MASTER BUILDER NSW APRIL -JUNE 2021 by News Corp Custom Publishing

MASTER BUILDER Official Magazine of the Master Builders Association of NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

REPORT:

RESTORING CONFIDENCE

BUILDING WATCHDOG CHALLENGING NSW BUILDING INDUSTRY TO BE THE BEST

PLUS:

• TOP TAX TIPS FOR BUILDERS • THE ACT: BUILDING REGULATIONS CHANGE • MENTAL HEALTH

Hear what our customers are saying about Waterstop Streamline I am happy to give my recomm endation to use Waters top Streamline. It is the only modern looking product that I have se en that positi vely connects the shower screen to the waterproofing in a completely leak free way. .. Mr Albert Aebe rhard Builder, Hotondo Homes Group AC

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For more information, visit www.waterstopstreamline.com.au Phone 07 5426 3700

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CONTENTS

MASTER BUILDER Official Magazine of the Master Builders Association of NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

IN THIS ISSUE REGULARS

5 7 9 38 43 44 58 66 67 68 70

Contact List President’s Viewpoint Executive Director’s Viewpoint

Training Membership Advertising Features Regional Roundup New Products Diary Advertising Directory The Way We Were

REPORT:

RESTORING CONFIDENCE

BUILDING WATCHDOG CHALLENGING NSW BUILDING INDUSTRY TO BE THE BEST

PLUS:

• TOP TAX TIPS FOR BUILDERS • THE ACT: BUILDING REGULATIONS CHANGE • MENTAL HEALTH

The building industry continues to rise to and overcome all challenges, whether they are environmental, social, or governmental, with innovative, proposals and solutions.

FEATURES 14

Challenging our industry to be the best it can be The Master Builders’ Reforming the Building Industry in NSW report

The LTI Fallacy Changes coming to how Lost Time Injuries are calculated

Top Tax Tips Helpful end-of-financial-year hints for building and construction workers

Published by

The Act: Building Regulations change What builders and designers of residential apartments in NSW need to know and do, to work on projects from 1 July 2021

36 Mental Health Mental Health and wellbeing in the workplace — what you can do

News Corp Australia is the exclusive Publishing Partner of the Master Builder magazine. ABN: 63 009 820 035 Phone: (07) 4690 9422 Website: www.newscorpaustralia.com Custom Publishing Manager: Emily Bosman 07 4690 9303 | M 0448 049 469 Emily.Bosman@news.com.au Editorial Coordinator: Josie Adams 07 4690 9454 | M 0437 819 696 Josie.Adams@news.com.au Graphic Designer: Jeff Brown Printed by: Greenridge Press This publication is copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of Master Builders Association of NSW or News Corp Australia. Disclaimer: Readers are advised that the Master Builders Association of NSW and the publisher cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of statements made in advertising and editorial; nor the quality of goods and services advertised.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

MBA CAR BUYING SERVICE HUGE SAVINGS IN TIME AND EFFORT

SIGNIFICANT FLEET SAVINGS ON NEW AND DEMO VEHICLES

MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF YOUR TRADE-IN

CALL US FOR THE BEST DEALS ON PRICE & FINANCE

0414 919 194 OGARIT KELLEY MASTER BUILDERS

Financial Services *Conditions apply

CONTACTS MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES 52 Parramatta Road, Forest Lodge NSW 2037 | Private Bag 9, Broadway NSW 2007 Tel: 02 8586 3555 | Fax: 02 9660 3700 | Email: enquiries@mbansw.asn.au Website: www.mbansw.asn.au | ABN 96 550 042 906

HEAD OFFICE EXECUTIVE BOARD Simon Pilcher Robert Black Martin Patience Frank Mamasioulas Mick Banks Michael O’Donnell Colin Jewell

EXECUTIVE

Executive Director Executive Assistant

LEGAL

Head Solicitor Senior Solicitor Legal Assistant

President Deputy President Immediate Past President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Brian Seidler Amanda de Vries

MBA INSURANCE SERVICES

NSW State Manager Dele Omisore Business Development Manager (M, Tu, W) Leanne Farmer CORPORATE TEAM — GENERAL Senior Account Manager Edwina Lyall Account Executive Adam Myers Administration Officer Sarah Daniel SME TEAM — GENERAL SME Team Leader (Genera) David Petkovski Senior Account Executive Alan Fraser Account Executive Barbara Sou Account Executive Hannah Collins Senior Account Executive Hilda Marfo Account Executive Linda Thomson Account Executive Michael Stubbs SME Administration Officer Nicola Benson Account Executive Rezwan Rahman BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM — GENERAL Business Development Team Leader Patrick Rafferty Business Development Executive Harry Rankin Business Development Assistant Shaian Carmona WARRANTY ELIGIBILITY TEAM NSW Home Warranty Team Leader Wayne Manley Business Development Executive Daniel Vine Account Executive Jayne Cornwell Account Executive Kirra Lee Parr

MASTER BUILDERS FINANCIAL SERVICES

Manager, Finance & Car Buying Ogarit Kelley

MEMBER SERVICES

Manager Member Services Graham McGuiggan Membership Coordinator Paul Love Administration Coordinator Debralee Scarselletta Administration Assistant Felicia Suwito Marketing and Sales Support Jessica Martin Member Engagement Representative Clare Mayhew

NORWEST EDUCATION CENTRE & TRAINING 5 Burbank Place, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE Manager

Director Construction Executive Officer Safety & Risk Industrial Relations Officers Safety Officers Secretary – IR & Safety IR Administration Officer Industry Sector Co-ordinator Government Projects & Programs Manager

Peter Glover David Solomon Iain Jarman Matthew Gissane Joanna Psaros Luke Sammut Peter Murphy Beverly Glover Annette Gee Tracey Van Breugel Omesh Jethwani

Karen Kellock

EVENTS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 8586 3503 8586 3507 8586 3519 0422 513 705 4979 0115 0466 777057 02 9296 6796 8586 3570 0412 806 700 8586 3594 0435 967 945 9296 6611 02 9296 6797 8586 3556 0466 626 323 9296 6717 0410 234 605 8586 3583 9296 6605 8586 3501 8586 3561 8586 3568 9296 6612 9296 6610 02 9296 6798 8586 3565 0481 906 275 9296 6609 0466 431 218 9296 6604 02 9296 6799 8586 3512 0481 919 108 8586 3566 9296 6792 9296 6782 0414 919 194 1300 760 366 8586 3554 8586 3540 0413 306 556 8586 3545 8586 3572 8586 3520 8595 3515 8586 3588

APPRENTICESHIP SERVICES Apprenticeship Services Manager Karen Kellock 8586 3538 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND SAFETY

Robert Collings Hannah Shephard Darcie Jeffery

8586 3535 8586 3552 8586 3502 8586 3573 8586 3529 8586 3522 8586 3607 8586 3523 8586 3531 9296 6666 8586 3539

Awards Coordinator Special Projects Officer Events Administrator Events Administrator

Susan Manning Amanda Kelly Janet Hood Sophie Abbott

8586 3517 8586 3549

0458 234 735 8586 3506 8586 3504 9296 6613 8586 3524

OPERATIONS

Director Operations Craig Donovan 8586 3537 General Manager Education & Apprenticeships Jody McGann 8586 3589 ICT Manager Amanda Kernaghan 8586 3580 Communications Steven Swan 8586 3562 IT Support / Webmaster Alexander Ashley-Carrington 8586 3525 Sponsorship Relations Manager Haley Tibbetts 0412 980 829

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Manager Finance & Administration Strebre Delovski Credit Control Manager Eric Milne Credit Officer Daniela Fraumeni Inventory & Administration Officer Treena Carter Accounts Payable Officer Bridget Delmore Accounts Supervisor Rose McGill Accounts Officer Bachar Mourad Reception #2 Charles Martin Room

8586 3508 8586 3509 8586 3567 8586 3527 8586 3510 8586 3511 8586 3530 8586 3526 8586 3546

REGIONAL OFFICES NEWCASTLE OFFICE

Level 1, 165 Lambton Road, Broadmeadow 4953 9400 or 9296 6777 NSW Regional & Division Manager Luke Reeves 9296 6775 Events Coordinator Andrea Cross 0418 770 630 Reception Eliza Sharpe 9296 6770 Safety Officer John McGhee 9296 6772 Training Coordinator Kerri Richards 9296 6773 Regional Awards & Events Team Lead Rebeccah Kilmurray 9296 6776 MBA Insurance Services Business Development Manager – Warranty Leeanne Farmer 9296 6781 Account Executive — HWI Jayne Cornwell 9296 6792

NORTHERN REGIONS

2 Boeing Avenue, Ballina Regional Coordinator Matthew Meury Business Development Manager Alan Fraser Member Services Representative Marlee Hand

GOSFORD

Unit 7/4 Stockyard Place, West Gosford Member Services Representative Kerrie Bendeich

SOUTHERN REGIONS

Unit 1, 171 Princes Highway, Ulladulla Regional Coordinator Lynn Smith Member Services Representative Tracy Cooley

6681 4266 0428 412 784 0410 234 605 6681 4266 4323 4588 4323 4588 4454 1955 0418 633 297 4454 1955

ALBURY/WODONGA

35 Hovell Street, Wodonga Regional Manager Steve Donaghey Administration Assistant Allison Bowman Membership Coordinator Vanessa Hollis

PORT MACQUARIE

Unit 3, 12 Jindalee Road, Port Macquarie Regional Coordinator Kerrie Clark

WOLLONGONG

66 Auburn St, Wollongong Regional Coordinator Lee Tanks Member Services Representative Ruth Billington

ORANGE

Level 1, 296-298 Summer St, Orange Regional Coordinator Katie Kidd

MATES IN CONSTRUCTION

Hotline

0402 044 075 02 6058 2000 02 6058 2000 6581 4033 0409 180 301 4272 9409 0419 140 126 4272 9409 02 6362 6895 0458 243 976 8586 3575

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

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PRESIDENT’S COMMENT

INTRODUCTION

From the President

Bouncing back!

n June 2020, the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and Federal Minister for Housing announced the commencement of the HomeBuilder scheme backed by the evidence-based advocacy of Master Builders Australia. While we could not have known it then, HomeBuilder has proven to be one of the most effective government interventions in history, continuing to drive record activity in the home building industry. As we go to print, all the economic indicators show the economy is bouncing back. GDP rose 1.8% in March (2021) meaning that economic activity has recovered to be higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that private investment rose 5.3% with investment in machinery and equipment rising in the March quarter to the highest since December 2009. Dwelling investment increased for the third consecutive quarter, jumping up by 6.4%. HomeBuilder continues to drive residential building to new records. Again according to the ABS, since the announcement of HomeBuilder in June last year “private house approvals have risen 84% and New South Wales reaching the

highest level since the heady days of 1988. The Reserve Bank (RBA) notes in its monetary policy decision for this month that demand for lending has picked up from owner occupiers, particularly first home buyers. While RBA seems confident about that, it notes that investors are strongly active in the market and say that they will be maintaining a close eye on this development. Renovation work is also booming with alterations and additions work surging more than 10% in the March quarter to the highest in decades. Civil/engineering construction is also up but we are still waiting for the commencement of the construction phase of federal, state and territory government infrastructure projects before this will improve. As we know, the success of HomeBuilder has created pressure on the building supply chain resulting in shortages in materials such as timber. Likewise, the demand for skilled tradespeople is also stretching capacity. The jobs situation in the construction industry however continues to improve with nearly 23,000 more jobs than at this time last year. What all these statistics tell us is that the building and construction industry is contributing greatly to the rebuilding of the nation.

Simon Pilcher MBA NSW President

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

Create raised floors on balconies, podiums and green roof tops Designed for creating raised floors in external applications, such as balconies, terraces and green roofs, Buzon’s Award Winning Pedestal system can be used with any type of concrete or stone paver, timber decking of all types and metal or fibreglass grid systems. The PB pedestal is suitable for many different types of applications and designs. They are perfect for creating both residential and commercial spaces and the design makes it easy to adjust and allows quick and sturdy installation of natural stone pavers, porcelain tiles, concrete pavers or decks made of timber or composite decking. A key benefit of this innovation is the patented slope correction device. This gives up to five percent fall compensation achieving a perfectly level floor finish, simultaneously allowing for positive water run off at structural slab level.

range of interchangeable spacer tabs of 2mm, 3mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm, allow for precise gaps between pavers and provide positive drainage without any concern for ponding or flooding. Using the Buzon Pedestal replaces the use of sand and cement when laying pavers, therefore eliminating efflorescence and algae and reducing weight-bearing loads on the building structure. In addition the pedestal also improves thermal insulation and reduces sounds transmission. In commercial urban environments where space is at an ever-higher premium, a building’s roof level is potentially a rich source of usable

For even more design flexibility, the system offers height adjustment from 15mm to 955mm, millimetre by millimetre if required. This allows for unsightly services to be concealed under the floor while still offering access for maintenance of the waterproofing membrane and drainage systems.

space. Buzon say their Pedestal System can be used to maximise a roof’s potential, both hiding all manner of services and protecting roof substrates from the elements, maximising integrity and longevity. The Buzon Pedestal System is available

The pedestals are extremely strong as they are precision-engineered

throughout Australia.

from high strength, UV resistant, recycled polypropylene and capable of supporting loads of more than 1000kg each. At roof level, this load is

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Pasco Construction Solutions

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Phone: 02 9817 4441

The Buzon Pedestal System is also simple to install. Desired height is

Email: buzon@pasco.net.au www.pasco.net.au

achieved by thread adjustment, which is lockable when reached and a

BENEFITS • • • • •

Use with stone, concrete, timber, composite decking Use over existing concrete, brick or paved areas Allows for drainage and ventilation Reduces noise and increases insulation Can achieve a perfectly level deck on an uneven surface

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Adjustable heights supporting up to 1000kg

• • •

Quick and easy installation Provides a sustainable solution Easy access to waterproofing membrane for maintenance

For exclusive stockists of Buzon products in Australia contact:

PASCO (VIC) 13-15 Brighton Street Richmond VIC 3121 Tel: (03) 9429 9111

www.buzon.com.au

PASCO (NSW) 4/14 Tennyson Road Gladesville NSW 2111 Tel: (02) 9817 4441

www.pasco.net.au

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENT

INTRODUCTION

From the Executive Director

Setting a new benchmark

n this edition of Master Builder, we provide an in-depth interview with the NSW Building Commissioner, David Chandler OAM, and an accompanying overview of the new building industry reform legislation. The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (RAB Act) are two of the most significant pieces of legislation the NSW building and construction industry has seen in decades. On 1 July 2021, the rules of the construction game will change in NSW. The initial focus of the legislation is Class 2 multi-unit buildings. It will reform how the building and construction industry conducts its business. These pieces of legislation set the scene for major structural change. Sweeping new powers give the building regulator the right to conduct site inspections on any project at any time. Most of these powers are enabled under the RAB Act, which came into effect on the 1st September 2020.

These powers allow the regulator to stop projects with severe defects and delay the issuing of Occupation Certificates. The NSW Government has tasked the Building Commissioner to restore public confidence in the construction industry. After 18 months in the role, the Commissioner is still seeing many examples of non-compliant work. He also reports the signs of green shoots as most players want this one-time reset to lift the industry and restore confidence with its customers. The industry wants its customers back. According to the Commissioner, “We want New South Wales to be the preferred state of Australia for a purchaser to invest in new apartments. In the 470 surveys we got back from the Australian community recently, 90% said they would not recommend anybody to buy off the plan. So that is the benchmark that we need to turn around”. The Building Commissioner wants New South Wales to be the best place for financers to consider investing or loaning money into new projects and we as builders, want the opportunity to build.

Brian Seidler MBA NSW Executive Director

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

TOYOTA FOR BUSINESS

NEED ROOM TO MOVE? YOUR GOLD FLEET DISCOUNT DELIVERS.

HiAce LWB Crew Van shown.

