Toby McCosker: The Other Side of the Story Behind My Construction Business Journey
I’m Toby McCosker, and for over 20 years I’ve built companies, teams, and systems across Australia’s construction industry. What happened with Alurt and Vallec was messy, but never dishonest — and this is the story behind that journey
Every decision came with a cost — unpaid wages, sleepless nights, and the weight of responsibility few construction business owners are willing to carry. But I carried it.
What the media won’t show you are the 100+ people who had jobs because I kept pushing, even when we were running on empty. They won’t show you the personal loans I poured in to keep everyone going. And they certainly won’t show you the pressure that came with being the last person standing when it all hit the wall.
What the headlines don't show.
What the headlines
don't show.
The construction industry is tough — not just physically, but emotionally. In the last two decades, I’ve seen things that would break most people. I’ve lost friends to suicide. I’ve watched mental health deteriorate quietly behind high-vis shirts and bravado. I’ve lived the reality that when the money stops, so does the loyalty — even from the people who once called you family.
The construction industry is tough — not just physically, but emotionally. In the last two decades, I’ve seen things that would break most people. I’ve lost friends to suicide. I’ve watched mental health deteriorate quietly behind high-vis shirts and bravado. I’ve lived the reality that when the money stops, so does the loyalty — even from the people who once called you family.
When a business collapses, it’s easy to point fingers. The employer becomes the villain because they stayed. But the headlines miss what really happens behind the scenes. I was the one keeping the doors open with my own money. I covered bills, propped up the systems, paid the wages long after the margins were gone. I kept showing up, while others ran.
When a business collapses, it’s easy to point fingers. The employer becomes the villain because they stayed. But the headlines miss what really happens behind the scenes. I was the one keeping the doors open with my own money. I covered bills, propped up the systems, paid the wages long after the margins were gone. I kept showing up, while others ran.
In construction, contracts are brutal. The last payment — the one that keeps you afloat — is always the hardest to secure. Some clients are professionals at engineering disputes they know you can’t afford to fight. You finish the work, but they hold the money. And if you push back, they rewrite the story.
In construction, contracts are brutal. The last payment — the one that keeps you afloat — is always the hardest to secure. Some clients are professionals at engineering disputes they know you can’t afford to fight. You finish the work, but they hold the money. And if you push back, they rewrite the story.
Much of the media coverage around me, Toby McCosker, stems from broken trust, bad timing, and a failed relationship with a partner I once trusted — Jacob. He let me down at a critical moment. And while another man, Mike, made mistakes and sparked controversy, he stood till the end. That kind of resilience is rare in this industry.
Much of the media coverage around me, Toby McCosker, stems from broken trust, bad timing, and a failed relationship with a partner I once trusted — Jacob. He let me down at a critical moment. And while another man, Mike, made mistakes and sparked controversy, he stood till the end. That kind of resilience is rare in this industry.
People forget how fragile construction companies really are. When the cash flow stops — even briefly — everything falls apart. In our industry, you're only a few unpaid invoices away from collapse. Add a media frenzy? I believe if those articles hadn't hit when they did, Alurt might have survived.
Vallec was a different story. That company was brought down deliberately — a calculated move by a larger builder who knew exactly what they were doing. They waited months to withhold payment, knowing it would sink us and pad their own profit. It wasn’t a coincidence — it was a tactic. And it’s one the building industry tolerates far too often.
People forget how fragile construction companies really are. When the cash flow stops — even briefly — everything falls apart. In our industry, you're only a few unpaid invoices away from collapse. Add a media frenzy? I believe if those articles hadn't hit when they did, Alurt might have survived.
Vallec was a different story. That company was brought down deliberately — a calculated move by a larger builder who knew exactly what they were doing. They waited months to withhold payment, knowing it would sink us and pad their own profit. It wasn’t a coincidence — it was a tactic. And it’s one the building industry tolerates far too often.
Over 20 years, I’ve built and led construction businesses, managed hundreds of workers, worked alongside thousands of subcontractors, delivered multi-million dollar projects, and implemented entire operational systems. I’ve done every role — from apprentice to CEO — and I’ve shaken hands with sharks and supported workers who had no one else. And I’m still showing up.
Over 20 years, I’ve built and led construction businesses, managed hundreds of workers, worked alongside thousands of subcontractors, delivered multi-million dollar projects, and implemented entire operational systems. I’ve done every role — from apprentice to CEO — and I’ve shaken hands with sharks and supported workers who had no one else. And I’m still showing up.
Yes, I’ve lost a lot — businesses, money, relationships. But I’ve gained something more valuable: perspective. The kind most will never have.
This page isn’t about excuses. It’s about telling the full story — the part you don’t read in a headline.
Yes, I’ve lost a lot — businesses, money, relationships. But I’ve gained something more valuable: perspective. The kind most will never have.
This page isn’t about excuses. It’s about telling the full story — the part you don’t read in a headline.
This isn’t a plea for sympathy — it’s a commitment to truth.
If you’re reading this and you’re in the fight — whether it’s running a business, leading a team, or holding the line in the construction industry — keep going. The system isn’t built for people like us, but we show up anyway. We build through the chaos. We lead under pressure. And we don’t quit.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. My inbox is open — especially for the builders, the operators, the creators. The ones earning their scars the hard way. I’m here for real conversations, learned lessons, and the few who don’t walk away when things get tough.
And for those wondering — yes, I’ve kept the receipts. Archived emails, signed contracts, financial records, legal correspondence, timelines. The story behind Toby McCosker and the collapse of Alurt and Vallec isn’t gossip. It’s documented. The records speak for themselves.
This isn’t a plea for sympathy — it’s a commitment to truth.
If you’re reading this and you’re in the fight — whether it’s running a business, leading a team, or holding the line in the construction industry — keep going. The system isn’t built for people like us, but we show up anyway. We build through the chaos. We lead under pressure. And we don’t quit.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. My inbox is open — especially for the builders, the operators, the creators. The ones earning their scars the hard way. I’m here for real conversations, learned lessons, and the few who don’t walk away when things get tough.
And for those wondering — yes, I’ve kept the receipts. Archived emails, signed contracts, financial records, legal correspondence, timelines. The story behind Toby McCosker and the collapse of Alurt and Vallec isn’t gossip. It’s documented. The records speak for themselves.
I work with people who show up when it counts. If that’s you.
Toby McCosker is a builder, systems thinker, and project lead with 20+ years in construction, leadership, and innovation. From multi-million dollar public projects to community builds, his work speaks louder than any headline.
Toby McCosker is a builder, systems thinker, and project lead with 20+ years in construction, leadership, and innovation. From multi-million dollar public projects to community builds, his work speaks louder than any headline.
If you want to know more, see the proof I have of illegal activities press below.
If you want to know more, see the proof I have of illegal activities press below.