(His emphasis) Essentially the report is a chronicle of “how not to undertake and manage a retirement village development”.

Indeed, Mr. Martin presents as a bully, lacking even a modicum of the negotiation and management skills essential to the creation of an appropriate environment, within which some of the most vulnerable members of our community have chosen to live.

Construction has been plagued by delays, non-compliance, constant variations, changing plans or simply the ignoring of planned constructions, their alignment and a host of other requirements. This has not only affected residents, but properties that abut the development and the wider Gwelup community.

Promotion and sale of residence leases suffered a similar fate, with constant change and challenge experienced by the Joint Selling Agents and prospective residents alike. The pattern continued once residents moved in with services not being provided as promised, common facilities not constructed, construction delays, non-existent financial reports, different fee arrangements for some residents, controversy over the validity of the leases and a host of other relatively minor issues.

These issues, both major and minor, collectively built a climate of total mistrust and a breakdown of any meaningful communication between residents and management.

This was further exacerbated by one of the Principals, Mr Martin. His attitude toward almost all who gave evidence, and experienced first hand by the Committee during hearings, is totally unsuited to the management of such an establishment.

Specifically, evidence to the Inquiry from all respondents clearly indicates that since day one, Moss Glades have shown a disregard for planning, approval and building requirements during application, the approvals process and subsequent village construction.

The report was released in May 2008. Despite all of the above Mr. Martin stayed in control of the village until this week. Finally two residents applied for and won a Provisional Administrator (Bird Cameron); they were supported by an affidavit by Eion Martin’s own business partner, Len Wyman. Essentially a good village, 26 bidders came forward. The successful bid was made by Gavin Kelly and John Preuss, experienced private investors. The village is now under their control under a Deed of Company Arrangement. They have brought in Sigrid Adams of Village Support to get things back on track.
That events could get so bad that it reaches State Parliament is one thing but for the laws to be such that in the next 3 years nothing effectively happens and it requires one of the partners themselves to assist residents to end the operations is another.
It should be noted the RVA made repeated approaches to all parties to assist in mediating, replacing management and forming buyout syndicates – all to no avail.