Master Builder Victoria April-May 2019

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA APRIL - MAY 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2

CEO REBECCA CASSON

THE MERITS OF A DIVERSE WORKFORCE: PAGE 13

NCC 2019

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BIG CHANGES YOU NEED TO KNOW: PAGE 18

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AVOIDING PROJECT MANAGEMENT PITFALLS: PAGE 48

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

3

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

New approaches and new codes in 2019

Peter Sacket, Editor With the quickened pace of change in the industry, Master Builders Victoria President Richard Hansen asks “How do we make the best decisions on behalf of our members?”

He discusses the fresh approach to strategy development outlined at the Master Builders “town hall” special planning session on 5 March.

On the subject of change in the industry, and on the eve of the next Federal election, we are also pleased to include a guest forward on page 11 from the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner, Stephen McBurney.

Having resumed the role as regulator of the industry in 2016, the ABCC aims to educate, regulate and litigate through a range of materials including a new on-site app.

Our marketing feature on pages 14 and 15 outlines the goals of the brand campaign you’ve noticed along the highway and on the radio waves; it’s aimed at better portraying the broad range of experts and expertise clients engage when they choose to do business with a Master Builder.

On page 22, Dr Philip Alviano outlines some of the updates to the National Construction Code by state energy ministers with a plan that sets a path toward zero energy (and carbon)-ready buildings for Australia.

Master Builders Insurance State Manager Joe Keiper looks at the changing nature of claims. While, traditionally, claims would most often relate to building designs or modifications, the majority of large losses are now related to the products themselves.

And we keep you up to date with the latest industry news on pages 16, 20, 26, 27, 34 and 35.

Do you have a great idea for a story? Share it with us at psackett@mbav.com.au.

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

5

Contents FOREWORDS

DEPARTMENTS

03 09 11 13

22 28 30 32 48

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD GUEST FOREWORD FROM THE CEO

REGULARS 36 66 68 70

SOCIAL PAGES WHAT’S NEW DIRECTORY CALENDAR

FEATURES 14 MASTER BUILDERS NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN 18 CHANGES IN THE 2019 NCC

GREEN LIVING:THE NCC’S CHANGES INSURANCE: PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY LEGAL: OWNER-BULDERS AND BUILDERS OHS:THE SMALL AND EFFECTIVE TEAM FINANCE:PROJECT MANAGEMENT

MEMBERSHIP 50 52

MEMBER BENEFITS MEMBER PROFILE: GRIND AND SEAL

ADVERTSING FEATURES 54 56

PEST CONTROL TIMBER

Produced by Newscorp on behalf of Master Builders Victoria EDITOR: Peter Sackett EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Josie Adams DESIGNER: Alyssa Welke

6

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

CONTACTS

ISSUE 02, 2019

CONTACTS

Master Builders key contacts and office locations Master Builders office locations For all general enquiries, phone Master Builders on (03) 9411 4555.

Or you can contact our key services using the details on this page.

Wodonga Ovens Murray

Sebastopol Central Highlands

Warrnambool Great South Coast

Shepparton Goulburn Bendigo Loddon Campaspe East Melbourne Melbourne Traralgon Gippsland Geelong Barwon

KEY CONTACTS

Master Builders Victoria CEO Rebecca Casson Phone: (03) 9411 4501 Master Builders Executive Managers Member Experience: Commercial Tony Biffaro Phone: (03) 9411 4557 Member Experience: Advice Daniel Hodges Phone: (03) 9411 4582 Master Builders Training Institute Corrie Williams Phone: (03) 9411 4544 People and Culture Steven Hogan Phone: (03) 9411 4540 Finance Ron Joordens Phone: (03) 9411 4556 Master Builders Victoria Senior Managers Industrial Relations Sheena Hoey Phone: (03) 9411 4555 OHS James Curtin Phone: (03) 9411 4581 State Manager Victoria / MBA Insurance Services Joe Keiper Phone: (03) 9411 4504 Master Builders Training Institute Chris Kulesza Phone: (03) 9411 8000

OFFICE LOCATIONS Melbourne 332 Albert Street East Melbourne Victoria 3002 GPO Box 544 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Phone: (03) 9411 4555 Email: mbassist@mbav.com.au Albury - Wodonga 35 Hovell Street Wodonga Victoria 3690 PO Box 700 Wodonga Victoria 3690 Phone: (02) 6058 2000 Email: wodongabs@mbav.com.au

Legal Tristan Moseley Phone: (03) 9411 4580 Marketing, Events and Sponsorship Danielle Penna Phone: (03) 9411 4551 Board of Management President: Richard Hansen Deputy President: Michael Clemenger Immediate Past President: Melanie Fasham Treasurer: Steven Peluso Chair – Housing Sector: Paul McMahon Chair – General Contractors: Geoff Purcell Chair – Country Sector: Mark Little Chair – Materials, Manufacturers and Suppliers Sector: Sam Cimino Chair – Specialist Contractor: Ian Hawkey Council of Management President: Richard Hansen Deputy President: Michael Clemenger Immediate Past President: Melanie Fasham Treasurer: Steven Peluso Housing sector: Paul McMahon, Natalie King, Sally Wills General Contractors sector: Geoff Purcell, Shayne Young Specialist contractor sector: Ian Hawkey, Nigel Cunniffe, Ashley Tonkin-Hill Materials, Manufacturers and Suppliers Sector: Neil Grenfell, Sam Cimino Country Sector: Mark Little, Stuart Allen, Philip Robinson

Ballarat 14 Albert Street Sebastopol Victoria 3690 Phone: (03) 5320 9999 Email: mbapermits@mbav.com.au Bendigo 1/28 Charleston Road East Bendigo Victoria 3550 Phone: (03) 5410 2100 Email: mbabsbendigo@mbav.com.au Geelong 3 Melbourne Road Drumcondra Victoria 3215 Phone: (03) 5278 4255 Email: permits@mbav.com.au Gippsland Unit 3, 6-16 Rocla Road Traralgon Victoria 3844 PO Box 1432 Traralgon Victoria 3844 Phone: (03) 5174 2754 Email: rware@mbav.com.au Shepparton 228-232 High Street Shepparton Victoria 3630 Phone: (03) 5822 4980 Email: mbabsshepparton@mbav.com.au Warrnambool 110 Kepler Street Warrnambool Victoria 3280 Phone: (03) 5562 9067 Email: iwelch@mbav.com.au

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD

Evolving with the times Richard Hansen President One of the most important tasks for Master Builders Victoria is planning for the future.

What will the future look like, how will our industry change, how do we ensure that our organisation is thriving 20 years hence? Many of these answers are unknowable, but we do know that change is a constant and we must equip ourselves to be nimble and always providing great service that is highly relevant to our current and future members.

To help get ourselves in a future frame of mind, on 5 March Master Builders held a special planning session at the Glasshouse next to the Yarra River in Melbourne.

This planning session is an annual event, but this year we took a fresh approach to the day as we all did our best to polish the crystal ball.

Attendees included the Board and Council of Membership, selected industry advisors and members of the Master Builders team who work closely with them on developing policy, marketing and communications.

We used the occasion to re-evaluate how we make decisions on behalf of our members.

Change is happening in the building and construction industry at a quickened pace — technologically, economically, politically and environmentally.

How could we be confident that we were making the best decisions on your behalf if we didn’t take stock of this change, and the ways each of us viewed its significance?

We were lucky to have expert help from Sander van Amelsvoort, a strategy development expert who specialises in helping organisations prepare for challenges and opportunities in a changing professional environment.

What we set out to do was put ourselves in the right frame of mind to take Master Builders into the future, and ensure that we have our attention focussed on what’s evolving in the way our members do business so that we evolve along with it.

It was very interesting to hear the diverse and innovative thoughts of the members and staff who gave their time and energy on the day.

By participating, every member who attended has done a great service to you and your colleagues helping Master Builders make an investment in the future of your good work that we hope returns dividends for the industry for many years to come.

Thanks to all who participated.

We look forward to sharing what we learned that day as we continue the process of building our strategy for a strong Victorian building and construction industry.

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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GUEST FOREWORD

Fulfilling our statutory mandate

Stephen McBurney ABCC Commissioner

I want to thank Master Builders Victoria for the invitation to provide this guest foreword.

In its 144-year history Master Builders has played a key role in furthering the interests of the building and construction sector and improving professional standards among its members.

While Master Builders pre-dates federation, the current iteration of the ABCC is just over two years old, having resumed our role as regulator for the building and construction industry on 2 December, 2016.

The ABCC must fulfil its statutory mandate as a full service regulator.

To do this, we aim to educate, regulate and litigate.

We educate by providing industry with information, resources and practical tools written in plain English that can be applied where it matters most, on site.

We have developed a range of materials, including our “ABCC On Site” app that provides tailored information for employers, employees, site managers and union officials on issues such as right of entry, coercion, unlawful industrial action and unlawful pickets.

Additionally, our new website has up to date content written in plain English.

Our usability statistics inform us that right of entry continues to be a significant issue and the most popular page visited on the app.

We regulate industry by assessing compliance with designated building laws and the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016 (“the Code”).

We are acutely aware of the burden of red tape imposed by government regulation.

We have designed our website and reporting forms to reduce red tape as far as is practicable.

A significant initiative addressing red tape is our new Workplace Relations Management Plan (WRMP) template.

This includes pre-filled content for most sections.

A click of the ‘yes’ button means a majority of the work required to complete the form is done for you.

We have also reduced the assessment time of most enterprise agreements for compliance with the Code from 11 weeks down to just two weeks.

We have four dedicated education and compliance campaigns we will be conducting in coming months. They address: ■ Zero tolerance to drugs and alcohol ■ Wages and entitlements ■ Security of payments ■ Labour market testing.

Finally, a core function of the ABCC is to investigate and litigate contraventions of the law.

While this is a last resort, it is what often generates the most media attention for the ABCC. We will continue to litigate where the public

interest requires us to hold contraveners to account for breaking the law.

Regrettably, the CFMMEU continues to be over-represented in ABCC litigation.

We currently have 40 matters before the courts, with the CFMMEU a respondent in 35 of the 40 cases.

Since 2 December, 2016, the courts have imposed $8.97 million in penalties.

The CFMMEU accounts for $8.45 million, employers $54,240 and employees $282,800.

Other unions account for the remaining $182,000.

I encourage any members of Master Builders seeking information or assistance from the ABCC to contact us via our hotline (1800 003 338), website at www.abcc.gov.au or download the ABCC On Site app.

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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FROM THE CEO

Rebecca Casson CEO

On Friday, 8 March, RMIT asked me to join them in observing International Women’s Day at the Women in Construction Forum by saying a few words about what it has been like for me stepping into my new role, and to reflect on what it may mean for our industry.

I started by letting them know it was great to be the new kid on the block at Master Builders Victoria, particularly since my arrival represents a milestone for our association.

I said that, of course, with respect to the many other women who have become part of the industry before me, and with a keen eye on the fact that there is a clarion call for many more to follow.

I said that regardless of where I work, here or abroad, I know what I want my team to look like.

I want them to look like the society in which we live, made up of men and women in equal parts.

And this helped make the point that it’s not just gender balance that’s important, but broad-spectrum diversity.

This is for all sorts of reasons — equal opportunity, fairness, inspiring young minds and so on.

I think too often — and here men and women share the blame — gender and diversity balance in the workplace is regarded as something good but obscure, a well-intentioned philosophy that it’s just the right thing to do, whether or not it’s really understood why.

That’s okay; peer pressure can be helpful in ensuring success and longevity.

What often gets missed is the understanding that a diverse team is good for business, yielding happier workplaces with more productive performances.

Building and construction is full of proud and impressive traditions, but, as in other industries, also ones that are obsolete and counterproductive.