Pack in a Gold Fleet discount of $3,4501 on the Toyota HiAce range We invite you to load up with value on the Toyota HiAce range, saving $3,4501 with your Gold Fleet exclusive discount. Awarded a 2019 5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating, Toyota HiAce comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense2 features that give you and your passengers greater peace of mind while keeping your business moving. With ample cabin space, HiAce gives your fleet versatility and makes it fit for the task. Stay connected while on the road with Apple CarPlay®3 and Android Auto™4 through the 8” colour touchscreen display. To find out more, visit your local Toyota Fleet Dealer or call 1800 679 247 toyota.com.au/fleet

Discount available across the Toyota HiAce range. T&Cs apply. 2 Driver assist feature. Only operates under certain conditions. Check your Owner’s Manual for explanation of limitations. Please drive safely. 3 CarPlay® is a trademark of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S and other countries. Functionality varies depending on device. See toyota.com.au/connected for compatibility. Available on certain models and grades only. 4 Android Auto™ is a trademark of Google LLC. Functionality varies depending on device. See toyota.com.au/connected for compatibility. Available on certain models and grades only. 1

ADVERTISING BRANDFEATURE PROMOTION

HiAce brings the goods Those looking for performance, safety and connectivity – the HiAce range delivers.

HiAce LWB Crew Van shown.

oyota has ensured precious cargo across Australia continues to be entrusted within the HiAce range, providing vans that excel in functionality, performance, safety and driver comfort. Size-wise, HiAce offers huge cargo capacities across the range, flaunting even more flexibility and function – owing to the increased cabin height and width. Vans in the range come with dual sliding doors designed to make loading and unloading a breeze.

Siri® Eyes Free2. Audio controls, infotainment access and cruise controls are all conveniently located on the steering wheel. On the safety front, HiAce protects drivers and passengers alike with the advanced features found in Toyota Safety Sense3. Keeping ahead of hazards using Pre-Collision Safety System with Pedestrian Detection, daytime Cyclist Detection, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist.

‘We focused on making the new-generation vehicle an even better tool-of-the-trade through an all-new semi-bonneted design, increased performance, a quiet cabin and improved handling,’ said Sean Hanley, Toyota vice president sales and marketing.

HiAce is also fitted with anti-lock brakes, while the HiAce LWB Turbo Diesel Manual van features a braked towing capacity of up to 1900kg4. The HiAce is designed to keep you in touch with your surroundings using Vehicle Stability Control, Reversing Camera, and front and rear parking sensors3.

At the heart of the redesigned dash lies an impressive eight-inch touchscreen system, showcasing technology such as Enhanced Sat Nav1, Enhanced Voice Recognition and

The possibilities of personalisation make the HiAce incredibly versatile for whatever business you’re in. Create a perfect-fit fleet with Toyota Genuine accessories5, such as the Interior

Ladder Rack, engineered to lock down a ladder in less than two minutes. Or the new Cargo Barrier that allows you to fully separate the cabin from your cargo to help protect drivers and passengers. You can even add a highstrength Rear Technician Step that lets you jump in and out faster, saving time across your workday. While the HiAce is known for its enduring reliability, independent studies show it maintains a strong resale value compared to equivalent ranges6. Parting with the HiAce may be harder than you think, however. Carrying forward its legacy, the HiAce van – 15 years in the making – has achieved a 2019 five-star ANCAP safety rating. This is the business fleet vehicle you can choose for the long haul. To find out more about the HiAce range, visit your local Toyota Dealer or call 1800 679 247

1 Coverage varies based on vehicle location. 2Siri® is a trade mark of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. 3Driver assist features. Only operates under certain conditions. Check your Owner’s Manual for explanation of limitations. Please drive safely. 4Towing capacity subject to regulatory requirements, towbar and vehicle design and towing equipment limitations. Ask your dealer for Toyota Genuine Towbar capacity and availability details. 5Toyota Genuine Accessories are not applicable to all models/grades. See your Toyota dealer to confirm Accessories suitable for your vehicle. Toyota Australia uses its best endeavours to ensure material is accurate at the time of publishing. All information must be confirmed with your Toyota dealer at the time of ordering, as specifications, applicability and availability may change over time. Colours displayed are a guide only and may vary from actual colours due to the printing/display process. Toyota Australia reserves the right to change and/or discontinue, without notice, prices, colours, materials, equipment and specifications. To the extent permitted by law, Toyota Australia will not be liable for any damage or loss incurred from relying on the information and images contained in this material. Consider the mass of your load and your selected accessories to ensure your vehicle will not exceed gross vehicle mass limits. Certain accessories when fitted may require removal of standard equipment, which may be retained by Toyota. Visit toyota. com.au/vehiclepayload. Distributed nationally (other than in Western Australia) by Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited ABN 64 009 686 097. Material distributed in Western Australia by or on behalf of Prestige Motors Pty Ltd (for vehicles) and by Eastpoint Pty Ltd (for parts/accessories). Toyota Australia makes no warranties regarding (and will not be liable for) accuracy of materials distributed in Western Australia. 6Based on a 2019 Glass’s Guide study comparing the top four competitor makes’ 4-year-old resale values: The resale values provided in the report are at year, make, and model level. Variant, series, body, engine and transmission is averaged in order to calculate comparison at model level.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

FEATURE

Something BIG is coming F

or years members have asked for easier and more affordable access to the Code, Australian Standards and technical information required to do their job. The Master Builders Association of NSW has listened, and myBIG is the response. myBIG will be a unique online library of must-have Australian building and construction reference material. You will be able to access the National Construction Code, the related Australian Standards, and much more without having to look anywhere else.  myBIG is set to be the one-stop-shop for every important document, including compliance, safety, licensing, legislation, industry news, and products and services. “Australia is currently experiencing a building boom. With the industry under an unprecedented amount of pressure, we are always looking to innovate our services for our members and engage the wider building community to facilitate efficiency and productivity,” says Brian Seidler, Executive Director, Master Builders Association NSW.   “myBIG will go a long way in streamlining the compliance process for our members.  It will make access to important information easier, faster, and more reliable. myBIG is big for the industry.”

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

But myBIG won’t stop there. It will continue to grow, with new industry reference materials added every week, and new functionality every quarter. Original content you won’t find anywhere else will be created for myBIG, including Best Practice manuals, like the Master Builders Waterproofing Guides, commentary videos with examples, and technical how-tos.

myBIG will take the pain out of accessing and displaying up-to-date documents when on a building site and therefore satisfying the legal requirement to do so.   It will be a digital hub, where all the information required to be a builder in Australia can be at your fingertips. Whether you’re in the office or on the go, your documents will be available to

FEATURE

myBIG is building a bigger future for the building industry you 24/7 on any device.  MyBIG supports quality Behind myBIG is a powerful search engine, making it quick and easy to find what you need. You will be able to refine your search to include specific categories of documents, then go directly to the relevant page with just one click. You will be able to bookmark pages and get access to them from an inbuilt team workspace, along with a list of your recently viewed documents, making it easy to pickup where you left off. Your workspace will also be accessed by everyone in your team, reducing the need to download or email documents. The ability to have everyone accessing the same versions of the same documents, means literally everyone is on the same page.   Industry suppliers and partners will be joining us with a skyscraper’s worth of new content and ideas. Our myBIG roadmap includes the addition of material price lists, cost reports, estimation software, weather services, new products, discounts, material catalogues, and much more. With partners like CoreLogic, Cordell, Dial Before You Dig, and others, you will find answers to all your questions! myBIG will be indispensable for your business.  Access to myBIG will be via an affordable annual subscription, and scales to the size of your organisation. Australian Standards are available as add-on packs for an additional cost so you only pay for what you need.   Master Builders regards myBIG as an investment in the future and is committed to ongoing enhancements. It’s part of the new generation of digital toolkits for your business. Master Builders will leverage its reputation and industry contacts to continue negotiating with partners and publishers to provide you with even more value. This is just the beginning for myBIG. Something BIG is coming.  Built by the industry, for the industry.  Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

FEATURE

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

FEATURE

Challenging Our Industry To Be The Best It Can Be – Omesh Jethwani, Government Projects and Programs Manager, reports the outcome of the Master Builders Reforming the Building Industry in NSW luncheon.

came into effect on 1 September 2020. These Industry faultTheselines the built environment. pieces of are showing…

n Wednesday, 21 April 2021, Master Builders NSW presented the Top 50 Luncheon, “Reforming the Building Industry in NSW.” NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler OAM addressed nearly 200 people at a sold-out Master Builders NSW event. The Hon. Kevin Anderson MP also addressed the meeting via video. The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (RAB Act) are two of the most significant pieces of legislation the NSW building and construction industry has seen in decades. On 1 July 2021, the rules of the construction game will change dramatically in NSW. The future for design and building practitioners looks positive. The initial focus of the legislation is Class 2 multi-unit buildings. This will target major reform to how the building and construction

industry conducts its business and constructs

powers are enabled under the RAB Act, which

legislation set the scene for major structural change.

powers allow the regulator to stop projects with severe defects and delay the issuing of Occupation Certificates. Chandler says that these powers will be used carefully as the intent is to facilitate change through mentoring and capability building to drive culture change. The NSW Government has tasked the Building Commissioner to restore public confidence in the construction industry. Following the well-documented failings at Opal and Mascot Towers, the NSW Government has introduced the most sweeping reforms to the sector in decades.

Sweeping new powers give the building regulator the right to conduct site inspections on any project at any time. Most of these

After 18 months in the role, the Commissioner is still seeing many examples of non-compliant work. He also reports the signs of green shoots as the majority of players want this one time reset to lift the industry and restore confidence with its Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

FEATURE

do we want our industry to look like towards Those working in the building and construction the end of next year? Because we can get industry are urged to keep an eye on the Office overburdened by all of this news. You will get of Fair Trading web page because the Building The continued reporting of serious defects will a lot more news over the next few weeks, Commissioner will be posting Building Work damage the reputation and the value of many which will not make you proud. So we need to Rectification Orders and Prohibition Orders. As Sydney apartment towers. Buildings worth understand and embrace a positive agenda for a sign of change, the Commissioner points to more than half a billion dollars are still carrying change.” examples where Certifiers are now stepping major flaws. The State’s Building Commissioner up and doing their jobs. He points to Certifiers Restoring confidence won’t happen until we fix this… branding one tower in Auburn What does restored as the worst he has ever confidence look like? inspected. Inside the unit tower, “We want New South Wales declared Sydney’s worst, water to be the preferred state of trickles from floor to floor, while Australia for a purchaser to poorly sealed windows weep invest in new apartments. In the into apartments and ensure a 470 recent surveys we got back horrible time for residents. from the Australian community customers. The industry wants its customers back.

No one wants to see water coming out of the ceiling from their bathroom above them.

recently, 90% of the people who filled out the survey said they would not recommend anybody to buy off the plan. So that is the benchmark that we need to turn that around,” said Chandler.

When serious defects are discovered during inspection by the Building Regulator, developers and builders can be slapped with orders to make things right. Restoring confidence won’t happen until we fix this…

Fig 1

What does restored confidence look like?

The Auburn project is one of 10 blocks, around 1000 units in total, which must be fixed. The buildings spread right across Sydney. The defected towers from Strathfield to Mascot through to Linfield. Together, these buildings are worth more than half a billion dollars. Orders have been issued for their repair. The government is keen to restore confidence after what we all have seen in projects like these. Mascot towers are in the process of being sold, but reportedly only for the market price of the land, around $42 million expected. That means owners would only get $200,000 for their apartments. As a proud member of the building and construction industry, Chandler has been shaken by some of the things he has witnessed on construction sites. There was some push back when he was initially appointed that if it were not for Opal and Masco Towers, there would be no need for a Building Commissioner. Chandler says that, based on the evidence, he sees the building and construction industry still requires serious transformation and, where needed, someone prepared to take a stick to turn this industry around. Within a year from now, the building and construction industry may not require as much attention, but the industry will see a consistent amount of much-needed attention for now.

NSW the preferred state for purchasers to invest in new apartment buildings NSW regarded by financiers as a preferred market to finance new projects NSW regarded as a preferred risk and insurable market by insurers Branded developers in NSW regarded as preferred and trustworthy Construct NSW to help facilitate plus 20,000 apartment starts from 2023 Change the public perception of our industry to attract tomorrow’s constructors 4

issuing Written Directions Notices to developers that address matters that may have required the regulator to issue Building Work Rectification Orders and/or Prohibition Orders. These are positive signs of change. He also cites the changing attitude towards waterproofing which is rapidly lifting standards across NSW. The Building Commissioner said he had a number of calls from developers and builders who complained of being named when orders are issued. The Commissioner advises that to avoid being named is simply by doing the right thing. Chandler reassured that the names of companies are taken down as soon as the rectification orders are complied with by the building companies. Chandler claims that so far, up to “60% of the buildings he goes into are not up to scratch. In all the buildings, we are a long way to being the best we can be. I am sure that is going to change because we are changing the dynamics. So what I wanted to do here today is describe what does it look like? What

The Building Commissioner wants New South Wales to be the best place for financers to consider investing or loaning money into new projects. Because at the moment, they are a little bit shaken by the fact that when a prohibition order is issued, it generally means that there is some distance between the date they thought they might be getting an occupation certificate and settlements. Often, it is a later date, as much as six months so far.

“So it does shake financers. We have been meeting with financiers regularly, one on one. We have assured them that where their projects in New South Wales are impacted, we will manage their matters until the orders are lifted as long as they lend to legitimate borrowers. We do not want to chase the financiers out of New South Wales. The general view is that attention will keep them in play and start thinking about our state as a better state in Australia to lend money to new developments. And we want New South Wales to be the preferred risk and insurable market by insurers, but we have to get the insurers back into the market. (See Fig 1) No insurance company in the world is going to subsidise insurance premiums. They are in a business to make a profit, but at the moment, they are making significant losses. They are making these losses because our industry has a cavalier attitude to the quality of what we are building. In addition, we always think that there is this bucket called professional indemnity insurance that everybody can go on and have Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

FEATURE

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

a swim in, which is costing a lot of money. If we want premiums to come down, our buildings need to be resilient and trustworthy. For every dollar of premium currently being written in New South Wales, the Building Commissioner thinks the cost to insurers is north of $1.20. We have to realise that there are costs in creating an insurance product, getting it underwritten, and distributing it. So what it needs to be is that the actual cost for these claims has to be circa 60 cents in the dollar, not north of the $1.20. To remedy the distortion of the good players subsidising the risky, we must distinguish between the good and bad guys and target the heavy lifting. So you’re going to see some serious effort going in to identify the good guys, the good developers and who are the excellent builders. In addition, we shall categorise anybody who does not want to go in that direction as being unrated, which can either be the good or the bad. Being rated as a trusted player will lift everyone’s value proposition. It will give consumers some clear metrics as to who are the better players to deal with. There is a growing interest in becoming a rated player. Chandler says that if all we have to

show for 2 to 3 years of industry reform pain is a pile of bad guys in the corner, nothing else to show. The Building Commissioner invites all players to approach the Office of the Building Commissioner (OBC) to contribute and understand how to become a positively rated player going forward. This invite includes those who have some legacy projects. If they undertake to go back and fix these, there should be no impediment to becoming a trusted player of tomorrow. The Building Commissioner proposes that before he finishes in late 2022, he hopes to publish a list of people he has formed as trustworthy developers and builders. His priority focus is to help lift development governance and Design & Construct capability. Beyond this, the formals rating organisations will be able to add a regulated overlay focusing on business capability and resilience. Finally, Chandler stresses that we all have to make this industry attractive to the next generation of constructors. There are approximately 370,000 people in the New South Wales building and construction industry of all ages. The Building Commissioner estimates that by 2030, we shall need about

BUILDING CERTIFICATION AND NCC/BCA COMPLIANCE

100,000 new entrants employed in the industry due to the increasing number of retiring practitioners in what is a growing industry. So we are going to attract about 100,000 people to our industry. The Building Commissioner said that most parents discourage their children from being employed in the industry. They think it is a risky industry that kills people and builds the most horrible buildings. We also have a lot of work to tidy up what people think a modern job site should look like. Currently, it seems like something that you would have expected to see in the 1990s, but certainly not in 2021. He happens to use the site toilet as an exhibit because it can be a huge disappointment when creating appropriate and safe amenities for women on construction sites. I find very few worksites where I would be prepared to have my daughters-in-law attending work. I am making it quite clear that I expect to see those sorts of things significantly improved over the next year,” said Chandler. Driving Change through legislation and Regulator Capability The Design and Building Practitioners Act

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MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

(Act) will apply from 1 July 2021. It is a very significant piece of legislation, and it resets the compass. It requires declared and issued for construction documentation to be issued before construction of a building or stage can commence. The Act requires designing practitioners to be registered and needs them to do the compliant design. Practitioners will be required to upload their designs onto the NSW Planning Portal.

