BUILDING CHANGES LEAVE INDUSTRY & CUSTOMERS IN THE DARK

Weeks after new building rules came in, industry and customers are still left in the dark about the detail, sparking calls for better support for the housing industry from the State Government.

Master builders and certifiers are calling on the Government to give certainty and proper education to the many trades involved in building and renovating homes about the historic changes so the cost impact is lessened for businesses and customers and people can comply.

The historic changes, some of the largest in the National Construction Code’s history, are estimated to add about $30,000 to the cost of a new house. However, many people don’t realise the changes also affect home renovations such as bathrooms and the changes are significant but not well known.

Member for Maroochydore and Shadow Minister Finance and Better Regulation, Fiona Simpson MP expressed strong concerns around the failure of the Government to work with the trades to provide them with the technical information and support to be across the changes and prepared for what it means for them and their business.

“I’ve talked to people in the trades. They say the information and education that has been supplied to date is poor and it appears that the Government doesn’t have people in the department with building or trades background to understand why this matters.

“If you change the standards, you need to explain them and that requires people who have expertise in the trades actively providing clear solutions, not PR spinners in a ministerial office.

“So far all we have seen is the Minister for Public Works and Procurement, Hon Mick de Brenni, fumble around the mandatory new construction standards with no support, direct engagement or education for licensees?of impacted trades.”:

“Referring to QON 977 the Minister states that further engagement is planned with Department of Energy and Public Works to work with the industry?? I’d like to know When? What? How much is the budget for this?? Given parts of the code have already been implemented, it is a bit late! …. To-date the Department of Energy and Public Works (DEPW) and Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) have only presented at selected industry events, which has only reached a small part of the impacted licensees. This is not good enough.

Don Grehan, Certifier, said: “The National Construction Code (NCC) Liveable Housing Provisions and associated parts of Queensland Development Code which came into effect of the 1st of October 2023 are important regulatory reforms designed to facilitate quality of life for our aging population. The provisions apply to new residential buildings and, to varying degrees, to repairs, alterations and renovations of existing building in particular bathrooms and sanitary compartments so it’s important for consumer to understand the factors that need to be considered when planning to under building work in their home or unit.”

Nicola Scott, Master Builders Regional Manager expressed major concerns saying: “Master builders have provided a lot of information as it has become available to our members, including face-to-face sessions around the State, webinars, fact sheets and technical notes, but our members are only a portion of the Queensland Building and Construction Industry.? There needs to be more clear guidance and education promoting awareness to all of industry and homeowners on all NCC changes that came into effect on October 1.”

Fiona Simpson MP said we have been calling on the State Government to support the building industry in these major changes for over 12 months and it has so far fallen on deaf ears.?

“I am calling on the government to urgently engage in education and awareness campaigns to support the entire supply chain, including homeowners to understand what the changes will mean for them (i.e. increased costs to build, larger toilets, step-free shower, step-free entry into the home and between certain rooms of the home, wider hallways and doorways, potentially a ramp into the home, impacts on bathroom renovations etc).? These changes affect every person associated with the building industry, not just those that work on site, but also engineers, architects, certifiers, town planners, water proofers and so on.

“These are big changes and need big help to happen – the industry needs to be supported urgently through these changes.”

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