One of these is a lingering but fading boys-club mindset that, conscious or not, can blind men and women alike to business opportunities and excellent employees.

I know what I want my team to look like As I write this, we approach the date of our annual Apprentice of the Year Awards, and I’m very excited to see the cross-section of young men and women who are taking on the mantle of such a noble profession.

Over the course of my tenure as your CEO, I hope to see the group of high-achievers become ever more diverse.

We’ve noted many times the important fact that our sector is the largest full-time employer in Victoria.

So for those women who don’t feel fortified with support from our association, that can be a hard work environment in which to feel wanted, let alone needed.

And of course, women are needed.

Master Builders has long been an advocate for cultivating careers in building and construction.

In recent years, we’ve had some truly outstanding women take home the accolades, including our highest award.

Beyond that, we have been working with the Victorian Government on the Building Gender

Equality: Victoria’s Women in Construction Strategy designed at increasing women’s participation in the trades and semi-skilled “blue-collar” workforce in Victoria.

Indeed the timing, from a purely economic perspective, has never been better or more urgent.

The development of an active gender-equality strategy to strengthen our work force by getting women fully immersed in non-traditional roles in which they perform with equal if not greater skill, is imperative.

It is genuinely exciting to see the desire for greater gender equality in the workplace is happening simultaneous with it as an economic imperative.

It’s vitally important that Master Builders and our members seize this opportunity to drive that message home and develop an intuitive understanding of what we, men and women, all stand to gain from pursuing a gender-inclusive culture in building and construction.

— Rebecca

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

FEATURE

Hannah English Marketing Manager

In March this year, we launched a new brand campaign building on the success of the iconic ‘Is your builder a Master Builder?’ tag line.

We want every client and customer to ask specifically for a Master Builder; for that to happen, we need to demonstrate just how good our Master Builders are.

The new campaign, ‘You’ve mastered building, we’ll help you master the other stuff’ builds on the credibility and quality of our Master Builders members, while ensuring they are getting the most from their membership.

The campaign demonstrates why potential clients should select a Master Builder precisely for their building skills and ability to tap into specialist knowledge.

The campaign was developed in consultation with the brand agency Fenton Stephens and is currently being rolled-out on billboards across Melbourne, digital advertising, website, target emails and Triple M radio.

This gives our members strong aboveand below-the-line exposure.

Digital advertising is targeted to connect members with products and services that benefit them directly.

We didn’t need to look far to find Master Builders who have mastered their craft to feature in the campaign.

It’s a pleasure to highlight a variety of our dedicated builders in our branding campaign.

You will notice that a diverse range of builders with varying ranges of experience are featured, which shows the breadth and depth of our membership base.

As you are seeing this advertising on your behalf, be it on billboards along Victoria’s freeways, or in emails you can click through to see the benefits of your membership, you can know that the individuals featured in the advertising are actually working in the industry and proud of their careers.

‘Mastering the other stuff’: honing the Master Builders brand Knowledge continues to grow throughout career Housing Sector chairperson Steven Peluso has been pragmatic in his life and career.

As managing director of Peluso Woods Group and Master Menders, he works closely alongside his business partner Peter Woods.

Under the Master Menders banner, they provide building services to bodies corporate, commercial and industrial facilities managers and corporate insurers.

Master Menders specialises in builder liquidation, defect and incomplete works.

They also build new homes, industrial, commercial fit-outs and renovations, small bathrooms to large renovations, land subdivisions, and commercial and domestic unit developments.

Steven started working in the building industry at a very young age doing framing, but when work dried up, he took a job in car repairs.

He later returned to working in the building industry, getting a carpentry apprenticeship working with some of Australia’s largest domestic builders as part of a framing crew for Henley Homes, Simonds and AV Jennings, to name just a few.

After a scaffolding accident, Steven decided he wanted to “get off the tools” and explore work in property management and development.

Steven has been self-employed since 1991 and over the past 22 years has developed both residential and commercial projects, mainly in Melbourne’s south-east, and broadened to insurance rectification works.

“By trying other avenues in my career, it’s given me great, broad industry knowledge, and it’s made me who I am,” Steven said.

Master Menders has been a member of Master Builders since 1994.

Steven’s work with Master Builders as a committee and board member has allowed him to make connections and further develop

Master Builders members in the studio: Steve Peluso strikes a pose.

his understanding of all facets of the building industry.

“Being on the committee has given me an insight into building legislation changes, and being a board member provides me with an opportunity to be an advocate on the proposed industry changes on an intermediate level, promoting a more consistent and regulated industry that will continue to prosper,” Steven explains.

“It has given me a great, broad picture of the industry and allows me to meet builders and personalities I wouldn’t normally have access to.”

Steven served as a judge on the Master Builders awards committee for 10 years, resigning from the panel at the end of last year due to work commitments.

He is also an active member of the Australian Waterproofing Association committee and is on the board for the St Kilda Community Housing for the Homeless.

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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FEATURE

Stefanie learns the family business Stefanie Apostolidis is a young builder making significant headway in the building industry.

While studying her Diploma of Building at Swinburne University, she was nominated for the Master Builder Student of the Year award, which she won in late 2018.

The win recognised her hard work, dedication and detail-oriented approach to building.

These are among the skills she developed at an early age when learning the trade from her father, George, builder and owner of LGA Home Builders.

“Growing up, I would always go to his work sites and sit with him, and he’d go through the job and explain things to me,” Stefanie said.

Despite these experiences, she never considered it as a career path for herself.

So, when her family suggested that she work with her father, it came as a surprise.

“I’d never really thought about it, but then we sat down and looked into the whole process of becoming a builder, not just a carpenter,” she said.

“I’ve always been hands-on and a bit of a tom-boy growing up, so it’s just something that suited me.”

Member Stefanie Apostolidis takes direction from the photographer.

Stefanie completed her carpentry apprenticeship at age 22.

Now she’s expanding her management capabilities with LGA Home Builders.

While she splits her time between site management and being on the tools, her

long-term plan includes obtaining a Domestic Builders Licence and eventually taking over the family business.

“I want to build my own houses and bring more modern management to the business,” Stefanie said.

Future of industry in safe hands with young builder At 32, and with 17 years of residential industry experience, Nick Lonsdale of Lonsdale Building Group is an accomplished professional builder whose efforts are attracting industry-wide attention.

Master Builders’ former CEO, Radley de Silva, announced Nick as the winner of the Young Builder of the Year award for 2018.

De Silva said his work “speaks volumes for the future and quality of our industry workforce.”

Nick began his career with a carpentry apprenticeship in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

He graduated with a Diploma of Project Management and a Certificate IV in Building and Construction.

He continues to transform homes across Melbourne as managing director of Lonsdale Building Group.

In 2018, Lonsdale Building Group was also presented with the Master Builders award for Best Renovation/Addition $300,000 - $500,000 for their work on a property in Victoria Street, Windsor.

The project was one of Nick’s proudest achievements to date.

It was a rewarding project for Nick “not because it won the award, but because it was probably the hardest project to date and the most rewarding for the outcome”.

The Windsor home is a blend of early

Australian and Manhattan-style influences, with high ceilings within a compact footprint.

The original red bricks were reused across all four storeys of the new property, which added a modern industrial element and ensured harmony between old and new.

Though a rewarding project, there were challenges from the outset with the home being condemned before purchase.

“The house was derelict when I bought it; there were squatters in there and it was all boarded up, so we gutted everything in the house apart from three walls,” he said.

Nick credits his success in the industry largely to his passion.

“The key to any industry is loving what you do — you’ve got to love getting up on Monday mornings,” he said.

Lonsdale Building Group is now making full use of the marketing opportunities that have come from their 2018 Master Builders award wins.

Having already connected with potential clients through the Master Builders website, it is now a key element in their marketing strategy.

The Lonsdale Building Group team makes use of the support services and marketing that is offered to members of Master Builders Victoria.

“I first joined Master Builders for the legal side of things, but the marketing is incredible,” he said.

Nick Lonsdale behind the scenes of our marketing campaign.

“Being with Master Builders is like having a big brother; you know that you have the backing you need,” Nick said.

“When people are questioning you, you know you can ring someone and find out the answer.”

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

NEWS

ABCC prosecutes CFMMEU for flouting Freedom of Association laws The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against the CFMMEU and one of its shop stewards, for allegedly preventing an electrician and apprentice from working on a Melbourne site because they were not members of a union.

The ABCC alleges the shop steward approached the two workers at the site induction and asked if they were union members and had union tickets showing payment of union fees.

When the electrician responded that they

were not a union-based company and did not have tickets, the steward allegedly said “you guys have to get off site. Here’s a hot tip. If you want to work on a big site like this… you’re going to need to have your union ticket”.

The pair then left the site as requested.

The ABCC alleges that in preventing the employees from working on site, the union has breached the adverse action and misrepresentation provisions in the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act).

Under the adverse action provisions of the FW Act, it is unlawful for a person to take adverse

action against another person on the basis of whether they are, or are not, a member of a union. Master Builders commends the ABCC for its continued efforts to enforce the rule of law in the construction industry and in particular, freedom of association – where it appears some unions believe they have a right to bully and intimidate workers into becoming financial members of that union, as the “price” to be paid to work on particular construction sites.

If proven, the maximum penalty per contravention under the FW Act is $63,000 for a body corporate and $12,600 for an individual.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

FEATURE

Start familiarising yourself with the NCC changes

Tony Bugeja Technical Advisor/Building Surveyor

The 2019 version of the National Construction Code (NCC) became effective as of 1 May, 2019.

This update reflects the first cycle of change since 2016 and the government’s commitment to a new, three-year cycle of revisions.

There are some substantial changes aimed at improving the NCC’s readability and create a level of consistency within its structure, wording and requirements throughout all three volumes.

A number of new verification methods appear throughout the volumes to help quantify decisions when considering performance-based decisions; this is with the intent to reduce poor practices of non-compliance when processing and considering performance solutions.

The following information is an overview of some key changes within the 2019 NCC:

NCC 2019 - Volume 1

Fire resistance New inclusions prescribe non-combustible and combustible products.

Access and egress ■ There are number of changes with regard to

locking devices and signage.

■ New inclusions clarify the method of calculating maximum distances between alternative exits.

Services and equipment ■ Clarification is provided to help quantify when the fire brigade is available to attend to help enable better decisions when certain fire services are to be installed ■ Apartment buildings and other residential-type buildings of four storeys or greater, and that have an effective height of up to 25 metres are required to have sprinklers.

Health and amenity ■ Adult change facilities are now required for consideration in certain building types to enable people to obtain assistance where they cannot use standard accessible facilities independently ■ Wall/floor junctions can be water-resistant rather than waterproof in some WCs and laundries, unless nominated otherwise (which is generally where a floor waste is required) ■ There are new condensation management

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FEATURE bars and restaurants, balconies or similar parts of a building. It is important that there be no confusion with this specific, defined term and that of “open space”.

Energy efficiency This part of the NCC has seen some substantial changes to reduce energy consumption, consistent with the COAG National Energy Productivity Plan. These provisions have a transition period of 12 months, so either the new provisions may be used, or those of the older, 2016 NCC can be adopted for 12 months as of May 1, 2019.

NCC 2019 - Volume 2

provisions included within this part of the NCC. The deemed-to-satisfy provisions are applicable to class-2 and 4 parts of a building. In general, this will require consideration on the following matters: ● The use of pliable membranes in external walls and whether they are required to be vapour-permeable in certain climatic zones ● Flow rate and discharge of exhaust systems ● Ventilation of roof spaces.

The intention of these new provisions is to reduce the likelihood of condensation within a building that could potentially cause health risks and affect the amenity of the occupants.

