Work on Berry’s Huntingdale Estate could resume as early as next week, with administrators optimistic they can salvage South Coast branch of building company StrongBuild.
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On November 15, the company went into voluntary administration, after a bank and out-of-bank lender pulled their funding.
StrongBuild had offices in both Bella Vista and Berry, which in total employed more than 140 people, who were all made redundant after the announcement.
However, on November 28, administrator Brian Silvia said some staff members had been brought back in anticipation for the company’s return.
“We’re optimistic we will be able to salvage it [StrongBuild],” he said.
“Our position should be clear in the coming days, but in anticipation we have brought some staff back in order to commence preparations.”
If the business can be salvaged, Mr Silvia said all of the South Coast staff, understood to be around 60 people, bar about a dozen people would be reinstated.
“It’s challenging for anyone to lose their job at such short notice and for some it may be difficult to be re-employed locally,” Mr Silvia said.
“So if there is the prospect of continuing the employment, it’s good for a local community.”
A creditors meeting was held on Tuesday night, November 27, and Mr Silvia said a lot of “good will” had been shown to the business and its directors.
“There were about 140 people there, 30 of whom were employees and there was a lot of good will,” he said.
“There was a sense of preparedness to get things up and running again.”
Mr Silvia said about $3 million was needed to get the business back off the ground on the South Coast, and he was confident this would become a reality in coming days.
“There are a number of stakeholders whose support we need to get to get working capital in place to kick the business off again,” he said.
“I’m optimistic their verbal support will transpose into reality.”
