Master Builders Victoria September-October 2019

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2019 VOLUME 74 ISSUE 4

BIG WINNERS

THE 2019 MASTER BUILDERS EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION AWARDS. PAGE 16

A TRICKY EVOLUTION

TRADES REGISTRATION AND LICENSING. PAGE 12

RENEWED INTEREST

LENDING SPECIALS TO CONSIDER. PAGE 39

DUST

CONTROL

“I recently had the opportunity to use the USG Boral Dust Control compound… the dust clumps together when sanded, forming clusters which fall to the ground instead of remaining airborne and potentially being inhaled. Through remaining open and receptive to new products like this, we can all help create a safer worksite.”

Steve Hinton, Director, Hinton Linings New and unique formula that reduces respirable airborne dust when sanded • Cleaner work site • Less time on the job • Weighs up to 25% less than our conventional joint compounds • Less shrinkage

As tested to NIOSH Method 0600, SHEETROCK® Dust Control produced respirable airborne dust at levels lower than current OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits, which are in turn lower than the PELs set by Safe Work Australia.

“SHEETROCK® Dust Control is perfect... of all the products we use, it’s probably the best finishing plaster.”

Matthew Bailey, Director, Ceiling Resurfacing Australia

“There are a large number of trades on our site at any one time – so anything that can help mitigate dust is great.”

Tim Dixon, Business Development Manager, SHAPE Australia

“The regular product has very fine dust that blows away in the air, gets in your ears and your eyes, up your nose. Whereas Dust Control just clumps together and drops straight to the ground.”

Mark Paramonov, Operations Manager, Torquay Interior Linings

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by Good Design Australia. The opinions expressed by Steve Hinton of Hinton Linings; Mr Bailey of Ceiling Resurfacing Australia; Mr Paramonov of Torquay Interior Linings; and Mr Dixon of Shape Group above are the opinions of those third parties and should not be taken to reflect the views or opinions of USG Boral. USG Boral Building Products Pty Limited – ABN 84 004 231 976 - 251 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne, VIC. 3207 UB1351 08/19

ADVERTORIAL

USG Boral advocates for healthier work sites in building and construction Growing concern over the rise in reported respirable crystalline silica (RCS) related cases, is putting pressure on the construction industry to crack down on health and safety practices.

While governments are targeting the stonemasonry industry, and specifically banning dry cutting techniques, the wording used in new legislation from the Victorian and Queensland governments implicates all processes and products which can generate RCS. This includes plasterboard and plaster-based products.

USG Boral is committed to helping create healthier work environments. As a manufacturer of plasterboards and jointing compounds, USG Boral has a responsibility to support employee and contractor health and safety and reviews the products and services it provides to ensure they contribute to a safer work place.

This includes improvements in the development of water-resistant plasterboard and new jointing compounds.

The crystalline silica content of raw materials can vary considerably across industries.

Exposure in the plasterboard industry comes from the use of gypsum and limestone. However, local sources of both are very pure, with low levels of crystalline silica content. According to Tim Harrington, USG Boral category manager – compounds, “Plaster based products contain very small amounts of Quartz (crystalline silica) with finished plasterboard and plasterboard jointing compounds typically containing less than 0.1 per cent respirable crystalline silica.”

The Safe Work Australia Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS is 100ug/m3 over an eighthour work day. An employee’s level of risk is a combination of the type of material being handled and the manner of the activity being undertaken.

That is why high quartz content manufactured stone that is dry cut at high speed, producing respirable crystalline silica above the workplace exposure standard, is under the spotlight. “The onsite preparation and installation of plasterboard does not exceed the permissible workplace exposure standard,” offered Harrington.

In the last few years, the construction industry has adopted numerous safety practices to minimise exposure to airborne hazards, including vacuum assisted sanding tools and more effective dust masks with higher protection against airborne particulates.

Respirable dust is generated in work places when jointed plasterboard walls and ceilings are sanded using hand or mechanical sanders.

SHEETROCK® Dust Control limits the pluming of sanded compound dust through air

spaces. Technology contained in the product produces dust particles which fall directly to the wall or floor junction and react better to the vacuum of mechanical sanders. The result is far less airborne dust.

Tested to the USA’s National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) Method 0600, SHEETROCK® Dust Control produces respirable airborne dust at levels lower than the USA’s current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) that are lower than the current PELs set by Safe Work Australia.

Tim Harrington reinforced that USG Boral is committed to developing products that provide the industry with a safer working environment. “Not only do USG Boral’s wet area plasterboard and SHEETROCK® Dust Control provide unrivalled finishes, there are also real-world benefits.

“The work place of old is no longer the norm. Working in a dusty air space, spending hours cleaning up, covered in dust is not something which has to go with the territory.”

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

5

EDITOR’S NOTE

The medallion One evening last month, Senior Manager Danielle Penna, who oversees Master Builders’ marketing and sponsorship strategy, was on her laptop clicking through the daily returns of her daily Google alert for all things ‘Master Builders Victoria’.

“I like to see what the association has done over the years relating to engagement and our brand,” she says. “Sometimes I see a great idea from the past that might not be top-of-mind for the current generation.”

Typically, the search results include newspaper and magazine articles, and photographs that often have only a marginal relationship to the organisation. But, as with an opp shop, if you don’t check daily, you can easily miss the good stuff.

As it happened, among the results that day was an item listed on eBay as “Old Master Builders pin, Victoria”. Though small, it looked interesting and sort of elegant—the kind of artefact that gets jumbled in a bureau and rediscovered decades later when a toddler is allowed to rummage, or as a family member sorts through a relative’s estate.

At $12, including shipping, it was too good—and unusual— for Danielle to resist.

“In Master Builders’ early days, we awarded similar medallions to

members who completed special training. But I’ve never seen one. When I saw this, I thought it would be nice for us to have.”

So, here, possibly on view for the first time in nearly a century, is Danielle’s find. If you can help attach a story to this artifact, please get in touch.

It’s history worth remembering.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Protecting the craft of concreting I believe concreting is now an industry in peril with the major contributing factor being the lack of an apprenticeship in the trade.

Australia’s concreting industry has developed and flourished through the skills of predominantly Italian and other European immigrants, who have passed on their knowledge and skill to successive generations. However, those skills are now being lost as these craftspeople age and leave the industry while young people seeking a career in construction are overlooking the concreting trade.

Trades such as carpentry and brickwork can be studied through an apprenticeship, but a concreting apprenticeship isn’t offered in Victoria (only Western Australia). Although a Certificate III level qualification exists, it is offered as a traineeship and this is not a popular pathway.

Concrete is the most common building material and its use covers a wide range of work categories and requires a wide range of skills to prepare, place and finish. The pathway to concretor traditionally comes from general labourers and learning is provided on the job from someone else that also learned on the job.

This current delivery model also results in completing concreting students missing out on the increased recognition offered by the recent

re-introduction of trade papers. These papers are provided when successfully completing an apprenticeship only, not a traineeship.

The need for a relevant training model is only intensifying, as the introduction of mandatory trades registration becomes increasingly likely with the Building Amendment (Registration of Building Trades and Other Matters) Bill 2018 passed through Parliament on 20 Sept 2018.

I believe it is essential to offer concreting as an apprenticeship to provide individuals with a pathway towards future trade registration, to deliver skilled tradespeople to the industry and create opportunity to increase the number of available workers.

I call on the state government to offer concreting as an apprenticeship and to increase funding levels to TAFEs so they can deliver this. Funding of $8.00 per hour is currently provided for CPC30313 Certificate III in Concreting, compared with $14.00 per hour for CPC30211 Certificate III in Carpentry, for example. This reduced funding results in the course being more costly for training providers to deliver and therefore a less attractive offer financially.

Peter Killeen Concrete Methods

Are your showers ticking time bombs?

Despite builders best efforts, leaking showers are consistently listed in the BSA’s top ten defects.

Sadly, sometimes this is due to substandard workmanship, but most of the time it is the design of the shower itself which is creating the potential for disaster.

Most contractors are at a complete loss as to why, but detailed testing has shown how, by the action of expansion and contraction, water is “pumped” along glue cavities to escape the shower enclosure, no matter how well it is water-proofed.

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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Contents FOREWORDS 05

EDITOR’S NOTE THE MEDALLION 11 PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD REPRESENTING YOU AT EVERY LEVEL 12 FROM THE CEO THE TRICKY EVOLUTION OF TRADES LICENSING 14 GUEST FOREWORD MASTER BUILDERS INSURANCE CEO, LUKE HEUSTON

REGULAR 63 64 66

CALENDAR DIRECTORY WHAT’S NEW

DEPARTMENTS 39

FINANCE OPEN BANKING 41 INSURANCE WATER-PROOFING LOSSES 43 OH&S SILICA SAFETY STANDARDS 44 GREEN LIVING EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHTS 46 LEGAL MEET THE TEAM 47 TRAINING CONSTRUCTION ESSENTIALS WORKSHOP 48 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEW PENALTIES FOR UNLICENSED LABOUR HIRE

MEMBERSHIP FEATURES 16

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION CELEBRATING THE BEST COMMERCIAL BUILDERS 26 REGIONAL AWARDS CELEBRATING THE BEST REGIONAL MASTER BUILDERS

50

MM&S PROFILE TILLING GROUP 51 MEMBER PROFILE MADELEINE HOGAN, BLUESCOPE STEEL 52 NEW MEMBERS

ADVERTISING FEATURES 49 59

PTA LANDSCAPES DINCEL

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

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 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

East Melbourne Melbourne Traralgon Gippsland Geelong Barwon

Master Builders Victoria CEO

Rebecca Casson Phone: (03) 9411 4501

Master Builders Executive Managers Chief Operating Officer

Viviana Hood Phone: (03) 9411 4516 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 Chief of Staff

Matthew Loughlin

Phone: (03) 9411 4511 Corporate Services

Marc Lyons

Phone: (03) 9411 4528 Industrial Relations

Sheena Hoey

Phone: (03) 9411 4555 OHS

James Curtin Phone: (03) 9411 4581

Melbourne 332 Albert Street East Melbourne Victoria 3002 GPO Box 544 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Phone: (03) 9411 4555 Email: mbassist@mbav.com.au

Shepparton Goulburn Bendigo Loddon Campaspe

KEY CONTACTS

OFFICE LOCATIONS

Albury - Wodonga 35 Hovell Street Wodonga Victoria 3690 PO Box 700 Wodonga Victoria 3690 Phone: (02) 6058 2000 Email: wodongabs@mbav.com.au

State Manager Victoria / MBA Insurance Services

Ballarat

Joe Keiper

14 Albert Street Sebastopol Victoria 3690

Master Builders Training Institute

Phone: (03) 5320 9999 Email: mbapermits@mbav.com.au

Phone: (03) 9411 4504 Chris Kulesza

Phone: (03) 9411 8000 Legal

Bendigo

Tristan Moseley

1/28 Charleston Road East Bendigo Victoria 3550

Marketing, Sponsorship and Engagement

Phone: (03) 5410 2100 Email: mbabsbendigo@mbav.com.au

Phone: (03) 9411 4580 Danielle Penna

Phone: (03) 9411 4551

Board of Management

Geelong

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

3 Melbourne Road Drumcondra Victoria 3215

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

Phone: (03) 5174 2754 Email: rware@mbav.com.au

Council of Management

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

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

Quality, Style & Performance

Architect: Ben Callery Architects Builder: Keenan Built Photo: Dave Kulesza

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD

Representing you at every level

Richard Hansen President, Master Builders Victoria

It has been a very busy time recently at Master Builders Victoria. Our team has been working extremely hard representing you and our industry at the highest levels. We have been putting out media statements and articles advocating on behalf of our members, pointing to the high standards that are the norm in our sector.

