Author Archives: CreativeTeam

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Pier bar shed its staff

Posted on 12/10/2019 - 2:08 pm by

The Herald Sun has reported that the closure of Central Pier is continuing to have a “devastating effect,” with the nine full-time members of the management team at Woolshed being made redundant.

Since the closure of the pier, 16 full- time workers employed at Woolshed have lost their jobs, while dozens more casual staff have also suffered the same fate. 

Duncan Laidlaw, the general manager of Woolshed, stated:

  • “If we knew how long the closure was going to be we could deal with that, but there is no clarity and it was just unstainable for the business to carry on like this…there have been a few tears. We are like a family.” 

Central Pier venues band together to sue

Posted on 10/10/2019 - 12:56 pm by

Central Pier venues band together to sue over ‘misleading and deceptive conduct’ Central Pier closure an ’embarrassment for Melbourne’ as tenants to sue for $100m.

Hospitality Suppliers and CIM Business Events both published the same article by Seridan Randall which details that the tenants of Central Pier are banding together to sue Development Victoria for as much as $100 million. 

The article references the statement of claim lodged by the tenants, which alleges that Development Victoria had engaged in “misleading and deceptive conduct” after it failed to adequately repair and maintain the 100-year-old structure to allow the tenants to remain there until the end of their lease in 2026.

Woolshed shuts up business after Central Pier Closure

Posted on 09/10/2019 - 5:04 pm by

The Shout published an article which detailed Woolshed’s announcement that it will no longer operate, as the business is no longer viable. 

The article includes quotes from Duncan Laidlaw, general manager of Woolshed, stating that the loss would be in the millions for the business:

  • “It’s obviously going to be devastating for us in the long term.”

The article also includes quotes from a spokesperson from Development Victoria, who stated that safety is its priority, but also that the organisation had acted in “good faith”.

  • “We know how much this affects people’s businesses, jobs and events but the safety of people working on and using the pier has to be our number one priority…A detailed assessment of Central Pier by our engineering consultants is underway on a priority basis.”
  • —
  • “Any legal action will be defended.”

“AN ABSOLUTE EMBARRASSMENT FOR MELBOURNE”

Posted on 09/10/2019 - 7:53 am by

Tenants of the Central Pier in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct have launched legal action in the federal court against Development Victoria

A statement of claim on behalf of eight businesses against Development Victoria was lodged in the federal court on Monday, according to multiple media reports.

It came after Central Pier was suddenly closed in late August after a team of engineers deemed it unsafe.

The pier has remained closed since August and will until January at the earliest, Development Victoria has said. In September, a prominent developer complained of not receiving enough support and transparency from the government body.

The tenants allege the government body knew in June 2015 the pier was deteriorating at a faster rate despite the repairs being carried out, according to The Herald Sun.

Furthermore, Development Victoria is being accused of “misleading and deceptive” conduct for leading tenants to believe the repairs being undertaken would enable them to continue operating until their lease ended in 2026, The Age reported.

  • “There are now serious questions as to whether Development Victoria’s repair works over the past two years have actually made things worse,” a spokesperson for the Central Pier tenants said in a statement.

The tenants also allege Development Victoria has not been upfront on when they can return to work.

  • “Development Victoria has completely mishandled and mismanaged this situation,” the spokesperson said.
  • “Its refusal to provide information has placed additional stress on all of the staff who are already under extreme pressure and worried about how they are going to pay their mortgages, feed their families and cover the bills.
  • “We are now coming into the busiest event season of the year with Spring Carnival, Christmas and New Year and our heritage sheds and maritime waterfront is out of action. It’s an absolute embarrassment for Melbourne.”

Multiple reports claim businesses are pursuing substantial costs from the government body, which could be in excess of $100 million.

In September, Development Victoria said a decision on the future of Central Pier will be made after a full assessment by divers and marine engineers.

The government body believes it has acted in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Central Pier lease, and said last month that any legal action will be defended.

Central Pier venues band together to sue

Posted on 09/10/2019 - 7:42 am by

Central Pier venues band together to sue over ‘misleading and deceptive conduct’

Hospitality Suppliers and CIM Business Events both published the same article by Seridan Randall which details that the tenants of Central Pier are banding together to sue Development Victoria for as much as $100 million. 

The tenants of Central Pier in Melbourne are banding together to sue Development Victoria for as much as $100 million after they were forced to evacuate suddenly over safety issues regarding the aging structure.

A statement of claim alleges that Development Victoria had engaged in “misleading and deceptive conduct” after it failed to adequately repair and maintain the 100-year-old structure so the tenants could remain there until the end of their lease in 2026.

The eight tenants say that Development Victoria knew back in 2015 the pier was deteriorating at a faster rate, despite the repair works that were being carried out. They further claim the repairs were inadequate and Development Victoria “did not act reasonably” when it closed the pier down on August 28 and was in breach of its obligations under the tenants’ lease agreements.

