AT least one Bendigo company is at risk of going into liquidation and others are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result of a pay dispute with the lead contractor of the Ulumbarra Theatre project.
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Kaizen Fire Protection managing director Darryn Millard said he is owed more than $130,000 by Melbourne-based builder Contract Control.
The figure includes $78,000 for work completed while the remainder is for retention and variation fees.
Mr Millard said Contract Control had failed to meet 11 out of 17 payments he was owed.
Several other subcontractors who worked on the project confirmed to the Bendigo Advertiser they were owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by Contract Control.
Mr Millard said his business was on track to enter liquidation June 30.
"That is the forecast where I'm heading. I'm trying to trade out of it but I just don't know if I can. It's going to do us over," he said.
Mr Millard said he couldn't afford to go after Contract Control for the money he was owed.
"Because they haven't paid and with all the previous delays I've had to use all my money just to keep afloat and survive," he said.
Liquidation would send the business Mr Millard spent nine years building "down the gurgler".
"If they had paid on time throughout the whole project, I wouldn't be in this position. I have no idea what to do," he said.
The Bendigo Advertiser understands many subcontractors have walked off site until payments are made.
The Ulumbarra Theatre project was overseen by the state education department. Department spokesman Simon Craig said payment had been made to Contract Control.
"The department processed a payment for contract variations on June 12, following agreement between the Department and main contractor on these variations," he said.
Contract Control agreed to fast-track payments to subcontractors within seven days of receiving the money, he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was willing to follow up on the issue if the payments were not made.
"If poor performance by a lead contractor is in any way causing financial hardship for any of those subbies then I'd be more than happy to sit down and talk to them," he said.
"It's a great project and I don't want any of the pride in this project to be diminished by potentially the bad practices of just one or two people."
City of Greater Bendigo City Futures director Stan Liacos said he was aware of the issue.
"The city is working collaboratively with all other partners on the project to resolve this issue appropriately as soon as possible," he said.
The Bendigo Advertiser contacted Contract Control for comment.