It is now more important than ever to have a strong brand such as Master Builders Victoria to represent quality construction and the best customer service that our industry provides. On that note, we have just celebrated high achievement in our industry at our annual awards nights for commercial construction. The Excellence in Housing Awards will follow soon after, in October.

There have been some high-profile industry issues running in the

media lately, such as cladding, and the related issue of the tightening of insurance markets for our consultants and contractors. Master Builders Victoria has been hard at work and vocal on these issues. In addition, Rebecca, our CEO, has participated on a ministerial taskforce on proposed workplace manslaughter legislation. It is important for Master Builders Victoria to have a seat at the highest level to provide input on behalf of our industry on this extremely concerning matter. Now, more than ever, a strong public voice is critical to advocate sensible approaches to reform.

The Victorian government released its budget in May, with a highlight being the $5.6m ‘Big Build’ higher apprentice scheme. This scheme supports the delivery of some of Victoria’s largest infrastructure projects by establishing an on-the-job apprenticeship training program.

Another government program, the free TAFE initiative, is aimed at training greater numbers of apprentices. It has been recently reported that TAFEs, since being made free of charge, are struggling to meet the demand. This may lessen the quality of the training and could limit the program’s usefulness. Master Builders Victoria has been vocal about the importance of apprenticeships and the quality of training that needs to be delivered to those entering our industry.

We believe that in the two examples above, there is much more that could be achieved with the cooperation of industry RTOs such as ours, to deliver high quality industry training to teach the necessary skills and enable the rewarding careers that our state requires.

In the meantime, as we celebrate the best in our industry at two very special events at Crown Casino, we should all feel proud of the quality of work of our members and the high standards we uphold.

I look forward to meeting as many of you there as possible.

Cheers, Richard

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

FROM THE CEO

The tricky evolution of trades registration and licensing in Victoria

Rebecca Casson CEO

For many years, Master Builders Victoria has pushed for a law requiring the registration of domestic trades people for key areas of work when subcontracting to a builder. And our reason has been clear and consistent—to improve the skills of those who perform building services for clients throughout Victoria.

It’s worth repeating why we have been so determined for so long. While we are rightly proud and confident of the high skill level of our own members, and go to considerable effort to ensure that Master Builders are the best builders in our state, as we know all too well, not every trades person achieves, or even aspires to, the same high standards. When that sloppiness goes unchecked, clients suffer, and so does the reputation of our industry.

New South Wales and Queensland face the same problem, but address it differently. And we can learn from them.

Research published in 20151 showed that Victoria’s current lack of an adequate trades registration regime stands in high contrast to New South Wales (with 40,000 registered tradespeople) and Queensland (with nearly 50,000) which have mandatory registration requirements. Victoria, by comparison, has only 2,000 registered trades people.

The fact that Victoria does not require tradespeople to be registered, as long as they are subcontracting for a registered builder, presents a serious problem not just for builders, but for the communities they serve. Trades

registration is critical to providing a service and product that delivers skilled craftsmanship, safety and an adherence to standards for quality.

Even setting aside competence and community-trust issues, it’s important to note that volume builders who operate across state borders report much lower levels of productivity and higher costs in Victoria compared to the other states in which they perform their work.

While Master Builders supported the passing of the Building Amendment (Registration of Building Trades and Other Matters) Bill 2018 last year, we had concerns about some of the potential features that might come with its implementation.

Its potential scope, for example, struck us as too broad, particularly with regard to the proposed licensing scheme for employees across the domestic and commercial sectors.

To highlight this potential hazard, Master Builders Victoria made a submission to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s (DELWP) Stage 1 consultation into the priority areas of building work. In it, Master Builders Victoria voiced concerns over the significant cost that employee licensing may potentially have on our industry.

Our motivation in pushing for legislation was to raise the overall level of skill in our industry, implementing a process that was simple, effective and practical for key existing structural trades where significant quality gaps exist. So while we see good things in the Bill, they’re currently tangled with licensing requirements for employees that we believe will lead to unnecessary administrative congestion and red tape. These concerns have been echoed by our members, and shared with us through your representatives on our sector committees.

In fact, even as I write this, one of our team

members received a call from a member—a home builder who employs a small team of trades people—who wanted to express alarm at the complexity licensure for his employees that would potentially add to managing his business.

Calls like these, that echo our submission, reassure us that we are representing our members’ interests.

In Master Builders Victoria’s view, the reasons for introducing employee licensing are unclear and poorly defined. Extending mandatory registration to a sub-contracting sole proprietor or company is a logical step to facilitate an improvement in standards. But employee licensing, particularly under a system without comprehensive training requirements, runs the risk of adding little to no benefit in quality, while imposing immense cost on our industry which, ultimately, will be borne by the consumer.

Master Builders Victoria has long supported the introduction of a domestic mandatory trade registration system that is simple, effective and practical in its approach to improve quality, with the initial focus on trades integral to the structure of the building. As we outline in our submission, we are calling for thorough analysis of the scope of work to be included before proceeding with the final details of the legislation.

In continuing to represent our members’ interests, Master Builders Victoria will continue to make our industry expertise available to assist the State Government in defining the scopes of work, training pathways, and other relevant elements as required.

As always, we thank you for your feedback on this issue, and your continued support of Master Builders Victoria.

1: David Hallett, 2015 ‘ Prevention is Better than Cure, A recommendation for the regulation of building trades-people in Victoria.’

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

GUEST FOREWORD

Understanding the professional indemnity insurance challenge

Luke Hueston CEO, MBAIS

Being a specialist in construction insurance has presented some special challenges over the past six months, as we grapple with the insurance market’s response to the perceived risks associated with cladding and non-conforming products. The effect on our clients has been immediate and serious, jeopardising their ability to conduct business.

I suspect challenges for the construction industry may linger for some time, until we can adequately communicate to the government, the media and the general public that this is an all-of-industry problem that requires a similar solution.

The government says the insurance industry has a social responsibility to provide cover to keep the building industry moving. The Hon Karen Andrews, Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, remarked on insurers and their willingness to provide professional indemnity insurance to building surveyors, saying “They’ve pocketed the premiums while they thought it was low risk. But when the risk profile changes they’ve walked away — it’s inexcusable.” [Sydney Morning Herald, 15 July, 2019] This highlights a fundamental misunderstanding about insurers.

Insurers have two core responsibilities, which are to their shareholders and their policyholders. Insurers do not have a responsibility to continue renewing professional indemnity cover for policyholders in circumstances where it becomes commercially unviable to do so. Likewise, no-one would expect a builder to do a job if it was clear they would lose money. With some reports indicating insurers have been paying out $3.40 for every $1 of premium collected in this market segment, it has clearly become unsustainable for them to continue without initiating change.

While the proposed $600 million bailout in Victoria offers some relief, it does not address the underlying issues that have plagued building surveyors over an extended period — the root cause of which resides in the inherent risk borne by the surveyor in the existing commercial and regulatory framework.

In Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, state governments historically required building surveyors have insurance coverage without exclusion. However, it’s important to understand where the gap exists, as there is no corresponding regulation through APRA (which regulates the financial services industry) that suggests insurers have to provide cover that complies with the relevant state building codes.

In an environment where insurers have little wiggle room surrounding

the cover they can offer for a policy to be accepted, they are essentially limited to one choice — either offer a policy, or don’t.

The state government’s decision to allow a temporary reprieve from the exemption requirement, coupled with the $600m rectification package was said to offer a short-term solution in Victoria, but the problem is far from fixed.

If insurers decide to follow suit and offer coverage with exclusions, this will only leave surveyors and consumers exposed in instances where losses are not picked up by the state government’s rectification program. Under the current commercial and regulatory framework, it seems likely insurers will maintain their reluctance regardless of these recent changes.

By looking at this problem through the eyes of those taking on the risk, we’ll be able to have the discussions we need to better engage the insurance market. Industry associations, governments, regulators and construction professionals need to work together to change the narrative.

The Building Ministers Forum agreed recently to initiate steps to implement a number of the recommendations from the Shergold Weir Building Confidence report. This is an important step toward engaging insurers in a discussion about an evolving risk profile, and it’s critical these steps are taken or the problem will magnify.

The insurance market has lost faith in the construction industry; what once attracted insurers in droves has become heavily governed by complex contractual arrangements and litigation. The result: insurers approach only with extreme caution.

When the construction industry thrives, so does MBA Insurance Services, and so do many of our clients, whom we’ve come to know and support over the years. I ask industry stakeholders to see this as an opportunity to address key issues that will change things for the better over the long term. To do otherwise risks an unstable relationship between insurance and construction industries with no real winners.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

ISSUE 04, 2019

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

17

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

Resort wows judges in annual awards

The RACV Cape Schanck Resort at Cape Schanck has earned Kane Constructions the top honour as Master Builder of the Year (Commercial) at the Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards. See our full report from page 18.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

Master Builders names our state’s top commercial winners The RACV Cape Schanck Resort at Cape Schanck has earned Kane Constructions the top honour as Master Builder of the Year (Commercial) at the Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards, held at Crown Palladium on Friday 16 August.

Before a crowd of over 630 guests, Kane Constructions accepted the highest accolade for a commercial project—RACV Cape Schanck Resort, an exceptionally complex project that relied heavily on the company’s site management and project engineering teams.

The remote, coastal location exposes the site to wind and weather from the Bass Strait, and sand dune-like soil conditions which made executing the curved structure and façade elements a special challenge.

"The precision and control required to deliver a structure like this on such difficult terrain is truly impressive," Master Builders Victoria CEO Rebecca Casson said.

"This award testifies to the excellence of the team at Kane Constructions for the way in which they achieved nuance and precision on a building site that most of us would consider a moving target, subject to the whims of weather and exposure," she said.

Also honoured tonight was Alex Wilson, of Harris HMC Construction Pty, named Young

Builder of the Year. Alex is a driven young man who is eager and capable, always prepared to tackle projects of great responsibility.

Alex demonstrates natural leadership and prides himself on working collaboratively and delivering projects to the highest standard.

"Alex represents the remarkable and essential achievements of younger people in our industry’s workforce, and the pool of talent from which future leaders in Victorian building and construction will continue to emerge," Ms Casson said.

Kane Fairbrother (a joint venture) was named Regional Commercial Builder of the Year for its work on Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, in Ararat.

Rivergum is a secure, 20-bed facility that provides short-term treatment for offenders, on supervision orders.

The facility includes 20 cottage-style units, administration buildings, a multi-faith chapel, recreational spaces, landscaping and supporting infrastructure.

"Kane Fairbrother has constructed living quarters that respond well to a difficult program challenge, blending institutional rigour with environmental awareness for both residents and the community the building serves," Ms Casson said.

