St Hilliers, a developer that is currently involved in the $100 million West Village project in Newcastle and has a strong record of projects in the commercial, residential and defence sectors, has called in voluntary administrators to seven subsidiaries.
The move has led to a pause on St Hilliers’ 21 active construction sites while the administrators, WLP Restructuring partners Glenn Livingstone and Alan Walker, undertake an urgent assessment of the business’s financial position and operations.
The administrators note that 22 staff have been made redundant, but approximately 80 staff members will remain employed. The group has offices in Brisbane, Townsville, Sydney and Perth.
The entities under administration are all part of St Hilliers' construction division, known as St Hilliers Contracting, while administrators have clarified that the group's property development and investment division, St Hilliers Property, remains unaffected.
A first meeting of creditors is set to take place on or before 14 February.
"The administrators are working closely with all stakeholders and staff in order to recommence project works at the earliest opportunity," says Livingston, who alongside Walker was appointed to yesterday.
"We are hopeful this can occur in the coming days and that the employment of as many people as possible is preserved."
Current contracting projects listed by the developer on its website include the AVEO Carindale Stage 3, Bernborough Ascot, and Ascot Grove Care Community in Brisbane, the Kirwan Health Campus expansion in Townsville, and a refurbishment and expansion of the Stanthorpe Library and Art Gallery.
Other current projects, although listed as part of its property division, include Central Coast Quarter in Gosford and Thornton Central in North Penrith, while current defence projects include a replacement of the sewage treatment plant at the RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, and a solar array at Harts Range in the Northern Territory.
The specific companies under administration are ST Holdings Pty Limited, St Hilliers Pty Limited, St Hilliers Contracting Pty Limited, STH Bonding Pty Limited, SHC Civil Pty Limited, St Hilliers Inventive Pty Limited, and SH Newstead Pty Limited.
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