Ancillary provisions A new feature requires consideration for “occupiable outdoor areas”, such as roof-top

Site preparation There is a new inclusion with regard to retaining walls and the need to comply with AS 4678 for any retaining wall between 800mm and 15m in height.

Masonry ■ The NCC has re-introduced acceptable construction practices for masonry veneer construction and isolated masonry piers.

It is important to note that there are restrictions for use of these provisions and they are not suitable for areas: ● Where the wind speed is N3 or greater ● Where the soil class is not A,S or M ● Where the site is in an alpine area, etc.

Roof and wall cladding ■ This part has now been organised into smaller sub-categories ■ The acceptable construction practices within the NCC are not suitable for use in Victoria, therefore gutters and downpipes must comply with AS 3500.3 ■ There are new requirements for external sheet-wall cladding and parapet capping.

Fire safety ■ There a number of changes throughout this section mainly to clarify the means to achieve compliance.

■ There is some new detailing with regard to the construction of horizontal projections where there are separating walls.

Health and amenity ■ Table 3.8.1.1b has been amended to require wall/floor junctions be water-resistant rather

than waterproofed in WCs and laundries.

■ Condensation management is an entirely new addition to the NCC for all Class 1 buildings. It has been included to reduce the likelihood of risks to health and the amenity of the occupants of the dwelling. In general, this will require consideration on the following matters: ● The use of pliable membranes in external walls and whether they are required to be vapour-permeable in certain climatic zones ● Flow rate and discharge of exhaust systems ● Ventilation of roof spaces.

Ancillary provisions and additional construction requirements ■ There have been a number of incidents in which balconies have failed to perform adequately and caused some detrimental outcomes.

As a result, the NCC is now equipped with some new requirements to address these safety concerns.

■ The new requirements do have limitations (i.e. maximum width, loads, heights, etc.) Should these not be able to be complied with, the design must be carried out by a suitably qualified engineer registered as a Building Practitioner with the VBA. Energy efficiency ■ These provisions have a transition period of 12 months, so either the new provisions may be used, or those of the older, 2016 NCC can be adopted for 12 months as of May 1, 2019.

■ If using the new provisions, the star rating must include separate heating and cooling loads. These loads then need to be assessed for compliance against the ABCB Standard for Nathers Heating and Cooling load limits.

■ There are also further requirements with regard to the sealing of roof lights, and for doors between a class 1a (Dwelling) and Class 10a (Dwelling).

There are further changes included in the 2019 NCCs which have not been summarised in this article.

Refer to the “List of amendments” at the rear of each volume which will identify the changes included throughout each volume of the NCC.

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20

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

NEWS

Tightened right-of-entry rules a step in right direction THE CHANGES ARE A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS A STRONGER AND FAIRER APPROACH The Morrison Government has released a new regulation amending the current Fair Work Regulations 2009 to require union officials who hold Right of Entry (RoE) permits to: ■ Present an ID card in an approved format, that includes a photo of the authorised permit holder and clearly states any relevant permit conditions ■ When presenting Right of Entry notice forms, to incorporate specific acknowledgements of the rights and responsibilities an official has when exercising a right under the Fair Work Act 2009.

The changes are a positive step towards achieving a stronger and fairer approach to rules about union officials entering workplaces.

However, more needs to be done and Master Builders will be asking both major parties to ensure they close the remaining loopholes that building unions regularly exploit.

The building and construction industry is plagued by a history of unions breaching RoE rules, with the list of court cases and penalty decisions growing longer every day.

Since 2015, there have been breaches of RoE rules on construction sites: ■ By 58 individual CFMEU officials ■ At least 189 times ■ Resulting in penalties of almost $3 million (with three further penalty hearings already set for 2019).

While Master Builders is pleased that the Morrison Government has heard the voice of the building industry, small business and sub-contractors, more needs to be done in order to ensure that RoE laws are no longer able to be exploited by union officials in order to get on site to bully and intimidate small businesses and their workers.

A copy of the new regulations can be accessed from the Master Builders website, with the date of commencement 1 July 2019.

Members seeking further information should contact the IR Department on (03) 9411 4560.

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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.

For even more design flexibility, the system offers height adjustment from 17mm to 1070mm, 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.

In commercial urban environments where space is at an ever-higher premium, a building’s roof level is potentially a rich source of usable 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.

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The Buzon Pedestal System is also simple to install. Desired height is achieved by thread adjustment, which is lockable when reached and a 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 of ponding or flooding.

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22

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

GREEN LIVING

Energy efficiency changes to the 2019 NCC

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

23

GREEN LIVING

Dr Philip Alviano Sustainable Building Advisor

On 1 February, 2019 the state energy ministers agreed to the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings (”the Trajectory”), a national plan that sets a path toward zero energy- (and carbon-) ready buildings for Australia.

The Trajectory was developed cooperatively among Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, and identifies cost effective opportunities for energy efficiency improvements throughout the building system, from thermal performance to appliance energy usage and renewable energy generation.

When developing and implementing updates to the NCC, the ABCB will need to consider this strategy. This means increased energy efficiency requirements for buildings into the future.

Measures in the 2019 NCC

Energy efficiency changes for residential and commercial buildings in the 2019 NCC are subject to a one-year transition period from 1 May, 2019, during which time either the NCC 2016 or NCC 2019 requirements may be used.

New heating and cooling load limits for residential buildings using the NatHERS DTS compliance pathway will be required under energy efficiency requirements, as well as new condensation provisions under health and amenity requirements.

Commercial building energy efficiency requirements (Section J) are significantly changed, including new verification methods for NABERS and Green Star.

Further details on changes are listed below and the ABCB will hold information sessions around the country from May, focused specifically on energy efficiency measures for residential and commercial buildings.

Residential requirements

Heating and cooling load limits

PHOTO: RATDRAGONPHOTOGRAPH

New heating and cooling load limits are a key change in the 2019 NCC designed to improve existing performance requirements. The changes include the following: ■ Clarifying that star ratings must include separate heating and cooling loads

■ The definition of house energy rating software has been removed and replaced with prescriptive modelling requirements that standardise modelling inputs for reference buildings ■ Acceptable construction practices identify the need to meet separate heating and cooling load limits, in addition to the required overall NatHERS star rating.

Condensation requirements

Condensation requirements introduced in the 2019 NCC are the first stage of improvements and will be further developed for 2022. These requirements address: ■ For climate zones 6, 7 and 8, the use of sarking materials that breathe, to allow water vapour to move out of cavity spaces (AS 4200.1), or ensure a drained cavity exists ■ Discharge of exhaust systems outside of the building envelope or in a ventilated roof space ■ Ventilation of roofs

Building sealing

In the performance provisions: ■ V2.6.2.3 Verification of building envelope sealing - Compliance with P2.6.1(f) is verified when a building envelope is sealed at an air-leakage permeance rate of not more than 10 m3/hr.m2 at 50 Pa reference pressure when tested in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 9972.

Under DTS – Part 3.12.3 Building Sealing ■ 3.12.3.2 b A roof light required by (a) to be sealed, or capable of being sealed, must be constructed with: (i) an imperforate ceiling diffuser or the like installed at the ceiling or internal lining level; or (A) an imperforate ceiling diffuser or the like installed at the ceiling or internal lining level; or (B) a weatherproof seal; or (C) a shutter system readily operated either manually, mechanically or electronically by the occupant; and (ii) a weatherproof seal; or have all junctions

24

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

GREEN LIVING

between the ceiling or internal lining, framing and architraves sealed with expanding foam, rubber compressible strip, caulking or the like.

■ 3.12.3.3 d. Sealing must be carried out (i) between door and window jambs and the adjoining framing; and (ii) around the cavity framing of cavity sliding doors, with expanding foam, rubber compressible strip, caulking or the like.

■ 3.12.3.5 b Construction required by (a) must be (i) enclosed by internal lining systems that are close fitting at ceiling, wall and floor junctions; or/and (ii) sealed by caulking, skirting, architraves, cornices or the like with expanding foam, rubber compressible strip, caulking or the like at (A) bottom plates or skirting; and (B) cornices and shadow lines; and

(C) gaps around ceiling, wall or floor penetrations.

Commercial requirements

Section J increase in stringency

The changes to Section J are varied and complex. These changes encompass: ■ The Performance Requirement JV1 and the removal of JP2 & 3, inclusion of NABERS ■ The Verification Methods – Inclusion of NABERS and Green Star and a blower door test as verification for building sealing ■ Thermal breaks as part of the calculations for façade R- and U-Values ■ Roofs – maximum solar absorption requirements ■ Roof lights – that form part of building envelope, U-Values (ability to conduct heat, role as thermal break) must be less than 3.9. The lower the U value the better the insulating performance.

●Also SHGC requirements, amount of solar radiation it lets in, the lower the better ■ Façade assessments ■ Windows – increased requirements for glazing, particularly solar heat gain coefficient ■ Insulation - walls with less than a 20 per cent window-to-wall ratio have lower insulation requirements ■ Minimum total r-values for floors ■ Services – general increases in stringency HVCAC, lighting, boilers, etc.

■ Metering - energy meters where required must now link to a system that stores and collates the data to a single interface ■ Individual units within an apartment block to achieve minimum 5 stars and separate heating and cooling loads ■ Air tightness – sealing around lights, doors and windows sealed, and frames ■ Lighting – decreased maximum illumination density (W/m2), more than 50 per cent.

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ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

25

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Health checks on site in three easy steps Incolink has been looking after members’ wellbeing in the commercial building and construction industry for nearly 30 years.

Today, the need to focus our efforts and provide constructive practical health and wellbeing support for construction workers is as strong as ever.

Incolink Health Checks are a three-stage program enabling workers to find out early if they are at risk of any chronic disease like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.

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After the Health Check, workers on each site are asked to vote to receive one health education toolbox, delivered by one of our counsellors, from the following topics: ■ Suicide Awareness ■ Mental Health ■ Drugs and Alcohol ■ Health Tips Employer members can book a Health Check for a site by calling the Incolink Project Co-ordinator on (03) 9668 3013.

For more information about Incolink Health Checks, go to incolink.org.au.

26

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

NEWS

New online system for building permits applications starts in July BUILDING SURVEYORS MUST GO THROUGH PERMIT PROCESS The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is in the process of creating a new Building Activity Management System (BAMS), a new online system for the application and issuing of building permits, commencing on 1 July, 2019.

The introduction of BAMS corresponds with the recent changes to section 18AA of the Building Act 1993, which is to be effective as of the July 1, 2019.

The new changes are: ■ The relevant building surveyor, on accepting an application for a building permit, is required to apply to the VBA for a building permit number ■ The application must: ● Be in a form approved by the VBA, and ● Include an estimate of the cost of

building work and an estimate of the building permit levy, and payable ● Include the prescribed information ■ The relevant building surveyor is able to consider an application for a building permit while waiting for the issuing of the building permit number by the VBA. These changes mean that from July 1, 2019, the VBA will issue a building permit number only to the relevant building surveyor and the subsequent building permit once: ■ The building permit levy is paid ■ Information required in the form is provided ■ Any information as required by the Building Regulations is provided.

As such, these changes mean that the relevant Building Surveyor is no longer able to issue a

building permit without going through the above process.

It is extremely important that the information provided to the relevant building surveyor when lodging an application for a building permit is fully completely detailed and includes the prescribed information and cost of building work.

The Building Act does include prescribed time frames for the VBA to process an application for a building permit number; it is likely that this process may cause some delays for building permit applications to be issued by the relevant building surveyor.

For more information on the Building Activity Management System, contact the VBA on 1300 815 127.

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

27

NEWS

More investment in building and construction needed to prevent slowdown in economic growth DEMAND FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION MAIN ECONOMIC DRIVER ABS Gross Domestic Product (GDP) results for Australia for the December 2018 quarter shows the economy grew by 0.2 per cent during the quarter – short of the expected 0.4 per cent.