  • “Development Victoria knew Central Pier was deteriorating at an increasing rate despite its repair works but it elected not to allocate proper funding to deal with the deterioration,” a spokesman told The Herald Sun, adding that Development Victoria needed to be held “accountable for its actions”.
  • “There are now serious questions as to whether Development Victoria’s repair work over the past two years have actually made things worse.”

The eight tenants had also invested about $50 million into revamping the site over more than a decade.

The spokesman said the closure of the pier coming into the busiest event season of the year was an “embarrassment for Melbourne”.

  • “We want to work proactively with Development Victoria to fix this mess as quickly as possible but the longer we wait for clarity and certainty, the harder it becomes for the staff and businesses of Central Pier,” he said.

Woolshed shuts up business after Central Pier Closure

Posted on 09/10/2019 - 7:17 am by

The team behind Woolshed in Melbourne’s Docklands has announced that the business will no longer operate after a forced closure of the Central Pier by Development Victoria.

The eight businesses housed on the Central Pier development in Docklands were given little warning when they were evacuated in late August for safety concerns. They were told that the pier was in need of urgent repairs that would take one month. But a fortnight ago, on the deadline, the tenants – including Woolshed – were told that Central Pier would be closed until at least January. The business – mainly in hospitality – would miss out on the vital holiday trading period.

Duncan Laidlaw, general manager of Woolshed, told the Seven Network at the time that the loss would be in the millions for the business.

  • “It’s obviously going to be devastating for us in the long term.”

That statement has come to fruition a lot sooner than expected, with the Woolshed team on Thursday announcing that its business was no longer viable and that it would be closing. The statement reads:

  • “To our valued customers,
  • “Its with heavy heart that this is a farewell post from our dedicated management team at the Woolshed.
  • “With the continue[d] closure of Central pier including our beloved Woolshed it was simply not sustainable to be able to continue employing our team with no income coming into the business.
  • “Our amazing clients, suppliers and family of the Woolshed who know us know how much of a dedicated bunch we are, the Woolshed was our home, we saw our clients like family not taking for granted anyone who choose to entertain, host events or dine in our restaurant or bar.
  • “After resurrecting after a devastating Fire in November 2016 we arose from the ashes bigger and better as the “Woolshed” in April 2017. Nothing would have prepared us for the devastation of being evicted from our home again and having to cancel all the events of our beloved clients and friends in August 2019.
  • “From all of us at the Woolshed we hope that our paths may cross again, we thank you for your support and Patronage, and wish you all the best from the Woolie family.”

This is the second time the Woolshed has closed down, after a kitchen fire caused much damage to the venue in November 2016. In that instance, the hotel was rebuilt and reopened six months later.

Legal action

The eight tenants of Central Pier — including Woolshed, the head office of functions business The Atlantic Group, and nightclub Alumbra – are intending to sue Development Victoria for $100 million in compensation.

  • “The Government has just completely side-swiped us, taken our businesses from underneath us and are now leaving us to try and work it out for ourselves,” Atlantic Group’s Hatem Saleh told the Seven Network.

A spokesperson for Development Victoria has said that safety is its priority, but also that the organisation had acted in “good faith”.

  • “We know how much this affects people’s businesses, jobs and events but the safety of people working on and using the pier has to be our number one priority.”
  • “A detailed assessment of Central Pier by our engineering consultants is underway on a priority basis.”
  • “Development Victoria has acted in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Central Pier lease. Any legal action will be defended.”

AHA Victoria declined to comment on the situation.

Melbourne Businesses Launch Legal Action

Posted on 08/10/2019 - 11:59 am by

Tenants at Central Pier in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct are suing Development Victoria over the pier’s sudden closure.

Central Pier business owners claim Development Victoria knew as far back as June 2015 that the pier was deteriorating – and fast – but it failed to adequately repair the damage.

They’ve launched legal action in the Federal Court, claiming the department engaged in “deceptive and misleading conduct in its role as landlord.”

‘Misleading, deceptive’

Posted on 08/10/2019 - 11:56 am by

Tenants of Central Pier launch legal action.

Businesses at Docklands’ damaged Central Pier have launched legal action in the federal court over claims Development Victoria engaged in “misleading and deceptive” conduct in its role as the landlord of the precinct.

Tenants lodged the action in the Federal Court on Monday, five weeks after the pier was dramatically evacuated and closed due to safety concerns about its structural integrity.

In the statement of claim lodged on Monday, the businesses claim Development Victoria knew when it signed a lease with the tenants in mid-2015 that the pier was deteriorating “at an increasing rate, despite the repair works it was carrying out”.

AHA Victoria declined to comment on the situation.

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