Kane Constructions will now go on to compete at the Master Builders Association National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards at Uluru on 23 November.

Judges

Master Builders extends special thanks to this year’s judges, who were again faced with a difficult task.

This year’s judges were: Frank Pavan(Chief Judge) Dr Phil Alviano Russell Bates David Blanche David Burnell Peter Carmody Robert Conti Stephen Curnow James Curtin Peter Helfer Reg Hobbs Efy Karagiannis Daryl McIlvena David McMath Kate Meheras Mort Mitchell Kelvin Oldridge Lawrence Reddaway Sam Smith Don Wilkinson

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION Award winners Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings under $3M McColl Smith Projects Pty Ltd Project: Ivanhoe Primary School - New Junior Building, Ivanhoe

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $3M-$5M Lloyd Group Pty Ltd Project: Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $5M-$10M Building Engineering Pty Ltd Project: Christ Church Grammar Primary School Redevelopment, South Yarra

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $10M-$15M SJ Higgins Pty Ltd Project: Huntingtower School Performing Arts Centre, Mount Waverley

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $15M-$20M

Kane Constructions Project: Thomas Embling Hospital Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care (SPICU) Building and Infill Works Project, Fairfield

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $20M-$30M ADCO Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd Project: Benetas Aged Care, Heidelberg

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $30M-$80M Icon Project: Parliament House Office Accommodation Project, East Melbourne

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings over $80M Kane Constructions Project: RACV Cape Shanck Resort, Cape Schanck

Excellence in Fitout

SHAPE Australia Pty Ltd Project: Qantas Domestic Club & Business Lounge Upgrade, Melbourne Airport

Excellence in Highrise Apartment Buildings Pace Development Group Project: Pace of Collingwood, Collingwood

Excellence in Lowrise Apartment Buildings (Special Commendation) Cobild Project: Timeless Apartments, Elsternwick

Excellence in Lowrise Apartment Buildings Manresa Constructions Project: Hawke & King Apartments, West Melbourne

Excellence in Construction of Industrial Buildings

Excellence in Civil Construction CPB Contractors Project: Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project

Excellence in Health and Safety ADCO Constructions Project: Caulfield Grammar New Aquatic & Wellbeing Centre, St Kilda East

Best Specialist Contractor

HBS Group Pty Ltd Project: Princess Theatre Facade Conservation Works, Melbourne

Best Sustainable Project

Built Pty Ltd Project: One Malop St, Geelong

Young Builder of the Year (Commercial)

Alex Wilson Employer: Harris HMC Construction Pty Ltd

Regional Commercial Builder of the Year Kane Fairbrother (joint venture) Project: Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, Ararat

Master Builder of the Year

Kane Constructions Project: RACV Cape Schanck Resort, Cape Schanck

Frasers Property Australia Project: VISY Board, Truganina

MAJOR SPONSOR

OUR SPONSORS

MBA

Redundancy Insurance Wellbeing

Insurance Services a Master Builders service

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MASTER BUILDER OF THE YEAR Kane Constructions PROJECT: RACV Cape Schanck Resort, Cape Schanck PICTURED: Justin Shimmin, Site Manager, Tristan Forster, Joint Managing Director, Ben Edwards, Senior Site Manager, David Peda, Contract Manager, Kate Dawson, Contract Manager & Richard Frisina, Joint Managing Director, Kane Constructions with Richard Hansen, President & Rebecca Casson, CEO, Master Builders Victoria

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH & SAFETY

EXCELLENCE IN FITOUT

ADCO Constructions (VIC) Pty Ltd PROJECT: Caulfield Grammar New Aquatic & Wellbeing Centre, St Kilda East PICTURED: Lakshu Adaikalavan, Victorian State Manager, ADCO Constructions (VIC) Pty Ltd with Stephen Pearce, Senior Account Executive/Business Development Manager, MBA Insurance Services

SHAPE Australia Pty Ltd PROJECT: Qantas Domestic Club & Business Lounge Upgrade, Melbourne Airport PICTURED: Stephen Pearce, Senior Account Executive/Business Development Manager, MBA Insurance Services with Robert Hayes, Senior Project Manager

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

EXCELLENCE IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

Frasers Property Australia PROJECT: VISY Board, Truganina PICTURED: Andrew Gilfillan, Project Development Manager, Frasers Property Australia with Blake Raymond, Business Development Executive, MBA Insurance Services

CPB Contractors PROJECT: Caulfield to Dandenong Alliance comprising CPB Contractors, Lendlease, WSP, Aurecon, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project PICTURED: Joe Sette, Alliance General Manager, CPB Contractors with Donald Cairney, Sales and Operations Manager, MC Labour

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EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

EXCELLENCE IN LOWRISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS (SPECIAL COMMENDATION) Cobild PROJECT: Timeless Apartments, Elsternwick PICTURED: Timothy Bourke, Contract Administrator, Cobild with Corrie Williams, Executive Manager, Master Builders Training Institute on behalf on Triple M

EXCELLENCE IN LOWRISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS Manresa Constructions PROJECT: Hawke & King Apartments, West Melbourne PICTURED: Antony Morris, Managing Director, Manresa Constructions with Corrie Williams, Executive Manager, Master Builders Training Institute on behalf on Triple M

EXCELLENCE IN HIGHRISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS

BEST SUSTAINABLE PROJECT

Pace Development Group PROJECT: Pace of Collingwood, Collingwood PICTURED: Scott Leslie, Construction Director, Pace Development Group with Corrie Williams, Executive Manager, Master Builders Training Institute on behalf on Triple M

Built Pty Limited PROJECT: One Malop Street, Geelong PICTURED: John Angelovski, Construction Manager & Clare Gallagher, Sustainability Manager, Built Pty Limited with Chris D’Astoli, Employer Relationship Manager, Cbus

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EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

REGIONAL COMMERCIAL BUILDER OF THE YEAR Kane Fairbrother (Joint Venture Kane Constructions & Fairbrother) PROJECT: Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, Ararat PICTURED: Mike Josey, General Manager, Fairbrother Pty Ltd & Geoff Purcell, Project Director, Kane Constructions with Richard Hansen, President & Rebecca Casson, CEO, Master Builders Victoria

BEST SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR HBS Group Pty Ltd PROJECT: Princess Theatre Facade Conservation Works, Melbourne PICTURED: Kingsley Berry, General Manager Company Operations, MC Labour with Nicholas Simpson, CEO, HBS Group Pty Ltd

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS UNDER $3M McColl Smith Projects Pty Ltd PROJECT: Ivanhoe Primary School - New Junior Building, Ivanhoe PICTURED: Dominic McColl & Jerad Smith, Directors, McColl Smith Projects Pty Ltd with Daniel Tentser, Business Development Manager, Cbus

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS $3M - $5M Lloyd Group Pty Ltd PROJECT: Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal PICTURED: Dustin Lloyd, Director, Leigh Slorach, Site Manager & Jye Lloyd, Project Manager, Lloyd Group Pty Ltd with Daniel Tentser, Business Development Manager, Cbus

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EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS $5M - $10M

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS $10M - $15M

Building Engineering Pty Ltd PROJECT: Christ Church Grammar Primary School Redevelopment, South Yarra PICTURED: Kevin Lillie, General Manager Marketing & Business Development, Incolink with Chris Doufas & Tom Basel, Directors, Building Engineering Pty Ltd

SJ Higgins Pty Ltd PROJECT: Huntingtower School Performing Arts Centre, Mount Waverley PICTURED: Kevin Lillie, General Manager Marketing & Business Development, Incolink with Carl Scavo, Director, Hani Soliman, Senior Site Manager & Melissa Gesos, Project Manager, SJ Higgins Pty Ltd

YOUNG BUILDER OF THE YEAR Alex Wilson, Harris HMC Construction Pty Ltd with Richard Hansen, President & Rebecca Casson, CEO, Master Builders Victoria Young Builder of the Year Nominations Master Builders recognises the following nominees for the 2019 Young Builder of the Year Award.

Nathan Thomas, ADCO Constructions (VIC) Pty Ltd, Jason Chivars, Lendlease, Alex Wilson, Harris HMC Construction Pty Ltd, Jason Malmur, Kane Constructions, Stuart Connell, Johnstaff Projects (VIC) Pty Ltd & Robert Hayes, SHAPE Australia Pty Ltd

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EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS $15M - $20M

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS $20M - $30M

Kane Constructions PROJECT: Thomas Embling Hospital Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care (SPICU) Building and Infill Works Project, Fairfield PICTURED: Nial Keane, Chief Financial Officer, Incolink with Steve Thiesz, Director & Marco Bonadio, Project Manager, Kane Constructions

ADCO Constructions (VIC) Pty Ltd PROJECT: Benetas Aged Care, Heidelberg PICTURED: Nial Keane, Chief Financial Officer, Incolink with Lakshu Adaikalavan, Victorian State Manager, ADCO Constructions (VIC) Pty Ltd

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS $30M - $80M

EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OVER $80M

Icon PROJECT: Parliament House Office Accommodation Project, East Melbourne PICTURED: Michael Clemenger, State Director, David Phillips, Construction Manager & Paul Quinn, Site Manager, Icon with Donald Cairney, Sales and Operations Manager, MC Labour

Kane Constructions PROJECT: RACV Cape Schanck Resort, Cape Schanck PICTURED: David Peda, Contract Manager, Richard Frisina, Joint Managing Director & Ben Edwards, Senior Site Manager, Kane Constructions with John Morris, Relationship Manager, MC Labour

Create raised floors on balconies, podiums and green roof tops Designed for creating raised floors in external applications, such as balconies, terraces and green roofs, Buzon’s Award Winning Pedestal system can be used with any type of concrete or stone paver, timber decking of all types and metal or fibreglass grid systems.

A key benefit of this innovation is the patented slope correction device.

This gives up to five percent fall compensation achieving a perfectly level floor finish, simultaneously allowing for positive water runoff at structural slab level.

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.

The pedestals are extremely strong as they are precision-engineered from high strength, UV resistant, recycled polypropylene and capable of supporting loads of more than 1000kg each. At roof level, this load is evenly spread by the wide base area of each unit, making them ideal for installation on any waterproofing membrane without causing damage, they can even be used directly over insulation material.

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.

The Buzon Pedestal System is available throughout Australia.

For more information contact: Pasco Construction Solutions Phone: 03 9429 9111 Email: buzon@pasco.net.au www.pasco.net.au

BENEFITS • • • • •

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

• Adjustable heights supporting up to 1000kg • Quick and easy installation • Provides a sustainable solution • Easy access to waterproofing membrane for maintenance

Exclusive stockist of Buzon products in Australia contact:

www.buzon.com.au

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

QLD Distributor Adheseal – Brisbane 26 Wolverhampton St Stafford QLD 4053 Tel: (07) 3356 0000

SA Distributor P. Hughes Enterprises 15 Saltram Road Glenelg SA 5045 Tel: 0432 418 255

NSW Distributor Ausdrain 1/36 Willoughby Road Crows Nest NSW 2065 Tel: 1300 287 372

QLD Distributor Adheseal – Sunshine Coast 2/18 Kessling Avenue Kunda Park QLD 4556 Tel: (07) 5477 0022

WA Distributor Civil & General Distributors 27 Oxleigh Drive Malaga WA 6090 Tel: (08) 9249 4733

www.pasco.net.au

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

PHOTO: RHIANNON SLATTER

North East Regional Residential Master Builder of the Year.

