Building magnate Len Buckeridge has threatened to tie up the state government with a monumental amount of legal action in a bid to get housing approvals moving faster through the bureaucracy.
Mr Buckeridge, whose BGC empire is the nation’s biggest home builder and is also a materials supplier to much of the residential building sector, wants to take every delayed housing approval to court.
He has told WA Business News Bystander columnist Tim Treadgold that around 3,700 building licence applications have been delayed by local authorities.
While Mr Buckeridge’s complaint is with the many local governments through which home builders must seek approval, any dramatic rise in legal activity would impact the state government’s court system.
The magnate is known for his robust approach to business, having challenged red tape, unions and government bureaucracy for decades as he created a huge conglomerate based originally on building affordable houses and flats.
He recently opened his Brikmakers brickworks on Perth Airport land, after a long battle with the state government and aggressive competitive tactics.
BGC’s legal action against incumbent rival Midland Brick forced the national-owned player to publish a public apology.
Midland Brick secretly funded a DVD and leaflets for a campaign by local resident against the BGC project.