Australia's Building Mess!

NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes

 

Leichhardt DCP 17 for 

all new houses and 

major renovations and 

5 Energy Advice leaflets 

produced by Ted Floyd, 

Friends of the Earth, 1994 

 Eco-Annandale 2012

 

This inquiry was established on 4 July 2019 to inquire into and report on the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes.

Terms of Reference:

Inquiry into the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes
1. That the Public Accountability Committee inquire into and report on the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes by government agencies in New South Wales,
including:

(a) the role of private certification in protecting building standards, including:(i)conflicts of interest
(ii) effectiveness of inspections
(iii) accountability of private certifiers
(iv) alternatives to private certifiers,

(b) the adequacy of consumer protections for owners and purchasers of new
apartments/dwellings, and limitations on building insurance and compensation schemes,including:
(i) the extent of insurance coverage and limitations of existing statutory protections
(ii) the effectiveness and integrity of insurance provisions under the Home Building Act 1989
(iii) liability for defects in apartment buildings,

(c) the role of strata committees in responding to building defects discovered in common property, including the protections offered for all strata owners in disputes that impact on only a minority of strata owners,

(d) case studies related to flammable cladding on NSW buildings and the defects discovered in Mascot Towers and the Opal Tower,

(e) the current status and degree of implementation of recommendations of reports into the building industry including the Lambert report 2016, the Shergold/Weir report 2018 and the Opal Tower investigation final report 2019, and

(f) any other related matter.

2.That the committee table an interim report as soon as practical and its final report by 14 February 2020.

Online questionnaire
As part of this inquiry, the committee is seeking the views of interested stakeholders via an online questionnaire. Responses are due by Sunday 4 August 2019.

Submissions
Organisations and individuals seeking to provide more detailed responses can make submissions. Submissions are due by Sunday 28 July 2019.

More at https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2540 

BASIX

The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) aims to deliver equitable, effective water and greenhouse gas reductions across the state. BASIX is one of the strongest sustainable planning measures to be undertaken in Australia.

https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/iframe/about-basix.html

Australian Building Codes Board

The ABCB is a Council of Australian Government (COAG) standards writing body that is responsible for the development of the NCC, comprised of the BCA and the PCA. The ABCB is a joint initiative of all three levels of government in Australia. It was established by an Inter-government agreement (IGA) that was first signed by the Commonwealth, States and Territories on 1 March 1994, and has been updated from time to time since. .. https://www.abcb.gov.au/

Inner West Council draft Housing Strategy 

on Exhibition until 28 July 2019
https://yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/local-housing-strategy

Council's Compliance and Enforcement Levies 

Canterbury-Bankstown /Enforcement/ and /Compliance Levy Compliance and enforcement/ of regulations is a requirement imposed on Council by various pieces of legislation... https://www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/development/planning-control-policies/canterbury-bankstown-enforcement-and-compliance-levy

Canada Bay from 1 July 2018, all new Development Applications (DAs) will be subject to a compliance levy...See fact sheet at http://edas.canadabay.nsw.gov.au/dwroot/datawrks/stores/default/default/orig/docid/190003064/dw_get

 Stories...

• Prevalence of building defects a 'systematic failure': ABMA director Lynda Kypriadakis (18 July 2019)
• Flammable cladding to be stripped from buildings under Victorian Government plan (17 July 2019)
• The building, property and insurance industries combined on Monday to demand stronger action from Australia's governments on building standards to avert a crisis as certifiers, engineers and architects struggle to get insurance... https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6275445/industry-demands-action-to-head-off-building-crisis (16 July 2019) 
• Jamie Parker, Greens Member for Balmain and Planning Spokesperson discusses the crisis in planning and construction in Sydney, as well as the WestConnex. (18/07/2019) https://soundcloud.com/radio-skid-row/jamie-parker-mp-discusses-the-planning-and-construction-crisis-in-sydney-18072019?