Awards celebrate regional builders During June and July this year, regionally-based members were acknowledged for their commitment to building excellence through the annual Master Builders Regional Building Awards.

Staged over four separate presentation evenings, Albury (North East), Geelong (South West), Bendigo (North West) and Traralgon (South East), the Awards acknowledged and celebrated the outstanding achievements of Victoria’s regional Master Builders, providing an opportunity to showcase their work in both the residential and commercial sectors of the industry.

Entrants have once again demonstrated their ongoing commitment to delivering projects of the highest standards in quality of construction, quality of design, and choice and use of materials, as well as providing outstanding levels of customer service to their clients.

Master Builders Victoria congratulates all entrants in the 2019 Regional Building Awards and looks forward to your continued support of this program.

The overall winners were:

Regional Residential Builder of the Year ■ North East - Scott James Builder Project: Tangambalanga ■ South West - Larkin & Drought Builders Pty Ltd Project: Barwon Heads ■ North West - Winning Homes Group Pty Ltd Project: Moama ■ South East - SJ Vuillermin Master Builders Pty Ltd Project: Inverloch

Regional Commercial Builder of the Year

■ North East - Project: Hansen Yuncken Project: Shepparton Village Maculata Place, Shepparton ■ South West - Kane Fairbrother Project: Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, Ararat ■ North West - Fairbrother Project: Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo ■ South East - BFN Developments Project: Dalkeith Hostel Extension & Refurbishment Stage 1, Traralgon Each of the above companies will now compete for the State title of 2019 Regional

Builder of the Year at either the 2019 Excellence in Construction Awards or 2019 Excellence in Housing Awards.

In addition, the Association would like to express its appreciation of the judges and sponsors for their valued contribution. Without their continued support programs such as this would not be possible.

Judges

North East - Peter Helfer and David McMath South West - Angelo Inguanti and Geoff Falk North West - Austin Swain and Tony Croucher South East - Chris Morey and Bill Miller

Sponsors

Australian Gas Networks CBUS Colorbond Dial Before You Dig Incolink Origin Procore Victorian Building Authority

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS North West Regional Residential Master Builder of the Year PHOTO:

CONTRIBUTED

South East Regional Residential Master Builder of the Year PHOTO:

JASON SULLIVAN

South West Regional Residential Master Builder of the Year PHOTO:

CARLI WILSON

Sponsors

Redundancy Insurance Wellbeing

2019 Major award winners NORTH EAST Regional Residential Builder of the Year Scott James Builder Project: Tangambalanga Regional Commercial Builder of the Year Hansen Yuncken Project: Shepparton Village Maculata Place, Shepparton SOUTH WEST Regional Residential Builder of the Year Larkin & Drought Builders Pty Ltd Project: Barwon Heads Regional Commercial Builder of the Year Kane Fairbrother Project: Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, Ararat NORTH WEST Regional Residential Builder of the Year Winning Homes Group Pty Ltd Project: Moama Regional Commercial Builder of the Year Fairbrother Project: Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo SOUTH EAST Regional Residential Builder of the Year SJ Vuillermin Master Builders Pty Ltd Project: Inverloch Regional Commercial Builder of the Year BFN Developments Project: Dalkeith Hostel Extension & Refurbishment - Stage 1, Traralgon

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

North East Regional winners Regional Residential Builder of the Year^ Scott James Builder Project: Tangambalanga Regional Commercial Builder of the Year^ Hansen Yuncken Project: Shepparton Village Maculata Place, Shepparton Best Renovation/ Addition $200,000-$300,000 Giblin Construction Group Project: Splitters Creek Best Display Home $250,000-$350,000 Afonso Building Solutions Project: Wodonga Best Display Home $350,000-$500,000

Southern Vale Homes Project: The Elite, Wodonga Best Display Home over $500,000 Davis Sanders Homes Project: The Avanti, Thurgoona Best Volume Builder Display Home $250,000-$350,000 JG King Homes Project: Austin 248, Shepparton Best Volume Builder Display Home $350,000-$500,000 Dennis Family Homes Project: Charlton 373 Boulevard, Kialla Best Volume Builder Display Home over $500,000

Metricon Project: Chelsea 33, Killara Best Custom Home $300,000-$400,000 Hadar Homes Project: Benalla Best Custom Home $400,000-$500,000 (Special Commendation) Superior Living Homes Project: Leneva Best Custom Home $400,000-$500,000 MS Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Cobram Best Custom Home $500,000-$600,000 (Special Commendation) Glenn Dempsey Builders Pty Ltd

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

North East regional winners - opposite: Best Multi-Unit Development 4-12; ABOVE, FROM CLOCKWISE: Best Renovation/addition $200-000-$300,000; Best Sustainable Home; Best Custom Home $600,000-$800,000.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Project: Shepparton Best Custom Home $500,000-$600,000 Hedger Constructions Project: Thornton Best Custom Home $600,000-$800,000 ChandlerBuilt Project: Merrijig Best Custom Home $1M-$2M Scott James Builder Project: Tangambalanga Best Multi Unit Development up to 3 units Hadar Homes Project: Abalina Cottages, Bright Best Multi Unit Development 4 to 12 units Altiset Constructions Pty Ltd

Project: White Horse Village Chalet, Mt Buller Best Sustainable Home (Special Commendation) DKM Builders Project: Benalla Best Sustainable Home Ground Up Earth Builders Project: Beechworth Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $1M-$3M Afonso Building Solutions Project: Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre, Wodonga Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $3M-$6M (Special

Commendation) Premier Building & Construction Project: Catholic Collage Science Centre, Wodonga Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $3M-$6M Fairbrother Pty Ltd Project: Notre Dame Collage Art Centre, Shepparton Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings over $6M Hansen Yuncken Project: Shepparton Village Maculata Place, Shepparton

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

North West Regional winners Regional Residential Builder of the Year Winning Homes Group Pty Ltd Project: Moama Regional Commercial Builder of the Year Fairbrother Pty Ltd Project: Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo Best Renovation/Addition under $200,000 Bespoke Homes and Renovations Project: Lancefield Best Renovation/Addition

$200,000-$300,000 Adrian Bassett Homes Pty Ltd Project: East Bendigo Best Renovation/Addition $300,000-$500,000 Luke Milroy Constructions P/L Project: Quarry Hill Best Volume Builder Display Home $250,000-$350,000 JG King Homes

Project: Pemberton 300, Marong Best Custom Home $200,000-$300,000 JNC Building Services Project: Golden Square Best Custom Home $300,000-$400,000 Adrian Bassett Homes Pty Ltd Project: Maiden Gully Best Custom Home $400,000-$500,000 Jason Wescott Builder Project: Maiden Gully

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

North West Regional winners - OPPOSITE: Best Renovation/Addition $300,000-$500,000; ABOVE, FROM CLOCKWISE: Best Custom Home $1M-$2M; Best Custom Home $400,000-$500,000; Best Multi-Unit Development up to 3 units.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Best Custom Home $500,000-$600,000 Winning Homes Group Pty Ltd Project: Echuca Best Custom Home $600,000-$800,000 Adrian Bassett Homes Pty Ltd Project: Quarry Hill Best Custom Home $800,000-$1M Winning Homes Group Pty Ltd Project: Moama Best Custom Home $1M-$2M

Lachlan Fleming Constructions P/L Project: Macedon Best Multi Unit Development up to 3 units Hugh Foott Concepts & Construction Pty Ltd Project: Swan Hill Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings under $1M H & D Phillips Master Builders Project: Shackell's Bonded Store Upgrade and Refurbishment Works, Echuca

Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $3M-$6M Winterlong Project Services Project: Echuca Workers and Services Club, Echuca Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings over $6M Fairbrother Pty Ltd Project: Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

South East Regional winners Regional Residential Builder of the Year SJ Vuillermin Master Builders Pty Ltd Project: Inverloch Regional Commercial Builder of the Year BFN Developments Project: Dalkeith Hostel Extension & Refurbishment - Stage 1, Traralgon Best Renovation/Addition under $200,000 Latrobe Valley Building Services Project: Traralgon Best Renovation/Addition $200,000-$300,000 Latrobe Valley Building Services Project: Newborough Best Display Home under $250,000

Colmac Homes Pty Ltd Project: Tennyson 190, Sale Best Display Home $250,000-$350,000 Virtue Homes Project: Vista, Traralgon Best Display Home $350,000-$500,000 Virtue Homes Project: McLaren, Traralgon Best Volume Builder Display Home under $250,000 JG King Homes Project: H8.1, Warragul Best Volume Builder Display Home $250,000-350,000 Simonds Homes

Project: Fairfield 201, Traralgon Best Volume Builder Display Home $350,000-500,000 Simonds Homes Project: Valentina 286, Traralgon Best Volume Builder Display Home over $500,000 Simonds Homes Project: Oklahoma 331, Warragul Best Custom Home $200,000-$300,000 Virtue Homes Project: Traralgon Best Custom Home $300,000-$400,000 Allchin Builders Project: Warragul

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

South East Regional winners - OPPOSITE: Best Sustainable Home; ABOVE, FROM CLOCKWISE: Best Custom Home $800,000-$1M; Best Renovation/Addition $200,000-$300,000; Best Display Home $350,000-$500,000.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Best Custom Home $400,000-$500,000 Roseleigh Homes Project: Warragul Best Custom Home $500,000-$600,000 Pro Mara Builders Pty Ltd Project: Traralgon Best Custom Home $600,000-$800,000 TS Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Wonthaggi Best Custom Home $800,000-$1M Virtue Homes Project: Traralgon Best Custom Home $1M-$2M SJ Vuillermin Master Builders Pty Ltd Project: Inverloch

Best Multi Unit Development up to 3 units Virtue Homes Project: Traralgon Best Sustainable Home TS Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Cape Paterson Excellence in Construction for Commercial Buildings under $1M Colmac Homes Pty Ltd Project: Sale Show Grounds, Sale Excellence in Construction for Commercial Buildings $1M-$3M LANGDEN Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Traralgon Ambulance Station, Traralgon

Excellence in Construction for Commercial Buildings $3M-$6M TS Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Phillip Island Medical Hub, Cowes Excellence in Construction for Commercial Buildings over $6M (Special Commendation) DAS Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Newhaven College Stage 2 Gymnasium, Rhyll Excellence in Construction for Commercial Buildings over $6M BFN Developments Project: Dalkeith Hostel Extension & Refurbishment - Stage 1, Traralgon

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

South West Regional winners South West Regional Residential Builder of the Year Larkin and Drought Builders Pty Ltd Project: Barwon Heads Regional Commercial Builder of the Year Kane Fairbrother Project: Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, Ararat Best Display Home $350,000-$500,000 Sinclairs Building Concepts Pty Ltd Project: Adaline, Torquay Best Display Home over $500,000 Bryan & Petersen South West Project: Evoke 262, Warrnambool

Best Volume Builder Display Home under $250,000 Metricon Project: Lawson 22 Mk2, Smythes Creek Best Volume Builder Display Home $250,000-$350,000 JG King Homes Project: Sage, Lucas Best Volume Builder Display Home $350,000-$500,000 Metricon Project: Bohemian 29, Torquay Best Custom Home $300,000-$400,000 Massina Builders

