RSS Feed

Creation Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 GMT

Tradies battle over BER scheme

WHILE managers of the $16 billion school stimulus are accused of creaming off millions in fees, tradies doing the work battle each other just to get paid.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal contractors providing vital work on Building the Education Revolution projects are locked in dispute over payments for work.

An electrical contractor which claims to be owed $93,000 has been counter-sued in the District Court for $340,000 by the builder with which it contracted.

The JES Electrical Group at Silverwater said it would have to cut staff if Proline Building's claim against it succeeds.

JES boss Doug Rennie said yesterday BER chiefs set impossible deadlines, gave no prior access to price jobs properly and made major changes without notice, causing costs to soar.

"The BER has been a great help in keeping the boys in work but it has been mismanaged, causing us so much stress and heartache," Mr Rennie said.

At one primary school the electricians were accused of failing to meet a deadline but the building they were contracted to work on had not arrived.

JES, with 48 staff, is in dispute with Proline over work at Epping Heights Public (a hall), Kurnell Public (library) and Arncliffe West Public (admin block).

Mr Rennie said his company's case for the $93,000 would be heard by an independent security of payment adjudicator.

Proline managing director Scott Beynon would not comment as legal action had begun.

An education department spokesman said yesterday the NSW BER Program Office had "strict arrangements in place to ensure contractors are paid for work done".

Bruce McDougall, 'The Daily Telegraph', August 6 2010