By and large, the shortfall in quarterly GDP growth is attributed to the decline in construction activity, seen in the fall in new home building activity, renovations, non-residential construction, and exports.

As such, the resulting weak quarterly GDP growth may provide the impetus for the RBA to

cut interest rates.

In contrast, Victoria performed well. State final demand for Victoria for the December 2018 quarter grew by 0.6 per cent and this follows the 0.6 per cent increase in the September 2018 quarter.

Despite the declines in the construction of residential dwellings, strong growth in demand for non-residential construction was one of the main drivers for Victoria’s growth in state final demand for the last quarter.

While the Victorian economy is doing well relative to the national aggregate, the recent decline in demand for new-home building is a cautionary sign to the Victorian State Government that building and construction must be at the forefront of its economic policies.

Indeed, building and construction represents a significant portion of the Victorian economy, with the industry being the largest full-time employer and the second-largest in terms of total goods and services delivered in the state.

28

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

INSURANCE

Professional Indemnity insurance market changes

Joe Keiper State Manager Victoria, MBAIS

Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance protects you against claims arising from your professional services or advice.

PI cover protects you in the event that any acts, errors, omission or breaches of professional duty result in financial loss for third

parties.

Traditionally, for builders, these claims would most often relate to building designs or design modifications.

More recently, the majority of large losses are now related to the building products themselves, rather than the design.

Over recent years, there has been significant change within the building industry, with many of these changes resulting in increased exposure for builders for professional services/advice, even if obtained externally.

A few of these changes have more directly affected builders, like the increase in design and construct contracts in the commercial sector, resulting in PI cover now being a common contractual obligation.

Other changes have resulted in builders being involved in litigation due to allegations of vicarious liability, where builders are held responsible for claims arising as a result of the actions of their consultants or subcontractors.

The area causing by far the largest concern within the insurance industry is the emergence of new building products and subsequent claims related to suitability.

Within Australia, there have been several large claims for losses related to waffle slabs, electrical cabling and, of course, cladding.

Insurers are continuing to increase premiums and minimise their exposure to large losses, and it’s critical that builders understand the importance of having the right PI policy in place.

Insurers are responding with very different exclusions related to product specification.

These differences range from excluding only non-compliant cladding, to excluding any and all non-compliant/conforming products, or even excluding any claims related to products not being fit for purpose.

Understanding what exclusion applies to your policy, and how this can affect your business is critical to ensure you avoid an uninsured loss.

Aside from carefully reviewing any applicable exclusions, your policy limit is very important to have at the right level.

Many limits are ‘costs inclusive’ which means that any legal defence costs form part of the limit.

‘Costs exclusive’ policies provide legal defence costs over and above the policy limit, effectively providing you with additional cover.

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

29

INSURANCE When establishing an appropriate limit for your cover, we recommend considering which type of limit you have in place, in order to ensure legal defence costs don’t erode the level of cover required.

Across the construction industry more broadly, premium increases and policy exclusions are also now often being applied to the PI insurance for industry professionals, including building surveyors, architects and engineers.

While these costs will likely be passed onto builders, it’s important to ensure you request insurance at an appropriate level for your projects, and to seek legal advice on your consultant agreements, which should contractually confirm the responsibilities of all parties involved.

Importantly, your PI policy should be arranged to provide cover for your contractual obligations, with novated designs a particular issue which is often not covered under a PI policy unless specifically requested.

With significant uncertainty generating volatility in the PI insurance market expected to continue for some time, MBA Insurance Services suggests that you specifically review your exposures and business activities, and ensure you have the right protection in place for your business.

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30

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

LEGAL

Be warned: ‘owner-builders’ are not the same as builders VCAT decision

Tristan Moseley Senior Manager, Legal

Many builders, registered or not, still believe they can work for a domestic owner-builder as a subcontractor without being subject to the usual domestic builder requirements. They cannot.

If a builder is completing more than $10,000 worth of domestic building work for an owner-builder, they must have in place a major domestic building contract like the Master Builders New Homes, Home Improvements or Minor Works contracts.

And don’t forget that if the work is over $16,000, domestic home owners’ warranty insurance is also required.

Without the correct contract and required insurance, you are committing offences and risking of huge fines and loss of registration (if registered), or loss of the opportunity to become registered (if not already).

If the builder has not complied with these requirements under the law, then the owner may use that non-compliance as a negotiation tool in any disputes and try to gain a discount from the final payment.

In the 2016 matter of Owusu-Afriyie [Owner-Builder] v Panoramic Structures and Pools Pty Ltd (Building and Property) [2016] VCAT 485 the Tribunal confirmed the legal position above.

In this case, a husband and wife purchased a block of land in Diamond Creek and obtained a building permit, with them noted as owner-builders, for a three-level home.

There were numerous contractors engaged to do various stages of the work, but only one contractor, a DBU, used a Master Builders’ New Homes contract and obtained warranty insurance.

Panoramic, another contractor, was engaged directly by the Owner-Builder to undertake concrete works as a ‘subcontractor’.

The agreement was confirmed in a two-page handwritten quote signed by the parties (the “Contract”). Panoramic did not provide warranty insurance.

Soon after completion of the concrete works, the Owner-Builder brought an action alleging that some of the works were of poor quality and had not been carried out as agreed.

The Owner-Builder claimed the Contract was a domestic building contract for the purposes of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (the “DBCA”) and that the works were accordingly subject to the builders’ warranties under section 8 of the DBCA.

Was Panoramic a subcontractor or a builder?

Panoramic argued that the Contract was a sub-contract rather than a domestic building contract under the DBCA. Under the DBCA, a domestic building contract is defined as ‘a contract to carry out, or to arrange or manage the carrying out of, domestic building work other than a contract between a builder and a sub-contractor’.

A sub-contractor is defined as ‘a person who enters into a contract with a builder to carry out part of the work that is to be carried out under a domestic building contract.’

The Tribunal did not accept Panoramic’s argument because there was no builder with a domestic building contract between Panoramic

and the Owner Builder, and Panoramic could only be a subcontractor if the Contract works were part of works under an existing domestic building contract.

Unregistered builders cannot do major domestic building for an owner-builder

Pursuant to the DBCA and the Building Act 1993 unregistered builders cannot do domestic building work worth over $10,000 for an owner-builder.

The combined penalty of these offences is almost $100,000.

This means an unregistered builder doing work over $10,000 not only faces a significant fine but also may be prevented from becoming a registered practitioner in the future.

Owner-builders must use registered builders

Since 1 July, 2017, owner-builders are guilty of an offence if they engage a non-qualified builder or trade without a fully compliant major domestic building contract and corresponding Domestic Building Warranty Insurance.

The penalty is around $9000 for the first offence and $19,000 in the case of second or subsequent offence.

This new offence provision along with range of measures was introduced to crack down on owner-builders (on the back of significant lobbying by Master Builders).

Since then, VBA data has shown a consistent decline in the number of owner-builders from nearly 9000 in 2015/16 to just over 5000 in 2017/18 and is expected to continue to decline.

For more information call Master Builders’ Legal Department on (03) 9411 4555.

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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LEGAL

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32

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

OHS

Peter Sackett Editor

You’d be hard pressed to find a member of the team at Master Builders Victoria who doesn’t feel as though they’re on the front lines of the building and construction industry at one time or another.

The small crew of the Occupational Health and Safety department, however, can probably lay claim to logging more hours there than almost anyone else with a desk at 332 Albert Street. Their shoes,without fail, are the dirtiest.

The OHS team involves themselves with the full spectrum of safety issues and concerns of Master Builders members. These include, but are not limited to on-site safety assessments, advice on legislative compliance, help with OHS management systems, education around Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and small business consultancy. Seldom does the full range of these services fit tidily into standard work hours, and often times they are fraught with the challenges of managing misinformation and minimising stress among our members.

Leading the team is James Curtin, who has been with Master Builders Victoria since 2014.

James works as part of a team of five, including OHS advisors Sam Smith and Maria Lastra, and administrator Kim Godfrey. It’s a small but dedicated crew, with all hands on deck each day.

“Our industry is very special,” James says. “It is filled with people who are trying to solve problems – be that conceiving a design for a client, finalising a construction methodology or overseeing high-risk work. For me, this is the source of my greatest satisfaction in this role.”

“Safety is about people, first and foremost,” James says. “To that end, safety includes helping people solve complex problems, quickly and effectively, so they can succeed in their business and keep their people safe. And that means we’re on work sites as often as we are in the office.”

Master Builders Victoria has recently undergone a team reorganisation, with a focus on streamlining what CEO Rebecca Casson viewed as a top-heavy managerial framework.

The result is a team now better positioned to

Safety net:the small but effective OHS team at Master Builders Victoria deliver the support and services members need.

The timing for this is of key importance given the abundance of issues that face the building and construction industry in 2019 and the need to keep members not only evenly and fairly represented, but informed about how changes affect them, and equipped with the service and knowledge they need to operate successfully.

Among the most contentious issues is the Andrews Government’s pledge to introduce workplace manslaughter laws. As the leading voice in the building and construction industry, Master Builders was given a seat at the table of the Workplace Manslaughter Implementation Taskforce. And though it is Rebecca who sits on the committee, she relies on expert information prepared by James, as well as other departments.

Master Builder’s strategy in pressing for the best outcomes for our members is nuanced, but the OHS department’s contribution is focussed squarely on measures that willimprove safety and preserve the resources that help achieve it.

James and his colleagues also take a vigilant

stance to the consequences of a potential dismantling of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). This stems in part from the likelihood that ‘safety concerns’ would be used more frequently by a less-supervised CFMMEU as justification for unlawful behaviour and worksite disruption.

Oftentimes, it helps to highlight the fact that protection and improvement of safety has a fundamental connection to nurturing the health of the industry itself.

It’s not uncommon for members to join Master Builders for access to OHS advice and support alone, such is the value of having the team in your corner before and after the fact.

“One thing that our members can count on is that we have your back,” James says. “We know how challenging it is to run a business and we’re here to help you get it right.”

To make certain you’re getting the most from your membership, share your OHS questions with the Master Builders team on (03) 9411 4555. We’ll be able to get you the answers and solutions you need.

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

33

OHS

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

NEWS

New data on construction work shows national decline, Victoria remaining steady

ISSUE 02, 2019

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NEWS New ABS data reveals that for the December 2018 quarter, the total volume of construction across Australia fell by 3.1 per cent, resulting in an overall decline of 2.6 per cent in 2018.

Victoria fared much stronger, in which it experienced a decline of only 1.1 per cent for the December 2018 quarter and an overall strong increase of 15.1 per cent for 2018.

Such growth in 2018 significantly surpasses that of the national volume and of the other states and territories.

This is largely stemming from Victoria’s strong engineering construction activity seen in infrastructure projects like the Melbourne Metro Rail project and the Westgate Tunnel, and strong housing demand caused by robust population growth.

The information below summarises activity for each construction sector.

‘‘

Residential building in Australia set a new record in 2018, recording a growth of 4.2 per cent, reaching $77.7 billion for the year.

Nevertheless, such growth included declines in the September and December 2018 quarters, where residential building activity declined by 1.8 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively.

The initial strong growth in this sector was largely stemming from home building approvals that commenced in 2017 – prior to the

the increase in housing demand caused by Victoria’s strong population growth.

Residential building

tightening of credit standards and the Royal Commission into banking activity.

Victoria experienced a decline of 1.2 per cent in the December 2018 quarter and an overall increase of 8.9 per cent for 2018.

Much of the increase was induced by apartment developments and is a reflection of

The initial strong growth in this sector was largely stemming from home building approvals that commenced in 2017 – prior to the tightening of credit standards and the Royal Commission into banking activity.

