Wollongong buyers out of home and pocket after Bathla collapse
Homebuyers in Wollongong are facing financial and emotional distress following the collapse of developer Bathla. Many are left without homes or with unfinished properties plagued by serious defects.
Why it matters
The collapse of a major developer highlights systemic risks in the construction industry and the vulnerability of consumers in the housing market.
Sue Mancuso has been without a home for over a year as she waits for her Kembla Grange apartment to be completed. ( ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale )
Bathla buyers in Wollongong say the developer's collapse has left them emotionally and financially distressed.
Some have had to move in with family while they wait for builds to be finished, while those in new homes are trying to get a litany of defects fixed.
The lender of one major project has assumed control, promising it will be complete this year.
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When 72-year-old Sue Mancuso put down a deposit for an apartment at The Sanctuary development in Wollongong in 2025, she was excited by the prospect of moving in before Christmas.
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