Master Builders WA Spring 2021 eBook by Master Builders

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 | SPRING 2021

Building and construction growing WA’s strong economy 8 Building back better

Ensure your COVID-19 safe plans are in place 12 Non-residential building in WA: Defying the odds 22

SHANDYING...

YOU WOULDN’T STAND FOR IT WITH YOUR BEER… SO WHY STAND FOR IT WITH YOUR STEEL?

Are you getting what you ordered? (and what you PAID for?) Does ALL of the steel you’re receiving comply with the right Standards? The problem of mixed supply (or as it’s more commonly known, ‘shandying’) can have serious consequences – even if you’re specifying construction steels to meet Australian and New Zealand Standards. Shandying can occur when conforming supply is ordered, but only a portion of the product supplied is sourced from ACRS Certified suppliers (and the rest is sourced from somewhere else). Using non ACRS Certified steel can leave you with non-compliant construction steel... and the risks that come with that. By providing effective continuous review of both the manufacturer and the fabricator/processor, ACRS 2-stage steel certification scheme the new ACRS traceability scheme play a major role in reducing the risk of shandying on your project. Talk to us TODAY about how ACRS Certification gives you confidence in your steel supply.

www.steelcertification.com

Ph: (02) 9965 7216

E: info@steelcertification.com ABN: 40 096 692 545

ACRS - Independent, Expert Third Party Certification & Verification of Reinforcing, Prestressing and Structural Steels for Compliance with Australian and New Zealand Standards

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Grande Hybrid model shown.

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CONTENTS

MASTER BUILDERS WA BOARD OF MANAGEMENT: President: David Crothers Vice President: Michael Van Dongen Treasurer: Grant Burgess Immediate Past President: Rob Spadaccini Board Members: Shaun Hughes, Ray Kershaw, Steve McConkey, Isla McRobbie, Dan Perkins, John Ripp, Robert Shaw, Michael Vermey, Paula West.

OF FIC IAL MA GA ZIN E

On The Cover

OF TH E MA ST ER BU ILD ER S VOLUME 19

| NUMBER

AS SO CIATIO

3 | SPRING 2021

N OF WE ST ER N AU ST RA LIA

A big year for awarding building and construction excellence

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS: Executive Director: John Gelavis Safety - In Partnership with Epigroup: Hayley Baldwin Industrial and Employee Relations Manager: Martin Belfield State Marketing Manager: Kunal Bhaduri State Training and Workforce Development Manager: Charlotte Sutton Director of Housing and Construction: Jason Robertson State Sales and Partnerships Manager: Allison Stephens HEAD OFFICE: 35-37 Havelock Street, West Perth WA 6005 Post: PO Box 167, West Perth WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9476 9800 (Country) 1300 550 262 Email: mba@mbawa.com Website: www.mbawa.com REGIONAL BRANCHES: Great Southern: Linda Gibbs Ph: (08) 9841 6232 South West: Geoff Bosustow Ph: (08) 9726 0939 Mid West-North West: Paul Kerr Ph: (08) 9921 5061

Building and constructio n growing Building bac WA’s stro ng econom k better y Ensure you r COVID-1 9 safe plan s are in plac Non-residen e tial building in WA: Defy ing the odd s

8 10 12 22

SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES: Master Builder is available for subscription at a cost of $100/year. Contact Master Builders’ reception via email at mba@mbawa.com for further information.

FOREWORDS President's File..............................................................5 Director's File ................................................................7

REPORTS Premier's Report............................................................8 Building back better..................................................... 10 Vaccination campaign................................................. 12 Ride against suicide..................................................... 13 Taking the four steps: NCC 2019 performance solutions............................... 13

AWARDS

Women in Building.......................................................27 Legal............................................................................28 Training........................................................................30 Insurance.....................................................................32 MBAWA’s new marketing and events team.................32 City of Stirling...............................................................33 MPAWA welcomes new lead content limit in plumbing products............................................34

MEMBERSHIP

A big year for awarding building and construction excellence ....................................... 14