”

Non-residential building

Last year saw a strong national non-residential construction sector which grew by 1.9 per cent during the December 2018 quarter and 4.9 per

cent during 2018 overall, thus making 2018 the best year ever for non-residential building work.

This is supported largely by population growth which boosted consumer spending.

This is no less reflected in Victoria, in which its non-residential construction sector experienced a growth of 2.9 per cent for the December 2018 quarter and a growth of 9.6 per cent overall for 2018.

Engineering construction

Nationally, engineering construction is on the decline, with a five per cent drop during the December 2018 quarter and an overall decline of 12.4 per cent for 2018.

Despite heavy state government investment in infrastructure projects in states like Victoria, this was overshadowed by weakness in mining infrastructure investment in Western Australia and the tapering off of NBN activity.

Notwithstanding the level of national engineering construction activity, Victoria, as discussed before, is experiencing strong growth in engineering construction activity.

Despite the 4.1 per cent decline in the December 2018 quarter, Victoria leads the states and territories in engineering construction with an overall growth of 30.5 per cent for 2018.

Infrastructure projects like the Melbourne Metro Rail project and the Westgate Tunnel are the main factors for this.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

SOCIALS

MASTER BUILDERS

OUT & ABOUT

ABOVE: Rained out, but with spirits undampened, race day in Albury is a community tradition and the perfect occasion to support our local team and the members they serve.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

We had a productive catch-up with Michel Masson, CEO of Infrastructure Victoria, to discuss opportunities for Master Builders to collaborate in determining infrastructure and growth in the regions; LEFT: Rebecca meets with the Hon Jill Hennessy, Attorney General and Minister for Workplace Safety, to discuss issues like workplace manslaughter.

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SOCIALS

Anna Cronin, Red Tape Commissioner and Victoria's first Commissioner for Better Regulation met with Rebecca in February.

We welcomed Cressida Wall, Executive Director of Property Council Australia, for a post-lunch catch-up.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

SOCIALS

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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SOCIALS

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

SOCIALS

ALL: The Town Hall Strategy Session allowed the board, council and Master Builders team to begin plotting a fresh course for future-readiness.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Why you should engage a specialist for your next outdoor kitchen project LimeTree Alfresco specialise in creating outdoor kitchen environments that are ‘built for a lifetime of outdoor entertaining’. We aim to improve outdoor living, by providing the customer with quality products. With 25 years in the building industry and 400+ projects completed, the company have been refining the raw materials that go into creating your alfresco kitchen with the best quality guaranteed.

LimeTree Alfresco will work with you to design your ideal alfresco kitchen suiting your individual needs. From bench and cupboard space to the fridge, splash backs and appliances, we can provide you with it all. Our management and installation team have over 100 years combined experience in the building industry that we bring to all our Outdoor Kitchen project installations.

Designed to sustain any weather conditions Alfresco Kitchens specialise in building outdoor entertainment that is durable to all weather conditions, so your options aren’t limited. Whatever design you go with, our installations are built to withstand the elements throughout every season, with heat and water-resistant materials that can stay out in the

open without shelter, and still retain quality over time. This helps reduce your maintenance needs and means your alfresco kitchen is ready to be enjoyed when the weather permits.

Compliance Regulations around outdoor kitchens are changing regularly. Clearances to combustible materials, adequate ventilation and a minimum 1200mm clearance to BBQ rangehoods are just some regulations that have changed recently. As a specialist we are constantly on top of key compliance requirements.

Versatile Design While there are countless options of kitchen cabinets and kits available with LimeTree Alfresco, there are endless ways to design an open-air kitchen and we will tailor our service to effectively use the space available. Complete customisation is well within our capability and we can add the final touch to the overall aesthetic range of different colours and finishes.

Outdoor Living with BBQ Kitchens Outdoor kitchens are our life. We live and breathe the Aussie BBQ and bringing it into the modern era of design and function. We can individualise each kitchen to our customer’s needs with variety of options to effectively build

the perfect outdoor alfresco. From a fridge and sinks to waterproof cabinets, the area can be fully customised to meet all requirements and achieve the ultimate in open-air leisure and entertainment.

Alfresco Kitchens Fully featured Outdoor Kitchens with all the bells and whistles. You’ll never need to use your indoor kitchen again! We can help you plan a layout and help with inspiration to compliment your home in the best way possible. From waterproof cabinets to BBQ areas, we can design the space however you like. Whether you want to relax or entertain, our team has the expertise and experience to create a variety of outstanding alfresco outdoor kitchens to transform your Melbourne home.

Warranties When sourcing our raw materials and products for our outdoor kitchen projects, a key factor in procurement is the warranty offered on a particular material, finish or appliance. All BBQS built in must have a minimum of a 10 year firebox warranty as an example. UV stability and moisture proof warranties of a minimum 10 years are now standard manufacturers inclusions on all of our exterior surfaces.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY

Sector committees meet All four of the committees came together to discuss a number of shared issues.

There were sound reasons for the Housing, Country, and MM&S Sector committees to come together for a shared and very well attended first meeting of 2019. A large proportion of issuesare shared among the three groups, and it provided an opportunity for members of different sectors to exchange their sector-based perspectives with one another to generate some fresh ideas.

The meeting welcomed three new chairs: Mark Little of the Country Sector Committee, Sam Cimino of the MM&S Sector Committee and Paul McMahon of the Housing Sector Committee who directedthe meeting. The committees had also attracted other new participants including Mark Phillips of Bunnings and Andrew Healey of Bowens, both elected to the MM&S Sector Committee last year.

Paul McMahon opened the meeting, welcoming CEO Rebecca Casson, who provided an overview ofthe upcoming Town Hall Strategy Session in March. This was of particular interest to thecommittees, since they were eager to play an integral role in helping Master Builders put building and construction at the forefront of the State Government’s priorities for the coming year.

The mood sobered when the meeting turned

its focus on the numerous challenges facing the industry in the current economic climate. There is a great deal of concern about declining demand for homes and apartments and the outcome of the royal commission into banking.

And adding to committee concerns was the prospect of workplace manslaughter legislation, promised by Labor during the last state election, and the effect it will have on businesses, and small business in particular. This helped to galvanise the committees’ determination to fervently oppose its introduction and simultaneously look for ways to help shape the best possible outcome given the likelihood of passage.

The shortage of quality trades people is a continuing concern among the sector committees, with broad agreement that solutions must be provided to address this, and that the recent passage of legislation for mandatory trades registration was bringing the industry one step closer to helping ensure a standard of quality among the structural trades.

It was recognised there are still many details to be worked out, particularly since the actual legislation that was passed was much broader in scope than that for which Master Builders advocated, and risked feasibility.

The General Contracting and Specialist Contractor Sector Committee had their joint meeting a week later, to discuss issues specific to the commercial side of the building and construction industry.

Issues often cross over between these two committees, so they are regularly paired for meetings.

Ian Hawkey of the Specialist group, along with Geoff Purcell of the General Contracting group, returned as Chairs, with Geoff directing the meeting. This meeting was also the first as full Sector Committee members for a number of those attending, including Dale Kennedy from the General Contracting group and Greg Cole of the Specialist group.

The meeting began with addressing contentious topics such as security of payment, with both committees agreeing that an industry-backed, holistic solution must be created for the betterment of both sector interest groups. Despite its potential to become a polarising discussion, it was noteworthy to see that both committees understood the need for collaboration and understanding to deliver practical solutions for this.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

NEW MEMBERS

MASTER BUILDERS

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

Master Builders is pleased to welcome the following new members who joined the association between January and April 2019.

General Contractor Altiset Constructions Pty Ltd Bolden Constructions Pty Ltd Concrete Construction Systems Pty Ltd Manresa Constructions Pty Ltd Vanpelt Building Group Pty Ltd

General Contractor Provisional David Hamilton Property Group Pty Ltd Envirovolt Johnson Li Peter Newland Yuz Pty Ltd

Housing

Aleez Homes Pty Ltd Alinor Group Const. & Dev. Pty Ltd Archibuilt Pty Ltd Athanasios Tsakonas Balla Constructions Pty Ltd Baypoint Projects Pty Ltd Big Dream Homes Pty Ltd Carringvale Pty Ltd Go Build Renovations Henny Pty Ltd Henty Building Group Pty Ltd Homeland Building Inner North Carpentry Pty Ltd Jetman Holdings Pty Ltd Kenrik Constructions Pty Ltd Lacon Homes Pty Ltd Mercs Projects & Developments Pty Ltd ORRO Group Paragon Building Group Pty Ltd Quinn Built Rcon Business Group Pty Ltd Rollmeyer Developments Pty Ltd Rudyard Pty Ltd Ryan Parkes Carpentry Scavo Constructions Pty Ltd Schilco Construction Pty Ltd Stelcon Property Group Pty Ltd The Carbonist Pty Ltd

Housing Provisional Advanced Building Concepts Airth Construction Allan Clarke Altitude Building Pty Ltd Amon Thai Eatery Pty Ltd Australian Elegant Homes Pty Ltd AXL Constructions Barucija Building Group BAS Building Solutions Pty Ltd Beaumade Builds Ben Wilson Caristo Construction Group Pty Ltd Ceilao Constructions Darryl Geyle Dormic Group Pty Ltd Emerald Design & Construction Pty Ltd EON Homes F & T Development Group Pty Ltd Fat Tsoi Gavin Lascelles Greater Electrical Pty Ltd

Homeworks Construction & Home Maintenance Infinity Partnership Pty Ltd Irvine Builders Pty Ltd Jakob Sesto Keith Carapyen Kings Elite Construction LCT Carpentry Services Mathieu Gervais Matthew Marsili MJC Building Services Pty Ltd MWJ Construction O2 Architects Option Homes Australia Osborne Coastal Pty Ltd Peninsula Building Group Pty Ltd Pillifeant Builders Right Edge Constructions Pty Ltd Sarah Carlson SD Constructions Shigang Yin Southern Victorian Contracting Spectacular Homes Thomas Ian Nixon Housing Sub-Contractor

BJZ Carpentary & Property Maintenance Filip Kljajic Master Tradesman Built By Al Pty Ltd Fulham & Chelsea Building Services Pty Ltd Laidlaw Building Pty Ltd O2N Construction Platinum Property Services (Vic) Pty Ltd Reign Building Solutions Pty Ltd Thwaites Constructions Pty Ltd Master Tradesman Provisional A & L Bathroom Renovations Buffalo Built Welding Services Cabinets By Jarryd Wilson Capeview Construction David James Landscape Family Home Renovations Hector Family Construction Jayde Sweeney La Mar Carpentry Solutions Luke Carland Michael Read Michaelis Construction MJP Building Solutions Multi Level Maintenance Pty Ltd Vamp Tiling Wormyz Pty Ltd Zenith Heights Industries Pty Ltd Materials, Manufacturing & Supply Plastic Solutions Australia Pty Ltd Proglazed Windows & Doors Pty Ltd Weatherall Windows Pty Ltd

Specialist Contractor

Convic Pty Ltd Deague Group Pty Ltd Gentile Earthworks Hannemann Building Group Pty Ltd Inner City Refrigeration Services Pty Ltd Metropolitan Essential Services Pty Ltd Osmo Constructions Pty Ltd Permawall PROAS Pty Ltd Ryman Healthcare (Australia) P/L Spire Access & Rigging Pty Ltd Sureform Systems

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

FINANCE

Smart ways to avoid project management pitfalls ‘sanity-check’ your expectations and accept the timelines as their own.

If the construction program exceeds the client’s deadline, you need to add resources, cut the scope or negotiate a new end date.

Skilled and competent team members

Harry Pontikis Manager, MBA Financial Services

Projects of all sizes in the building industry often lack adequate financing or financial management, lack of planning and do not have adequately skilled people in key management roles.