The New Process of Design then Construct The new process is Design then Construct. Certifiers will be less ambivalent to the idea of signing off on projects as they may have done in the past. Anyone looking for a certifier in recent times may discover that the certifiers will be interviewing them and not the other way round. Certifiers are now enjoying their new level of recognition and a new level of responsibility as a public officer.

In addition, there will also be new obligations that apply to builders. Builders will not be allowed The new process of Design then Construct to commence construction unless they have received a set of declared issued for construction designs. At the end of the project, builders will be expected to declare that they have constructed buildings in accordance with the design, which must be uploaded as drawings using the same portal. Design Practitioner declares that design complies with BCA and Australian Standards

Registered Design Practitioner prepares building designs

Building Practitioner to declare that all construction work has been completed as per the designs

Developer to lodge the Expected Completion Notice at 6-12 months before completion

(required under RAB Act)

FEATURE

inspectors had a silo, the electrical inspectors had their silo, and so on. They did not share any information among themselves. They all collected the address of the project and the builder, and there was massive duplication,” said Chandler. We have been working to build a single source of truth data platforms to lift the game. Data Hub Technology The NSW Fair Trading announced earlier this year that it created a data hub. Fig 2 Armed with this information, the building regulator’s team can now identify the projects under construction that are most likely to have problems, then target them for defect checks.

Professional Engineer to declare that engineering drawings comply with BCA and Australian Standards

Declared design drawings to be uploaded to the NSW Planning Portal

Any design variations to the key building elements must be declared uploaded to the NSW Planning Portal within 1 day

Building Practitioner must build to the declared designs in accordance with the BCA and Australian Standards

DBP Act

The plan is to force developers to fix problems before new apartments are handed over to purchasers.

“Two weeks ago, the hub had over 140 million data lines, “A big difference between what informing the regulator. This is happening in New South recently ticked over 170 million Wales now and what had lines of data. For example, happened in all prior reform Fig 3 suppose a developer does initiatives is that the legislators not have a visible brand, and have historically passed 170 million lines of data now inform this transformation the mailing address is one of legislation, said what a great convenience at an accountant job they have done and leave The line of sight to risky players has never been more clear. or a lawyer’s office. In that the room. But they have not case, the data will state where provided the money to build the developer is. The system the capability in the regulator. incorporates heat maps of the So the regulator has always locations of developers who been told to cut people, find do not have a branded front another efficiency dividend to office. And they are the majority build capability, and they never of the people producing poor quite catch up. So this time, we buildings because they just have had a massive effort and come in and out of the industry, massive investment in building hiring the lowest cost builder the capability to stand this all to build the lowest cost, nonup. The amazing new digital compliant building, and leave and then come (See Fig 2) capability will support this. No one should think back in. “In the last six months, it has been excellent that we have not built these capabilities. For There are two hotspots in Sydney as to where to be working with the industry. We have had those who underestimate the capability now, those addresses are. There’s a hotspot in the legislators doing something quite unusual they will be in for some pretty rude shocks. Ashfield NSW, and there’s a hotspot in Liverpool during this period. Many of you have invited We also enjoy the ability to bring in new NSW. The days of opaque players are rapidly us to take the legislators out to your office resources and new talent to the regulator. The ending. and out to your projects. They have worked 30 new occupation certificate inspectors have their way through how industry designs are The data is just absolutely amazing. When you brought an entirely new level of talent, energy made and to understand when the design is have got that amount of data, you can almost and knowledge into the organisation. The required to enable the order and sequence of treat it like Siri and say, Siri, tell me this. We regulator, in my view, had been watered down the building work. The industry has helped to have about 350 buildings on a rolling basis, to having more generalists around who are ensure that the new legislation can cope with where we have been given notice under the interested in the process. Now, we have got the progressive development and design. Build RAB Act 2020. These buildings are heading subject matter experts out there in the field, only contracts, and those using a design and for an occupation certificate. So imagine 350 applying their expertise. “Many of you who construct contract have all contributed. buildings heading towards six months before have had an occupation certificate audit would they are away from an occupation certificate. Part of the challenges in modernising the probably be, I guess, taken by the fact that Building Practitioner to upload As-Built declared designs to the NSW Planning Portal

experienced engineers, architects, certifiers, and builders are a part of the audit team,” said Chandler.

Strata Bond to be lodged (if applicable)

Apply for Occupation Certificate

regulator’s office has been to operational silos that existed. They had all been living in silos for the last 20 or 30 years; the plumbing

We can say to the database how many of those 350 projects exist where the six riskiest certifiers in New South Wales are certifiers. The Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

FEATURE

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

database would say, “29% Commissioner”. We shall be auditing 105 projects straight away, with the six most risky certifiers. Everyone wants to know who they are. We say you know who they are, and they know that they need to lift their games going forward,” said Chandler.

NSW Planning Portal will have to be far more advanced than they were in the past.

digital fingerprint will forever go into that piece of real estate.

The regulator is also introducing artificial intelligence to be inserted in the bottom right-

Developers need to realise that the power of digital technology has never been as effective and available to regulators as it is now. This digital technology will shake out the bad players, just as we will be able to see who the good players are. Insurers need to see and reward the good players.

The data is revealing that the most significant defect is waterproofing. The OBC had that confirmed through a survey it had conducted with Strata Committees Australia. That survey revealed that 34% of all buildings built in the last six years have significant defects in their common property, across the structure, waterproofing, building envelope, fire rating systems, and key building services. (See Fig 3) The building regulator has been focusing on the above issues for the time being because those are the most prevalent.

hand corner of every drawing. In this process, the regulator will line up with the government licensing system, another data platform, which will be functional from July 2021.

The leading cause for the above issues is the drawings. That is why the drawing documents required to be declared and uploaded in the

All developers, designers, builders and certifiers will soon have a digital twin forever. If a practitioner uploads and declares a drawing, its

“Now, there is another element to all this as well. The modern regulators are yet to come to terms with it. I am a relatively unusual exhibit for a regulator. I have an enormous following. In social media, it has grown a little since I was Building Commissioner. It was not as interesting to everyone while I was an academic at Western Sydney University, but it suddenly has become very interesting,” said Chandler. Project Remediate Project Remediate will be a unique opportunity

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MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY

for the NSW construction industry to display the best it can be as part of restoring consumer confidence in new apartment buildings. The program will specifically target having the work done by small and medium-sized designers and constructors. These players will need at least 5-years of experience as this project is not for opportunists with little capability. On 19 April 2021, NSW Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson announced a major milestone for the removal of flammable classing from multi-unit residential buildings. The Minister released an independent report outlining four safe and nonflammable product categories representing the first tranche replace high-risk cladding. Further materials may be added going forward as they are reviewed for suitability and how they will form part of a complete and safe system. Minister Anderson said the four categories had been recommended by the experts of the Cladding Product Safety Panel as part of Project Remediate, the NSW Government’s billion-dollar program to fast track the removal of combustible cladding on 225 high-risk residential buildings. The NSW Cladding Taskforce entrusted with

identifying buildings with combustible cladding for remediation was also established. As an overview (what it means for you), Project Remediate is a NSW program for removing

dangerous cladding for qualifying building owners and proprietors of private high rises (Class 2) in NSW. These include multi-use buildings, such as part commercial/part residential, confirmed by the Taskforce and consent authority (local council or Department of Planning, Industry and Environment) as having a high-risk combustible cladding façade that requires remediation. The program makes a difference through the ability for these parties to obtain interest-free loans over a 10-year period applied to rectify

FEATURE

combustible cladding on their residential apartment building(s) with interest on the loans paid for by the NSW Government. In an associated initiative, a project assurance service will be set up and coordinated via the Office of the NSW Building Commissioner to work with owners’ corporations to project manage the NSW cladding removal plan and rectification work. The service will ensure that rectification is carried out to a high standard and encompass assuring and controlling risks, costs, and cladding rectification quality. In addition, a Managing Contractor will be appointed to manage and oversee each rectification project. This service will be at no cost to the owners’ corporations. A comprehensive guide will soon be made available for owners corporations, lot owners, strata committees and strata managers. The guide will explain how the program will work, how it benefits owners, how to join and what to expect. For more information, visit https://www.nsw. gov.au/department-of-customer-service/ customer-service-%E2%80%92-projects-andinitiatives/project-remediate-0

OBC here to help restore confidence

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Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

IMPROVING THE INDUSTRY

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

IMPROVING THE INDUSTRY

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

THE LTI FALLACY I

n Australia the current method for reporting injuries is through the use of a mathematical calculation contained within an Australian Standard. Commonly referred to as Lost Time Injuries (LTI’s). The Standard that most industries use is AS 1885.1:1990 and related documents (AS1885.1 SUPP 1:1991 and MP58-1991), that provide information on how to record information on injury and disease experienced in the workplace. The Standard includes the calculation methods for a business’s incidence rate, frequency rate and average lost time rate. Historically, these methods have been used to establish a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) which is broadly used term as a measure of OHS performance that is relatively easy to measure; it may be used to compare like businesses as a benchmark and often forms part of influencing the awarding of tenders and or contracts. In more recent times, recognising the limitations associated with the LTIFR (including the ability to manipulate measures), some organisations have adapted the frequency rate to establish a Medical Treatment Injury Frequency Rate (MTIFR) and/or an All Injuries Frequency Rate. Relying on outcome measures such as these has long been recognised as largely determined by luck. A major risk could be present for an extended period without causing injury, then the circumstances arise that result in a significant, and sometimes catastrophic outcome, e.g. the Longford Gas Explosion in Victoria Australia on 25 September 1998. Much has been written about the importance of process safety in response to major disasters, such as the Gulf of Mexico Blowout — e.g. see Disastrous Decisions: The Human and Organisational Causes of the Gulf of Mexico Blowout; Hopkins, Andrew, (2012), chapter 6. In these extreme scenarios it is easy to see that measuring LTIFR does not reflect a realistic measure for process safety issues in environments where imminent risk still remains, moreover elusively looming in the background. A risk of a major OHS, or environmental disaster remains present, that is often falsely misrepresented or downplayed under the guise of a low ranking LTIFR. The same low LTIFR that is meant to reflect a rosy happy healthy safe workplace. This concern is just as relevant to personal health and safety. A large percentage of fatalities and lost time injuries occur in situations where work is being carried out in the same

manner as it has been for extended periods of time, “this is the way we’ve always done things around here” type of approach. The fact that an organisation records a Lost Time Injury after 780 days without a lost time injury previously during that period, does not mean that their safety performance has suddenly deteriorated; and yet that is the conclusion that can be reached by organisations that place too much emphasis on LTIFR as a measure. These measures also become less relevant for measuring performance in relation to gradual onset injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders and psychological harm, as they relate to when the injury is reported, or time is lost, rather than when the harm occurred or developed. Further, incidence measures are very volatile for small to medium enterprise. Assuming a 38 hour week, for 48 weeks per year: one injury for an employer with 50 workers would result in an LTIFR of approximately 10; for an employer with 20 workers, the same injury would result in an LTIFR of approximately 27; and for an employer with 10 workers that same single injury would result in LTIFR of approximately 54. It is unlikely that the employer with 10 workers is really 5 times worse at managing safety than the employer with 50 workers. These measures also become less relevant for measuring performance in relation to gradual onset injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders and psychological harm, as they relate to when the injury is reported, or time is lost, rather than when the harm occurred or developed. The control of fatalities and permanent incapacity injuries needs maximum focus upstream on design, planning and re-planning. Focus on LTIs and TRIFR distracts attention from the management of controls for fatalities and permanent incapacity critical risks. The Building and Construction Industry (BCI) need to seize the huge opportunity to reduce the number, length and complexity of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) and increase talking about the work to be done and the work that has just been completed. A focus on evidence of the myth of the safety pyramid advised to beware the fallacy of thinking that if we control the causes of first aid injuries we will also have controlled the causes of fatalities! A study of fatality and accident rates in the Finnish construction industry over 15 years showed that, “the fatality rate in the Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

IMPROVING THE INDUSTRY

construction industry increased when the accident frequency declined”. This was reflected in evidence from the American journal of industrial medicine 56:509-519 (2013) showing the states with low nonfatal injury rates have high fatality rates and vice-versa, indicating an inverse relationship between injuries and fatalities. In the construction sector, states with high fatal injuries had low rates of non-fatal injuries. The converse was also true; states with lower fatal injuries had higher rates of these non-fatal injuries; Concluding that fatality rates appear to be a more valid measure of risk. Which poses the question many of us in the BCI ask why is there such a focus on lag indicators such as LTI’s? When leadership focus should encourage more conversations with people, such as, are the critical controls in place and working well? What worked well? What did not go according to plan or was difficult or frustrating? What could have gone better? What can we do to improve things around here? Other positive performance indicators that should receive more heavily weighted

... “the fatality rate in the construction industry increased when the accident frequency declined”. ... the states with low non-fatal injury rates have high fatality rates and vice-versa... focus on what most BCI businesses do, day in and day out include planning, site preparation and readiness, consultation, toolbox talks, take fives, pre-starts, onsite training, High Risk Workshops, risk assessments, risk and opportunity registers, one hundred percent compliance with onsite inductions, emergency preparedness to name a few. Safe Work Australia is unable to supply the national number of lost-time injuries involving the loss of one day/shift or more from work. Instead Safe Work Australia publishes rates based on accepted workers’ compensation claims that involved the loss of one or more working weeks (termed serious claims). The reason for this data scope is explained in more

NEW AT DAHLSENS!

detail. Data used by Safe Work Australia is from the National Data Set of Compensation based Statistics (NDS). Safe Work Australia asks jurisdictions to supply data scoped broadly the same as that set out in the Australian Standard: claims that involved either a death; permanent incapacity; or a temporary incapacity for which payments have been made (including common law claims). However, there are differences between the jurisdictions in the amount of time the employee must be off work before the employer can claim against their workers’ compensation policy known as the employer excess. Employer excesses range from one day to ten days across the jurisdictions. Although an employer should inform the relevant Workcover organisation of incidents that fall within their excess period, this does not happen in all cases. This results in under-reporting of short-term work-related incidents. To improve comparability across jurisdictions, the standard Safe Work Australia publication scope is limited to serious compensation claims: thus excluding claims of less than one working week.

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MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

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IMPROVING THE INDUSTRY

There is a trend within the BCI to move away from the words “known as the Workplace injury and disease recording standard” to the “Measurement of Occupational Health and Safety Performance” or the use of positive performance indicators to measure effective OHS performance. The rationale that supports this new approach is that industry is tired of reactive retrospective reporting on trends where the horse has already bolted, so to speak. Industry has taken the initiative to support continual improvement where they can. The new focus will draw on contemporary research and international standards that may be relevant to establishing guidance on how to identify appropriate measures that consider how OHS is being managed, rather than the number of incidents (lost time or otherwise) being recorded. The new focus reflects the level of responsibility required for officers in relation to OH&S legislative obligations. As we all know the WHS and OHS legislation leaves no individual outside the net of the law, as everyone is a PCBU and therefore accountable and able to be prosecuted. Organisations will need to identify which of these newly focused performance measures are appropriate and relevant to the size and maturity of their organisation and their risk profile. Specific targets for improvement will need to be determined by each organisation. Therefore, these performance measures are not intended to be used for the purposes of benchmarking unless organisations share a common goal, in which case they will have selected the same criteria to be measured against. There is an appetite both Nationally and Internationally1 within the OHS Standards development arena to develop guidance on

how to measure effective OHS performance. It is intended to provide organisations, including SME’s with guidance, on how to improve their management of health and safety which will not only reduce their operating costs but reduce their workers compensation claims of injury and ill-health which places a burden on public health costs. Work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths impose both direct costs and indirect costs on employers, workers and the community. Positive outcomes will provide workers (the workforce) with a common Nationally recognised document/framework to help understand how to measure proactive OHS performance and thereby how to prevent and manage a range of hazards and risks which can negatively impact health and wellbeing in the workplace. The intention of focusing on positive performance indicators is aimed to reduce the number of workplace injuries, incidence of disease through establishing agreed measures that assist organisations to effectively measure their OHS performance. Sound workplace health and safety standards have a significant contribution to society and communities as people remain productive and, in the workforce, and healthier throughout their lives. Having a clear understanding of how to measure proactive contributions to OHS improvements will help contribute in the avoidance and/or reduction in frequency of having to deal with incidents, injury, ill-health or the death of a co-worker, colleague, friend, member of the community or loved one, through the increased awareness and better understanding of positive safety principals in the management of hazards and risks in the workplace.

