Scenic Pools goes under leaving Sydney families with holes in their backyards

A major pool company has suddenly collapsed, leaving customers with unfinished projects and a pile of dirt in their backyards.

Sydney-based Scenic Pools describes itself as a fiberglass construction company that is all about ‘complete transparency’.

Company owners emailed customers on May 3 to tell them the company was no longer trading and that a liquidator would be in touch as soon as possible.

But Scenic Pools was not yet in liquidation, and the corporate watchdog confirmed that the company had gone into receivership on June 21.

Several clients have come forward to reveal that the completion date of their pools was delayed leading up to the company’s collapse and has still not been completed.

They confronted the director before receiving a series of confusing emails with various excuses ranging from personal drama to staff shortages.

Tony, from North Curl Curl on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is left with an empty pool tub and a giant pile of dirt.

He had signed a contract with the company in May last year and work on the pool began in January.

While the pool excavation went well, Tony said there were several delays and cancellations around the pool installation.

Eventually a hull of his swimming pool was delivered, but there were further setbacks when installing the backfill of his swimming pool.

March 21 was the last day workers showed up on Tony’s property, despite nearly half of the work still to be completed.

Tony received an email on April 8 from one of the company’s directors, David Afoa, apologizing for the delay and saying a “family tragedy” was to blame, as well as inadequate staff who have since been laid off.

“I will intercede personally to give you confidence that your task will be completed during the month of April,” Mr Afoa wrote.

“All I ask is that you give me time and some flexibility during this incredibly difficult time.”

With no work done, Tony continued to send more emails demanding to know what was happening, adding that the heavy rains affected the pool installation.

Mr Afoa sent another email on April 17, blaming staff shortages for the work, but said if all went according to plan he could have a team up by next week.

Communication went back and forth until May 3 when Scenic Pools sent one last email claiming they had gone out of business.

“It comes with great sadness and regret that it was determined yesterday that Scenic Pools is no longer trading,” the email read.

“I hope you understand that this has been the hardest decision we have had to make and we are devastated by the result.

Our liquidator will be in touch with the next steps and hopefully everything will be resolved as soon as possible. Unfortunately we can no longer contact you.’

Tony paid the company $84,000 for what is now essentially a half-built pool.

“All they did was dig a hole and put the shell in there,” he said.

Recent heavy rainfall has caused the pool shell to shift and the base is now uneven.

Tony expects to spend another $80,000 to get the pool properly repaired and installed.

“My backyard is unsafe and when it rains I have a floating pool,” he said.

Tony’s eldest son lives with severe autism and the exposed backyard workplace has raised fears that he could be injured.

“He’s a runner and we have to keep an eye on him all the time because now my backyard is unsafe,” said Tony.

“It’s actually a construction zone.”

Another client, Rakesh Goel, from Kellyville in Sydney’s northwest, signed a contract with Scenic Pools late last year and work began in his backyard in late February 2023.

He paid $64,000 for his pool in April — 98 percent of the total price — which he said was in the contract.

But Mr. Doel, a father of three who bought the pool for his kids, said he felt he was “rushed” into handing over the money.

“I felt like there was a rush to get the money with no intention of finishing the job,” he said.

“The moment I paid the remainder of the money, they disappeared.”

He now has an open well of two meters deep, just a meter away from his parental home.

“I tried calling and emailing but after so many follow ups they just sent the liquidation email,” Mr Doel said.

“My kids are the reason I wanted the pool and now there’s danger in my backyard because I have this well so close to my house.”

A company source said an investor pulled out at the last minute, which ultimately led to the company’s collapse.

They said they were trying to put the company into liquidation so that customers could begin the insurance process immediately, but an internal dispute at the company prevented them from doing so.

A spokesman for Scenic Pools told Daily Mail Australia that the company has gone into receivership and Edwin Sanjesh Narayan has been appointed as receiver.

“In the course of operating our business, we have served many satisfied customers and have always complied with our contractual obligations regarding payment terms and insurance,” they said.

“Unfortunately, due to many external difficulties, the resignation of a director and general market and economic pressures, we are one of 2,000 construction companies that went bankrupt in the past 12 months and were unable to continue trading.

“It is very sad for our employees, customers and of course our own family. Of course we had hoped for a better outcome for everyone.

“Building pools is a very challenging business and has faced huge impacts across the country, with about one pool company closing every week as we face this recession.

“Fortunately, we have all the right insurance policies in place in the event of insolvency, so any customer or creditor who has a claim, proof of debt or any other issue can contact the liquidator to file that claim and ask for a refund.”