By ANNE GIBSON
Princes Wharf funder Strategic Group says it is not to blame for many of the subcontractors on the apartment block Shed 24 remaining unpaid.
Strategic executive director Marc Lindale said the company - formerly Salisbury - was not responsible for paying the subcontractors of Amalgamated Builders, who have been carrying out work on the 64-apartment block.
About a dozen subcontractors complained to the Weekend Herald that they were owed more than $221,000.
They said their contracts specified that Strategic - Kitchener Group's financer on Princes Wharf - would pay them directly.
Strategic said its responsibility was merely to forward money to the subcontractors.
"The position is that in March 2000, when ABL took over the Shed 24 construction contract from Goodall ABL (in liquidation), in order to give the subcontractors confidence that they would be paid for their future work, arrangements were made for payment to be made directly to them," said Mr Lindale.
ABL was to certify monthly who was owed money.
The certificates were confirmed by the developer's project manager, Paxton Construction, and the certification was verified by quantity surveyors Kingston Partners on behalf of the Princes Wharf financiers.
Strategic then arranged for the money to be paid directly to the sub-contractors.
"Strategic Group simply completes the final mechanical step of effecting payment ...
"At no time have we ever accepted or had any liability for payment to subcontractors.
"Our understanding is that all payments that have been certified in terms of this process have all been paid to date."
Subbies' pay not our responsibility, says Strategic
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