Frank Nadinic, director of Andeco Constructions, yesterday confirmed he had issued Supreme Court writs against Longreach Capital and its employees, the original developers of the project, seeking the $1.5 million he says his company is owed.

Mr Nadinic said he had ordered his construction force of 20 to stop work on the project after being paid a “trivial” portion of the money owed after two months’ work on the site.

He said in the meantime he had introduced another developer to Longreach Capital in an attempt to on-sell the project, including construction of both the northbound and southbound centres.

“The contracts were signed yesterday and we hope that within the next few weeks work will be under way again,” Mr Nadinic said.

“It is the only way to save the whole thing for all of us.”

Mr Nadinic was highly critical of Longreach Capital and its principal John Benjamin who he believed had no money for the project when he had contracted his construction company.

A spokesman for Longreach Capital said yesterday that he was not in a position to comment on the progress or otherwise of the Chiltern centres.

He said Mr Benjamin did not return telephone calls from the media.

Senior strategic planner with Indigo Council, Stephen Swart, said the council was still to hear from the developers about the project’s progress.

Initial earthworks to build the first of the twin service stations began in September, almost four months after they were initially scheduled.

At the time, Longreach Capital said it planned to open the northbound centre in the week before Easter.

The proposed northbound building measures 1664sq m and will house a food hall with outlets for Coffee Club, Oporto Chicken and Subway.

The fuel outlet will be operated by Shell-Coles Express.

There will be seating for 220 people and a separate area to seat 60 truck drivers, as well as parking for 15 B-doubles, 18 trucks, eight buses, 15 cars with caravans and 258 cars.

The Chiltern service centre proposal has had a troubled history.

Longreach undertook a complete redesign of the service stations after setting aside the original plans, developed more than a decade ago by the original owner of the land, retired Gold Coast developer, Tony Guina.

Mr Guina had first proposed building the twin service centres on either side of the Hume Freeway in 1994 but the project experienced ongoing delays related to planning issues and debate about the Albury bypass.

Mr Benjamin bought the 24.52ha site in July, 2005.