Ventura Home Group and former supervisor fined $40,000 for dodgy works on eight projects
Ventura Home Group Pty Ltd and its former nominated supervisor Justayn James Bean have been fined a total of $40,000 for inadequate management and supervision of eight building projects.
The Osborne Park-based company built the homes in the Perth and Mandurah areas, including one house in Golden Bay and one in Halls Head, between 2016 and 2020.
Building and Energy inspectors from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety found several instances of non-compliance, with the most serious including inadequate tying down of roofs and roof sheeting installation, inadequately supported ceiling joists and hanging beams, and cutting out of the centre of a floor joist to accommodate plumbing.
Other issues included missing fire sealant, an undersized footing around a plumbing pipe, out-of-level concrete flooring and non-compliant fasteners to metal roof battens.
The fines come despite several notifications in past years from Building and Energy to Ventura Home Group over similar issues.
The department said Ventura Home Group had not made appropriate changes to its supervision and management processes to ensure issues were identified and dealt with appropriately.
The SAT fined Bean $15,000 for not properly managing and supervising the eight building projects and Ventura Homes was fined $25,000 for failing to ensure proper project oversight.
Building and Energy acting executive director Nabil Yazdani said the issues relating to roof structure were particularly concerning because many areas of WA were prone to significant wind events.
“A roof failure could cause serious injury or death, which is why tie-downs and supports must be installed correctly and methodically before proceeding to other work,” he said.
“Building service providers are reminded that they must carry out their work diligently and in accordance with building standards and approved plans.”
Construction and materials giant BGC merged BGC Housing Group and Ventura Home Group in 2020.
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