Exclusive: D&C Corporation Slammed as 'Vexatious' in Elizabeth Quay Cash Dispute
The company responsible for constructing Victor Goh's EQWest skyscrapers at Elizabeth Quay has been harshly criticized for withholding millions of dollars from a contractor, according to previously confidential legal rulings that have now been made public. D&C Corporation was ordered to pay approximately $5 million to subsidiaries of SRG Global in two arbitration decisions from last year, sparking renewed scrutiny over delays and financial issues at the long-stalled apartment and hotel towers.
Legal Battles and Delays at EQWest
Frustration over the progress of the EQWest project reached a peak in January when Premier Roger Cook urged the developer to expedite completion. Work has been ongoing for nearly a decade since mysterious Malaysian businessman Victor Goh purchased the land from the State Government in 2016, with a temporary occupancy permit granted by the City of Perth last year. The West Australian is aware of at least five other payment disputes linked to the EQWest project and related parties, highlighting ongoing tensions.
In the arbitration rulings, which were lodged with the Supreme Court and recently unsealed after an application by The West Australian, adjudicator Hugh Davis declared D&C Corporation's conduct as "frivolous and vexatious." He ordered the company to pay almost $4.1 million in September, finding that D&C had not acted reasonably and that SRG was not responsible for the delays. The dispute centered on blame for setbacks in installing facades and windows, with D&C alleging SRG was late in procuring panels and that windows failed water testing, while SRG countered that D&C made multiple changes to drawings and had an insufficient construction program.
Insights into a Private Project
These legal victories provide the clearest insight yet into the inner workings of the intensely private EQWest construction. A report by forensic delay expert Victor Ageev of HKA pointed the finger at D&C Corporation, citing "late commencement and slow progress of finishing trades" as key factors hampering work. The facade job, originally expected to be finished in 2022, remains years behind schedule and was incomplete at the time of the arbitration.
In an extraordinary twist, SRG took further action by seizing a West Perth apartment owned by D&C Corporation through the Supreme Court. This three-bedroom luxury property, understood to have been the home of a senior businessperson linked to EQWest, is now on the market to pay off the debts. Despite these rulings, the matters are not fully settled, indicating ongoing legal complexities.
Victor Goh's Role and Reputation
Victor Goh, whose Chinese name is Goh Choon Aun, is believed to be the brother of prominent Penang property baron Goh Choon Lye. While not a director of D&C Corporation and with no suggestion of liability for the unpaid debt, Goh has an extraordinarily hands-on approach to the EQWest site. Screenshots of his internal WhatsApp chats show him actively directing staff and subcontractors, ordering teams to specific floors, and managing work schedules. He also conducts weekly walkthroughs to review defects, earning a reputation as "meticulous" about details.
Documents reveal that Goh personally brokered the Capital Square Tower 3 deal with SRG and negotiated at least one other contract as a consultant. His involvement adds a layer of intrigue to the project, though he did not respond to inquiries about his satisfaction with D&C's actions. Representatives of D&C Corporation also declined to comment, maintaining the project's private nature.
As the EQWest towers continue to face delays and financial disputes, these revelations underscore the challenges in one of Perth's most significant public building projects, with implications for the local property market and construction industry.