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

Introducing an improved standardised performance measure methodology will contribute to organisations having a greater opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out work in a way that is healthy and safe, without being measured purely by LTIFR which is volatile (especially for small businesses) and can be easily manipulated. Statistics already gathered by ISO reflect improved workplace safety processes and safer productivity as a result of the adoption of ISO Standards when they are implemented as intended. It goes without saying the shift in focus from industry to be more evenly weighted from recording LTIFR’s and transferred to measuring the positive performance indicators being implemented will provide a more accurate representation of a Contractors effective safety management performance on site, which can only be a good thing. Author: David W Solomon Executive Officer Safety & Risk Master Builders Association NSW Chairman Standards Australia Committee for OH&S Management SF-001 Chairman PwC Certification Accreditation Body External Advisory Board Convenor WG4 OH&S Performance Evaluation ISO TC283 ISO45004 Head of Delegation Australia ISO TC283 Both SF-001 the Standards Australia National Technical Committee responsible for Standards development in the Occupational Health and Safety Management field and ISO TC283 the International committee responsible for the same, are working towards the development of a new international Standard for Performance Evaluation/OHS Metrics.

*Contributors: Dr Dennis Else, Mrs Tracey Browne.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

A word from the safety regulator

SafeWork NSW Inspectors Target Rooftop Solar Installation

afeWork NSW is targeting rooftop solar installation safety as part of our ongoing focus on falls from heights and electrical risks. Most serious and fatal falls in NSW are from a height less than 4 metres – and from roofs, ladders or non-compliant scaffolds. Inspectors are visiting sites state-wide to talk with site supervisors and workers about safe work on roofs and working with electricity. Businesses that sell, design and install solar systems have duties to provide and maintain a safe working environment for every worker. Workers on roofs must be protected from the risk of falling, including falls from the edge of the roof and falling through the roof – especially where fragile or brittle materials exist, such as skylights. Inspectors take a zero-tolerance approach to workers’ lives being placed at risk from falls from heights and can issue ‘stop work’ prohibition notices and on-the-spot fines $3,600 for businesses and $720 for individuals. What inspectors look for on-site When determining what safety measures should be used on-site, Inspectors use the ‘hierarchy of control’. The hierarchy of control is a stepby-step approach to eliminating or reducing risks, and it ranks risk controls from the highest level of protection and reliability through to the

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

Workers safely installing solar panels with roof rails in place.

lowest and least reliable protection.

worker was not clipped onto the system.

Perimeter edge protection should be considered as the primary fall protection (prevention system) when working on a roof. See further information on perimeter edge protection below.

An example of using the hierarchy of control to control the risk of falls from a roof edge is shown in Table 1.

Harnesses are the `go-to’ for many, but they are only safe if set up and used correctly, and the worker has been appropriately trained in their use. SafeWork inspectors respond to many incidents where a worker fell because the harness-based system was not set up or used correctly. For example, the lanyard length was too long allowing the worker to reach a fall hazard, or the

When it comes to electrical risks, inspectors are focussing on ensuring the power is off and tagged out, and that those doing electrical work hold the appropriate licence. Young workers at risk – a visit from our inspectors Inspectors recently came across a single storey residential house with a pitched roof with an approximate 3.2 metre drop to the concrete below. A safe work method statement (SWMS)

Controlling the risk of falls

Examples

In the first instance, a fall prevention device must be used. Only where it is not reasonably practicable to use a fall prevention device you can then consider...

A fall prevention device such as a scaffold, temporary edge protection or an elevating work platform (EWP)

...a work positioning system and if this is not reasonably practicable you can then consider... ...a fall arrest system

A total restraint system Static lines, adjustable restraint lines, catch nets

Table 1: an example of using the hierarchy of controls when working on a roof. Inspectors will be looking to ensure a fall prevention device is used in the first instance, with a harness used only as a last resort.

ROOFING SAFETY WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

Site where four young workers were at risk. was given to the inspector by the contractor, which stated they were to use scaffold for access or an elevating work platform, and set up static lines for harness use. None of these controls were in place. When the inspector asked where these controls were, the workers stated, “…we don’t have harnesses on this job as this is a small job,” even though the harness gear was actually in the truck. “We wear harnesses on the larger jobs.” They had no other protections in place. The SWMS was based on a SWMS prepared by an industry association and then adopted by the contractor. In addition, the ladder being used for access to the roof was not tied or secured in place. All those on the roof were young workers, four in total, with one being an apprentice. The inspector immediately issued a ‘stop work’ prohibition notice, plus two improvement notices around falls and falling object risks. The contractor was shown SafeWork’s new Guide for Safe Solar Panel Installation and directed to use roof guard rails. The contractor already owns a small number of roof rails, and so this visit was a good prompter for him to purchase more and put them to good use.

Example of skylight cover. rebate scheme.

Ladder safety tips.

Ladder safety tips When using an extension ladder: • make sure your ladder is tall enough for the job. It needs to extend at least 1 metre past the landing • make sure it is rated for industrial use and in good working order • set it up so that it is not too close or too far from the support structure. The ratio should be 4:1. • wherever possible the ladder should be secured at the top and bottom • when climbing, face the ladder and grip it with both hands whilst having at least one hand and one foot in contact with the ladder at all times

Example of ladder safety system.

• Use a tool pouch or similar if you need to carry tools. Electrical safety tips When working with electricity:

Roof work safety tips

• watch out for overhead lines

Perimeter edge protection such as roof rails are a cost-effective solution which is easy to use and relatively quick to install. On average, these can be purchased for a couple of thousand dollars and then re-used over and over again.

• turn off and isolate all electricity being supplied to the property at the main switch board – lock-out/tag-out • test for dead before you touch. More information – Guide to Safe Solar Panel Installation

Here are some simple tips to stay safe when working on a roof:

SafeWork NSW has worked extensively with industry to develop comprehensive guidance material, including the new Guide to Safe Solar Panel Installation and its accompanying safety checklist.

• use temporary edge protection, such as roof guard rails or scaffold • use skylight covers or crawl boards (such as structural plywood) for fragile roof sheeting • only use a harness as a last resort - and only if you’ve had appropriate training To assist in the initial cost outlay, guard rail systems and skylight covers are an eligible item under the SafeWork NSW Small Business

Example of roof rails.

Find the new guide at www.safework.nsw. gov.au, as well as the Codes of Practice for Managing the Risk of Falls in Housing Construction and Electrical Risks in the Workplace. Or call 13 10 50. Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

FINANCE

TOP TAX TIPS F

or many Australians, navigating the tax system can be quite overwhelming (especially for those engaged in building and construction which is often project-based, contracted work). To help take the stress out of their tax returns and maximising your return, H&R Block Director of Tax Communications, Mark Chapman, has provided some expert advice.

CONTRACTOR OR EMPLOYEE? It’s common in certain trades for people to be taken on as independent contractors rather than employees. Deciding whether a person is a contractor or an employee can be a minefield, both for the individual and for the business taking them on. Getting it wrong can have a big impact, with consequences both for you and the business that has engaged your services. • A contractor (or consultants as they are sometimes called) is a self-employed person engaged for a specific task, at an agreed price, with a specific goal in mind, often over a set period of time. They set their own hours of work and take care of their own tax obligations. Contractors are paid a fee for completing an assignment. They don’t receive a salary or wage and need to pay their own tax from their gross earnings, whilst also making their own superannuation contributions. • By comparison, an employee has tax deducted at source from their salary and receives compulsory superannuation payments from their employer. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT You can claim a deduction for some or all of the cost for tools and equipment if you require it for work purposes. If the work is used for both work and private expenses you need to apportion the cost. The cost of the asset will affect the type of deduction you can claim: • you can claim an immediate deduction for items that cost $300 or less and don’t form part of a set • you can claim a deduction for the decline in value of items that cost over then $300 or form part of a set. You can also claim the cost of repairing and insuring tools and equipment if need be. If you are self-employed, you can immediately write off the cost of any capital purchase (using the “temporary full expensing” measure), including tools and equipment, whatever the value. Sadly, this tax break is restricted to those in business and doesn’t apply to employed tradies. VEHICLE AND TRAVEL EXPENSES The most important thing to remember when it comes to work-related vehicle and travel expenses is that you must keep records, making everything easier come tax time. If you

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

for building and construction workers use your car for work you are entitled to claim the work related travel expenses that relate to the business costs of using your car to do your job. Travelling to and from work on a daily basis cannot be claimed as this is considered as private travel, even if: you do minor tasks on the way to work, such as picking up mail; you travel back to work for a security call out or parent teacher interviews; you work overtime and no public transport is available to use to get you home. Methods you can use to claim car expenses include: • Cents per kilometre: » Y our claim is based on a set rate for each business kilometre you travel. Under this method you are eligible to claim up to a maximum of 5,000 kilometres per year, per vehicle. If you travel in excess of 5,000 kilometres this method of claim is not appropriate to you. You will need to use the alternate method of a logbook to claim. » The claim value is calculated by multiplying the total business kilometres travelled (limited to 5,000 per vehicle) by the standard rate of 72 cents per kilometre. This figure takes into account all the vehicle running expenses (including depreciation). » You do not need written evidence, however you need to be able to demonstrate that you have covered the kilometres claimed. A diary of workrelated journeys (including the kilometres travelled) will suffice. • Logbook: » Your claim is based on the business use percentage of each car expense. This is determined by a log book that must have been kept for a minimum 12 week period, and must be updated every 5 years. Through your logbook you can claim all expenses that relate to the operation of the car, at your percentage of business use. » The logbook must record all business journeys made in the car over the 12 week period that it records, detailing; ◊ when the log book period begins and ends

◊ the car’s odometer readings at the start and end of the period ◊ the total kilometres travelled ◊ the business percentage for the logbook period » For each journey in the logbook, you must record: ◊ start and finishing times of the journey ◊ odometer readings at the start and end of the journey ◊ kilometres travelled ◊ reasons for the journey ◊ if you make two or more journeys in a row on the same day, you can record them as a single journey. » You will need to keep all receipts throughout the year to justify your claim, such as insurance, servicing and repairs. Petrol can be estimated using the start and end odometer readings for the year, indicating the total kilometres travelled. You can claim the cost of work-related car expenses if they are incurred whilst performing your job as an employee, such as: • Carrying tools or equipment required to complete your job • Travelling from your home to an alternative workspace (such as a client/supplier’s office), and then back to your own workplace or home at the end of the day • Travelling between two separate workplaces where you are employed • Travelling to conferences, meetings or other events as required by your employer • Delivering or picking up items/packages related to your job, and as required by your employer If you are self-employed you can use “temporary full expensing” to claim an immediate deduction for the work-related cost of utes, vans and cars. Vans and utes with a carrying capacity of one tonne or more are claimable in full whereas the cost of cars and utes with a carrying capacity of less than one tonne are restricted to a GST exclusive cost of $59,136. DEDUCTIONS FOR WORK CLOTHING When it comes to what you wear to work, there are some clothes-related deductions you

FINANCE

can claim — the cost of buying and cleaning occupation-specific clothing such as: • protective and unique clothing (i.e. not everyday wear) • clothing that easily identifies your occupation, like checked chef trousers • distinctive uniforms • clothing and footwear that you wear to protect yourself from the risk of illness or injury posed by your job or the environment in which you do your job. To be considered protective, the items must provide a sufficient degree of protection against that risk, and might include: » fire-resistant and sun-protection clothing (including sunglasses) » hi-vis vests » non-slip nurse’s shoes » rubber boots for concreters » steel-capped boots, gloves, overalls, and heavy-duty shirts and trousers » overalls, smocks and aprons you wear to avoid damage or soiling to your ordinary clothes whilst at work. » if you cannot socially distance in your work, you can claim the cost of COVID-19 protective equipment including hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial spray and face masks Claiming the cost of work uniforms: • Compulsory work uniforms » A uniform identifies you as an employee of an organisation. The uniform must be compulsory to wear while you’re at work with a strictly enforced policy ensuring its enforcement. If this is the circumstance surrounding your uniform, the cost is deductible. » Where your shoes and socks are an essential part of a distinctive compulsory uniform, you may be able to claim a deduction. Their colour, style and type must be specified in your employer’s uniform policy. It might be possible to claim for a single item of distinctive clothing, such as a jumper if it’s compulsory to wear to work. • Non-compulsory work uniforms » In some instances, you can claim for a non-compulsory uniform, given that it’s unique and distinctive to your organisation. Clothing is considered unique if it’s been designed and made solely for your employer. Distinctive clothing must have your employer’s logo permanently attached and not be available for public purchase. » You can’t claim the cost of purchasing or cleaning a plain, logo-free uniform, such as generic white shirts or black

trousers that wait staff wear. Noncompulsory work uniforms are usually required to have a design registered with AusIndustry in order to be tax deductible. Shoes and socks aren’t considered part of a non-compulsory work uniform and neither is a single item such as a jumper. It’s possible to claim the costs of washing, drying, ironing and dry-cleaning eligible work clothes. Written evidence for your laundry expenses, such as diary entries and receipts must be kept if both the amount of your claim is greater than $150, and your total claim for work-related expenses exceeds $300. This doesn’t include car, meal allowance, award transport payments and travel allowance expenses. DEDUCTIONS FOR COURSES & TRAINING Most of us want to better ourselves at work and a large part of doing that is equipping yourself with the skills you need to advance your career. The good news is that you can often do that, and claim a tax break on the costs you incurred at the same time. Self-education expenses are tax deductible when the course you undertake leads to a formal qualification and has a sufficient connection to your current employment and: • maintains or improves the specific skills or knowledge you require in your current employment, or • results in, or is likely to result in, an increase in your income from your current employment. You can’t claim a deduction for self-education expenses for a course that does not have a sufficient connection to your current employment even though it: • might be generally related to it, or • enables you to get new employment. You can claim the following expenses in relation to your self-education: • accommodation and meals (if you are away from home overnight) • computer consumables (such as paper or ink) • course or tuition fees • decline in value for depreciating assets such as computers or laptops (cost exceeds $300) • purchase of equipment or technical instruments costing $300 or less • equipment repairs • fares (bus/plane/train, etc.) • home office running costs (for any home

study) such as heat, light, etc. • interest on any money borrowed to fund the course • internet usage • parking fees • phone calls • postage • stationery • student union fees • student services and amenities fees • textbooks • trade, professional, or academic journals • travel to-and-from the place where the course takes place (only for work-related claims) You can’t claim: • repayments of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans (although the fees paid by some HELP loans are) • Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS) repayments • home office occupancy expenses (such as mortgage interest or rent) • meals where not sleeping away from home MOBILE PHONE USE If you use your own phone for work purposes, you can claim a deduction if you paid for these costs and have records to support your claims. If you use your phone for both work and private use, you will need to work out the percentage that reasonably relates to your work use. You can’t double-dip and claim for phone expenses that have been reimbursed by your employer. To work out your deduction, you need to choose a typical four-week period from some point in the tax year. If you have a phone plan where you receive an itemised bill, you need to determine your percentage of work use over that 4-week period. You can then apply that to the full year. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS & TRADE UNION FEES As a part of your profession, you may be a member of an association – the good news is, you can claim your subscriptions. If you’re part of a trade union, your fees are also deductible. Magazines can make a dent in your return, as can subscriptions to mags associated with your line of work. So now there is no excuse, be well prepared if you want a rewarding End of Financial Year! Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

LEGAL

BUILDING REGULATIONS

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

BUILDING REGULATIONS

Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW): What builders and designers of residential apartments in NSW need to know (and do) to work on projects commencing from 1 July 2021

