Alkimos residents demand answers as legal battle continues to delay action on deteriorating retaining walls – PerthNow

Alkimos residents say they are considering pursuing a class action against developers of their Shorehaven estate after damaged retaining walls have been left to deteriorate since 2015.
Shorehaven Alkimos resident Warren Walker said retaining walls across the estate began to crack in 2015, particularly along the estate’s main drag Shorehaven Boulevard, just five years after the estate opened.
Despite residents raising the issue with the residential developer Peet that year, Mr Walker said nothing had been done to fix the walls and the “unsightly” rendering continued to peel and spread.
Mr Walker, fellow resident Neil Lowery and City of Wanneroo councillor Chris Baker have been calling for answers and accountability from Peet for years but say their requests continue to fall on deaf ears.
“I want their admission of guilt,” Mr Walker said.
“I want them to say yes, we are responsible for this debacle because it did not conform to the requirements of the way the wall should be built and it is causing degradation to the value of my property and the area.”
Peet has been locked in a legal battle with three companies it contracted to design and build the retaining walls since July 2021.
These include TABEC Civil Engineering, EPCAD landscape architects and civil construction contractor RJ Vincent.
A Peet spokesperson told PerthNow this week they could not provide comment “whilst the matter is still undergoing legal proceedings”.
“Peet remain committed to progressing towards a positive outcome for residents regarding the Shorehaven retaining walls,” they said.
“Peet understand and acknowledge that this has been a lengthy and complicated process, and appreciate the patience of the Shorehaven community.”
Peet managing director Brendan Gore told PerthNow in April last year they had identified a “prospective solution” for the walls after engaging technical experts and conducting a comprehensive review.
But Mr Lowery said after eight years they were fed up with the lack of action on the walls, with deterioration spreading “like a cancer”.
He said they were considering pursing a class action.
“I think if we had enough support for a class action it is certainly a consideration; nothing is off the table,” he said.
“I just want to see the job done.
“I think they are obligated to fix the problem that they have caused in the first place and it’s these poor land owners that are suffering because their properties’ values are coming down.”
The pair said the reality of living in the estate had not measured up to what they were promised.
Mr Lowery said he was sold a vision for “a Cottesloe in the north”, which included a Woolworths supermarket and multiple restaurants and shops but it hadn’t come to fruition.
The Peet spokesperson said after the withdrawal of Woolworths from the tenant position, it “has been exploring other opportunities that will complement and enhance the coastal precinct”.
“We hope to be in a position to provide an update to the community later this year,” they said.

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