Perth builder fined over garage collapse

A PERTH building company has been fined over work that caused a home garage to collapse.

The Building Services Board fined Osborne Park based Danmar Homes and its supervisor Robert George Williams $5000 each for failing to manage and supervise excavation work.

A sub-contractor for the company dug half a metre further than the specified depth while working on a $2 million apartment development in Leederville in January 2017.

This caused the neighbour’s garage parapet wall, roller door and a section of the roof to collapse into the excavated area.

Danmar Homes rectified the damage and arranged accommodation and compensation for the homeowner.

Building and Energy acting executive director Saj Abdoolakhan said the $10,000 fine followed previous penalties against Danmar Homes and Mr Williams for negligent conduct more than seven years ago.

“The Leederville incident highlighted deficiencies in the company’s processes to manage and supervise building work it carried out,” he said.

“Although the company has provided evidence that its management and quality assurance practices have since improved, this was a serious breach of the high standards of supervision expected – and legally required – from registered building service providers.

“We will continue to monitor and take action against building industry participants who do not uphold these standards, particularly when public safety could be at risk.”