The Building Services Board has issued a reprimand and $10,000 in fines for disciplinary matters related to unauthorised building work, including a commercial premises that was completed and occupied without the required permits.
The Board found Armada Construction Group Pty Ltd (BC12786) and its nominated supervisor, Darren Robert Smith (BP12719), breached WA’s builder registration laws by engaging in negligent conduct at three industrial sites in Neerabup.
The Board was told the City of Wanneroo issued “forward works” building permits for the first and second sites in 2024. These permits only authorised Armada to carry out site preparation work such as earthmoving and slab construction.
When Armada applied for building permits during 2025 for other work at the two sites, the City found substantial construction was already completed, far exceeding the scope of the forward works building permits.
A workshop was finished and in use by an automotive business at site one, while structural panels, roof framing, a façade and an awning were erected at site two, without the required occupancy permit for site one or building permits for either location.
At the third site, substantial building works – including earthworks, plumbing pre-lay, slab construction and preparation of structural concrete panels – had been carried out without any building permit in place.
Retrospective approvals and permits have since been issued for the three sites.
Following prosecution by the City, Armada was fined $120,000 at Joondalup Magistrates Court in June 2026 after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Building Act 2011 for carrying out building work without a valid building permit.
At its August 2026 meeting, the Board reprimanded Armada in relation to this conviction and fined the company and Mr Smith $5,000 each for negligent conduct, which is a disciplinary matter under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011.
Building Commissioner Phil Payne said the conduct was unacceptable, particularly from registered building service providers with 17 years of experience.
“Although this is the first building enforcement matter involving Armada and Mr Smith, clearly their actions fell far short of the standards that the community rightly expects from registered builders and the nominated supervisors who oversee their projects,” Mr Payne said.
“Working without a building permit, if one is required, undermines the entire building approval process and jeopardises building safety and compliance.”
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Media contact: BEmedia@lgirs.wa.gov.au