Project: Kyneton Best Custom Home $400,000-$500,000 Signature Homes Geelong Project: Highton Best Custom Home $500,000-$600,000 Q By Malishev Project: Mount Duneed Best Custom Home $600,000-$800,000 R J Hill Homes Pty Ltd Project: Ocean Grove Best Custom Home $800,000-$1M VR Builders Project: Pastoria Best Custom Home $1M-$2M

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REGIONAL BUILDING AWARDS

South West Regional winners - OPPOSITE: Best Custom Home $800,000-$1M; ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Best Sustainable Home; Best Multi-Unit Development up to3.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Larkin and Drought Builders Pty Ltd Project: Barwon Heads Best Multi Unit Development up to 3 units Trevor Homes Vic Pty Ltd Project: Port Arlington Best Multi Unit Development 4 to 12 units Rendine Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Geelong Best Sustainable Home Sinclairs Building Concepts Pty Ltd

Project: Torquay Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $1M-$3M Fairbrother Pty Ltd Project: Portland Secondary School, Portland Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $3M-$6M Rendine Constructions Pty Ltd Project: Geelong Grammar Clyde Boarding House South, Corio

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Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $6M-$10M Fairbrother Pty Ltd Project: Timboon P12, Timboon Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings over $10M Kane Fairbrother (joint venture) Project: Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, Ararat

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

SOCIALS

A cross-section of moments from Master Builders Regional Building awards across Victoria.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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SOCIALS

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Splendid snaps from the Excellence in Construction Awards at Crown Palladium.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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FINANCE

Open banking: getting into financial shape Harry Pontikis Manager, MBA Financial Services

them to leave their existing bank. This in-depth spending analysis will also better equip banks to predict a clients’ propensity to default on payments and their ability to repay loans without being caused substantial hardship.

Spending habits

The first phase of open banking was implemented without much fanfare, discussion or debate on 1 July 2019. The main banks have subscribed to sharing their clients’ transactional data with each other with their clients’ consent.

The next phase is February 2020, when all mortgage accounts will be shared amongst the banks as well. The full phase of the rollout will take a few years, but it will provide an unprecedented opportunity for banks to ‘cherry-pick’ the exact types of clients they want, and identify the ones they deem too risky, not transparent or unprofitable.

The impact of open banking can be illustrated by comparing two customers who walk into a bank; they may be on identical incomes, live in the same suburb and have the same number of children.

Customer A, who has been saving regularly and paying off the credit card in full each month, may be able to get a $15k personal loan at 5.99 per cent. Customer B, who is overdrawn on his limit, makes cash advances on credit cards and gambles online, is stuck with 21.99 per cent.

Mortgage accounts will become available for sharing in February 2020, in addition to transaction accounts. This provides even more insight for banks to see what type of client you are, how you prioritise paying back loans on time and if you have a casual attitude to your repayments on time, every time.

As a consumer, you have time to clean up your act to and establish a ‘recent history’ of being the type of customer banks desire, and increase the likelihood of access cheaper rates and more favourable lending conditions.

The more information banks can access in regard to their prospective clients, the more they can tailor the type of product and pricing they may want to offer to these clients to entice

It’s now time to be conscious of your spending habits if you are considering a mortgage in the future. The effect of your spending habits will extend to the rates for which you will be eligible and help the banks determine the degree to which they want you as their client. Making repayments on time, not gambling or spending exorbitantly on luxury items you may not be able to afford as a percentage of your income will affect your ability to borrow money in the future. Developing a responsible spending history will allow banks to accept you as a good prospective client and eligible for better products, lower fees and interest rates.

The aim of open banking is to extend the negative reporting regime used in Australia to a more balanced positive and negative one. The previous negative information was available to lenders to consider whether you would be a good or poor credit risk. Their decisions were based on any black marks on your credit history, such as defaults, arrears, court judgements or bankruptcies. Comprehensive credit reporting gave lenders access to 24 months of customer repayments history on credit cards and utility bills.

Lenders will be better able to monitor perceived problem areas like cash advances on credit cards, which are indicators of financial stress and gambling activity.

Credit card use

Having a credit card can help to improve customers’ borrowing profile as long as they pay it off in full each month. Being financially responsible with credit cards is one of the best things a customer can do.

Lenders have traditionally used risk predictors such as postcodes to assess customers’ borrowing capacity. This is likely to change under open banking where decisions can be based specifically on the individuals’ spending habits and situation rather than people who fall into a general profile. This will benefit some people and disadvantage others.

Easier to refinance

Open banking should make it quicker and easier

for customers to refinance home loans. This will allow clients to continuously chase better deals, and delays to the refinancing process will be significantly reduced. Clients who have easy-to-read tax returns with fixed incomes and expenses will be easily assessed via open banking. Clients who are self-employed, have commissions, bonuses or less straightforward financial situations will still be better served applying for their mortgages via experienced and independent finance brokers like Chocolate Money.

Customers who can demonstrate consistent and solid savings will also be able to improve their chances of refinancing or obtaining a home loan, as well as by cancelling unused credit cards and reducing credit card limits.

Even though open banking has not been implemented in its entirety yet, brokers can help you analyse your spending habits and give you feedback about preparing for open banking’s full implementation. Red-flag spending items are pay-day lenders, gambling, taking cash out at casino venues, TABs or other gambling institutions, or taking cash out without clear explanations as to their use.

Open banking is clearly a double-edged sword creating premium clients for banks and labelling non-premium clients as bigger risks for all lenders. This means fees will be greater for those under financial stress than those with plenty of money.

Impact of brokers

Open banking will force banks and lenders to better differentiate themselves so as to attract the types of clients to whom they want to lend.

Therefore, matching the borrower’s situation perfectly with the lender’s requirements will become essential for borrowers. Independent and experienced finance brokers who have expertise in an industry and insight into lenders’ policies will become invaluable members of a business’ finance team, and offer great value to borrowers who want to access the best finance deals for which they are eligible.

Chocolate Money t/a Master Builders Financial Services.

Please note: this article is general in nature and not to be considered specific advice of any kind. For specific lending advice, contact Chocolate Money on 1300 137 539. Australian Credit License 387277

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

41

INSURANCE

Water-proofing losses revisited Joe Keiper State Manager, Victoria, MBAIS

The most common issue heard by the Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV) continues to relate to ineffective waterproofing.

While often a portion of the costs associated with the water damage can be covered through having the right Contract Works & Liability policy, there are risk management strategies you can implement that significantly reduce your chance of experiencing a waterproofing problem.

When considering that waterproofing typically forms just 1 to 2 per cent of the building cost for residential builds, the disproportionately high number of problems should encourage builders to pay particular attention to waterproofing, as getting it wrong can affect you financially, and result in a dissatisfied homeowner.

Firstly, ensure you and your onsite staff are very clear on the Australian standards related to waterproofing – AS4654 (external) and AS3740 (internal). While we’ll detail several of the most common issues we’ve seen ourselves, having a thorough understanding of the standards will help you minimise the chances of a problem occurring.

Selecting the right waterproofing contractor is critically important. Some questions that can help you assess their suitability include: ■ Are they licensed/registered?

■ Does most of their staff have at least a Certificate 3 in waterproofing?

■ What products do they use? Are they the well-known, well-established brands and products, or are they using cheaper, imported alternatives?

■ Are contractors trained/accredited by product suppliers to install their products?

Once you’ve selected the water-proofer, the earlier they can be engaged to review and troubleshoot the designs, the better. Have your waterproofing contractor conduce a pre-commencement visit to identify potential problems, including but not limited to: ■ Insufficient fall to drain points both in shower bases and balconies ■ Insufficient hob heights for external doors

and windows to balconies, which can result in water penetration ■ Water-proofers scheduled onsite later than normal, where waterproofing to door/window hobs hasn’t occurred prior to external doors and doorframes being installed to balconies.

■ Insufficient time allowed for waterproofing process – allow time sufficient for curing ■ Inappropriate waterproofing applications for particular areas/substrate – i.e. use of sheet membranes is preferred to liquid-applied membranes for timber substrate due to sheet membranes more effectively handling movement.

Other tips to help avoid frequent loss types include: ■ Thickness of application of liquid-applied membranes is often below standards recommended by manufacturers ■ Avoid mixing different suppliers’ products,

which can void any warranty and likely cause issues ■ Follow the compatible products guides and suppliers’ data sheets consistently ■ Sheet membranes are a lot more durable during construction and better able to resist damage from the likes of plaster, ladders, and foot traffic when compared to liquid-applied membranes. Even with sheet membranes, it is important to protect the waterproof membrane after installation.

Even with a good risk-management system in place addressing the issues above, problems can still occur. MBA Insurance Services is a specialist construction insurance brokerage and can assist you in providing broad coverage for these issues and expert support in the event of claims. Please speak to us if you would like a free assessment of your current insurance coverage and pricing.

Call us on 1800 150 888.

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

43

OH&S

New safety standards for silica exposure James Curtin, Senior Manager, OHS

In early August, the heads of Health and Safety Australia met with Safe Work Australia and voted for a new workplace exposure standard for crystalline silica, or silica dust, which has been halved from 1.0mg/m3 to 0.05mg/m3.

The new national exposure standard improves workplace health and safety without restricting the use of materials as lower levels become more difficult to accurately measure. The decision was based on rigorous contemporary and scientific evidence and is welcome news for workers likely to be affected working with silica dust in building and construction—stonemasons in particular.

While this new standard will be phased in over the next three years, it is a timely reminder to focus on prevention, and for businesses to ensure their work practices are compliant and for workers to be aware of how to reduce the risks to their health.

Increasing incidents of silicosis

There was a significant increase in cases of accelerated silicosis as an occupational illness in Australia last year, which included 28 claims for silica-related conditions received by WorkSafe Victoria.

Silicosis is an aggressive form of lung disease caused by silica dust (dust particles about 100 times smaller than a grain of sand) which is found in stone, rock, sand, gravel and clay, along with some bricks, tiles and concrete.

The lung disease had become rare until engineered stone materials, with higher concentrations of silica, were introduced late 1990s to meet growing demand for a product that was less expensive than marble and granite and offered improved density and a more consistent finish. Some of these materials are used routinely in the building and construction industry and it is critical to implement safe handling practices to continue to offer these options without risking the health of workers.

Wet cutting reduces the likelihood of harmful exposure to silica dust.

Victorian action

In response to this issue, the Victorian government has also been proactive in

tightening restrictions on workers’ daily exposure to silica dust. In May this year, a compliance blitz was enforced targeting 300 workplaces considered ‘high-risk’, with a particular focus on stonemasonry, along with a state-wide ban on uncontrolled dry-cutting of materials that contain silica dust.

In addition, the government focused on education initiatives; one for workers about the safe handling of silica-based materials and one for general practitioners regarding how to better identify this health risk to promote early detection. Victoria’s 1400 stonemasons were also given access to free health screenings.

Advice for employers

Businesses in the building and construction industry that rely on using materials containing high levels of silica are encouraged to implement safe work practices to mitigate risks.