Meaningful targets, reports and measures are not at the forefront of people’s objectives meaning on time / on budget and quality work is sometimes compromised.

These deficiencies apply to small building companies and large construction companies equally.

Having analysed the numbers of building companies for more than 16 years as the Manager of Master Builders Financial Services, I have found some common themes which absorb the profit margins of projects and put companies under immense pressure.

Unrealistic targets and deadlines

One of the biggest contributors to a project’s failure is unrealistic targets and deadlines.

This sets the project up for failure from the start.

If you are the owner and also the person who sets the program, your expectations often tend to be unrealistic, bolstered by attitudes such as, “if I were running this project, I could do it much faster, build it in half the time, etc.”

Part of a project’s success is setting the right expectations for the stakeholders.

Give yourself a buffer from the client and then see if you can build in some buffer with the construction program as well.

Under-promising and over-delivering is always a more pleasant situation to be in.

Involve your construction manager, project manager or whoever is second in command to

Projects depend on the competency, skills, qualifications and experience of the managers assigned to keep the project on time, on budget and at the quality standards required.

Often, site supervisors or even project managers are excellent tradespeople who have done their time on the tools and been promoted to a management or supervisory role without any relevant training or coaching.

This is a sure-fire way to ensure the project encounters problems unnecessarily and puts the critical paths and on-time completion at risk.

Financial resources

Builders of all sizes take on projects which they cannot afford to run.

The finances required to meet a shortfall of claims or blow-outs in operating expenses are only considered when cash flow runs low.

Misplaced optimism about the team’s ability to meet payment claim milestones or the willingness of banks, quantity surveyors or even clients to pay often leaves builders unstuck and under significant financial pressure.

This leads to builders looking for innovative ways to move projects forward to be able to claim the next stage payment which may, in turn, uncover other difficulties and challenges which have not been planned for.

Having multiple projects running concurrently and under similar circumstances can quickly spiral the company into significant financial pressure, which can be terminal during these financial times.

Unclear objectives

Ensuring that all team members have clear targets and key performance indicators in place is often overlooked, but critical to the success of a project.

Having these targets aligned to the smart principle of goal setting and aligned to the successful delivery of the project is a non-negotiable outcome.

All relevant team members need to have clarity as to a project’s goals and objectives, responsible parties, timing, deliverables and budget.

Lack of meaningful reporting

Projects without clear programs that articulate

the cash-flow requirements week by week, and then do not flow into expected claims, cause massive issues for building companies.

Having the clarity of knowing what is meant to happen on site, how much will need to be paid out and what money is expected to be received sounds like a logical requirement for a building practice, but is often lacking.

Poorly-conceived project plan

A project without a plan is like taking a road trip to a new destination without checking the map.

Take the time to think through all of the tasks that must be performed to satisfy your project requirements.

This is definitely relevant to smaller projects like extensions and renovations, not just new builds or big projects.

A well-conceived project plan should not only list the tasks to be completed but answer questions such as ■ How long will it take to perform each task?

■ In what order should the tasks be performed?

■ Are there tasks that can be performed in parallel?

■ What tasks affect the critical path and milestones?

■ Who should be assigned to the critical task, and are they available?

Creating a realistic project plan requires

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FINANCE

consulting with your team members and getting them to check your expectations and sign-up to their ability to achieve the milestones.

Scope creep

Scope creep typically happens as a result of missing requirements or an insufficient change-management process.

Even in the best projects, scope may need to change when new information is received or conditions change.

To handle scope creep, first assess how the change will affect the project’s scope, budget and timeline.

If the project timeline cannot be expanded, will adding more resources or decreasing scope keep the project on track?

Once the effect has been assessed, document the change and its effects and then present the trade-offs to your project sponsor and other stakeholders for their approval and sign-off.

Inadequate resources

It’s been shown time and again that overtime has a negative effect on the quality of project deliverables.

Don’t expect your team to make up for a lack of resources.

Also, be aware that paying people to do work under overtime conditions may nudge teams to work slower because they get paid more money for doing their job.

Consider these conflicted objectives and outcomes so that when you’re developing your project schedule you consider: ■ Holidays and other time out of the office ■ Concurrent project demands ■ Meetings, time tracking and other responsibilities that will affect their availability to do project work ■ Allocating time-frames for the start and end of activities on site.

Poor communication

At the centre of team collaboration is communication.

It is important to keep the communication flowing at all times, as a lack of it can detract from the quality of your deliverables and lead to missed dates.

Choose the right medium for your communicating with your team.

Phone calls, emails and texts all have a place and purpose but are not interchangeable and often do not translate into effective communication.

Schedule regular check-ins with the team.

The frequency of your meeting schedule will depend in part on the tools you are using to track your project tasks and the complexity of your project.

If you utilise a project management tool that enables team members to update their status in

real time, post questions and comments, and track their time, you can reduce the number and frequency of your meetings.

Lack of accountability

You and your team are responsible for the success or the failure of the projects you undertake.

Accountability requires both transparency and communication.

Team members are more likely to follow through on their commitments if their progress is visible and they are responsible for reporting the status of their tasks.

Meet regularly with the project team to review project status and deal with any roadblocks that are affecting the team’s ability to complete its tasks.

Conclusion

The measure of success of an individual project is not the absence of issues, but the ability to identify and resolve issues as early as possible.

As the manager, your understanding and avoidance of common pitfalls in managing project teams will help you achieve greater success with delivering your projects in scope and on time.

For assistance with the financial management of your projects or company, contact Harry Pontikis on 0411 258 058 or harry@mbafinance.com.au.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

MEMBERSHIP

MASTER BUILDERS

MEMBER BENEFITS

NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE (NCC) 2019 PRE-ORDERS

ISSUE 02, 2019

ISSUE 02, 2019

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MEMBERSHIP

Laura Jubb Reception Team Leader The National Construction Code (NCC) provides the minimum necessary requirements for safety, health, amenity and sustainability in the design and construction of new buildings (and new building work in existing buildings) throughout Australia, so it is of little wonder that the NCC is considered the ‘builders’ Bible’ among those in the industry.

But did you know the NCC is updated every three years?

It is important to know that the NCC changes as

of 1 May. The previous edition was 2016, so 2019 will see the new updated version released.

Previews of each NCC are available to download free of charge from the ABCB website www.abcb.gov.au.

You will need to register a few basic details to access the downloads.

Hard copies are available through Master Builders Victoria. To register your interest, please call (03) 9411 4555 or email shop@mbav.com.au with your name, mobile number and which NCC you require: • NCC Volume 1 – Domestic • NCC Volume 2 – Commercial • NCC Volume 3 – Plumbing • NCC Performance Requirements • NCC Guide to Volume 1 • NCC Volume 1 and 2 • NCC Full Set (five books) Everyone who expresses their interest will receive an email or phone call with further details about costs and delivery dates.

As an added incentive to register early, each Master Builders member who pre-orders their copies of the 2019 NCCs will receive one free e-contract. Domestic members can choose either one Home Improvement Contract or one New Homes Contract. Commercial members can choose either one General Conditions of Contract GCC6 or one Subcontract SC8.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

MEMBER PROFILE

MASTER BUILDERS

MEMBER PROFILE GRIND AND SEAL POLISHED CONCRETE

ISSUE 02, 2019

ISSUE 02, 2019

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MEMBER PROFILE

Grind and Seal is one of Melbourne's oldest and most respected concrete polishing specialists, with over 17 years in the field and thousands of floors polished.

Clients benefit from Grind and Seal’s high-level skill sets, depth of knowledge and the ability to “read” each concrete floor and compile an individual formula to attain the best finish possible for each particular floor.

Tailor-designed solutions

What sets Grind and Seal apart from other businesses in the industry is that they don’t use a set brand system, but instead have a technique, relying on hand-picked and chosen products which are best for your particular floor.

They deliver a complete package that tailors a solution to your floor’s needs, to achieve the best possible result.

This ability to tailor-design recipes for floors rather than using a one-size-fits-all methodology delivers consistent quality results.

Why is this needed?

Anyone who has worked with concrete knows that all concrete is not the same.

It’s possible to follow standard processes and yet not achieve the properties and appearance

for which polished concrete flooring is known and desired in homes, businesses and industrial settings.

Concrete is not a perfectly engineered system, due to an infinite number of factors: excessive watering or rain damage during the pour, placement of aggregate, footprints, and sand used in the mix.

Factors such as these affect the texture, so a totally new slab can be full of air pockets (pin holes) and be sandy and brittle.

Old or existing concrete can have these issues and more, which can be difficult to define before work starts.

Old slabs have been found filled with wheat grains, wood, leaves, curing compounds giving staining, foreign objects…the list continues.

Manageable solutions for those in the industry

As a builder or client, you’ll know that a lack of knowledge can create problems which can create delays, declining profits, or sky-rocketing expenses.

Depth of knowledge and breadth of experience in your contractors is invaluable, delivering reliability, quality results and a great

experience for all.

Grind and Seal operates in Melbourne and surrounds, encompassing residential, retail, commercial and industrial.

Providing mechanically polished concrete, grind and seals and surface preparation services, you’ll value the results our depth of specialist knowledge, skill and workmanship bring to the table.

Don’t wait. Give them a call or send through your building plans for a formalised quotation to enquiries@grindandseal.com.au or request a site visit, or phone (03) 9543 5252.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

PEST CONTROL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Prevent pests with proper protection Regular pest control treatments are the right approach to deter annoying and sometimes dangerous pests.

It is better to not wait until breeding seasons are at its peak — protect your home with long lasting preventative treatments that have lasting residual and repellent components.

Unfortunately, many pest infestations go unnoticed for a very long time, especially over autumn and winter, and home occupiers only become aware of a pest problem after they see damage or evidence of pest activity.

Autumn is the ideal time to get an annual general pest service.

The residual treatments will last into the warmer months and reduce the risk of infestations.

However, if you are aware of problem areas, every six months is recommended.

It is also important not to forget an annual termite inspection too.

This will allow early detection of termites and highlight potential problem areas in and around a home.

It is normal to see some pests within the first two weeks of a pest control treatment.

Modern products can be slow working, but they are very effective.

If ants were treated, home owners may still

see a few inside their homes.

These are likely ‘scouts’ from other colonies and should succumb to the treatment within time.

If the home is part of a unit block or similar, freedom from pests may depend on the infestation of any adjoining premises.

It is best to speak to neighbours and recommend they get professional pest treatments as well for further prevention.

To ensure the effectiveness of any treatment there are recommendations for external cleaning.

Do not wash patios or paths for one to two days and do not remove external spider webs for five to seven days.

The ideal solution is to opt for preventive pest control services to identify potential pest problems before they turn into major infestations.

Providing long-term termite protection We have a suite of pre-construction termite systems to protect your project; whether it’s an extension, renovation or new home, on a concrete slab, bearers or joist. Rentokil can provide long-term termite protection for you.

1300 855 822

rentokil.com.au/termites

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

Code changes present new opportunities Proposed changes to the 2019 National Construction Code (NCC) include expanding the range of buildings in which fire-protected timber construction systems can be used up to an effective height of 25m and requiring sprinkler systems to be fitted to all Class 2 and 3 mid-rise buildings, regardless of material, (with accompanying concessions).

In 2016, a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution was introduced to the NCC permitting, for the first time, construction in fire-protected timber building systems to an effective height of 25 metres for Class 2 and 3 buildings.

In the 2019 edition, these concessions will be extended to include all other Classes of building.

Timber building systems include traditional stick or lightweight framing and the newer mass timber options, including cross laminated timber (CLT), laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and glue laminated timber (glulam).