New members.............................................................35

UPDATES

FEATURES

Workplace health and safety....................................... 21

Balconies and Balustrading.........................................40

Housing.......................................................................22

Sustainability................................................................42

Industrial Relations...................................................... 24

Mental Health..............................................................44

New board members...................................................36

Published by: ARK Media Phone: +61 7 5668 0813 Email: marketing@arkmedia.net.au Web: www.arkmedia.net.au Editor: Susan Guilfoyle Design Team: Andrew Crabb, Patricia Montenegro, Dujon Kie Production: Dylan Mutu Advertising Sales: Dennis Andrews, Paul Baird Master Builder is the official publication of the Master Builders' Association of Western Australia (Union of Employers) Perth (MBAWA). It is produced biannually and published by ARK Media. The MBAWA was established in 1898 and is the state’s oldest building industry organisation. The MBAWA is part of the Australia-wide Master Builders movement. Master Builder is produced to keep members informed of matters affecting them. Opinions and/or statements in any editorial and/or advertisements are not necessarily those of the publisher and/or the MBAWA. The publisher reserves the right to reject any material deemed unsuitable for publication. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the copyright Act 1968, no part of Master Builder may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission from the MBAWA or ARK Media.

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

Two easy ways to certify reinforcing steel on site

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

METHOD ONE

Check if the steel was supplied by an SRIA processor member

market each year from unknown

All 9 SRIA processor members hold current JAS-ANZ

origins. If ‘uncertified’ steel is supplied

accredited 3rd Party Processor Certificates (ACRS)

on one of your projects then there is

proving their bar and mesh conforms to AS/NZS 4671,

a high risk the reinforced concrete

AS 3600, and AS 5100.5.

element may not perform. Even though design drawings might specify AS/NZS 4671 Steel for the reinforcement of concrete, it’s difficult

METHOD TWO

Ask for a 3rd Party Processor Certificate BEFORE the concrete is placed If the steel was supplied by a non-SRIA member, then ask the concreter to provide you with the supplier’s JAS-ANZ

to prove conformance once the steel is

accredited 3rd Party Processor Certificate to ensure

fixed and the concrete is placed.

product conformance.

S CAN H E R E

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

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

sria.com.au/3rd-party-certificates

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PRESIDENT’S FILE This year has been about resilience; adapting to unprecedented circumstances that COVID-19 has forced upon us and rising up to the challenges. In Western Australia, we have been lucky to have less disruption than other places, but the pandemic has still had a major impact on our lives. As President of Master Builders WA, one of the things I am most proud of is the efforts of our Executive Director John Gelavis and his executive team, in advocating for our building and construction industry to remain classified as an ‘essential service’. This has meant that our members were able to remain open for business, unlike several other states and territories, which has had a significant positive impact to WA’s economy. However, the past year hasn’t been without challenges. Many countries have focused on building and construction to keep their economies strong. This has resulted in a global shortage of materials and labour, in combination with COVID-19 restrictions. While we have seen a localised boom in the industry, in part as a result of state and federal stimulus packages, this demand, coupled with supply and labour shortages, while excellent in continuing a strong pipeline of work, has created a challenging time for builders.

David Crothers President ACKNOWLEDGING THE SUPPORT OF OUR 2021 PARTNERS

Principal Partner

Despite this, the WA building and construction industry has adapted to the challenges thrown our way and continued to thrive. Two new members have joined the MBA WA Board; Michael Vermey from Homebuyers Centre, who is the Deputy Chair of our Housing Council and Shaun Hughes from Focus Building, who is on the Construction Council, who together bring with them a wealth of industry knowledge and experience that will be of great benefit to our members. Following on from the ballot in October 2020, where elected members to the Housing and Construction Councils were announced at the November 2020 AGM, an Expression of Interest (EOI) was undertaken to appoint co-opted positions to both Councils. The EOI was open to all financial members, including previously appointed co-opted members, with the total number of positions available, and persons to be appointed to those positions, determined by each Council in accordance with its needs and focus for the up-coming year. These co-opted positions were appointed in May 2021, with the following members appointed to the Housing Council: Jane Arnolda Structerre Anthony Lumbaca

Buildcor Projects

Garth Unger

Broadway Homes

Jay Walter

JWH Group

Michael Condelli

New Choice Homes

Simon Cherry Termico Matthew Lang

Jackson McDonald

Nurul Shaheed

Prime Roof Solutions

And the co-opted members appointed to the Construction Council are:

WWW.MBAWA.COM

Jay Brenton

PACT Construction

Lisa Mitchell

Laing O'Rourke Australia

Tom Jacobs

Jackson McDonald

Wilson Hui

Prompt Engineering 5

KEYSTART

Keystart: Stability and support for Western Australians

The staggering growth of our industry over the past 12 months, and the pressures which came with that rapid expansion, saw us flex and adapt overnight to meet the needs of Western Australians. There were hesitations that the grant funds would simply bring forward demand in the housing construction industry, but our data supports industry commentary that was not the case, with a base level of demand continuing post the end of the grants. Now, at Keystart, new application numbers are returning to a state which closely resembles business-as-usual operations. This financial year, we have kick-started a number of new initiatives, while continuing established programs to support customers and industry. Setting our customers up for success At the beginning of August we welcomed the Minister for Housing, John Carey, to Keystart to launch the Financial Coaching Program in collaboration Anglicare WA and the Financial Counselling Network. The launch followed a successful six-month pilot where over 200 coaching sessions were held with results that far exceeded expectations with 100% 6

of the Keystart customers who participated in the pilot program reporting improved financial wellbeing beyond the benchmark. The program, designed to empower our customers to better understand their finances, has secured funding to continue running for another 12 months and is anticipated to support another 200 customers with over 1000 sessions. This Australia first program takes an individualised approach to building financial resilience in clients. Supporting our customers The uptake of Keystart’s Application Tracker demonstrates that investing in tools to give people the updates and resources they want is essential to provide a positive customer experience. We find strong interest from customers who are building, as the application and conditional approval processes can be complex. The Application Tracker keeps our customers informed, with updates as they progress through their loan application, as well as helpful information guides and tips. Supporting our industry Following feedback from industry stakeholders, Keystart implemented a maximum of four progress payments for all new building contracts.

We are also very happy to share the news that our increased income limits, which increased by $15,000 for singles and couples and by $20,000 for families, have been extended and will continue to support the industry by making Keystart more accessible to more Western Australians until June 2022. At Keystart, we continue to see demand from this bracket of people, who would otherwise have missed out on the opportunity. This supports the long-term vision of Keystart of making the dream of affordable home ownership a reality for more people. Paul Graham CEO Keystart

Get in touch if you would like to find out more about Keystart. Phone 1300 578 278 Email info@keystart.com.au Web: www.keystart.com.au MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

DIRECTOR'S FILE

Ensure your COVID-19 safe plans are in place construction activity is $543.1 million. The Western Australian building and construction industry accounts for 133,209 workers, which is 9.5 per cent of the state’s workforce and we employ the most apprentices of any industry. So, we have a lot at stake if we are forced to shut down due to COVID-19.

3. Electronic-based register eg. a form on a tablet at the front of your business.

Our industry has been extremely resilient and worked hard to keep our sector going during the past 18 months. When COVID-19 hit, we were on the front foot in ensuring we applied physical distancing in crib rooms/site sheds, had hand sanitiser available, staggered shifts and more, which demonstrated our ability to continue to operate in a safe manner as an essential service.

You can download a copy of the industry guidelines on the Master Builders WA website.

With the Delta strain impacting other states and territories, we must ensure we maintain our high standards to stay open and safe.

John Gelavis Executive Director One of the great achievements we have seen in the Western Australian building and construction industry during the COVID-19 pandemic has been our ability to remain operational, which has saved many businesses and assisted the state economy to recover and thrive, as demonstrated with the recent State Budget. This outstanding result has been through the hard work and commitment from builders, staff, subcontractors, suppliers, apprentices and professional consultants, who have followed advice and enacted your COVID-19 plans. With the recent developments on the east coast of Australia, where building and construction sites have been shut down due to COVID-19 lockdowns, we must remain vigilant and maintain our high safety standards to ensure we keep our almost $30 billion dollar industry operational. Master Builders has been working hard to ensure our industry remains classified as ‘essential’, and therefore open for business. We are in constant communication with the WA Government, to ensure everyone understands the full impact of what it might mean to close the WA building and construction industry if the Delta strain of the virus takes hold in WA. The weekly value of WA construction wages and salaries is $179.2 million and weekly value of WWW.MBAWA.COM

If the SafeWA or an electronic-based register is used, it is also required to have a paper-based or manual register to ensure access to the site is inclusive.

Vaccination Campaign Master Builders WA launched the ‘Let’s Get The Jab, Let’s Stay Open’ campaign encouraging voluntary vaccination to ensure we remain open and not shut down like other states around the nation (Refer to page 12).

It is critical everyone reviews plans and guidelines to remain COVID-19 safe.

