Building woes

Bombo couple Mark and Yvonne and Yvonne’s elderly mum Bub who is 88 next month, were two-thirds of the way through their house build when their builder went bust four years ago.

He didn’t complete the work and disappeared. All three are on the aged pension, and had a finite budget and their house is still not completed.

“Mark has long-term health issues and is limited in his ability to work around the house. Our children stepped in to help out as much as possible, paying for and installing flooring, decking and recently fencing and doing landscaping. They can only do so much,” Yvonne revealed.

Carolyn Lee, owner of The Energy Experts, knows Yvonne from her cookbook club ‘Kiama Feast’, and is leading the charge to enlist the help of local tradies to help the couple finish their house.

She has already called on all relevant businesses in the Ray White Kiama Preferred Trades List to ask whether those tradies would consider donating their time and expertise to help the three. The Energy Experts are donating the supply and installation of some solar panels to help get their electricity costs down.

They are appealing to any suitably qualified and insured tradespeople who can help with replacing skirting boards and an architrave, finishing timber trim, painting, rendering on the garage, installing a ceiling in the back garage, staining the front deck and fence and fixing the leak in the ceiling downstairs in the dining room. It would also be great to get some raised garden beds built if possible. All materials will be provided.

Bub, Mark and Yvonne says, “We are very appreciative of Carolyn’s kindness and anyone else who can help out.”

Carolyn says to all prospective helpers, “Know that your help would be much appreciated, and Yvonne is a superb cook so any tradesperson who helps out will be treated to delicious and plentiful food in thanks for their efforts.”

This unfortunate experience is not uncommon.

The University of NSW has produced a study since construction companies have been collapsing at a rate that has not been seen for almost a decade. ASIC data shows that 2,023 construction companies have gone into liquidation since mid-2021 - in fact this sector leads the trend.

The reasons for the collapse in the construction industry has been put down to “COVID shutdowns, extended periods of inclement weather and chronic supply chain issues to cashed-up infrastructure companies competing for construction