Key points to consider

• No employee should be dry-cutting tiles, bricks or benchtops in an uncontrolled manner • Use professional systems to monitor

airborne particulate matter • Ensure employees are trained to work in a safe manner • Mandatory use of respiratory masks for tradespeople • Implement effective risk controls • Regularly review practices to identify any hazards.

Master Builders Victoria is supportive of both the national and state measures that make working conditions safer and we will continue to monitor this issue to keep our members informed and up-to-date with any further changes. But given the difficulty of measuring such low levels accurately, it increases the likelihood of severe restrictions on some materials containing high levels of silica currently used routinely in the building and construction industry.

If members require additional information or advice, please call Master Builders OHS department on (03) 9411 4555 or email mailto: jcurtin@mbav.com.au

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

GREEN LIVING

Dr Phillip Alviano Sustainability Advisor

Excellence in Construction Awards: Best Sustainable Project

Entries for this year’s Best Sustainable Project reflect the breadth of projects being delivered at the moment, and demonstrate the introduction of sustainability measures into infrastructure projects.

Comparing an office building with an infrastructure project can be a difficult exercise, but each of them was evaluated by weighing what they delivered against what was possible, and the difficulty of doing so.

Winner – One Malop St, Built Pty Ltd

This is an outstanding entry that reflects ‘World’s Best Practice’ standards in sustainable construction by achieving a 6 Star GreenStar As Built rating. This project is a new commercial office development at One Malop Street, Geelong, Victoria, with WorkSafe as the main tenant. Construction was made all the more difficult with the required integration of the historic Dalgety & Co. site, and consists of new facilities that are integrated with the existing heritage façade.

The development has been designed and constructed with the occupants’ wellbeing as its core focus and with market-leading greenhouse gas emission targets. Under a design and construct contract, Built worked closely with the owner to finalise the tenancy requirements and design with anchor tenant WorkSafe, integrating fit-out elements during the base-build construction works.

As a result, they were able to deliver a building with a 6-Star GreenStar Design As Built rating and interiors rating. The building also achieved a 5.5 Star NABERS Energy for Office rating, a 4- Star Water and a 5-Star Indoor Environment rating.

Because these ratings cross over with the WELL Building Standard, careful planning allowed exceeding the tenant’s original goals and deliver a Core and Shell Platinum Standard and a New and Existing Interiors Gold standard.

This means that key elements such as the building structure, window locations and glazing, building proportions, the heating,

Above and below left: One Malop St, Built Pty Ltd; Below right: CPB Contractors.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

cooling and ventilation system, and water quality are designed to promote the health and well-being of the tenants, visitors and staff.

Notable sustainable design and construction features include: ■ Selection of low toxicity finishes throughout ■ Air flushing at completion to release residual off-gases and potential airborne contaminants ■ High-grade air filters and onsite air quality testing to confirm it met WELL standards ■ Whole-building air-tightness testing ■ Lighting designed to support the human body’s circadian rhythm, avoid glare, eyestrain and associated headaches ■ Water filtration and quality testing ■ Maximised natural light and views over

Corio Bay and Johnstone Park ■ Multiple outdoor working and recreation areas, including a rooftop terrace ■ High-quality end-of-trip facilities and bike storage to encourage active commuting ■ 90kW rooftop photovoltaic array ■ Over 96 per cent of construction waste diverted from landfill All of this means the production of a building that not only reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent but also protects occupant health and improves productivity.

Finalist - Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project – CPB Contractors

The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project (CTD) is a landmark project that has removed nine dangerous level crossings on

ISSUE 04, 2019

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GREEN LIVING

the Cranbourne/Pakenham line, rebuilt five train stations (Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton and Noble Park) along the line with new modern facilities, upgraded signalling and power along 72 km of track and created 11 MCGs worth of new public open space.

This innovative project has been able to deliver on a number of sustainability features including: ■ Significantly reduced GHG emissions through the reduction of energy usage by 20 to30 per cent ■ The harvesting and re-use of rainwater,

‘

and the installation of energy-efficient lighting and equipment ■ The five new stations have achieved a Five-Star Green Star Design interim rating – a first in Australia’s rail industry ■ Robust design to ensure the stations will remain fit for purpose over a 50-year design lifecycle (well above the current MTM practice of 25 years) ■ Rainwater captured from each station roof, stored onsite and used for toilet flushing and platform wash-downs in place of potable water ■ Water-efficient fixtures and fittings ■ Self-sustaining drought-tolerant landscaping ■ Intelligent lighting controls and optimised lighting levels to reduce the stations’ lighting-related energy consumption by more than half ■ Improved building fabric reduces the station buildings’ heating load ■ A 10kW solar array and smart design at each station decreases peak electricity demand and reduces the stations’ impact on the wider electrical network ■ Solar-powered cat eyes have been used on pedestrian pathways into the stations, further reducing operational energy consumption ■ Steel sourced from steel-makers with ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

accreditation and from steel suppliers that are members of the World Steel Association’s Climate Action Programme ■ FSC/AFS certified timber ■ Cycling facilities at each new station including bicycle loops and secure bicycle storage in the Bicycle Network-associated Parkiteer cages ■ Low-VOC materials used in the fit-out of station buildings to minimise the sources of indoor pollutants and improve indoor air quality ■ Key architectural elements from the old station buildings – such as the steel canopies and trusses – salvaged and incorporated into the designs for the new station precinct and community open spaces ■ An original Clayton Station shelter from 1891 refurbished by students at Chisholm TAFE and re-incorporated with the new station ■ Elevating the rail line and creating a new parkland beneath, allowing for greater tree retention and habitat connectivity ■ The previous brownfield rail corridor transformed into 22.5 hectares of new linear park – the largest re-giving of land in urban Melbourne since the opening of the Botanic Gardens – providing significant opportunity to maximise ecological outcomes and reconnect communities.

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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TRAINING

Construction Essentials Workshop The Construction Essentials (half-day) workshop provides you with a basic understanding of the construction industry.

The workshop acquaints you with: ■ The construction industry and its underlying sectors ■ Jobs in construction ■ Different types of construction organisations ■ Key roles on a construction project ■ The Victorian Building Authority (the key industry regulator) ■ The Victorian building legal framework ■ The National Construction Code ■ The importance of builder registration ■ A variety of building terms ■ The benefits of working in a team.

Locations, durations and dates

November 15 - 9am to 1.30pm, East Melbourne Cost (inc. GST): ■ $180 Master Builders member ■ $150 Master Builders member/Incolink* ■ $230 Non-member/Incolink* ■ $290 Non-member ■ $245 ALink student/Master Builders member *Subject to eligibility

Trades Registration (Domestic) Accredited Short Course

Did you know that you need to be a registered builder to undertake work over $10,000 directly for a consumer?

Master Builders Victoria has developed the Trades Registration (Domestic) Accredited Short Course to meet the units of competency as set out for those applying to be registered as a Domestic Builder (Limited). Applying for your Domestic Builder (Limited) registration now will

mean you are best prepared for when mandatory trades registration is introduced.

Units covered: ■ CPCCBC4026A Arrange building applications and approvals ■ CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract ■ CPCCBC4005A Produce labour and material schedules for ordering

Locations, durations and dates

TRD-004 - South Melbourne Nov 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 (evenings) Dec 2, 4, 9, 11 (evenings) Cost (excl. GST): ■ $1495 Master Builders member ■ $2545 Non-member Contact To learn more or to register your interest for the Construction Essentials Workshop or the Trades Registration (Domestic) Accredited Short Course, please call (03) 9411 4555 or email training@mbav.com.au.

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Andrew Wh hitelaw - Director awhitelaw@wflawyers.com.au

(03) 9090 6700

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

New penalties for unlicensed labour hire Sheena Hoey Senior Manager, Industrial Relations As of 30 October 2019, substantial penalties will apply to labour hire providers who don’t have a licence and to businesses that use an unlicensed provider.

The penalties will be imposed by the Labour Hire Licensing Authority which was established in April 2019, as part of the Victorian Labour Hire Licensing scheme created by the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018. The Authority is responsible for regulating the labour hire industry in Victoria to minimise the potential for worker exploitation.

A business will be considered a ‘labour hire provider’ for the purposes of the scheme if that business: ■ Supplies the individuals to perform work in, and as part of, a host’s business or undertaking and the provider is obliged to pay the individual for performance of the work; or ■ In the course of providing recruitment or placement services, recruits individuals for or places the individuals with a host, who has to pay the individuals to perform work in and as part of the host’s business or undertaking, and the provider procures or provides accommodation for the individuals for some or all of the period that they are working with the host; or ■ In the course of conducting contractor management services, individuals are recruited as independent contractors to perform work in and as part of a host’s business or undertaking, and manages the contract performance by the independent contractors.

Under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018, all labour hire providers must be licensed. Providers who fail to obtain a licence by 30 October, face fines of up to $120,000 for an individual or more than $500,000 for a body corporate.

Fit and Proper Person requirement

For every application received, the Labour Hire Authority will conduct a fit and proper person assessment of each person included on the application. A ‘person’ for the purposes of the application will include relevant individuals and all officers of a body corporate.

A person will be not be deemed a fit and proper person and will not be granted a licence

under the scheme if they have: Within the last 10 years: ■ Been found guilty of an indictable offence against a person, or an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or drug trafficking that was punishable by imprisonment of three months or more (or an equivalent offence committed outside Victoria); and/or Within the last five years: ■ Been found to have contravened a workplace law, labour hire industry law or minimum accommodation standard, or given an enforceable undertaking in respect of a contravention of one of those laws; ■ Had a licence under a labour hire industry law cancelled, suspended or revoked other than at the licence holder’s initiative; ■ Been insolvent or under external administration; ■ Where an applicant is a body corporate, an officer of the body corporate was an officer of another body corporate whose licence was cancelled other than at the licence holder’s initiative; or ■ The applicant was an officer of a body corporate and was disqualified from managing corporations under the Corporations Act 2001.

Compliance with obligations

In addition to the fit and proper person requirement, an applicant will also need to declare that, to their knowledge, they are

compliant with relevant laws including taxation, superannuation, occupational health and safety, workers compensation; labour hire industry; workplace; migration and applicable minimum accommodation standards.

Businesses that use labour hire providers must ensure they are aware of the requirements under the scheme. As of 30 October, it will be an offence under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 to use any provider that is unlicensed and may result in penalties in excess of $500,000 for a body corporate.

Before engaging a labour hire, businesses should check the online register of Licensed Labour Hire Providers to determine if the provider is appropriately licenced. The register and further details can be found at https://labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au/

Right of Entry change Earlier this year, the government passed the Fair Work Amendment (Modernising Right of Entry) Regulations 2019 and introduced a new requirement for federal right of entry permits to include a photo and signature of the permit holder. The Regulations apply to new permits issued after 1 July 2019.

While permit holders obtained before 1 July 2019 are not required to replace their existing permits, as of 1 October 2019, the Regulations require that holders of these permits must present photographic identification, along with their existing permit in order to exercise a lawful right of entry under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

Did you know?

Master Builders team of IR specialists can assist you with all aspects industrial and employee relations. This includes assistance with enterprise agreements, policies, procedures, employment contracts and disputes.

For more information regarding industrial relations issues, including the most frequently asked questions visit the Master Builders website https://www.mbav.com.au/ member-services/ir-services or to seek specific advice call (03) 9411 4560.

