Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Brittney Levinson

New contractor to replace PBS Building at Woden development site

An artist's impression of The Melrose in Woden. Picture supplied

Developer Doma has secured a replacement builder for its major residential project in Woden, just over a week after PBS Building walked off the job.

Work at the 184-apartment Melrose development stopped earlier this month, before the contracted construction company, PBS Building, entered administration on March 7.

Doma has now appointed local builder Bloc to complete the 16-storey tower.

Doma general manager Gavin Edgar said the group will use a trust account to ensure subcontractors are paid directly for future work.

"We are working with the administrators to terminate the PBS contract to get the project moving again and are pleased that our long-term building partner, Bloc, has been able to step in and help us get the project back on track," he said.

"Given the number of businesses impacted by the collapse of PBS, Doma have instigated the use of a trust account for all future payments to ensure that any money paid by the developer for works completed gets paid directly to the subcontractors for this project.

The residential project will have 184 apartments once complete. Picture supplied

"The important thing for us is to get workers back on site and restore their incomes and we will work with Bloc to assist subcontractors wherever we can with cashflow."

The Bloc team spent last week making the site safe, changing the building permits and meeting with existing subcontractors and suppliers, the developer said.

The developer also confirmed Bloc has engaged a structural engineer to assess the work completed by PBS Building to ensure necessary quality checks are undertaken before construction recommences.

The Melrose is the first of four towers planned for the Woden project, which will comprise 670 units once complete.

The site was one of 24 active sites PBS Building was working on when it entered voluntary administration.

There were 11 active sites in the ACT, eight in NSW and five in Queensland.

One of those was the major redevelopment of the Belconnen Markets.

Elanor Investors Group, the owner of the markets, appointed a new builder on Friday.

We've made it a whole lot easier for you to have your say. Our new comment platform requires only one log-in to access articles and to join the discussion on The Canberra Times website. Find out how to register so you can enjoy civil, friendly and engaging discussions. See our moderation policy here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.