Penalties for concrete company, directors

A concrete business and its directors have been fined after the court found they failed to fix a defective driveway.

Rockingham Magistrates Court fined Rockingham-based Decorative Concrete Specialists and its directors Gerard Zomer and Paula Seager a total of $16,000.

Building and Energy, a WA industry regulator, alleged the business botched a $7,300 contract to install an expose aggregate concrete driveway at a Secret Harbour home.

Mr Zomer allegedly carried out the concreting work on behalf of Decorative Concrete Specialists.

According to a statement by Building and Energy, the Secret Harbour homeowners lodged a workmanship complaint for cracking and inadequate thickness of the concrete.

“When no rectification was carried out, the homeowners arranged for another concreter to replace the driveway and the original remedy order was changed to a payment order for the additional costs,” the statement reads.

Magistrate Linda Keane said the homeowners were significantly inconvenienced, according to Building and Energy.

Decorative Concrete Specialists was fined $10,000 with $500 in costs while Mr Zomer was fined $4,000 and Ms Seager was hit with a $2,000 penalty.

Ms Seager pleaded guilty while Mr Zomer did not appear in court, Building and Energy said.

Building and Energy executive director Saj Abdoolakhan said building industry participants who did not uphold their responsibilities would be held to account.

“The significant fines in this case should send a clear message that it is unacceptable to not do the work properly in the first place and to show disregard for the opportunity to make it right,” he said.