This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE property industry has welcomed the NSW government’s reform of the building and construction industry in the wake of the Opal Tower scandal.
Earlier this week Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean announced the appointment of building commissioner, which was one of the recommendations within the Shergold Weir Report.
The government will support the majority of recommendations, including requiring that:
- building designers, including engineers, declare that building plans specify a building that will comply with the Building Code of Australia;
- builders declare that buildings have been built according to their plans; and
- requiring building designers and builders to be registered.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) president Linda Scott said the move is a welcome development after years of inaction at a state level.
“That report, made public nearly 12 months ago, was preceded by the three years earlier by the Lambert Review of the NSW regulatory system, which not only expressed the same concerns but pointed out the incident of building defects in NSW appeared higher than in the rest of Australia.
“It’s disappointing that it took the Opal Tower revelations for the state government to recognise the stark reality for residents of the fallout associated with deficiencies across the system,” Cr Scott said.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) also welcomed the changes. NSW executive director David Bare said the current rules place an unfair burden on home builders when they simply build what is shown on plans prepared by other professionals like architects, building designers and engineers.
“Asking these professionals to take responsibility for their work and then trusting building certifiers to only approve plans that comply with the codes and standards should be a given.
“It makes sense that a builder should be able to follow the approved plans, and in doing so the building will be compliant and safe,”
“In line with recommendations made by Professor Shergold AM and Bronwyn Weir, for any form of chain of responsibility legislation to work must also address non-conforming building products.
“Failing to include high-risk building products in these reforms is the same as trying to build a home without any foundations,” Bare said.
Australian Property Journal