LEGAL

Rob Riddell Partner, Piper Alderman1

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

LEGAL BUILDING REGULATIONS

The Act

SW has notorious issues with the quality of residential apartment work, as do other States. The media is full of reports of buyers left ‘holding the baby’ in circumstances where the developer has evaporated and the builder has gone bust or walked away. Consumer confidence in new apartments has taken a hit. The market for new apartments, an important source economic activity, has suffered. The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) (Act) is one element in a wave of recent legislation aimed at restoring confidence in class 2 buildings (i.e. residential apartments) and protecting apartment buyers from rubbish building work. The Act aims to achieve this by regulating design practitioners and builders involved in building and construction. Not complying with the new regime will result in essential approvals, such as construction and occupation certificates, being withheld. Non-compliance may also result in practitioners being fined and having their registration cancelled. Under the Act, a “registered building practitioner” cannot start building work unless all “regulated designs” intended to be relied upon have been declared for compliance with the Building Code of Australia (Building Code) and other applicable standards by a “registered design practitioner” and lodged through the NSW Planning Portal. The “registered building practitioner” must then construct according to those declared designs, and give a “building compliance declaration” to that effect. At the outset (i.e. 1 July 2021) the Act’s regime of registration and compliance declarations will only apply to class 2 buildings, including buildings that are partly class 2, but it represents a regime of requirements, checks and reports never before seen in this context. In time the Act may be expanded to include other classes of buildings. The details of the new regime were left to the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021 (NSW) (Regulation), which was released in April. The compliance declaration regime commences on 1 July 2021. Amongst other things, the Regulation now provides granularity as to: 1. the classes of registered practitioners, including the three classes of building practitioner; 2. the registration scheme for design and building practitioners; 3. a transitional system of deemed registration, but only for those applying for

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

registration between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021; 4. mandatory insurance requirements; and 5. continuing professional development requirements to maintain registration. This article will address each of these in turn. The Classes of Registration for Design and Building Practitioners Regulated designs and compliance declarations are required to be lodged on the NSW Planning Portal: • prior to commencement of works; • within one day of commencing work on a varied design; and • before and after issue of the occupation certificate.2 If you perform design or construction work on class 2 buildings, including buildings that are partly class 2 or anticipate needing to make a compliance declaration, you must apply for registration under the Act from 1 July 2021. The Act separates design and building practitioners into the following high-level categories: • design practitioner means a person who prepares regulated designs.3 » Regulated designs are the designs prepared for a “building element”, or a performance solution, for building work. “Building element” means any of the following: fire safety systems, waterproofing, the building structure, the building enclosure and building services. Regulated designs will be required to be lodged before work commences, during the works (for variations) and before the issue of the occupation certificate. • principal design practitioner means a person who coordinates the provision of design compliance declarations for the purposes of building work done by a building practitioner.4 • building practitioner means: (a) a person who agrees under a contract or other arrangement to do building work; or (b) if more than one person agrees to do building work, a person who is the principal contractor for the work.5 There is also a category of registration for professional engineers, which this article will not address. We urge engineers to refer to the schedules of the Regulation for further information relating to eligibility, insurance and CPD requirements, amongst other things. There is also recent information on this tailored for engineers in the Insights collection on the Piper Alderman website.6

Registration under the Act is not automatic; practitioners must apply for it.7 From 1 July 2021, individuals (and, in some cases, companies) can apply for registration as a “design practitioner”, a “principal design practitioner” or a “building practitioner” through the Service NSW website. However, only the person declaring or lodging documents on the NSW Planning Portal needs to be registered. For example, a company can apply for registration as a “design practitioner — body corporate” or a “principal design practitioner – body corporate”, but an employee of that company must be registered as a design practitioner in a relevant class to make the compliance declarations on behalf of the company.8 Likewise, only the head “building practitioner” or principal contractor needs to register to make a building compliance declaration, not every subcontractor and tradesperson.9 Schedule 1 of the Regulation sets out classes of registration within the high-level categories of practitioner. There are 18 classes of registration for “design practitioner”, including architectural, civil engineering and façade, amongst others. There are two classes for “principal design practitioner”, being body corporate (i.e. a company) and general, and there are three classes for “building practitioner”, being body corporate, body corporate nominee and general. Each class of registration has eligibility requirements relating to minimum qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience,10 as well as specific parameters on the “type of work” that practitioners within each class are authorised to carry out.11 Practitioners within some of the classes, such as architects or residential builders, are already required to be registered or licensed under other legislation, but the new requirements will apply to them nonetheless. Building practitioners will be required to be licensed under the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) (Home Building Act), have not less than five years’ recent relevant practical experience and must know and understand: • the Act and the Regulation; • the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), including regulations made under that Act, to the extent they are relevant; • the Building Code, including documents adopted by reference in the Building Code; and • building design and construction, including methods, materials and planning. The Regulation also provides that building practitioners must be able to interpret, apply

BUILDING REGULATIONS

and assess compliance with the relevant requirements of the Building Code. The Three Classes of Building Practitioner “Body Corporate” (i.e. a company) A body corporate can seek registration in this class to be authorised to make a “building compliance declaration”, but such declarations can only be given by way of an individual who is nominated by the body corporate and who is registered as either a “building practitioner — general” or “building practitioner — body corporate nominee”. “Body Corporate Nominee” (i.e. a company nominee) Under this class, the nominee can make a “building compliance declaration” on behalf of a registered body corporate that holds a “building practitioner — body corporate” class of registration. To be eligible for this class, the nominee must satisfy the eligibility, qualification, knowledge, skills and experience requirements contained in Schedule 2 of the Regulation, which include holding a supervisor certificate authorising general building work under the Home Building Act.12

a particular class of registration will enjoy the protection and entitlements of “deemed registration” in their applicable class. Practitioners who are deemed to be registered can legally perform work regulated by the Act and make compliance declarations as if they were registered. “Deemed registration” takes effect from the date a practitioner applies, so practitioners must ensure they apply before performing any regulated work or giving a compliance declaration. There is a limited exception to this rule for practitioners who perform regulated work or make declarations while unregistered between 1 July 2021 and 7 July 2021. Such practitioners will be protected from prosecution for work carried out in that first week, but only if they apply by 7 July 2021.

“Building Practitioner – General”

Practitioners do not enjoy the protection of “deemed registration” unless, in making their application, they have a reasonably based view that they are an eligible person to be registered in a particular class. Practitioners who apply after 31 December 2021 cannot rely on deemed registration and will have to wait until the Secretary approves their application before doing any action for which registration is required under the Act.

The general class makes provision for practitioners who are not working through a company. To be eligible for this class, the practitioner must satisfy the qualification, knowledge, skills and experience requirements outlined in Schedule 2 of the Regulation, which include holding a contractor licence authorising the holder to do general building work under the Home Building Act.

Unlike applications made after 31 December 2021, applications made during the transitional period will not be taken to have been refused by the Secretary if no notice has been given to the applicant after 28 days. Hence, deemed registration continues to have effect until either the applicant’s registration is cancelled or the period for which registration is sought (i.e. 1, 3 or 5 years) expires.

Registration Scheme

Existing Projects

From 1 July 2021, it will be necessary for design and building practitioners to become registered to make compliance declarations or to perform regulated work under the Act, with the application to be submitted through the Service NSW website. Once an application for registration is lodged, it is determined by the Secretary of the Department of Customer Service (Secretary) who may grant or refuse the application.13 The Secretary may refuse to register a person if they are of the opinion that the applicant does not have the appropriate qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience, or where the person is not a fit and proper person.14 Getting Registered: Transitional Arrangements The Regulation provides for a transitional registration period between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021 in which practitioners who apply (within time) to be registered in

From 1 July 2021, designs regulated by the Act must be declared for compliance with the Building Code or other applicable standards by a registered design practitioner, before building work can commence. However, existing projects may be excused from certain of these requirements depending on the circumstances. Where Work Commences Before 1 July 2021 If the regulated building work is authorised to be carried out by a construction certificate or complying development certificate (CDC) and some of the work commences before 1 July 2021: • the design practitioners are not required to give a design compliance declaration with respect to the designs; • no-one is required to be registered under the Act to carry out the regulated building work authorised by that certificate; and

LEGAL

• there is no need for a building compliance declaration to be given for the regulated building work. However, the building practitioner on such a project must still provide the Secretary with a copy of all designs relied on to carry out the regulated building work before applying for an occupation certificate and a principal certifier must not issue an occupation certificate unless this has been done. Note however that any subsequent regulated building work authorised by another construction certificate or CDC that is commenced after 1 July 2021 will not be covered by the transitional arrangement discussed under this sub-heading. Where Design Prepared Before 1 July 2021 and Work Commences Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022 Where regulated building work commences between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022 and the regulated design for that work was prepared before 1 July 2021 by a person who is not eligible to be registered such as to enable them to give a design compliance declaration for that design, the design will nonetheless be taken to be a validly declared design if it is assessed and certified as compliant with the Building Code by a registered design practitioner. The registered building practitioner must not commence building work in reliance on the design until copies of the design and the _____________________________________________ 1

Rob Riddell chairs the Sydney Construction Group of Piper Alderman. His practice focusses on building regulation, contracting, disputes and security of payment. Robert sits on MBA NSW’s Legal and Contract’s Committee and chairs the Resolution Institute’s NSW Determinative Committee: rriddell@piperalderman.com.au

2 The detail of precisely what is to be lodged and by when is set out in the Regulation. 3 s 3 of the Act. 4 s 3 of the Act. 5 s 7(1) of the Act. 6 https://www.piperalderman.com.au/insight/ design-and-building-practitioners-regulation-2021nsw-requirements-specific-to-engineers/ 7 However, in future, professional engineers may be recognised as registered under the Act by reason of their membership of a professional engineering body that has applied for and been recognised by the Secretary as a body able to qualify engineers to perform regulated work under the Act. 8 https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-andproperty/changes-to-class-2-buildings 9 https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/trades-andbusinesses/construction-and-trade-essentials/ design-and-building-practitioners/becomingregistered-to-work-on-class-2-building 10 Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Regulation. 11 Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Regulation. 12 Schedule 2 of the Regulation. 13 s 43 of the Act. 14 cl 33 of the Regulation.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

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BUILDING REGULATIONS LEGAL

accompanying certificate have been provided to the Secretary. Note that if a design prepared before 1 July 2021 is varied on or after 1 July 2021, then it is no longer taken to be a valid design by reason of this transitional arrangement and a registered design practitioner will need to prepare the varied design. Insurance Requirements The Act introduces compulsory minimum standards of insurance cover for practitioners. Importantly, these mandatory insurance requirements will not come into force until 1 July 2023.15 Under the Act, a practitioner must not: (a) provide a compliance declaration or do related work; or (b) hold out that they are adequately insured with respect to the provision of the declaration or that work, unless they are adequately insured with respect to the declaration and the work.16 For the purposes of the Act, a practitioner is adequately insured with respect to declarations and work if they are: (a) indemnified by insurance that complies with the Regulation against any liability as a result of providing the declaration or doing the work, or (b) part of some other arrangement approved by the Regulation that provides indemnity against the liability.17 It is a condition of registration that practitioners provide information to satisfy the Secretary that they are adequately insured.18 Notably, the Regulation may make provision for a building practitioner to be exempt from the indemnity requirements,19 presumably as private underwriters won’t go near it. However, that potential exemption is not available to design practitioners, principal design practitioners or professional engineers. Insurance for Design and Principal Design Practitioners A “registered design practitioner” and “registered principal design practitioner” must ensure that all design or principal design work is indemnified under a professional indemnity policy.20 The indemnity under the professional indemnity policy must have a retroactive date of not later than the date they first became a registered practitioner.21 A professional indemnity policy issued to a body corporate must extend the indemnity to: • the body corporate (if it is a registered design practitioner or registered principal design practitioner) since it became registered; and

• each registered design practitioner and principal design practitioner in its employ since such persons began performing design work or principal design work on behalf of the body corporate.22 Insurance for Building Practitioners In contrast to design practitioners, principal design practitioners and professional engineers, a building practitioner does not have to hold a professional indemnity policy. Rather, they must be indemnified under an insurance policy that, in the reasonable opinion of the building practitioner, provides for an adequate level of indemnity for the liability incurred by the practitioner in the course of doing work. In determining whether a policy provides an adequate level of indemnity, the practitioner must take into account: a. the nature and risks associated with the work; b. the volume of the work; c. the length of time that the practitioner has been registered; d. a reasonable estimate of claims that could be brought on the basis of paragraphs (a)–(c) above; e. the financial capacity of the practitioner; and f. any limits, exceptions, exclusions, terms or conditions of the policy.23 Further, a registered building practitioner may be exempt from the requirement to be adequately insured in relation to the provision of a building compliance declaration, if the Secretary is satisfied that: • the practitioner is unable to obtain an insurance policy to cover the liability that might arise as a result of providing the compliance declaration; and • the practitioner is adequately insured in relation to the doing of building work relating to the compliance declaration. Given that no private insurer will go near home warranty insurance, the Secretary will be busy with these exemption applications. Adequacy of Cover: Registered Design Practitioners and Principal Design Practitioners Like registered building practitioners, registered design practitioners and principal design practitioners are to determine an adequate level of indemnity for their professional indemnity policy.24 In determining whether a policy provides an adequate level of indemnity, the practitioner must take into account the same factors as those of a building practitioner detailed in (a)-(f) above.

Maintaining Registration: Continuing Professional Development Requirements for Design and Building Practitioners The Secretary has released guidelines for CPD requirements (Guidelines), which detail the approved education and training that practitioners must complete to remain registered. The Guidelines can be found on the NSW Fair Trading website. Design and building practitioners will need to complete at least three hours of approved and relevant education and training detailed in the Guidelines.25 These CPD hours must be completed by undertaking courses available from the Construct NSW Digital Learning Platform,26 and/or the Australian Building Codes Board National Construction Code CPD System.27 Further, the CPD must be relevant to the practitioner’s class of registration and practice area. The Guidelines stipulate that technical skills, such as understanding the National Construction Code and the Building Code, are to be prioritised over other courses, such as improving business practices.28 The Secretary may take disciplinary action against registered practitioners who do not meet their CPD requirements, unless an exemption has been granted.29 Exemptions must be applied for, and the grounds include: sickness, natural disaster, parental leave, etc. Ask If You Have Questions The new requirements are considerable and detailed. Many design and building practitioners may feel overwhelmed by the tsunami of new regulation hitting them and will need to understand what it means for them. We are here to help and encourage practitioners who may have questions about the Act and the Regulation to contact us. _____________________________________________ 15 cl 106 of the Regulation 16 For design practitioners, see s 11 of the Act; for principal design practitioners, see s 14 of the Act; for building practitioners, see s 24. 17 Ibid 18 cl 63 of the Regulation. 19 s 24(4) of the Act. 20 cl 64 of the Regulation for design practitioners and cl 65 for principal design practitioners. 21 cl 66 of the Regulation for individuals; cl 67 of the Regulation for partnership policies. 22 cl 68 of the Regulation. 23 cl 75 of the Regulation. 24 cl 77 of the Regulation. (Note: the same applies to professional engineers). 25 cl 4(1) of Schedule 3 of the Regulation. 26 https://training.tafensw.edu.au/constructnsw/ 27 https://cpd.abcb.gov.au/abcbncc/welcome 28 4.3 of the GuidelinEs. 29 ss 64 & 66 of the Act.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN THE WORKPLACE

ost the 2020-COVID-19 restrictions, it has been even more critical for employers to be aware of their employees’ mental health and wellbeing. According to Beyond Blue “One in five Australian employees reported that they have taken time off work due to feeling mentally unwell in the past 12 months.”1 Further, approximately $543 million is paid to workers for work-related mental health conditions.2 With the significant impacts and costs stated above, what steps can employers take to assist and support employees with mental health problems? According to Mental Health First Aid Australia

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

training employees to become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) in the workplace has substantial benefits to assist in mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. 3 The training teaches the MHFA the practical skills to support someone struggling with mental health or illness. The MHFA will be able to aid and encourage the person to get the appropriate professional care that they need. It also teaches knowledge, so that the MHFA can offer help and make an initial assessment as to whether the person is in crisis or not. The course increases a person’s confidence and capability to provide first aid and assists to

de-stigmatise attitudes towards people suffering with mental health illnesses. 4 The training is a 12-hour face-to-face course, normally over two consecutive days, and teaches the recognition of signs, symptoms and interventions for mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, suicide awareness, psychosis and substance abuse problems. The training is also available to participants as a blended online course in the event of COVID-19 restrictions. As indicated by Mental Health First Aid Australia “All course content is evidence based as much as possible and many evaluation studies have been conducted”. 5 It

STRENGTHENING THE INDUSTRY

teaches the First Aider how to apply the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan which consists of five actions. 6

The First Aider will be taught how to apply the Action Plan to assist a person with the following mental health problems:

The five actions are:

Approach the person, assess and assist with any crisis

WORKPLACE, HEALTH & SAFETY

as this “these are more severe, last longer, interfere with a person’s work, other activities or relationships.”8 Some anxiety problems may be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. There are a number of major anxiety disorders which include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The second most common mental illness in Australia is depression. Depression will impact a person’s thinking, feelings, behaviour and their physical appearance. For example, the person may be self-blaming, feeling guilt, sad, wanting to withdraw from the world, overly tired and have no appetite. When we consider the symptoms for a depressive disorder, and that they can persist over a long period of time, it is no wonder that the person may have a very negative view of themselves.9 First aid for suicidal thoughts and behaviours is also covered in the MHFA course and this is a particularly important issue in the construction industry. Suicide in the industry has been significant according to Mates in Construction, “Construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work. For our young workers, the facts are that they are well over two times more likely to take their own lives than other young Australian men.”10

Listen and communicate non-judgementally

The MHFA training will enable the First Aider to approach, assess and assist the person so that they can get the professional help that they need.

