THE search is on for a builder to take over the partially completed clubrooms at Civic Reserve, Mornington following the collapse of the of the project’s main contractor, Allmore Constructions.
A decision to wind up the Tullamarine-based company on 7 September has forced Mornington Peninsula Shire to find a builder to take over and complete the multi-million dollar project.
Last Friday, a uniformed guard was the only person near the unfinished building.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said a new builder would be appointed “as quickly as possible”.
“It is yet to be determined whether there will be any shortfall in the funding allocated to complete this project,” he said.
“The original cost of the work was $4.75 million. Council’s contribution was $2.3 million, with Sports and Recreation Victoria contributing the remainder.”
Mount Martha Soccer Club told The News it had been told that the shire was “working with their legal and procurement teams to minimise the impact on the project”.
According to the ASIC website, members of Allmore met on 7 September and appointed Stephen John Michell as liquidator.
On Friday 8 September a caller to radio station 3AW said Allmore’s demise had also left schools with unfinished projects.
“Daniel, who owns a small business, says he’s owed over $250,000 by the company who told him yesterday to put down his tools,” 3AW stated.
“We went to work yesterday at a state government school, we’re doing the landscaping there … at 95 per cent completion and the supervisor came out and he had a phone call and he just said, ‘I just lost my job, the business has been liquidated, everyone down tools, I need to lock up the site,” the caller told compare Jacqui Felgate.
Felgate read out a statement by the education department which confirmed that Allmore Constructions had a contract with the department to build a new gym at Wallan Primary School.
On Friday Allmore’s website was still carrying this message: “We take pride in being the ‘right size’ construction company: big enough to be able to draw on a wide range of resources and talents, but with the flexibility and personal service that comes from our personal commitment.”
First published in the Mornington News – 3 October 2023