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

MEMBERSHIP

MASTER BUILDERS

MEMBER PROFILE TILLING GROUP

The Tilling Group is the largest distributor of engineered wood products in Australia, with distribution centres in five mainland states.

Branded SmartFrame, this expansive range includes timber I-joists (SmartJoist), laminated veneer lumber (SmartLVL) and glue-laminated beams (SmartLam).

The Tilling Group specialises in engineered timber solutions, and comprises of the following divisions: ■ SmartFrame, catering to the domestic and multi-residential markets with premium quality engineered wood products ■ FrameSmart, which accommodates all solid-timber, machine-grade softwood framing solutions ■ SmartStruct, providing lightweight structural solutions in commercial and midrise applications ■ Architectural, applying traditional timber milling and profiling methods to create beautiful interior linings and exterior claddings.

SmartJoist offers the most comprehensive range of I-joists, with 200mm, 240mm, 300mm, 360mm and 400mm heights available.

Cost effective, convenient and high

performing, the SmartJoist range features superior span capability, when compared to other I-joists available on the market.

Highlighting its focus on building solutions, Tilling offers comprehensive design services through its SmartFrame Design Centre.

This free service is supported by a team of engineers, building designers, building surveyors and frame-and-truss detailers, providing an integrated solution for project requirements.

The service provides full engineering support on all SmartFrame EWP, free design and take-off from building plans, a dedicated toll-free engineering support line, structured SmartFrame software training program as well as certification of engineering designs to relevant state building acts and regulations.

The SmartFrame Design Centre produces more than 14,000 unique designs per year.

In keeping with Tilling’s commitment to providing a lightweight alternative to concrete systems within the midrise construction sector, Tilling’s SmartStruct Kerto Panel System creates opportunities to reduce costs of multi-level construction.

Tilling’s specialist engineers and consultants can assist with providing a more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable structure.

Another high-performing solution, Tecbeam, complements the SmartFrame range in commercial structures.

Tecbeam provides large spans, minimal deflections and access for services.

Tilling’s architectural division offers an extensive range of architecturally inspired interior lining and exterior cladding products.

These products are available through a network of knowledgeable timber merchants across Australia.

Combining performance, free design service and economical products, Tilling continues to be an unrivalled choice for builders across Australia. With so many resellers stocking Tilling products, we are always within reach.

Tilling is a trusted source with over $1 billion worth of products performing in Australian houses and over 50 years of industry experience and knowledge.

Send through your plans and engineering via smartdata@tillling.com.au to experience the SmartFrame difference.

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MEMBERSHIP

Taking the best of sport to business Paralympian Madeleine Hogan is carving out a successful career in building and construction.

Janice Mascini Special contributor

Madeleine Hogan brings the same determination and focus to her career as she did to her Paralympic success, winning two bronze medals and a gold medal for the Women’s Javelin F46, despite numerous injuries. Having retired after the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she placed fifth, Madeleine joined Blue Scope Steel and is now a Business Development Manager in Building Markets. Madeleine is also a member of the Master Builders’ Materials, Manufacturing and Supply Sector (MM&S) Group.

"There are definite parallels in my approach to sport and business life," Madeleine says.

"First and foremost is to enjoy what I do, which makes it easier to commit to pushing myself into a new area of expertise and tackling any challenges. Working with Blue Scope and taking an active role on the MM&S Group Committee has been very rewarding.

"Secondly, I like to seek out where I can add value and take calculated risks to achieve results, and the building and construction sector provides plenty of opportunities to think outside the square.

"A big part of my role at Blue Scope is meeting with builders and understanding their needs," Madeleine says. "I’ve found that this ‘out in the field’ experience complements my position on the Committee, which brings together a diverse range of industry representatives to address issues and provide a cross-section of views and advice to help with problem solving.

"Being around people who have a genuine passion for what they do is uplifting and the building and construction industry has this in

Madeleine Hogan at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London PHOTO: SPORT THE

LIBRARY

FAST FACTS Madeleine was born without the lower half of her left arm and played state-level able-bodied cricket before being talent spotted for Paralympic sport.

Madeleine’s Women’s Javelin F46 Highlights: • 2008 Beijing Paralympics – won bronze • 2011 IPC Athletics’ World Championships - won gold, despite tearing a tendon in her right throwing arm • 2012 London Paralympics – won bronze • 2016 Rio Paralympics – placed fifth after recovering from knee surgery spades, so in this respect, my transition from sport to business has also been seamless and I’m

delighted to be proactively contributing to its growth and development."

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MEMBERSHIP

MASTER BUILDERS

NEW MEMBERS

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

Master Builders is pleased to welcome the following new members who joined the association in June and July 2019.

Congratulations on joining Master Builders Victoria.

Associate

B.Solar Pty Ltd

General Contractor Advanced Construction Solutions Pty Ltd William Barraclough Wolf Construction Australia Pty Ltd

General Contractor Provisional Mavicon Pty Ltd Silo Services

Housing

918 Built Pty Ltd CIQ Construction Management Pty Ltd Conterno Group Pty Ltd Darren Butterfield Dewcon Building Group Pty Ltd DLR Projects Pty Ltd Elcon Builders Pty Ltd Jake Steyger JCON Construction Pty Ltd Kre8 Living Pty Ltd LME Builders

MM Built Group Pty Ltd Para Constructions Pty Ltd S P Homes Pty Ltd Semore Homes Zaric & Co Pty Ltd

Vanderplight Carpentry Vincent Carman Wenhui Song

Housing Provisional

Housing Sub-Contractor

AGCON Solutions ASI Construction Pty Ltd Baker Construction Group Pty Ltd Bessel Ali Sleiman Broadbear Constructions Pty Ltd Cameron John Taite Daniel Weislitzer DG Building & Construction Elements Decks & Gardens Five Sun Construction Flory Pty Ltd Glamour Homes Australia Pty Ltd GVR Constructions Pty Ltd Hongchao Zhang Kristian McInerney Maratom Investments Pty Ltd Perfection Plumbing Pty Ltd Prochip Building & Construction Proline Home Improvements Rodney Broadbent Scott Dowel Tallman Industries

Ikonic Group Pty Ltd

Housing VIC/NSW Building, Research & Design Studio Pty Ltd

Materials, Manufacturing & Supply Ao Li Long Pty Ltd

Master Tradesman Fellow Builds Gang Zheng

Master Tradesman Provisional Andrew Scott Lane Armstrong Property Solutions Bathroom Renovations Group Pty Ltd Daniel Miller Gippsland Carpentry & Construction Lignum Design & Construction Pty Ltd One Of A Kind Cabinets Paul Chamberlain

Specialist Contractor

A J Care Pty Ltd ALC Build Pty Ltd Mrkon Interiors Pty Ltd Norris Construction Group Platinum Screens Pty Ltd Victoria Wide Demolitions & Bin Hire Pty Ltd

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MEMBERSHIP

Member Services update Janice Mascini Special contributor

Mell Greenall, newly appointed Senior Manager for membership at Master Builders Victoria, is becoming a familiar face with her focus on meeting members, actively listening and seeking feedback to enhance services.

"I have a vested interest in understanding members’ needs so I can accurately represent their views and I’ve really enjoyed attending trade nights and events over the last few months to get to know people," Mell says.

Mell has 10 years’ experience in the commercial sector as a senior business development manager and has spent eight years in senior management roles with not-for-profit organisations, including the Australian Institute of Architects, Qld, the Australian Podiatry Association and the Australian Drilling Industry Association. Through these later roles, she has a proven track record in engaging members to encourage growth.

"Master Builders has an enviable reputation for providing quality services and I’m delighted to be part of a team that is clearly passionate and committed to serving its members," Mell

says. "The knowledge and expertise of the specialist services available to members is very impressive. This strength and the diversity of support also offered to members provides an excellent platform to continue to evolve and improve what we do.

"My team manages the reception, Assist Call Centre, the shop and membership sales and administration. It’s a busy environment. The Assist Call Centre fields over 300 calls per day and many members come into the office to purchase an industry specific item including contracts, safety signs, and the newly updated National Construction Code 2019, volumes one and two. These can also be purchased online.

Our priority is to ensure our customer service is efficient so members can focus on running their businesses.

"My approach is centred on being proactive and using timely communication across multiple channels to keep members well informed of what we have to offer and how we can help them," she says. "I look forward to identifying where we can add value to our services, including anticipating the changing needs of our members, and most of all meeting the people we serve."

Senior Manager membership, Melanie Greenall

Member shop overview Range includes books and manuals; contracts; access to e-contracts; project documents, clothing and merchandise; legislation documents; OHS and signage Purchase in person at 332 Albert Street, East Melbourne 8.30am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) or call (03) 9411 4555.

Shop online https://www.mbav.com.au/eshop Place an order before 2pm online or over the phone, and the purchased item will be mailed the same day.

Members have access to a 14-day account.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

NEWS

Mandatory registration for engineering underscores importance for industry The passing of the Professional Engineers Registration Bill 2019 on Wednesday 28 August will ensure that professional engineers in Victoria operating in structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and fire safety engineering will require registration to practice.

Master Builders believes this is a positive step towards increasing quality standards and assurance in the building and construction industry and ensuring greater accountability over the provision of Victoria’s infrastructure projects. This is becoming all the more important as Victoria experiences record levels of infrastructure and engineering activity and the construction of residential dwellings to meet

the state’s rapid population growth.

The passing of the Professional Engineers Bill 2019 underscores the importance of obtaining registration in the building and construction industry.

Registration acts as a filter to remove those not sufficiently qualified and experienced to practice and that a consistent minimum level of standard is expected.

Indeed, Master Builders has long advocated for domestic mandatory subcontractor registration for key trades where high levels of defective work exist, which led to Victorian Parliament’s passage of a bill in 2018 for mandatory trade registration. While Master

Builders maintains its view that this is a positive step, the additional inclusion of a broad employee licensing scheme will make such a scheme more costly than it is beneficial. It is vital that the Victorian government in its consultation with industry stakeholders like Master Builders understands that any mandatory trade registration scheme must be simple, effective, and practical in its approach to ensure a real improvement in quality and accountability.

In the meantime, building practitioners and consumers should always seek a tradesperson registered with the VBA for any building and construction work conducted.

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

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LEGAL

Legal expertise on request Janice Mascini Special contributor

Master Builders’ legal team manages a comprehensive range of essential services for members, providing ready access to expert advice and industry contracts and regular updates on topical legal issues that add value and help to maximise professionalism and efficiency.

Committed to supporting the success of the building and construction industry, our dedicated team takes pride in keeping members well informed of their legal rights and responsibilities. We monitor what we do regularly and keep abreast of changes to maintain a high service standard.

Free legal advice One of our most in-demand services is our over-the-phone, free and confidential legal advice, which gives members reassurance, peace-of-mind and, importantly, saves them time and money. On average, we receive 417 calls per month, covering a multitude of topics which the qualified legal team is well equipped to manage. This service is available from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

The majority of our calls are about domestic building and construction law, and around 20 per cent involve enquiries about commercial matters. Advice ranges from contracts and dispute resolution to security of payment and other critical issues. Because each call is unique, we take the time and attention to understand the essential details. This can sometimes affect our response times to taking new enquiries, but be assured that every enquiry is followed-up diligently.

