How Frasers Property Accelerated Bond Release and Reduced Defects Management Costs Using DLP Manager

Executive Summary

As regulatory scrutiny, consumer expectations and margin pressure continue to intensify across the construction sector, leading developers are investing in digital platforms to protect capital, reputation and delivery certainty.

On the Edmondson Park apartment project, Frasers Property partnered with DLP Manager to digitally manage post‑construction defects and successfully secure the return of its 2% construction bond at the statutory 24‑month milestone, despite industry‑wide disruption, labour shortages and weather events.

By replacing spreadsheets, PDFs and fragmented communication with a single digital workflow, Frasers significantly reduced administration, improved accountability across subcontractors and provided regulators and consultants with real‑time, auditable evidence of defect rectification.

The Industry Context(2025/26)

By 2025, bond retention and defects management has become a strategic business risk rather than a purely operational task.

Developers and builders are now operating in an environment defined by:

• Increased enforcement of SBBIS timeframes
• Heightened consumer confidence requirements
• Reduced construction margins
• Limited access to working capital
• Greater reliance on demonstrable compliance and data transparency

Delayed bond returns directly restrict future project pipelines, impact financing capacity and erode profitability.

The Challenge

For Edmondson Park, one of the first projects to fall under the digital SBBIS framework.

Frasers needed to:

• Coordinate hundreds of defects across consultants, builders, subcontractors and residents
• Provide verifiable proof of rectification within strict statutory timeframes
• Avoid extended inspections, re-work and disputes
• Ensure the full 2% construction bond held by NSW Treasury could be released on time

Traditional defects management methods such as spreadsheets, email chains and static reports, were recognised as a material risk to bond recovery.

The DLP Manager Solution

Frasers implemented DLP Manager as the single source of truth for all post-construction defects management activities.

Key Capabilities Deployed

• Structured Digital Workflow: Every defect recorded with mandatory fields, photos, location data and methodology
• Traffic Light Status System: Real-time visibility of open, in-progress and closed defects
• Automated Subcontractor Issuance: Defects deployed in seconds, not days
• Integrated Access Management: Automated resident access requests, confirmations and reminders
• Evidence-Based Close-Out: Photo verification, digital sign-off and audit-ready documentation
• Centralised Communication: SMS, email, calendar scheduling and approvals within one platform

Results

Time & Compliance

• All SBBIS defects uploaded and issued to subcontractors within 72 hours of receiving the building report
• Subcontractor access dates confirmed within five working days via automated workflows
• Defects fully rectified, documented and verified within three months of report issue
• Final inspection completed at month 23
• Bond approved for release at the statutory 24-month milestone

Financial Impact

• Full 2% construction bond released on time
• Reduced administrative overhead across developer, builder and subcontractors
• Elimination of duplicated data entry and reporting
• Improved utilisation of capital for future developments

Independent analysis by Ink Consulting demonstrated:

• Up to 80% reduction in administration costs
• 22% uplift in project profitability when compared to traditional management approaches

Stakeholder Outcomes

Developer & Builder

• Real-time portfolio visibility
• Reduced reliance on onsite supervision
• Improved subcontractor accountability
• Clear audit trail for regulators and consultants

Subcontractors

• Clear, actionable defect information
• Streamlined access coordination
• On-site mobile close-out
• Reduced administrative burden

Owners & Consultants

• Improved communication
• Faster rectification timelines
• Fewer repeat inspections
• Greater confidence in outcomes

Consultant Feedback

“DLP Manager was an extremely effective tool in closing out SBBIS reporting and achieving statutory deadlines. The comprehensive documentation allowed us to efficiently track defects, review photographic evidence and approve completion – ultimately enabling NSW Fair Trading to releas the bond.”

– Alan Stewart, Building Consultant, MBMpl

“Without DLP Manager, the bond release is delayed past 24 months, and often for a further six months, and the opportunity cost of not utilising those funds to invest in the next projects. Not only was Frasers able to get their bond back early, releasing millions of dollars in future investment, the financial modelling proves that using DLP Manager, can boost profit by an impressive 22% with an 80% cost savings.”

– Nick Baxter, Consultant at Ink Consulting

“We were thrilled to provide Frasers with the result and over delivering on the goals set through the challenges of 2022. We were able to conclusively prove that by implementing the right technology the financial, reputational and productivity KPIs can be over-achieved.”

– Chris Polin, DLP Manager

Why This Matters in 2025/26

The Edmondson Park case study demonstrates that digital defects and bond management is no longer optional. For developers and builders operating under SBBIS and similar regimes nationally, platforms like DLP Manager are now critical infrastructure, protecting capital, ensuring compliance and enabling scalable growth in a constrained market.