Work has resumed at key Gold Coast 2018 venue the Carrara Sports Precinct ©Queensland Government

Work has resumed at key Gold Coast 2018 venue the Carrara Sports Precinct after the Fair Work Building and Construction (FWBC) launched court action against the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

Construction workers at the site, which is due to play host to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games, had been staging daily two-hour stop-work meetings as part of a protest.

They had been putting pressure on the FWBC in a bid to get managing contractor Hansen Yuncken to sign a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, builders were seen at the facility sleeping during work hours, prompting the FWBC to accuse the CFMEU of deliberately wasting time.

Workers are permitted to carry out the protests under the enterprise agreement, it has been claimed.

The stop-work walkouts had reportedly been going on since May 9 at the venue, which is expected to cost around AUD$126 million (£64 million/$93 million/€82 million), with the dispute dealing a severe blow to progress at the site.

The FWBC then took the matter to court in an attempt to get an injunction on the industrial action.

They are also hoping sanctions will be brought against leading CMFEU officials Shaun Desmond and Andrew Watson.

“FWBC alleges that these provisions are being misused and that the purpose of those meetings, which come amidst stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations, is to disrupt work on the project in an effort to coerce the head contractor into signing a new enterprise agreement on the CFMEU's terms,” a statement read.

The redevelopment of the facility has been delayed by daily two-hour strikes from workers
The redevelopment of the facility has been delayed by daily two-hour strikes from workers ©Queensland Government

Hansen Yuncken Queensland manager Greg Baumann revealed no such meeting was staged on Wednesday (June 1) and he hopes the issue will be resolved so that construction can be carried out effectively.

“We are committed to negotiating a collective agreement that includes terms and conditions that enable Hansen Yuncken to bid for federally funded work,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“We understand FWBC have sought an injunction to stop the meetings.

“If this enables construction to get back to full production it will be a positive for the project.”

The news marked the latest issue for Gold Coast 2018 after former chairman Nigel Chamier resigned and was swiftly replaced by former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

Critics claimed the appointment was too political, though these suggestions were dismissed by Gold Coast 2018. 

Beattie, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe have so far remained silent on the concerns surrounding the Carrara Sports Precinct.