The significance of this campaign was evident when the West Australian newspaper placed it on the front page of the 24 September edition, which highlights the strong industry voice Master Builders WA has built in recent times.

Master Builders supports new industry guidelines Master Builders has joined forces with other peak building and construction bodies to support a set of industry guidelines designed to inform activities of all people and organisations who have a role in the safe and reliable operation of our industry.

Thank you to all our members for the great support of the campaign and placing these posters around builders’ sites, which encourages voluntary vaccination and assists in keeping our industry 100 per cent operational, as we have been throughout the pandemic.

The guidelines are relevant to all sectors of the industry including, commercial and residential building, civil construction, and construction on resource sector sites. They are designed to be an additional source to existing plans and are not intended to replace information provided by individual industry organisations, companies or the Health Department

Master Builders is here to help Regardless of what sector of the industry you are in, be it civil, residential, or commercial - or work as a builder, sub-contractor or supplier, you all have a vital role to play.

One of the important elements in the guidelines is maintaining site contact registers. It is very important that all sites have contact registers that must be completed by all personnel entering the workplace. The three most common contact register methods used by workplaces and venues are: 1. WA Government’s SafeWA app, which provides an easy, safe and efficient digital contact register system. Use of this app is encouraged and endorsed by WA Health. 2. Paper-based register – suggested formats and templates are available at the WA Government’s Department of Health COVID-19 website.

It is important to review and maintain your COVID-19 plans, practices and strategies and align with government advice, which we have been providing you throughout the pandemic. Please stay tuned to Master Builders Member Alerts and our Express newsletter, which we will continue to keep you updated with the latest state developments.

If you have any questions or require further information or support, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or the Master Builders Team on 08 9476 9800. 7

PREMIER'S REPORT

Building and Construction growing WA’s strong economy • a targeted advertising campaign to attract interstate and New Zealand workers and increase participation of under-represented groups in our state economy. We have also been discussing with the MBA and other stakeholders’ options to ease pressure on WA’s overheated economy. Our record $28.9 billion infrastructure program, with much of that investment frontloaded in the first two years, was designed to get the economy cranking in what was then expected to be a period of lower activity. Instead, with the strongest economy in the nation and an impending skills shortage, the State Government now finds itself in the situation of competing for the same resources as the private sector when it comes to workers, equipment and supplies.

WA Premier Mark McGowan

It is hard to believe that just eighteen months ago, Western Australia was facing dire economic uncertainty from a once in a century crisis. What we have come to learn is that instead of this bleak scenario, our construction sector is currently as strong as it has ever been, with a strong pipeline of work into the future. It is a clear demonstration of the success of our COVID-19 management and importance of our strong construction sector to the state economy. I’m sure the sector understands, better than anyone, how busy things are in WA right now. However, I can confirm the numbers back it up. Just as an example, applications for the First Home Owner Grant increased by 141.1 per cent over the 12 months to July 2021. In fact, in annual average terms, the nearly 14,000 applications received was the highest number on record. A great deal of that activity is a result of our WA Recovery Plan – a comprehensive response to recover from the initial impacts of the pandemic in 2020, to create a strong pipeline of economic activity. A pipeline not just to create new WA jobs, but to build confidence in our economic future. The most visible, high-profile initiative of the recovery plan was our Building Bonus. By mid-August we have received 25,887 applications with over $174 8

million worth paid out. It succeeded in its aim, of shoring up that essential pipeline of work, when we needed it most - securing essential local jobs, keeping the residential sector going, getting more Western Australians into a home. Now – in the second half of 2021 - with the immediate crisis of 2020 past us, we have one eye on the present and one eye on the future. In the present, our focus is on keeping the economy open and our state COVID-free, while we accelerate our vaccination program. The crisis in NSW is incredibly concerning and dragging on longer than anyone anticipated. As we continue to deal with the ever-present COVID-19 threat, we are also looking to the future. The future for our economy and our great state. Part of that is managing the skills shortage impacting the economy. We were glad to have the Master Builders Association participate in our recent skills summit designed to find solutions to the challenge of safely finding workers in a pandemic. We’re proud that we are already taking action with: • 100 places for local mature-age apprentices being brought forward, • an additional 5,000 onshore places requested from the Commonwealth Government under the State Nominated Migration Program, following the addition of 134 occupations to the program last month, and