It is very rewarding to help members gain a better understanding of their situation and resolve their enquiry. In cases where the complexity of the issue requires further legal advice, we have a referral service to legal firms who have in-depth industry expertise. With the benefit of having had an initial discussion with an expert from our legal team, the member can make an informed decision when engaging legal advice.

Another avenue for enquiries is our website, which also has a list of the most common legal-related questions and answers: https://www.mbav.com.au/member-services/ legal/faq Spotlighting cladding An essential component of our legal service is hosting informative seminars once a quarter to keep our members well informed about current issues. We aim to make these accessible for all members, regardless of their location, and have had growing success in using video conferencing technology to involve those in

The Master Builders Victoria legal team (l to r): Monique Burns, Krishita Ramjeet, Tristan Moseley and Dianne Markov.

regional Victoria.

Our guest speaker in late July was Jeanette Barbaro, a partner at Minter Ellison and a leading practitioner in the field of building and construction law. Jeanette spoke in very practical terms about the essential issues requiring consideration in light of Melbourne’s Lacrosse building decision, including the cause, result, warnings and roles of the builder, surveyor and architect. It was extremely timely, as just days earlier the Victorian government had announced its $600 million package for fixing the problem of flammable cladding on private properties, which will be administered by a new agency called Cladding Safety Victoria.

Master Builders’ CEO, Rebecca Casson, also addressed the attendees to give an insight into the proactive approach of Master Builders Victoria in engaging key stakeholders on this issue to get the best outcome for members.

The 100+ people attending enjoyed a valuable opportunity not just to listenand ask questions of both an expert and our CEO, but also enabled members to connect with each other to share their views and experiences.

"The cladding seminar was one of the best I have been to in years," Bernie Schulz, from B Schulz Developments Pty Ltd said. "Jeanette made a complex issue into a common-sense, step-by-step presentation that we could all follow."

Watch for further details about the next

seminar in September.

Contract review Our popular legal resources include a variety of contracts which can be purchased online at https://www.mbav.com.au/eshop or over the counter at the Master Builders office in East Melbourne. All of these contracts are robust legal documents and can be used with confidence.

As part of our continuing efforts to enhance our service, we are undertaking a review of eight documents which comprise the Master Builders Victoria suite of contracts to ensure they have the best practical application for members. We not only welcome feedback, but very much encourage it. We need the input of those at the coalface to ensure our contracts continue to be the best in the industry.

Contracts that are being targeted are: • New Homes Contract (HC-7) • Home Improvement Contract (HIC-6) • Minor Works Contract ($10k-$50k) (MW-2) • Cost Plus (DCP-2) • Pool and Spa Contract • Sub-Contract (SC8) • General Conditions of Contract (GCC6) • Commercial Cost Plus Feedback can be sent via legalfeedback@mbav.com.au For Master Builders Victoria legal support phone (03) 9411 4555 or email: legalenquiries@mbav.com.au

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

NEWS

Full federal court rules on personal leave accrual In the recent decision of Mondelez v AMWU, a full federal court majority held that full-time and part-time employees are entitled to 10 ordinary ‘working days’ of personal/carer’s leave per year under the Fair Work Act, regardless of how many hours the employees work. The decision is therefore of relevance to employers whose employees work their ordinary hours over an averaging arrangement, whereby they don’t work the same ordinary hours each day.

Mondelez had argued that its shift workers, who worked their ordinary hours over three 12-hour shifts per week (36 ordinary hours) should accrue 72 hours of personal leave per year. Mondelez argued that leave should be based on 10 days’ worth of 7.2 ordinary hours.

Ordinary hours are traditionally 38 hours per week for a full-time employee, generally worked

in a pattern of 7.6 hours over 5 days of the week. 7.6 hours has therefore been understood as the standard workday. Where ordinary hours for full-time employees are 36 hours per week, as was the case in Mondelez, this equates to a 7.2 hour standard work day.

The full federal court majority (Bromberg, Rangiah JJ, O’Callaghan J dissenting), rejected the interpretation of personal leave as being based on a standard 7.2 hour work day. The majority considered that such an interpretation would be inconsistent with the natural and ordinary meaning of the words used in section 96(1) of the Fair Work Act. This is contentious, as the majority’s reasoning is at odds with the Explanatory Memorandum to the Fair Work Act. The majority therefore held that all employees are entitled to 10 ordinary working days of

personal/carer’s leave per year, regardless of how many ordinary hours are worked in a particular day. In this instance, the outcome was that the employees were entitled to 10 days of 12 hours each – a total of 120 hours of personal leave per year.

The decision, if not reversed by the high court or by legislative change, may require employers to review arrangements relating to employees working non-standard ordinary hours.

The majority's decision represents a significant change for many employers' current leave accrual practices and does little to resolve the increasing uncertainty around leave provisions under the Fair Work Act. Members seeking further information are encouraged to contact the IR department on (03) 9411 4560.

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

57

NEWS

2020 Master Builders Victoria Apprentice of the Year Awards nominations now open The Master Builders Victoria Apprentice of the Year Awards is a long-standing celebration of trade careers in the building and construction industry and provides well-deserved recognition to those individuals undertaking an apprenticeship in selected building trades.

If you have a third- or fourth-year apprentice whom you’d like to recognise for their skill and commitment to their trade, let us know by submitting your nominations for the Employer-Nominated Award.

Prizes and acknowledgement are on offer, which can get a career off to a great start.

All apprentices receive acknowledgement for their nomination at the Awards nights, which are held throughout regional and metropolitan Victoria.

Call the careers team on (03) 9411 4555 or email us at apprentice@mbav.com.au for further information.

Notice of Annual General Meeting: 10 December, 2019 Please be advised that the Annual General Meeting of Master Builders Victoria will be held on 10 December, 2019 from 3pm to 5pm at Master Builders Victoria Council Chambers, Level 1, 332 Albert Street, East Melbourne. A copy of the agenda and business items to be discussed is available online at www.mbav.com.au under ‘About us’.

Minister for Small Business the Hon. Adem Somyurek MP gets a VIP tour of the BLSC from CEO Rebecca Casson and the Master Builders team.

Small Business Regulation Review (Construction) launched at the BLSC Members may recall the Victorian government’s commencement of the Small Business Regulation Review of the construction sector in 2018 to determine ways to reduce regulatory burden for small businesses in the construction sector.

Master Builders Victoria provided a submission to the review at the time, to highlight key red-tape issues among members, with information informed by our sector committees. Master Builders, along with other industry stakeholders and key regulators, also attended a number of workshops conducted by the review team to identify and determine ways to address these issues.

The government recently introduced reforms on the back of feedback from Master Builders and other industry voices to alleviate red tape for small building and construction businesses.

Key reforms include: ■ Small Business Engagement Charters to facilitate better interaction between regulators ■ More targeted regulatory information for small businesses ■ Online profile tool for businesses to prevent businesses from providing information more than once to regulators.

The reforms are outlined in the government’s action statement for the construction sector: ‘Making it easier to do business in Victoria.’ This was launched on Monday 19 August 2019 by the Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Adem Somyurek, at Master Builders’ Building Leadership Simulation Centre in South Melbourne.

Access to the relevant documents is available on our website at mbav.com.au.

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

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ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

NEED BUILDING PERMITS?

No matter where you’re located in Victoria, our building surveyors and building inspectors can take the hassle out of organising permits for your projects.

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59

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

COMMITTEE ROUND-UP

Sector Committee round-up: insurance, cladding and the ABCC

Kevin Hoang Policy Advisor

The crisis looming over professional indemnity (PI) insurance and cladding, and the general economic uncertainty pervading the industry, were the overriding issues during latest meetings for the sector committees.

Anxiety has been high. The pressure of rising insurance premiums for building surveyors resulted in the withdrawal of the last insurer from the market that was willing to provide PI insurance without exclusions for cladding.

In the lead up to this, Housing Sector Committee members were vocal about the need to take action, and reinforced their opinion to the Commissioner for Better Regulation, Anna Cronin, [see guest foreword, p TK] during a member forum at the BLSC on 12 June. While the Victorian government’s ministerial order allowing building surveyors to

operate with cladding exclusions allowed some breathing room to the industry, genuine solutions for cladding rectification were still absent. Members of the General Contracting Sector Committee and the Manufacturing, Materials and Supply (MM&S) Sector Committee in particular voiced the need for certainty in this area in order to regain industry confidence.

The fluctuating housing market is another source of concern among the sectors, particularly the Housing Sector Committee, whose members were wary of falling demand in the domestic market. The interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank were met with mixed feelings, with some sceptical of the effect it would have in reinvigorating the housing market, though they were optimistic about the recent relaxation of finance rules.

Interestingly, the MM&S Sector Committee offered anecdotal reports of an uptick in the market, particular among townhouses and other high-density dwellings. Similarly, Country Sector Committee members continue to note the robustness of the housing market throughout regional Victoria, where demand continues to rise. Indeed, the differing views over the economic situation demonstrate the volatility and uncertainty of current housing demand, which has now become a hallmark of the Victorian housing market.

Master Builders’ collaboration with the Victorian government’s review into the building and planning approvals process continues on, with Housing Sector Committee members providing plenty of examples to the

Commissioner for Better Regulation of areas that need improvement. Core problems included councils not meeting the 60-day statutory timeframe for the finalisation of planning permits, and the duplication that exists between planning rules and building regulations. Housing sector members were emphatic in their push for a more efficient approvals system to ensure that the approvals process is in line with the needs of the market.

Workplace relations issues were also a focal point for the commercial members; the unexpected results of the federal election reshaped expectations of the industrial relations landscape after the election. Members of the General Contracting and Specialist Contractor Sector Committees, weary of the lawlessness of union behaviour, found some relief in the knowledge that the ABCC and the Building Code will be retained. As usual, the latest EBA developments and updates of Master Builders’ involvement in the Victorian government’s workplace manslaughter taskforce were also core items on the agenda for the two sector committees.

A small but significant change for the committee meetings was the introduction of video conferencing as a means to conduct sector committee meetings. Video conferencing was used for the July meetings, and members greeted it with enthusiasm, noting its efficiency and ease of use. We plan to make more use of video conferencing as a medium for participation with our members state-wide.

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

61

COMMITTEE ROUND-UP

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MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

SOCIALS

MASTER BUILDERS

OUT & ABOUT A GLIIMPSE OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.

Above and right: Premier Daniel Andrews, CEO Rebecca Casson and Vice President Michael Clemenger discuss industry issues with members at a special luncheon event.

PHOTOS: MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

Above and right: The Hon. Adem Somyurek observes training in action and navigates a virtual work-site at the BLSC.

PHOTOS: MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

ISSUE 04, 2019

MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA

63

SOCIALS

Moments from the Master Builders 2019 Excellence in Construction Awards.

A happy snap from the South-East Regional Building Awards.

Attending the North-West Regional Building Awards.

A group at the South-West Master Builder Regional Building Awards at The Pier, Geelong.

PHOTO: MIKE DUGDALE

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas with CEO Rebecca Casson and Vice President Michael Clemenger at a special luncheon event.

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ISSUE 04, 2019

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