The new changes will mean that designers, developers and builders can use timber building systems from Classes 2 to 9, including 9a, 9c, 5 and 6.

‘‘

...sprinkler systems would substantially enhance fire safety and the cost of putting sprinklers in would be significantly offset by greater flexibility provided by new concessions for sprinkler protected Class 2 and 3 buildings.

In effect, it opens the door to a wide range of options and combinations, for example, designers can now create a timber residential building with lower levels used for office space or retail.

Another change to the Code will require all Class 2 and 3 buildings four stories or above in height, to be sprinkler protected.

According to fire engineer Paul England, managing director of EFT consulting, sprinkler systems would substantially enhance fire safety and the cost of putting sprinklers in would be significantly offset by greater flexibility provided by new concessions for sprinkler protected Class 2 and 3 buildings.

These new concessions include some reductions in fire resistance levels and extended travel distances which will translate to potentially improving lettable space within buildings.

Paul provided the example of a building that will now require one fire stairway, whereas it previously might have required two.

He pointed out that there are also modifications to hydrant protection that may also deliver cost savings, further offsetting the additional cost of sprinkler protection.

If you have a mid-rise project in the pipeline, there’s never been a better time to consider timber.

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TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

Weathertex 75mm creates waves Weathertex’s strikingly modern 75mm architectural panel is the company’s slimmest profile yet and is sure to be in hot demand as builders, renovators and designers across Australia embrace the finishes this groovy product creates.

Bang on trend and fusing minimalist style with the strength of natural timber, Weathergroove 75mm doubles the grooves of Weathertex’s popular 150mm weatherboard while retaining every measure of durability and safety.

Weathertex’s Managing Director Jason O’Hagan said this unique product pushes the boundaries of what’s possible for every kind of dream home and project.

“We are really excited to bring our slim and groovy cladding to the Australian market.

There’s a growing demand for slim-profile architectural panels and Weathergroove 75mm is leading the way,” he said.

“With Weathergroove 75mm now available in our range, we have the widest possible choice of styles available for any project. We love the look our timber panels can achieve and we’re delighted to launch a unique product we know builders have been waiting for.”

Weathergroove 75mm is already being celebrated on social media by two of Australia’s leading Instagrammars for construction and design: modern builder Neil Hipwell of @futureflip and Sydney-based interior designer Catherine Heraghty of @the_stables_.

Both love the looks this new architectural panel can create, with Hipwell sharing a video with his followers of a Weathergroove 75mm panel installed for the interior of a project he was completing.

“This wall is the most exciting part of this room,” Hipwell said, showing off the panel.

“This is the Weathertex 75 groove, we are the only ones ever to get a chance to use this, we’re trialling it out to see how it looks, and I’ve got to be honest it looks freakin’ epic.”

About Weathergroove 75mm Weathergroove 75mm is available in two distinct styles — smooth for a flawless effect, and natural to highlight the beautiful imperfections of Australian hardwood timber.

This market-leading slim panel doubles the grooves of Weathertex’s popular 150mm weatherboard while retaining every measure of durability and safety.

Weathergroove 75mm will be sold in one-size

Order your FREE SAMPLE and visit our virtual tool called INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN

of 3660mm x1196mm with grooves spaced 75mm apart, still making it the largest panel size available in Australia.

Beloved by builders for its ease of installation and durability, the company’s full range of panels can be used internally or externally and are rated to resist bushfire attack levels up to and including BAL 19 Construction.

Bring modern style and timeless elegance inside and out to any project.

The new Weathergroove 75mm architectural panel comes in either an elegant smooth finish or in classical natural woodgrain timber.

• Timber panels made from real Australian hardwoods • Largest panel size in Australia — 3.66m height • Off-stud joining allows for minimal waste and less stud layout — No silicon or adhesives needed to join • Quick cost-effective installation • Durable with a 25 year warranty

Weathertex can be used internally and as an external wall cladding in bushfire attack levels up to and including BAL 19 construction.

weathertex.com.au Ph: 1800 040 080 Fax: 1800 647 926

58

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

Wood – the ultimate renewable The IPCC recently issued its latest report with a stark warning about how long we have left to moderate CO2 emissions and to halt global warming.

It is no longer enough to reduce emissions, we need to start actively reducing the CO2 already in the atmosphere.

The planting of more trees is the only realistic method we have of reducing atmospheric carbon but, in Australia and around the world, moves to encourage more forests and plantations are failing to generate anywhere near the levels required.

Furthermore, science tells us that trees are only really effective at carbon absorption during the growth stages.

Once they mature, the wood needs to be harvested and new trees planted, supported by the active use of certification schemes like FSC and/or Responsible Wood (PEFC).

In the built environment wood provides thee significant environmental benefits:

Bates Smart and Lendlease have used wood extensively throughout 25 King Street, Brisbane.

PHOTO: TOM ROE

■ Wood is the only large-scale renewable building material currently available.

■ When all wooden products, including engineered timber products such as CLT, Glulam and Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), are used in the construction of buildings, they provide long-term carbon storage – about half of the dry weight of wood is carbon, which is stored for as long as the building exists.

■ Using wood significantly reduces the CO2 emissions that are produced when using conventional materials, which have significantly higher levels of embodied energy. As a rule of thumb if we replace a cubic metre of a solid

material like concrete with a cubic metre of timber, this will result in a reduction of approximately 1 tonne of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.

Hence, the more we build using timber, the more carbon we can store, and the more emissions can be reduced, which in turn will create an increased demand for timber that will help drive reforestation.

The built environment is the primary source of CO2 emissions in Australia and around the world. It is really important to both understand and decrease the embodied energy used in construction.

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

59

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

OSB making waves in construction Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is the most used structural board for bracing, flooring and sheeting in timber frame buildings in many parts of the world.

Perhaps it has been surprising that OSB is not been more commonly used in building and construction in Australia. This now looks like changing.

Modern OSB has attributes that mean it can outperform plywood and particleboard in many applications.

OSB panels are made from long, thin layers of strands arranged laterally on the top and bottom layers and one layer laid longitudinally in the middle layer.

By keeping the strand size significantly larger than the particles in particle board with better orientation, the inherent strength of the timber fibres is maximised allowing a lighter and stronger board.

With this comes the added benefit of being able to use OSB SimBoard at 600mm centres instead of 450mm saving in load construction in conjunction with bearers and installation costs.

The panel structure not only gives its OSB characteristic look, but also an exceptionally

high level of bending strength.

Simmonds Lumber’s Jacinta Colley said durable, fit-for-purpose, cost effective and environmentally sensitive modern OSB was now making its presence felt in the Australian market. Simmonds Lumber’s OSB SimBoard is manufactured by the German-based Swiss Krono Group.

“For more than 50 years, the Swiss Krono Group has been developing industrial timber products of the highest quality and of outstanding value for money,” Jacinta said.

“The Swiss Krono Group meets the highest technical and strictest ecological requirements.”

OSB SimBoard complements Simmonds’ capacity to supply structural and hardwood products.

“It is manufactured from 100 per cent softwood thinnings harvested from forests certified as sustainably managed by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and the Forest Stewardship Council,” Jacinta said.

“Wood strands are glued together with formaldehyde-free binders and because of this OSB SimBoard can also be used for food packaging and other high hygiene requirement

applications.”

Simmonds Lumber has facilities and warehouses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Surabaya, Indonesia, and was the first company in the world to use DNA technology to certify the legality and provenance of timber imported from Indonesia.

Learn more at www.simmondslumber.com.au.

Modern OSB making waves in Australia’s construction industry Structural board for bracing and flooring in timber frame buildings SimBrace

OSB SimBoard® • Ideal for domestic & commercial buildings • Sheet size 3600 x 900 • 15% lighter to particleboard • 18mm can span 600mm • Alternative to particleboard flooring • Formaldehyde free binders

SYDNEY

MELBOURNE

BRISBANE

SYDNEY Head Office 1 Durham Street, Rosehill NSW 2142 Phone: (02) 9638 7333 Fax: (02) 9684 6466

MELBOURNE 22-32 Nathan Road, Dandenong VIC 3175 Phone: (03) 9791 2241 Fax: (03) 9791 2243

BRISBANE 146-164 Buchanan Road, Banyo QLD 4014 Phone: (07) 3267 0244 Fax: (07) 3621 7755

6964917aa

• PEFC & FSC certification on request

60

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

Look to O’Brien Timber Floors O’Brien Timber Floors is a family-owned business, specialising in supply and installation of timber and carpet products.

The company was established in 2012 and the owners believe that everyone, no matter their budget, deserves to have a beautiful floor in their home.

The company, and its staff, strive to provide a pleasurable experience from the first visit to our showroom, through the selection quoting process, right through to the installation.

Located in Notting Hill, Melbourne, O’Brien Timber Floors supply to builders, developers, tradesman, floor installers and the residential

customers for new homes and renovations throughout Melbourne.

A new 400sqm show room coming soon, which will make viewing products even simpler.

O’Brien’s have great quality budget products, through to high-end designer floors enabling home owners to have the floor of their dreams, at prices they won't believe.

Products include solid timber, engineered timber (European Oak, Hickory, Australian species), laminate, hybrid vinyl planks, bamboo, carpet, rugs and blinds.

As an independent retailer, customers are more than just a number, and O’Brien Timber

Floors believe in good old-fashioned customer service.

Managing director Charlie O’Brien said the staff have many years of experience in the flooring industry, which means each customer speaks to a knowledgeable sales person every time.

“We will advise what is best for you, not what is most profitable and smaller overheads than the large chain stores mean savings for the customer.”

As well as supply of product, O’Brien Timber Floors offer an installation service, which is controlled by a dedicated supervisor.

O’Brien Timber Floors 51 Howleys Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168 Ph: (03) 7505 2466 E: info@obrientimberfloors.com.au www.obrientimberfloors.com.au

62

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

Chain of Custody vital Responsible Wood is Australia’s largest forest certification scheme.

As it stands more than 11.4 million hectares of defined forest are covered by the scheme, with more than 250 businesses involved in Responsible Wood’s Chain of Custody scheme.

The Chain of Custody scheme encompasses timber processes, merchants and retailers.

Responsible Wood is an accredited standards development organisation, it develops the Australian Standards for Sustainable Forest Management and Chain of Custody for Forest Products.

With more than 90% of all commercial forestry certified under the scheme, a large majority of pine framing and Australian hardwoods are likely sourced from Responsible Wood certified forests.

Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries said it’s Chain of Custody that matters for building practitioners.

The businesses that are involved in the Responsible Wood Chain of Custody scheme are the businesses that supply timbers to Master Builders.

“Chain of Custody, by its very nature, demonstrates that timbers processed and sold

to Master Builders are sourced from forests that meet benchmarks for the environment, as well as economic and social benchmarks,” he said.

“For Responsible Wood, it all starts in the forest; forests that are covered by our scheme are assessed by independent certification bodies, auditing forest managers to ensure that forests are harvested responsibly, wildlife is protected and workers are compensated in accordance with award level standards.

“This is the bedrock of the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme.”

Chain of Custody supports sustainable forest management, it provides an unbroken chain in the supply chain ensuring that responsibly harvested timbers in the forest are passed onto the end-user of timber or paper-based products.

Mr Dorries said using Responsible Wood certified wood in projects means builders could be eligible to work on government projects because Government contractors are required to procure timber materials that meet Australian Standards.

“Another consideration, and perhaps the more pressing issue moving forward, is the timber legality required captured in the Commonwealth Government’s Illegal Logging

Prohibition Act, he said.

“Under Australian law, Master Builders must source timber from sources that do not contravene the laws of that country.

“We live more and more in a global society where timber is traded to and from exotic parts of the world.

“What Responsible Wood provides, and through mutual recognition with PEFC, is evidence which can be used by Master Builders to demonstrate the legality of timber anywhere in the world.”

