TOM Hedley's multi-million dollar Vision development on Cairns Esplanade looks impressive and its dazzling apartments fetch a high price - but don't expect the roof to keep the rain out. 

Waterfalls in the walls were not an advertised feature when Bruce Stubbs paid $490,000 for his top-floor apartment in the six-storey building, but that’s what he discovered during a downpour last month.

Mr Stubbs said a tenant was preparing to move into his apartment, with rent set at $500 a week, when his wife discovered wet walls and damp carpet after a weekend of rain early last month.

When he returned during heavy rain the next evening, he discovered
waterfall-like leaks flooding the unit.

"The initial reaction was just ‘How can this be happening? This is a new building’," Mr Stubbs said.

Three apartments on the three levels below Mr Stubbs’ suffered similar damage.

But that was just the start of Mr Stubbs’ dramas.

He said a frustrating five-week battle for repairs and compensation was yet to yield a satisfactory result, with receivers refusing to take responsibility.

A plumber’s report says part of the roof guttering "needs to be removed and started again" because it can not cope with heavy rain.

Mr Stubbs said it appeared PVC piping was not properly sealed, allowing water to flow over the top of the pipe and into the apartment through the
ceiling.

Mr Hedley said he had not been told of the problem until contacted by The Cairns Post last night.

"It sounds like something you’d need to ask the architect about," Mr Hedley said.

But Mr Hedley said he would be happy to do what he could to help if Mr Stubbs contacted him.

"I’m not going to shirk responsibility."

Brett Hawkey, from KordaMentha – the receivers who took over the development when Mr Hedley’s companies collapsed in July – said the body corporate was responsible for the repairs.

"The main structure of the building has been handed over to the body corporate," Mr Hawkey said. He would not comment further.

But the body corporate’s manager, Brett Pascoe, said nothing could be done without the approval of the body corporate’s committee, which is
KordaMentha.

Late yesterday, he said approval had been received to hire a building surveyor to inspect the problem. The surveyor’s findings would be reported back to the committee to inform a decision on further action.

Mr Stubbs, himself a registered builder, insisted the receivers had to take responsibility and have the problem fixed.

"The body corporate have done what they can, but their hands are tied," he said.

The body corporate’s insurers have agreed to $8000 worth of internal repairs, but Mr Stubbs is also seeking compensation for lost rent and damaged carpets.

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