘sad’’ to see the end of the business, which his parents initially formed in 1979, but cannot comment on its finances.

Steve McLean’s parents, Noeline and Raymond, first incorporated Rilean Construction in Wellington — he was a shareholder in that company.

Mr McLean and Gary Dent moved to Queenstown and set up Rilean Construction South Island in 1994.

It was placed in liquidation in 2015, but five years prior Rilean

Construction Central Otago was incorporated by the pair.

Mr McLean resigned as a director of that company on June 18, but he and Mr Dent are still majority shareholders. On Tuesday, the Otago Daily

reported Rilean Central Otago was ‘‘winding everything back’’, but Mr Dent intended to pay back creditors.

Yesterday, Mr McLean said he could not comment on ‘‘anything around the financials’’.

‘‘I haven’t been there for 18 months, so I’m not aware of everything going on . . . Gary and I have worked together for a very long time, so it’s pretty sad that’s come to an end.’’

When asked about his resignation, he said, ‘‘I had my reasons’’, but declined to comment further other than to say they concerned finances and reporting.

The scale of the Remarkables Residences — the first stage, which was completed, comprised 56 four and fivebedroom townhouses — had been particularly tough, Mr Dent said.

When asked for his thoughts on that, Mr McLean said construction was ‘‘a tough game’’.

Mr Dent said the firm would trade for another 12 months due to a defects liability period and retentions being held on the Remarkables Residences, but was not seeking further work.