Given support and information

Finally, as mentioned above, the course also includes training on substance abuse problems and as with suicide, this is also an important issue in the construction industry. For more information on Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA), contact Tricia Garnett from Mend Services – tricia.garnett@mendservices.com.au

Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help

Encourage other supports

The course also teaches the most appropriate way to assess and assist a person in a mental health crisis. This includes suicide awareness, non-suicidal self-injury, panic attacks and providing support after a traumatic event. It also provides training in assessing and assisting a person in a severe psychotic state, severe effects of drugs, alcohol and aggressive behaviours. 7 The most common mental illnesses in Australia are anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are reported more in women than in men. Most of us will experience anxiety at some stage in our lives and can be triggered by stress, feeling nervous about something or an event like an exam or a job interview. These feelings are normal and the anxiety that is triggered will pass. Anxiety problems are not the same

Tricia is an accredited Mental Health First Aid Instructor and can provide you with details of the upcoming MHFA Training courses. Details and booking a course can also be found on the Mend Services website – www.mendservices.com.au 1 https://www.headsup.org.au/docs/default-source/ resources/bl1270-report---tns-the-state-of-mentalhealth-in-australian-workplaces 2 https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/topic/ mental-health#:~:text=Each year, work related mental health conditions 3 Betty Kitchener, Anthony Jorm and Claire Kelly, Mental Health First Aid Australia, Fourth Edition, p 12 4 Ibid 5 Ibid iii 6 Ibid pp 14-16 7 Ibid p 17 8 Ibid p 42 9 Ibid pp 22-23 10 https://mates.org.au/construction/the-problem

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

TRAINING

UPSKILLING COURSES

Don’t miss out on NSW Government subsidies* APPLY NOW! *This training is subsidised by the NSW Government. Subject to availability and eligibility criteria.

TRAINING

EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Upskill today and future-proof your career. Industry licence qualifications and workshops are now available online. For builders, gaining your CPD points has never been easier! We provide Covid safe learning with online interactive tutorials and classroom training with safe social distancing measures in place. We also provide customised workforce training solutions to suit your business needs. Training is offered at our Master Builders Education Centre in Norwest and our regional offices in Newcastle, Ballina, Wollongong, Port Macquarie, Gosford, Ulladulla, Orange, and Albury.

Our training programs include: • Builder and trade licence pathways • Online qualifications • Recognition of Prior Learning • Online continuing professional development • Work health and safety training

Search mbansw.asn.au/training

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

UPSKILLING COURSES TRAINING

Qualifications and Licence Pathway Programs CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)

CPC30611 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating

CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

Kitchen, Bathrooms, and Laundry Renovations licence pathway program

CPC30211 Certificate III in Carpentry

CPC30313 Certificate III Concreting

CPC31411 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing

MSF31113 Certificate III in Cabinet Making

CPC30111 Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying

BSB51415 Diploma of Project Management

Safety Training and Industry Courses First Aid

Remove Non-Friable Asbestos

Internal Waterproofing — Industry Best Practice

General Construction Induction (White Card)

Supervise Asbestos Removal

External Waterproofing – Industry Best Practice

Manual Handling

Asbestos Awareness

Work Safely at Heights

Test and Tag of Electrical Equipment

Professional Development Workshops Contracts Workshop Keys to Property Development

Complying Development Introduction to Security of Payment Act

Pre-Purchase Inspection Report Writing Understanding BASIX

Contracts and Disputes

Managing Finance

Tenders and Contractual Arrangements

Site Management

Quality and Risk Management

Processes and Personnel

Project Planning

Building Profitability

Waterproofing for Builders

Project Cost Control

Builders Quantities and Estimating

Supervision

The Features of AAC Panels For further course information including course fees, visit our website www.mbansw.asn.au/training Contact the Education and Skills department on 02 8586 3588 or education@mbansw.asn.au REGISTER YOUR INTEREST: www.mbansw.asn.au/make-training-enquiry RTO ID: 6163 Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

IT’S A YES TO ONLINE LEARNING! Enrolments in our Certificate IV in Building & Construction have gone through the roof.

OVID-19 changed our lives. It prompted Master Builders NSW’s successful transition from face-to-face learning to virtual classrooms. Construction students have embraced the change. Many were sceptical and unsure about self-paced, online learning. The phenomenal 32% increase in enrolments into the MBA NSW Certificate IV in Building and Construction tells us that this is what our members and the industry want! The advantages of learning from home, in your own time have hit the mark.

professional and licensed builder with 25 years experience. Matt understands the importance of gaining professional qualifications to advance your career. He holds multiple qualifications including; Certificate III in Bricklaying, Certificate IV in Building and Construction, and Diploma of Building and Construction, as well as holding the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. He is a passionate advocate for people in the building trade advancing their careers. As a trainer and mentor, he offers expertise and encouragement.

When you study with Master Builders NSW, you study with people like you. People focussed on building their career in building. When you study with Master Builders NSW, you learn from the best in the business.

“I understand that many of our students are very busy people who are running their own small businesses, invoicing, quoting, and have families. Helping students navigate the virtual classroom and keep on track with their course work is important to me.” Matthew Hughes, Master Builders’ Trainer. “The online programs and the student’s engagement has exceeded my expectation.”

TAKE IT FROM MATT Matthew Hughes is one of our dedicated Certificate IV in Building & Construction online trainers and mentors. He is an industry

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

We understand people have had negative

experiences with online learning in the past. We have worked hard to improve the offering. The technology is better. The virtual classroom connects students with their trainer and fellow students. It has all the benefits of an actual classroom in the comfort of your home or office. It provides flexibility and convenience to fit your lifestyle. Our Customer Service Team is on hand to keep you on track to complete the qualification in time. And, just like our students, we continue to learn and improve. Matt has this advice, “Be disciplined with your studies, ensure that you schedule in the time you need to study and read all of the training material. It is important that you complete your qualification successfully. Without it, you cannot apply for your building licence, it’s that simple,” says Matt. As well as training and managing his construction business, Matt is a father to three young sons who keep him on his toes.

ADVANCING YOUR CAREER TRAINING

The Online learning platform

The online learner notes dashboard.

The interactive online classroom with the trainer.

Don’t just take it from us … The students have their say. “The support from the teachers has been incredible. The information is there if you stay focussed. I have learnt a lot and look forward to completing the course. It is not a worrying or stressful experience in any way.” Aaron Gray from Macksville.

“So far, so good, I like being able to fit the study in between my working and family commitments and the portal is very easy to use. I am learning a lot which is a big reason for me doing this course. I would recommend it to a friend.” Mark Collins from Port Macquarie.

To find out about our pathways to a building licence go to our website: https://www.mbansw.asn.au/building-licence For more information please contact Master Builders Education and Skills Development. Phone: (02) 8586 3588 Email: education@mbansw.asn.au Website: mbansw.asn.au/training

Protection

against termites

// Still the Australian Standard in Termite Protection Kordon is a physical termite management system and can be used for perimeter or full under-slab protection. It is quickly and easily installed in all building applications by the Bayer Accredited Kordon Network and is certified by the Australian Building Code.

CMA-CM40182

Bayer CropScience Pty. Ltd., Environmental Science Australia, Level 1, 8 Redfern Road, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123 Technical Enquiries: 1800 804 479 es.bayer.com.au Kordon® is a Registered Trademark of the Bayer Group

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

All-In-One Safety App

for both builders and tradespeople • Site Inductions by QR-Code • Site Attendance by QR-Code • Check Lists & Inspections • Corrective Actions • Safety Notices • SWMS • To-Do’s • Defects • Site Diary • Safety Plans • Plans & Specs online • Plant & Equipment • Meetings, Toolbox Talks • Contractor Licenses & Insurances

FREE

SCAN TO RECEIVE YOUR

30 DAY TRIAL

www.sitebook.com.au | 1300 736 316 | AVAILABLE ON:

MEMBERSHIP

NEW MEMBER DEALS

Master Builders has recently negotiated for our members access to Harvey Norman Commercial Division and nib Health Funds.

arvey Norman Commercial has more than 27 years of experience as a specialist supplier to trade and the business-to-business sectors. A one-stop-shop backed by one of Australia’s most recognized brands. With a huge selection of Kitchen, Bathroom, Electrical and Laundry products plus so much more, making them a great resource for all your project requirements. Harvey Norman Commercial can offer an extensive selection of quality brand named products from leading major suppliers who support their products ensuring excellent quality and after-sales service. nib Health Funds have grown to cover over 1 million Australians by empowering members to make better health decisions and improve their health outcomes. As a corporate member you can get more than just great value health cover with access to nib Rewards and receive discounts on hundreds of everyday items and experiences. To find out more about these new member deals login to the member only area on our website www.mbansw.asn.au to apply for an account or read further information on these exclusive Master Builder member deals.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

BETTER BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Save time and money with advanced cladding technology The new generation of Magnesium Oxide cladding is set to save on material and labour costs while offering peace of mind to property owners.

or many trades in the building and construction industry, the change from plasterboard and CFC cannot come quickly enough. Citing deficiencies in exterior weather to the multiple layers required for some fire walls, costs can additionally blow-out, with many of these materials requiring expensive and specialised tools for application and installation. The new generation of Magnesium Oxide cladding (MgSO4) and sheeting by FireCrunch is the answer to most forms of internal and external cladding. It is lightweight, can be used on a variety of surfaces, is installed easily requiring less labour and can be used as a fire wall offering a total fire block. While the earlier types of MgSO4 board were effective protection from fire, they had a poor surface finish and a tendency to absorb moisture if not properly sealed. Through new technology, FireCrunch has achieved high loadbearing (55kN) CSIRO- tested and compliant, verified fire-proof building products, while offering highquality, double-slurry surfaces and giving a first-class finish. It

can be used as underlay flooring, tile backers, shower bases and once primer-sealed, can be painted with normal water-based paints, texture paints or renders. With costs as low as $18.00 per sqm, MgSO4 offers top fire rating from NATA, CSIRO and

Resolute Labs. MgSO4 cladding will handle up to FRL 90/90/90 (NATA Labs tested) with a single sheet each side of a 90mm cavity frame. It has endured real-time bush fire simulation tests and full-scale furnace tests at 1000. MgSO4 is regularly recommended by architects, specifiers and QS/ surveyors, and fire engineers and certifiers. The board contributes 95% less Co2 than plasterboard. The material is suitable for fire separation walls in high-rise residential and commercial construction and for bushfire BAL FZ and flood-prone areas and available to clients Australia-wide. Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

IN09 Inlay Mould

MAKING INTERIORS

r a l u c a t c e Sp

IN09 Inlay Mould CR99 Chair Rail

SK56 Skirting

Make your Interior Spectacular with finely crafted Intrim Timber Mouldings. Create feature wall panels, Wainscoting, Coffered ceilings or frame your doors and windows with stylish architraves and matching skirting. Available in a large range of designs, sizes, materials and finishes.

www.fsc.org FSC® C133356 The mark of responsible forestry

LIAN OW RA D NE

AUS T

Get more inspiration from our website gallery, order free samples, request a quote or make an enquiry and let us help you create your dream home.

1640

intrimmouldings.com.au 1800 622 081

ADVERTISING FEATURE

WHY SAVVY DECISION MAKERS ARE CHOOSING TIMBER MOULDINGS FROM INTRIM

ustralian consumers are becoming more product and style savvy as they follow influencers, watch endless home design shows and spend hours trawling Pinterest and Instagram keeping up with the latest trends. It is no wonder that building companies are having to offer more flexible options on the finishes schedules for style enhancements such as on trend skirting, architraves and wall panel treatments from Wainscotting, VJ or lining boards to satisfy the changing demand. This is why builders are turning to Intrim Mouldings, the leading Australian Timber Moulding specialists. With over 25 years’ experience and over 825 skirting boards, architrave, chair rail, wall paneling and other timber profiles, Intrim are experts in helping create spectacular interiors for their clients. “The Intrim vision is to have a part in every one of their clients’ truly magnificent building projects by providing them with a unique product to help them achieve their goal of making their interiors a timeless masterpiece. Our clients range from top tier interior designers and architects to luxury and custom home builders and home renovators, each one being just as important to us as the other” said Fred Quinsey, Managing Director. Intrim is rapidly evolving and continues to invest in state-of-the-art machinery and processes to provide fast and high-quality timber mouldings.

With displays and people on the ground in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane they already supply nationwide, with guaranteed 5 days from order to dispatch for unprimed, and 7 days for primed profiles. “Our products are delivered on site when you need them, as we understand meeting your deadlines is of utmost importance” continued Fred. Intrim offer a range of material options so suit the different markets around Australia, from FSC certified responsibly sourced Finger Joined Pine to MDF. “We offer a high-quality primed finish on all of our mouldings which will save your fixout and painting team’s time on site. We also recently launched Fast Trim which is a revolutionary pre-scribed skirting and pre-mitred architraves system available on all our profiles. It’s a game changer for builders who are under time and resource pressure, as they can save an additional 40% -55% of the fix out time. That’s some serious time and cost saving” says Fred. Intrim also help consumers looking to renovate find a preferred installer, through the Preferred partner program listing these companies on their website. It makes it easier to connect consumers and trades who specialise in working with Intrim Timber Mouldings. Committed to customer satisfaction, Intrim recently implemented the Trustpilot reviews platform asking every customer how they went.

Fred said “We felt it was important to give our customers the opportunity to easily provide us feedback, so we can continue to improve. Our team thrive on hearing from our clients and the great experiences they have with us and our products”. Consumers and designers love the complimentary samples offered by Intrim via the website. They are available for most profiles so you have something tangible to visualize on your Vision Board to ensure you pick the right profile to suit your project. Fred finished by saying “experience the Intrim difference for yourself, we look forward to working with you on your next project.” If you would like more information about this topic, please call Jenny Brown, Head of Marketing on 0414 882 982 or email jenny.brown@intrimgroup.com.au Intrim was founded in 1993 by the Quinsey family in Picton and has grown to become one of Australia’s leaders in finely crafted quality timber mouldings, skirting, architraves & handrails for residential homes and commercial buildings. Australian owned and operated, we are committed to manufacturing locally, supporting our local community through job creation and investing in state-of-the-art equipment and processes. Innovation, reducing environmental impact, helping customers make their interiors spectacular are what drives us. We love to share our customers projects using Intrim Mouldings on our website Gallery and Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn . Find out more at www.intrimmouldings.com.au

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

Improve your environmental awareness with free Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

An environmental product declaration (EPD) is a standardised and verified way of quantifying the environmental impacts of a product based on a consistent set of rules that have been developed through an extensive stakeholder consultation process. EPDs are also recognised for credits in the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating scheme of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) and are increasingly required in tender documents. The following EPDs are available for download from the WoodSolutions website: • • • • • •

Environmental Product Declaration 1: Softwood Timber Environmental Product Declaration 2: Hardwood Timber Environmental Product Declaration 3: Particleboard Environmental Product Declaration 4: MDF Environmental Product Declaration 5: Plywood Environmental Product Declaration 6: Glulam

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Important information about timber and moisture

accumulate under the cover

ecent extreme rainfall in Queensland and New South Wales has created conditions in which timber products may become affected by moisture.

