Busselton restaurant, cleaners in $7m fire bill dispute

The former cleaners of Busselton restaurant The Goose are facing allegations they were negligent in putting out a fire that resulted in a $7 million damages bill.

The Goose Beach Bar and Kitchen on Foreshore Parade, near Busselton Jetty, was damaged by a fire in April 2021, prompting a more than two-year closure for repairs.

Restaurant owner and operator Q & Z Group lodged a writ in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, naming Renato Serraon and Jasmin Serraon, of Jasmin Cleaning Services, as defendants.

However, Business News understands the legal action was launched by the Q & Z Group's insurer.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission data shows Q & Z Group is owned and directed by Qi and Cheah Eng.

In the writ obtained by Business News, it has been alleged the cleaners breached their contract and were negligent by failing to completely extinguish the fire and remove the cause, which were burnt tea towels in the tumble dryer.

Q & Z Group and the Serraons were under a contract for the latter to clean the restaurant daily since December 2020, the writ said.

According to the writ, a restaurant staff placed dirty tea towels that were soaked in cooking oil, but had been washed, in the tumble dryer before closing the restaurant on April 11.

Q & Z Group's insurer claimed the cleaners arrived at 3am and noticed smoke coming out of the dryer.

The cleaners messaged the restaurant’s general manager, Tim Meikle, about the smoke but failed to comply with Mr Meikle’s instructions to use the fire extinguisher and remove all the tea towels from the dryer, according to the writ.

A fire broke out some time between 3.11am and 4.21am and spread through the entire restaurant.

The blaze at The Goose was heavily reported in the media at the time, with reports that the restaurant would have to close for more than a year to be rebuilt.

The Goose Beach Bar and Kitchen re-opened in July 2023, after more than two years of redevelopment.

In the writ, Q & Z Group's insurer claimed a loss of profits of $2.5 million and $4.6 million in building costs including demolition.

Adding associated costs, the total damage claim in the writ is $7.18 million.

Business News was unable to contact the Serraons.