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

63

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

Engineered wood offers integrity Engineered wood products are fast becoming the material of choice for many commercial and residential construction projects in Australia and New Zealand, and with good reason.

Working with engineered wood has many benefits, both in construction and for the consumer. Engineered wood products, such as plywood, LVL, particleboard, MDF, CLT and Glulam, provide efficient, stable and quiet building solutions.

Many engineered wood products in the Australian market are termite treated (H2).

Some engineered wood products also maintain their structural integrity during fires and will char, rather than buckle.

Engineered wood products also offer a range of environmental benefits, including carbon storage, low heat conductivity and low embodied energy, making them a popular choice with home owners.

Why choose certified wood products?

Given the increased interest in engineered wood, builders need to be able to have confidence in a manufactured product and its supplier.

Product confidence is also increasingly

important given the prevalence of non-conforming building products and their impact on building performance and occupant health and safety.

This confidence can be provided through independent product certification. However, certification schemes can vary in the rigour they apply to the assessment of a product or manufacturer.

Where reliability of product is paramount, a robust certification scheme will include type-testing of product, auditing of manufacturing, market surveillance, ongoing independent testing, and auditing of the manufacturer’s management system.

Internationally, this is recognised as a Type 5 certification program.

Each of these activities ensure that the manufacturer’s products have met and continue to meet the performance requirements set out in the standard.

The certification program should also be administered by a team with the relevant technical expertise in the products certified.

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) administers a Product Certification Scheme for manufacturers of

engineered wood products across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The EWPAA has been active in the Australian market since the 1930s and has certified engineered wood products since the 1960s.

The EWPAA Product Certification Scheme is administered by staff with many years of experience in civil engineering, process engineering, forestry, wood science and manufacturing operations.

This technical experience provides confidence that EWPAA staff understand the products they certify, their applications, the manufacturing environment and the wider timber industry.

EWPAA staff are also available to provide technical advice on the products they certify, not only to manufacturers but to architects, engineers, builders, specifiers and the general public.

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia

Why choose EWPAA certified wood products?

Making wood better.

www.ewp.asn.au

+ Verified structural performance + Rigorous third party certification

scheme administered by our industry experienced team

+ The mark of safety, reliability and trust

+61 7 3250 3700 | inbox@ewp.asn.au

64

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

TIMBER ADVERTISING FEATURE

AKD Softwoods focus on quality AKD Softwoods is a 100 per cent Australian owned and operated integrated forestry and timber processing company with operations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

AKD is distinctive among its key competitors for its scale, family ownership, technological innovations in sawmilling, its exceptional customer service and vertically integrated operations which comprise: • Six sawmills processing more than 2,000,000 cubic metres of sawlog per annum • Approximately 10,000 hectares of radiata pine plantations located in Victoria and South Australia • Three preservation businesses • A softwood chip export operation • Multiple log export locations All of AKD’s products are certified under either Forest Stewardship Council or PEFC/Responsible Wood Chain of Custody.

The quality assurance of an Australian manufacturer meeting the required Australian Standards provides peace of mind for their whole supply chain.

AKD has a strong supply channel to market on the East Coast with a vast customer network of timber merchants and timber frame and truss fabricators.

As a regional employer, AKD plays an active part in supporting a variety of local community activities and sees its employees as the vital

ingredient in its past and future success.

Since its founding, AKD has continually made significant investments to ensure long-term growth and prosperity.

The company’s mission is to ensure that Australian homes for generations to come are built using AKD’s sustainable structural pine framing.

The company’s ability to invest for the long term comes from its stable ownership, loyal customer relationships, sustainable log supply, its own plantations and state-of-the-art processing innovations.

AKD is proud of its 60-year history, having retained its original headquarters at the site on which it was founded in Colac, Victoria in 1955 by an association of local family companies.

The four equal shareholder companies that own AKD have been involved since day one.

Along with the company’s rich history and family values, AKD’s scale today means that its investment in trialling new technologies is leading the industry.

Talented optimisation and mechatronic engineers lead the company’s research and development programs.

High speed automated scanning and imaging devices throughout the process help determine maximum yield, board recovery and quality from the AKD process; 3D, gamma ray and acoustic scanning devices are employed to assess log

rotation, grading of timber, board density and fibre stiffness, which are essential to determining a product’s end use.

The latest timber drying technology of Continuous Drying Kilns (CDKs) involves the careful control of push speed, air temperature and humidity to ensure air circulates in a particular manner to ensure consistent drying of every board. This process helps to create an end product that is more stable across varying Australian climate conditions.

In addition, dry wood is lighter (reducing the cost of transport) and insulates better with a higher electricity resistance.

AKD utilises state-of-the-art treatment processes on its termi-blue™, ecowood-dry™ and losp-clear™ new generation products.

Blue Pine termite resistant treatment for Australian pine frames was developed more than two decades ago and is the proven and preferred solution for peace of mind against termites for the structure of any home.

These processes ensure the durability, protection, performance and reliability of all AKD’s products. Specific treatments are undertaken to ensure structural integrity and protection against termite attacks, decay and weather.

Every house lot of AKD’s structural pine framing stores approximately 12,600kg of carbon for its life.

Why more Australian home builders and owners choose timber framing ✔

Proven and Popular Lightweight timber framing is the popular choice for Australian homes. Decades of experience have ensured that the system is safe, reliable, cost-effective and well understood by designers, professional builders and even experienced DIY’ers.

Owners and occupants can be assured that they are gaining the advantages of a proven building method.

Ease of renovation When a family outgrows their home, more space is needed, or you buy a home requiring renovation, timber framing is simple and easy to work with.

Whether it’s removing existing framing, adding more timber framing or both, the ready availability of designers, materials and tradespeople familiar with the material make it an easier process.

Fire predictable A home’s timber framing is usually protected by cladding, often brick on the exterior and plasterboard on the interior. Timber maintains its structural integrity for a long time as it chars at a predictable rate.

Simple installation of services Timber frames can be easily drilled to install plumbing and electric cables, unlike some materials that require cushioning grommets to protect cable insulation during installation and limit longer term damage to plumbing due to expansion and contraction or corrosion.

Termites and Durability In designated termite areas, it is important to install a termite barrier system to build termites out. This is because, regardless of the material used for the frame, termites can still eat through other items such as flooring, joinery and plasterboard if they have access. They can also cause damage to electrical cabling. Today, in areas subject to termite attack, timber framing is made from wood safely treated to resist termites, so that is no longer a worry. In fact, many Australian timber framed houses are well over 100 years old which shows the longevity of wood.

Insulating Timber framing helps insulate your home as it has a higher R-value than many other materials. This means that it doesn’t act as a ‘thermal bridge’, conducting energy (heat) from one side of a wall to the other.

Strong, stable and quiet Since the properties of timber are so well understood, a timber-framed house won’t be noisy, as it doesn’t expand and contract during temperature changes and risk premature cracking in plaster linings.

Low-cost flexibility Today, most framing systems are prefabricated or built offsite. However, any last-minute changes or variations are easily made onsite by carpenters equipped with all the tools they need. Of course, if they need extra timber, it’s as close as the nearest hardware store.

Fast to assemble Prefabrication, flexibility and builders’ knowledge of how timber frames are assembled, (joints, connections, tie-downs and bracing) combine to deliver fast, efficient buildings to lock up stage.

To find out more visit woodsolutions.com.au The website for wood

Renewably and responsibly sourced Most Australian-sourced timber is covered by either one or both certification systems, Australia’s Responsible Wood, which is endorsed by the world’s largest certification system the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), or the Forest Stewardship Council. This means that the wood you use has been produced in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.

Environmental advantage: Low embodied energy Wood has the lowest embodied energy of all common building materials. This is a measure of the energy (usually produced by greenhouse gas-emitting generators) that is used to convert the wood in trees to framing timber.

Environmental advantage: Stores carbon from the atmosphere Choosing wood removes greenhouse gasses from the air. Approximately half the dry weight of wood is carbon, absorbed from the atmosphere by a growing tree. Using timber in buildings stores the carbon for as long as the building exists or the timber is reused or recycled.

Australian, Reliable Sustainable Naturally www.akd.com.au

CO O2

GOT A NEW OR INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OR SERVICE? PROMOTE IT HERE. Phone Emily for more information (07) 4690 9303

emily.bosman@newsregionalmedia.com.au

PVC-based permanent formwork above & below ground walling system

110mm, 156mm, 200mm and 256mm panels for: basements, columns, blade & party walls, retention tanks, retaining walls, landscaping Speed of construction Ease of materials handling AS3600 compliant and water resistant Significant waste reduction

No worries walling

O’Brien Timber Floors 51 Howleys Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168

Ph: (03) 7505 2466 E: info@obrientimberfloors.com.au www.obrientimberfloors.com.au

See how rediwallÂŽ can make your project smarter, faster, better.

Call 1300 727 237 afsformwork.com.au

Directory

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70

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 02, 2019

CALENDAR

MASTER BUILDERS

EVENTS CALENDAR

MAY

1 Gippsland Section Meeting Inverloch 8 Foundation Governors Meeting Master Builders, East Melbourne 8 Ballarat Trade Night Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre, Ballarat 9 State Apprentice of the Year Awards Marvel Stadium, Docklands 14 Board of Management Meeting Master Builders, East Melbourne 14 North West Section Meeting Hotel Mildura, Mildura

15 Bendigo Section Meeting Brougham Arms Hotel 15 Preston Trade Night Melbourne Polytechnic Conference Centre, Preston 21 Council of Management Meeting Master Builders, East Melbourne 28 Geelong Section Meeting Grovedale Hotel, Grovedale 30 Industry Breakfast MCG, East Melbourne

JUNE

12 Section Meeting Ballarat TBC 14 North East Regional Building Awards Commercial Club, Albury 18 Board of Management Meeting Master Builders, East Melbourne 19 Gippsland Section Meeting Traralgon 19 Mornington Section Meeting Frankston 19 Wimmera Section Meeting Horsham 21 South West Regional Building Awards

ISSUE 02, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

71

CALENDAR

The Pier, Geelong 25 North East Section Meeting Sebastians, Shepparton 26 Wheelers Hill Trade Night Mulgrave Country Club, Wheelers Hill 28 North East Regional Building Awards Quality Resort All Season, Bendigo

Brougham Arms Hotel 23 Geelong Section Meeting Grovedale Hotel, Grovedale 23 North West Section Meeting Hotel Mildura, Mildura 24 Taylors Lakes Trade Night Taylors Lakes Hotel, Taylors Lakes

JULY

AUGUST

5 South East Regional Building Awards Premiere Function Centre, Traralgon 10 Wonthaggi Trade Afternoon *4.30 pm start Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club 17 Bendigo Section Meeting

7 Geelong Trade Breakfast Buckley’s Entertainment Centre, Geelong 13 Frankston Group Meeting Mornington Frankston 14 Foundation Governors Meeting

Master Builders, East Melbourne 14 Ballarat Annual General Meeting 20 Board of Management Meeting Master Builders, East Melbourne 21 Gippsland Section Meeting Warragul 21 Bendigo Trade Night Bendigo 27 Council of Management Meeting Master Builders, East Melbourne 30 Green Living Conference Building Leadership Simulation Centre, South Melbourne

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If you walk into two dealerships and ask k for a ‘ute’ would you take the cheapest one??

Or would you compare the tray, fuel type e, transmission, air-conditioning, warrantyy, capped priced servicing, build quality?

Without all the specifications, you aren’tt able to make an informed decision about which ute represents the best value.

Construction insurance is no different.

It has conditions, exclusions, clauses an nd definitions and these can be significantlyy different from one insurer to the next.

We can help you get the best value for money because we are the construction insurance specialists.

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