• Installing the roof covering, and wall sarking, to minimise the risk of wetting

Whether you are building with new timber, or repairing water-damaged structures, the following information will help you optimise the performance and service life.

• There were tears in the plastic wrap

Structural and appearance grade timber products sold in Australia are generally kiln dried during manufacture to a specific moisture content, usually between 12-15%. This is particularly important as kiln dried timber is stronger, more stable, and less prone to mould or decay — providing a product that will effectively last indefinitely in a properly designed and maintained structure. To ensure this, it is helpful to understand the role of moisture content in your timber products. When you receive timber on site, it may be plastic wrapped, this is important because wrap covering helps protect the timber from rewetting, and you can help ensure that water stays out by:

If you open a pack of timber and it is wet or mouldy, it could be because: • The pack was stored in contact with the ground, allowing water to wick up • The pack was stored in direct sunlight which encouraged condensation If the timber is wet, let it dry. Remember, wood swells as it absorbs moisture and shrinks as it dries. This effect is greatest on the wide face, a bit less on the narrow face and negligible along the length. Drying wetted wood can create some stresses that may lead to warping, twisting or bowing. Wet timber that redries may experience some movement, so the best approach is to place it into the structure as quickly as possible and allow it to dry in place. Once the wood has dried below 20% MC

(moisture content) mould growth can no longer be supported and the spores will become dormant or die. Test the wood with a moisture meter to make sure it has a MC less than 20% before any claddings or linings are installed. Mould fungi grow on sugars stored in the wood and do not cause any loss in structural properties. Small amounts of mould can be removed by washing the wood with a mild detergent and water and allowing the surface to dry. Wood is a naturally renewable building material, it’s known as The Ultimate Renewable™, that helps tackle climate change by storing carbon – up to half the weight of wood is carbon, absorbed from the atmosphere by a growing tree. Like to know more? Free online and training resources are available from WoodSolutions: www.woodsolutions.com.au/blog/handlingmoisture-affected-timber.

• Not placing the timber directly on the ground, use blocks or bearers to create separation • Avoiding or repairing tears in the plastic wrap • Storing under cover, if possible, or at least out of direct sunlight • Ensuring adequate ventilation around the timber — free air circulation will help dry out any condensation that might

MD is ideally below 20%.

Mould can be easily cleaned off.

Avoid direct contact on ground.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Life-sized idea leads to big future plans

aking the design industry by storm and offering applications and benefits across several industries, Lifesize Plans is a big idea with a future growth trajectory on a global scale. The company offers patented, true-scale 1:1 projections of new home or renovation plans, offering designers, builders, and homeowners the opportunity to walk through a home before building starts. Clients can park their car in the garage and walk around the entire property, as well as use real furniture and household items offering the best chance possible of perfecting the design Lifesize Plans CEO James Hickey says the concept was born when founder and builder Chris Ghaleb and his wife were drafting the designs for their own home. While the couple thought they understood the plans on paper, conceptualising how the elements work together proved challenging.

“They knew what they wanted, but it seemed to get lost in translation when it came to building,” James says. “They thought being able to actually walk through the home and see exactly what worked and what didn’t before the build started was a great idea – and it grew from there.” James said the beauty of the product is that it offers benefits to everyone in the construction chain, from homeowners, architects and designers to the engineers and builders. “The thing with a build is that there are all these fantastic specialists involved. But it’s human nature that all these specialists are seeing it through their own lens. What Lifesize Plans does is provide a collaboration space, where everyone can have a design conversation in the same language and bounce ideas off each other. It’s something that project management software can’t really do because you’re not looking at the end-product to scale. “From a homeowner and builder

www.lifesizeplans.com

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

perspective, it can save costly and timeconsuming design issues. You may, for example, find that you need more space, less space or that your space is not used to its full potential. “Everyone who has used our product over the last four years has changed something on their plan. And really, for us, that’s a great statement.” The plans can also be used to value-add in the sales process. “We have builders and architects using Lifesize Plans with their clients now, to take their service to the next level and win business. “We have another builder using it as a pre-start meeting place, where everyone involved in the build gets together so they can all hit the ground running. “The thing about the concept is that it can benefit such a broad range of business and as technology emerges the experience will get even better and its applications endless.”

1300 30 79 50

ADVERTISING FEATURE

With Phoenix Tapware’s largest finishes palette offered to date, Zimi is the next level in glamour and choice for full customisability, allowing for the perfect on-trend look in the bathroom and kitchen.

Zimi: Customisable Tapware from Phoenix

roudly designed in Australia, Zimi is highly versatile, with 27 colour and finishing combinations available across a unique range of mixer taps, shower mixers and outlets. Zimi offers on-trend colour combinations, from the most in vogue colourings through to timeless classic pairings.

interchangeable with the bases without needing a plumber, allowing for flexibility and customisation at an affordable price point. Like all of Phoenix’s products, the entire range of colours and finishes are stocked in its warehouses around Australia.

The handle colours available are Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, Matte White, Cool Grey, Oatmeal, Blush Pink, Sage Green, and Powder Blue, while the fixture bases are finished in Chrome, Brushed Nickel or Matte Black.

The iconic design of Zimi is best characterised by its thin, flat profile. The flat handle seamlessly integrates with the slender outlet, as part of the basin mixer design, featuring an overall sophisticated shape that harmonises substance with elegance and refinement.

“Extensive colour research went into the final selection including European design trends forecasting. The Zimi range is perfect for consumers to inject their individual personality”, says Chantelle Malone, Phoenix Marketing Manager.

The design achieves the perfect balance between the handle and rest of the mixer. The Zimi range emerged with super fine detailing including an ultra-fine 10mm spout height.

Best of all, the handles are easily

• Zimi Sink Mixer

The range of tapware products available include:

• Zimi Basin Mixer • Zimi Vessel • Zimi Shower / Wall Mixer • Zimi Twin Shower / Wall Mixer • Zimi Wall Basin / Bath Mixer Set 200mm • Zimi Wall Basin Outlet 200mm • Zimi Wall Bath Outlet 200mm Due to the various colour and finishing options, handles are packaged separately to the rest of the tapware. Phoenix Tapware proudly offers high quality, durable products designed in Australia. Zimi includes an extensive warranty with a 15-year warranty period on the cartridge, 7 years on products, parts or finishes and 1 year on labour.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

www.lysaght.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

LYSAGHT AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING

eading Australian steel building products company, Lysaght, is this year celebrating 100 years of local manufacturing, an impressive achievement that goes against the trend of offshoring which has prevailed in Australia during recent decades. While the current Lysaght range covers roofing and walling, architectural cladding, guttering, fascia and rainwater goods, fencing and screening, steel sections, formwork and framing, patios, carports and structures, it’s undoubtedly corrugated iron that it’s long been known for. This steel building product has been used on everything from the roofs and bull-nose verandas of heritage homes, through to shearing sheds and outback dunnies, and more recently in en vogue architectural building projects. The product’s journey to national icon status can be traced back to Britain, where entrepreneurial Irishman, John Lysaght, began galvanising corrugated steel sheeting in Bristol during 1857. He registered the product under the trademark ‘ORB’ , which continues to be used to this day. After satisfying demand in the United Kingdom which was being fuelled by the Industrial Revolution, Lysaght turned his attention to export markets, namely Australia, where he saw huge opportunities arising from the gold rush of the late 1800s. He began exporting to the

colony soon afterwards. ORB was first sold in Australia through independent merchants until Lysaght established his own distribution company, the ‘Victorian Galvanised Iron and Wire Company’, which acted as a central selling agency. The venture worked well and by 1913, some 80,000 tonnes of ORB had been shipped to Australia. The next challenge the company encountered was World War I, which saw compulsory redirection of production capacity to assist the war effort. This devastated local supply and highlighted the need for a local production presence in Australia. Within three months of the war commencing, the company (now under the direction of John Lysaght’s nephew Herbert Royse Lysaght in Australia) was making arrangements to purchase 24 acres of land in Newcastle, NSW adjacent to a site already owned by Broken Hill Pty. Co. (BHP). By the following year in 1917, John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd was formed with the intent of establishing a manufacturing site in Australia, and approximately four years later in April 1921, the new Lysaght company commenced manufacturing at its purpose-built site in Newcastle. At this point, the popular ORB corrugated profile began its Australian-made journey and 100 years on, the company has never looked back.

Lysaght General Manager, Peta Renkin, said the company was extremely proud of reaching the important milestone. “For Lysaght to have reached 100 years of manufacturing in Australia is an extremely satisfying achievement for our company,” Mrs Renkin said. “It’s proof that there’s viability in local production – Lysaght has worked hard to develop new product lines, to innovate and to make manufacturing processes as efficient as possible while still providing premium quality products and offering superior support. “Of course, this achievement would not have been possible without the dedication of Lysaght employees and the ongoing support of our business partners and clients, so to all of you we say ‘thank-you’ and we look forward to the future.” Today, Lysaght’s parent company, BlueScope, supplies it with Australia-made steel, with manufacturing (customising, forming and profiling) of the Lysaght products overseen by skilled production technicians at over 40 Lysaght branches nation-wide. Along with products like CUSTOM ORB® – whose heritage can be traced back to ORB — Lysaght has continued to innovate and lead the industry, introducing many game-changing products to market including KLIP-LOK® concealed-fix roofing and BONDEK® structural decking. Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

Insurance tailored for the building and construction industry Our insurance options are made for your industry. We’ve got your employees covered, even at heights.

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Eligibility criteria applies. For more information, read the Industry Insurance Handbook.

You should read the Employer Handbook, Cbus Industry Superannuation Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and other relevant documentation to decide whether Cbus is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262.

RECLAIMING YOUR SUPER

ADVERTISING FEATURE

A NOT SO SUPER FACT In 2016/17, the average super balance at retirement for men was $336,360*. For women, this figure was $277,880*.

SUPER AND THE GENDER GAP Research shows that women tend to retire with less super than men. In fact, 1 in 4 women retire with no super*.

fees. You can do this online and find out more information about consolidating your super at cbussuper.com.au/super/consolidate-or-findmy-super

here are several factors that contribute to this. Women are more likely to take more time out of paid work to have families, they’re more likely to work part-time and, generally, they’re paid less. Women also live longer than men^, which means it’s even more important that they have enough super to last their retirement.

If you’ve had multiple funds and your details have changed, your old super fund may have lost touch with you and transferred your super to the ATO. This money is called ‘lost super’, but it’s super you can still claim. Use the link above and we’ll show you how.

The events of the pandemic will further accelerate this inequality, especially for young women who’ve accessed their super early and as a result, miss out on decades of compound interest on their retirement savings. So, what can you do to reduce the gap? First and foremost, make sure your employer is paying your super. The amount your employer pays is usually at least 9.5% of your regular pay. You can also: Combine all your super together into one account It’ll be easier to manage, and you could save on

Find your lost super

Top up your super by putting in extra yourself You can do this by paying more from your before-tax salary (salary sacrificing) or from your after-tax salary. An after-tax super contribution may see you eligible for the Government’s contribution of up to $500. It may seem like a small amount now, but it can make a big difference later. Check your insurance Most Cbus members will receive some cover for death and total and permanent disablement upon joining. Check if you have insurance cover elsewhere and consider transferring your other insurance into one account for easier management.

Ask your partner or spouse to make a spouse contribution They’ll receive a tax offset of up to $540 if you earn less than $40,000 for the 2020-21 financial year. Visit cbussuper.com.au/super/makingsuper-contributions for more information and to understand how the offset works. There’s a lot you can do to boost your super and improve the quality of your retirement. If you need help, just give us a call on 1300 361 784. This update was brought to you by Cbus, the industry super fund for building, construction and allied industries. * Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Women’s economic security in retirement Insight Paper, February 2020, https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/ default/files/documents/Women%27s_economic_ security_in_retirement.pdf ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Life expectancy continues to increase in Australia Media Release, 4 November 2020, https://www.abs.gov.au/mediacentre/media-releases/life-expectancy-continuesincrease-australia This information is about Cbus. It doesn’t take into account your specific needs, so you should look at your business needs, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide whether Cbus is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au for a copy. Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262

Issue One | January-March 2021 | MBA NSW

WATERPROOFING JUST GOT EASIER, SIMPLER, AND A LOT BETTER! Aquacrete has just launched its latest product, a waterproof membrane called Flexi-Liner™. Flexi-Liner™ is a unique product range and the class III single component cementitious membrane is the only type of its kind in the world, exceeding 650% elongation after 21 days, just mixed with water. All Flexi-Liner™ cementitious membrane products just mix with water, are nontoxic, environmentally friendly, and LOW VOC <1mg per litre of product, the lowest possible result. Aquacrete approached the waterproof membrane market with the view that if they couldn’t do it better, then they wouldn’t do it at all. As an example, our products have been industry tested and successfully applied for patch up remedial works, no longer do you need to remove the whole water proofing membrane for an area failure, you can just repair the area effected. “A major factor was identifying how

unique we were and how we could contribute to benefit an alarming issue, that for 1% of the cost to build the project, failures of the waterproof membrane contributed to 80% of the cost of remedial works,” Aquacrete technical consultant David O’Leary said. Features and benefits of Flexi-Liner™ include: • No Primer required (can apply to dry surface) • Remedial patch up works. • Trafficable for vehicular traffic • Anti-slip up to 24° • Root Resistant with a shore A hardness exceeding 80+ • Rust prevention

• • • • •

Corrosion resistant agent UV stable Single component, just add water. Recoat in 2 hours. Effective cure in 24 hours (able to continue trades) • Sprayable • Withstand hydrostatic pressures for both positive and negative surfaces. • Efficient and effective • Competitively priced • Australian made and owned Contact David for help, we are here to partner with you for effective waterproofing solutions!

Sales / Technical Support: David O’Leary | 0427 655 237 | david@aquacrete.com.au | www.flexiliner.com.au

ADVERTISING ADVERTISINGFEATURE FEATURE

A waterproofing product that actually works

quacrete has just launched its latest product, a waterproof membrane called Flexi-Liner™.

Since our last feature in the previous edition, Flexi-Liner is gaining ongoing credibility through industry experts and now with the MBA into its NSW training facility, Flexi-Liner are supplying product for training and product development. Flexi-Liner is on track to raise the stakes as it sets benchmarks with its new technologies and is proving an effective solution for remedial and new applications as it tackles the jobs that requires multiple products with its one stop revolutionary product range. You will find Flexi-Liner™ to be a competitive product and it will do what we say it will, provided the recommended installation methods and instructions are followed. These products are continuing to be rigorously tested through industry experts and approved recognised accredited testing facilities to comply with local and international standards. Flexi-Liner™ products can be applied by trowel, brush, roller or sprayed — depending on the application. Users will not need a primer or a wet surface to apply, however it can be applied to a wet surface with no pooled water. The features and benefits of Flexi-Liner™ will prove fit-for-purpose and provide piece of mind that the application will not fail. As the cliche says ‘the more working parts, the more can go wrong’. Flexi-Liner keeps it simple — a one product one-stop-solution! There is a Flexi-Liner product solution for all applications from exposed rooftop to bathroom to underground applications, vehicular traffic with anti-slip and root resistance. It is suitable for corrosion protection against nasty chemicals

as well as potable water for drinking! Aquacrete has more than a 30-year history and partners with almost 90% of Australia’s underground coal mines. It will prove extremely effective into the imminent underground standards for water proof membranes. Aquacrete is a recognised and respected industry leader. We have specialists who can assist and formulate unique, bespoke products for our customers and their needs.

Flexi-Liner™ thickness guage.

In addition, Aquacrete Systems are 100% Australian and have in-house laboratory and production facilities to ensure our customers enjoy consistent efficiency and Australian made and owned dependability. Jump onto our website and download our latest technical data. These documents are constantly being updated as they are evolving quicker than the ink dries. As Aquacrete’s Technical consultant, I will be happy to take your enquiry and help in solution solving to ensure you have the right product for your needs. We are excited to be able to offer real solutions into the WPM industry. — David O’Leary

Flexi-Liner™ superior adhesion not requiring a primer. This picture demonstrates bond to substrate during destructive analysis and shows substrate being torn away by the membrane. Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Central Coast Division

Brian Seidler and Heath Jones (President CC Committee) presenting Bruce Webb with Award.

