QUEANBEYAN construction businesses are furious they still have not been paid for work on the completed Dan Murphy's Liquor Store despite the chain retailer being set to open tomorrow.
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A total of 15 local construction contractors and suppliers are still chasing unpaid invoices totalling more than $300,000 as reported in the Queanbeyan Age in February.
A spokesman for the group, Hunter Cocks, said months later they still hadn't seen a cent for the work on the building.
The group are seeking answers from client Woolworths who employed principal contractor Flexem Construction. They would like to know why the subcontractor Award Contracting was hired in the first place.
A Woolworths spokeswoman told the Queanbeyan Age Flexem Constructions had advised them it had fulfilled all its obligations with respect to workers on-site.
"We understand Flexem is continuing to engage with the local contractors who were employed by Award Contracting and any further operational questions should be directed to them," she said.
Flexem Constructions project manager Mark Jabbour said he couldn't comment on the matter as it was now in the hands of lawyers and considered a legal matter.
A report, prepared by administrator Veritas Advisory, uncovered concerning information about Award Contracting.
The Veritas Advisory report states the company "may have traded whilst being insolvent from...2009" and "unexplained cash withdrawals and online transfers from [Award Contracting] of approximately $500,000 which may be classified as uncommercial or Director related transactions".
Administrators were contacted after unsuccessful attempts were made by local contractors to recover money from Award Contracting and Flexem Constructions.
However, now the group believe their only option is to make contact with Woolworths in the hope the retail giant will investigate the matter.
"This process was so flawed right from the beginning. There's got to be a moral, social obligation for Woolies to get off their tail, go and have a really in depth conversation and investigate it," Mr Cocks said.
"We'd like to meet with someone from Woolies but nobody from Woolworths has even spoken to us and in light of this new information, they should absolutely be talking to us.
"I think they have an obligation, they've come to a community in town and of that community, there's 13-15 contractors are out $300,000 and we've got a brand new building sitting there."
The Dan Murphy's Liquor Store has been marred in controversy since it first began to take shape in February.
The retailer replaced the former-Bill Lilley Mistubishi site on the corner of Crawford and Morrisett St. Residents have previously described the retailer as an "eye sore".