CENTRAL COAST DIVISION INFORMATION Upcoming NIGHT Training on the A Central Coast nother successful evening with the local members at our Division Information Night on Tuesday 4 May at Wallarah Bay Recreation Club.

a great support and member on the Central Coast Committee for over 15 years in many roles such as President, Vice President and Secretary.

Thank you to our guest speakers Leeanne Farmer from Master Builders Insurance Brokers and Barry Quon from Termseal Australia for giving their time and providing invaluable information to our local members.

Bruce started his career as a handyman, as a mature student he completed his Carpentry Certificate at night whilst working fulltime. He then attended a Clerk of Works course before going to Sydney TAFE to complete his Certificate in Building.

This was such a great turn out for a very special evening. We were pleased to have our Executive Director Brian Seidler attend to present the Divisional Gold Medal to one of our long-standing committee members, Bruce Webb. The surprised look on his face was well worth the wait. DIVISIONAL GOLD MEDAL WINNER Bruce has been a member of Master Builders Association for over 38 years and has been

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

He mostly enjoyed doing extension and renovations work as he found it more interesting and rewarding. He also found a passion for Building Design as he would often draw plans for his clients to be submitted to council. Bruce continues to be a part of the Building Designer Association of Australia. We all couldn’t be prouder of Bruce and look forward to having him support the Central Coast Division for many years to come!

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) ASIST is a 2-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST Workshop – (12 CPD Points) Date:

Thursday 15 & Friday 16 July

Time:

830am to 5pm

Venue:

The Elderslie Foundation – Conference Room

Address: 160 – 162 Pacific Highway, Tuggerah (next to Beaumont Tiles) Contact Kerrie Bendeich on 4323 4588 if you would like to attend.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Central Coast Division

MBA Staff with Past and Present Central Coast Committee Members.

Past and Present Winners Ken Austin, Bruce and Shauna Webb, Dennis Wild. Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Central West Division

L-R Phil Donato MP, John Johnston, Andrew Blimka, Katie Kidd, Bruno Efoti, Natalie Single.

Tradies In Sight Mental Health BBQ at Orange TAFE I

t was great to be part of the mental health BBQ at TAFE held for the 1st year carpentry & joinery students in Orange. This initiative was the brainchild of the Head Teacher of Construction, John Johnston and the main presenter

was Bruno Efoti who is the driving force behind Tradies In Sight, a not for profit organisation born in Dubbo, which aims to holistically support the wellbeing of tradies and men across regional NSW.

House Saved from Demolition A two-storey, nine-year-old residential property was suffering from severe differential settlement of up to 95mm. As the property was under warranty, the owner sought resolution from the original builder. The warranty builder engaged Expertise Building Services to provide a solution which would avoid the need to knock down the house. Mainmark were contracted to deliver a unique solution by using two of its proprietary non-invasive re-supporting and re-levelling technologies to remediate the property; JOG Computer-Controlled Grouting and Teretek® resin injection. Mainmark successfully re-levelled the entire length of the three affected side walls without the need for soil removal. The project took Mainmark a total of only 14 days to complete and was delivered within budget to the client’s complete satisfaction.

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

The BBQ breakfast was attended and supported by Member for Orange Phil Donato, Katie Kidd from Master Builders Association, Bruno Efoti of Tradies In Sight, TAFE psychologist Natalie Single, faculty teachers and support staff.

Paul Richey, Expertise Building Services, said, “My dealings with Mainmark were nothing but professional. They ensured all aspects of the work, including any queries I had, were thoroughly explained so all parties were aware of the process and that the outcome would be achievable prior to the project commencing. This gave the owner the reassurance and confidence that the home could be stabilised and that there would be no surprise costs or variations to the work.”

For an obligation free, expert opinion contact us

1800 623 312 www.mainmark.com Mainmark Ground Engineering Pty Ltd NSW: Building Licence No. 288848C

Scan to see how Teretek works

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Central West Division

Central West Division Night T

he first face-to-face Division Night for Central West Division since COVID was on March 22.

Our speakers included Wayne Roe, Senior Structural Engineer at Cook & Roe. Wayne discussed the importance of building foundation, what causes movement and some issues he has been noticing on site. We also had an informative presentation from Melissa Maccallum, Manager Building and Environment and Paul Johnston, Team Leader — Development Assessments, both from Orange City Council. Melissa and Paul discussed the launch of the compulsory change over to lodging Applications online through the eplanning Portal.

Bruno Efoti from Tradies in Sight.

Thank you to the ongoing support from the Central West Division sponsors Steeline Bathurst & Kent’s H Hardware Orange.

Steeline Service over and above

Phil Donato Presenting to the students.

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Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Port Macquarie

Sovereign Hills Display Village opening, with Brian Seidler.

HASTINGS’ HOUSING INDUSTRY CEMENTED BY NEW DISPLAY VILLAGE

he future of the Port Macquarie-Hastings’ $250 million new home construction industry has been cemented with the launch of the new Sovereign Hills Display Village. The biggest and most sustainable display village on the New South Wales mid-north coast has been officially opened recently by the Federal Minister for Housing, The Hon. Michael Sukkar MP, amid a local construction boom. The 21-home display village features 14 of the region’s leading builders, which collectively contribute an estimated 60 per cent of the Hastings’ annual residential development activity. These builders are experiencing record demand for new homes fuelled by the Australian Government’s HomeBuilder grant, providing much needed support to one of the Hastings’ biggest economic drivers and employers. “The HomeBuilder program is a $2.5 billion program. It unlocks over $30 billion of direct investment and then over $110 billion of broader economic benefits, so it’s a very good spend from government, it supported the industry and the industry now really has a good pipeline of 18 months to two years of work,

MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

and that means they can plan and invest with confidence,” Minister Sukkar stated. “There’s clearly a lot of energy here in Port Macquarie, a lot of demand, a lot of excitement around this really well-planned community and just seeing some of the homes and opportunities for people ahead is really wonderful.” Executive Director of the Master Builders Association NSW Brian Seidler said the construction industry is the largest employer of full-time employees. “We can’t forget or underestimate a healthy building which creates the cascading impact on the supply chain for our industry and that’s simply enormous: whitegoods, carpet, floor coverings, lighting, mechanical services, and not to mention resulting in employment opportunities for other small businesses.” Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said developments such as Sovereign Hills are vital to the government’s regional growth strategy and support the need for quality housing across the mid-north coast. “The Federal Government’s HomeBuilder scheme has provided a welcome boost in new home construction interest locally, resulting in a

surge in new home sales,” said Mr Conaghan. “It is important that we continue to support our housing industry, ensuring there is a range of affordable housing options for those entering the market for the first time, and those looking to buy or build their dream home for the future.” From smart home systems to innovative kitchens, clever storage solutions and energy saving technologies, the new Sovereign Hills Display Village takes living to the next level. “The pandemic has elevated the importance of the family home being more secure, multipurpose and flexible, and builders have tapped into this sentiment,” said Sovereign Hills’ Michael Long. The shift towards working from home has made the home office or study zone mandatory, while the recent lockdowns have sparked a trend towards holidaying at home through outdoor resort-style entertaining areas. “New home buyers are demanding more cost-effective green solutions in their homes to reduce their energy bills,” added Mr Long. “In response we’ve created our greenest village to date, with builders embracing solar power, passive heating and cooling technologies, and more energy-saving products to reduce their

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Port Macquarie carbon footprint.” The Sovereign Hills Display Village builders are forecast to construct more than 375 homes generating an estimated $150 million in annual new home construction activity. Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peta Pinson welcomed the new addition, noting the timely benefits the new display village will bring to the region. “We’ve seen a lot more young, working families move to our region in the last year, and new housing and development is definitely needed to cater for our continuously growing community,” said Mayor Pinson. “With the addition of the new display village and the expected construction boom, I am really excited to see more jobs available, more homes being built, and a thriving hive of activity in our region.” The activity has significant flow on effects for retail and associated home industries including home furnishings, white goods, electronics and landscaping.

Oxley Division Information Night.

Sovereign Hills Display Village builders include Adenbrook Homes, Better Homes and Developments, Coral Homes, G.J. Gardner Homes, Hibbard Homes, Hotondo Homes, Metricon, McDonald Jones Homes, Perry Homes, Pycon Homes and Constructions, Rob Tate Homes, Sorensen and Caldon Builders, Stroud Homes and Vaughan Homes. “Each builder brings a wealth of new home construction experience ultimately offering visitors even more design choice, building advice and inspiration when planning their next home,” stated Mr Long. The Sovereign Hill Display Village on York Street, Port Macquarie, is now open seven days between 10am and 4pm. For more information visit www.sovereignhills.com.au.

Waterproofing O

nce more, the NSW Government has given the Master Builders Association the opportunity to educate our tradespeople about all aspects of waterproofing, with their support by way of funding. The course has been held at our Norwest Training Centre, but also in regional areas and attendees are enjoying updating their skills and knowledge and can’t recommend the course more highly.

We have just finished our latest course in Port Macquarie but we have scheduled another one for later in the year. If you do waterproofing or are contracting a water proofer, you need to know the latest procedures and what to look out for on your projects. If you are interested, please let Kerrie in the Port Macquarie office know on 6581 4033.

Manning Great Lakes Information Night.

Port Macquarie information nights first face-to-face I

t was a pleasure to be able to hold face-to-face Divisional Information Nights in March, after a twelve-month hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions.

For our first Information Nights, we invited our local councils to present, so we could learn more about the NSW Planning Portal and how it will affect our members and other local issues. These nights are a great opportunity to hear directly from Development Application and Planning departments. Members have a chance to have their say, make suggestions and build a relationship to help things operate smoothly between builders and council. I strongly recommend that members attend our information nights all the time, but even more so when it is staff from their local Council. Have your say and keep informed on your local area regulations and issues. Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

FINANCE & CAR BUYING

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Illawarra

FACE TO FACE AGAIN

he last event before COVID-19 restrictions hit was the Wollongong Trade Expo on 5 March 2020. Fast forward more than 12 months and we are now back to hosting member events.

The 10th of March 2021 marked the first member event for our region with the Cronulla Division hosting their first meeting. Since this event we have welcomed back members to subsequent division meetings, training courses, CPD seminars and SafeWork Breakfasts. We are pleased to be able to interact with members in this way again and the number of members attending events tells us you are glad to be back too.

Cronulla Division T

he Cronulla Division has hosted two meetings in 2021, both of which were attended by more than 45 members. George Zakos from G.L Zakos & Associates and John Hickey from NSW Building Consultants, both experienced Building Consultants, gave an in depth account of the potential fallout from defective work. Dele Omisore from Master Builders Insurance Brokers gave an update on Home Warranty Insurance.

The May meeting was hosted by Keystone Lawyers and NSW Fair Trading. Lou Stojanovski from Keystone Lawyers explained the application of the Security of Payment Act to residential payments. While Mark Daniel,

Manager Building with NSW Fair Trading discussed regulation of industry and incidents of defects.

CPD Seminars C

PD seminars are proving more popular than ever with record numbers at both the St.George/Cronulla Seminar and the Wollongong event. Due to members experiencing high volumes of work, coupled with reduced events and opportunities to gain CPD points, the CPD seminars are a great way to obtain your annual quota of points in a single session. This years CPD topics including legal, Insurance, Building business finance and home Automation.

The New Office T

he signs are up, new coat of paint and we are all moved in. In addition to our regular services for members, we have also had a number of members utilise the new space for their own professional development days or training. In case you didn’t already know, the MBA office is a resource for members and we encourage you to contact us if you would like to book a space for your business. This is a great way to host client meetings or staff training in a professional environment at no charge.

SafeWork Breakfast D

erek Prior and the SafeWork NSW team treated members to a Bacon and Egg roll before launching into a session on local safety issues. This event provides members with insights on SafeWork NSW current focus and local issues. It also gives members a chance to discuss specific challenges and methods for improving their own sites safety.

Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

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MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

DIARY DATES

Diary Dates

Face-to-face events are back for 2021! Please visit mbansw.asn.au/cpdseries for more information.

Due to the continuing uncertainty around social gatherings, dates and venues may be subject to change.

If changes do occur and we are not able to hold face to face events, we will endeavour to move the Seminars to a Webinar platform.

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Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

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Issue Two | April-June 2021 | MBA NSW

THE WAY WE WERE

What the MBA said... MAY 1925

Additional information obtained from Mosman Library.

id you know there once was a big amphitheatre on Balmoral? And it may have been built as a viewing platform to watch Jesus walk on water! Featured in the May 1925 edition of Master Builder’s ‘BUILDING’ publication, the Amphitheatre was an open-air temple that stood three stories high with the stage towering a great 70 feet above the beach. The Star was quite a feat of construction, seating 2000 people and with standing room for another 1000. It was built by Mary Rocke, a retired doctor, who bought three adjacent blocks of land. There was no shortage of audiences interested in spiritualism in the 1920’s in Australia and particularly in Sydney. One urban legend around the Amphitheatre states that it was built for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Specifically, it was to be used as a viewing platform to watch Him walk across the water between Sydney Heads. Some claim that many tickets were sold to gullible people who wanted a prime position – for the grand price of around £100. What became of the Star Amphitheatre? The Amphitheatre was sold to the Catholic Church in 1936. It fell into such a state of disrepair it was later demolished in 1951 before suburbanisation took over. The Amphitheatre was replaced by Stancliff Flats, a large block of 30 residences made of red brick.

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MBA NSW | Issue Two | April-June 2021

FLORENCE CONSTRUCTING A NEW PERSPECTIVE

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION LUNCHEON with special guest Sam Bloom, bestselling author, and inspiration behind the Australian box office hit and global Netflix sensation Penguin Bloom, starring and produced by Naomi Watts. Royal Randwick Friday 30 July 2021 12:00PM $155 In 2013, while holidaying in Thailand with her husband and three young sons, Sam unknowingly leant on a rotten balcony railing, plunging six metres onto concrete. The near-fatal accident shattered her spine, ruptured her lungs and caused severe bleeding on the brain. Not only was Sam physically broken and facing the daunting reality of never walking again, but her soul and spirit were crushed. A serendipitous encounter with a frail and injured magpie chick her sons dubbed Penguin, was to transform her attitude, change the course of her recovery, and save her family. Sam and Penguin’s remarkable bond and extraordinary story of parallel recovery was

FLORENCE CONSTRUCTING A NEW PERSPECTIVE

sensitively captured through the lens by Sam’s husband, acclaimed photographer Cameron Bloom. The images formed the basis for the international bestselling book Penguin Bloom. Such is the sheer beauty and power of their story, it inspired a major film of the same name, starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln. The movie, released in January 2021, became an immediate hit, claiming #1 at the Australian box office and trending on Netflix in North America. Sam’s is a story for the times, with profound messages for us all — of the power of love and family, and of our innate ability to find determination and courage in the face of adversity.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW For all enquiries, contact Amanda Kelly (02) 8586 3504 akelly@mbansw.asn.au

www.florencemagazine.com.au

Two easy ways to certify reinforcing steel on site

Around 140,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement is supplied in our

METHOD ONE

Check if the steel was supplied by an SRIA processor member

market each year from unknown

All 9 SRIA processor members hold current

origins. If ‘uncertiﬁed’ steel is

JAS-ANZ accredited 3rd Party Processor

supplied on one of your projects

Certiﬁcates (ACRS) proving their bar and mesh conforms to AS/NZS 4671, AS 3600, and AS 5100.5.

then there is a high risk the reinforced concrete element may not perform. Even though design drawings might specify AS/NZS

METHOD TWO

Ask for a 3rd Party Processor Certiﬁcate BEFORE the concrete is placed

4671 Steel for the reinforcement

If the steel was supplied by a non-SRIA member,

of concrete, it’s difﬁcult to prove

then ask the concreter to provide you with the

conformance once the steel is

supplier’s JAS-ANZ accredited 3rd Party Processor

ﬁxed and the concrete is placed.

Certiﬁcate to ensure product conformance.

SCAN HERE

DON’T TAKE THE RISK OF USING NON-CONFORMING STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Scan the QR Code to see if your REO supplier is an SRIA member

sria.com.au/3rd-party-certiﬁcates