After consulting with industry, it’s obvious that the timing of State Government investment should be tailored to our new economic conditions. Our infrastructure program should complement, rather than compete with, private sector activity to ensure we stimulate activity when the economy actually needs it. While our economy and construction sector thrive today, we have to think about the future. We have to do the hard work, think ahead and make the smart decisions for the benefit of the future. To make hay while the sun shines, if you will. To that end, I was proud to release WA’s draft 20-year Infrastructure Strategy, a comprehensive plan for the future of Western Australia. A plan to support jobs and give business certainty about our state’s long-term direction. A proper bipartisan approach to any and all infrastructure investment to ensure we make the right investments and the right decisions, at the right time. It’s correct to say our state economy is strong. However, it’s a misconception to suggest, as some do, that it’s a result purely of high iron ore prices. Iron ore prices are helpful for the budget, funding the COVID response and fuelling record export values. But what has driven our prosperity in the past year is the domestic economy - it’s the strength of the construction sector amongst others that fuels prosperity and creates local jobs. It’s why my Government is committed to ensuring that our construction sector, not only can continue operating safely, but also has the stable pipeline of work and skilled labour force it needs. MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

REPORTS

Building back better

The term ‘Building Back Better’ has traditionally meant re-building in the wake of a disaster, but I think everyone would agree that COVD-19 has changed the way we work and live.

recommendations from the WA Government on the implementation of the recommendations.

The building and construction industry by its very nature, exemplifies such an ethos, having disaster risk reduction measures front and centre to the revitalisation of livelihoods, economies, and the environment.

And while no longer considered headline news, the tragic Grenfell Tower disaster, Opal tower and Mascot Tower events to name a few, have sent shockwaves that resulted in a pathway being set to transform building regulatory control in Australia.

And our industry here in WA has stood proud in that regard.

The Building Ministers’ Forum established an implementation team within the Australian Building Codes Board to develop a national framework for the consistent implementation of the recommendations of the Building Confidence report.

If 2020 was the year of COVID-19, the history books will show 2021 was truly the beginning of Building Back Better. Media content has understandably continued to home in on recovery efforts with COVID-19 and seeing a pathway forward. For many of those outside industry however, it’s easy to overlook the multitude of ongoing reforms and issues that will impact the sector for many years, if not even decades to come. Master Builders has continued to progress with responding to the recommendations presented in the Building Confidence report, and specifically, the 10

The Building Confidence report is one of the most important documents for industry in decades.

Master Builders prepared comprehensive submissions in response to them, which included changes to the residential buildings approval process dealing with many issues including timeframes for building approvals, mandatory inspections, and compliance regimes for the residential sector.

A key aspect of this is to see (where possible) reform proposals for the WA building and construction industry that are consistent with the Federal Government’s commitment to promote harmonised building regulation in all states and territories.

A considered number of recommendations was presented by the state government seeking to enhance the quality and standard of commercial buildings in Western Australia by implementing some of the recommendations in the Building Confidence report. CRIS proposed 27 reforms seeking to improve building compliance for class 2-9 buildings in WA. The reform proposals were wide-ranging including addressing issues (identified within the Building Confidence Report) such as documentation requirements; performance solutions; fire authority consultation; engagement of building surveyors; third-party review of high-risk designs; variations to the design during construction; inspections of building work; material compliance; and the Building Commissioner’s powers.

The WA Government, through the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety – Building and Energy division (DMIRS) released several Consultation Regulatory Impact Statements (CRIS) as their response to the suite of recommendations in the Building Confidence report.

Master Builders continued to engage with the WA Government on proposed changes to the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 to allow for the registration of different categories of engineers and the reform recommendations to the process for registration of builders. MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

REPORTS

The reforms alone, stemming from the Building Confidence report will change the regulatory and building control environment in WA profoundly. There have been many other areas with Master Builders leading reform change, including the domain of town planning. This year saw rise to Stage 2 of planning reforms, following from historic reforms announced in 2020 to slash red tape, having policy review providing further support for the construction and housing sector and importantly continuing to support economic recovery from COVID-19. Master Builders presented a suite of recommendations including seeing the introduction of private certification to town planning, registration of town planners, better performance monitoring of local governments and a key focus on medium density. The National Construction Code (NCC) saw proposed changes scheduled, with practitioners under the National Registration Framework (NRF) going forward, needing to undertake compulsory continuing professional development (CPD) on the Code. Master Builders prepared a submission on this important matter to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

WWW.MBAWA.COM

Our advocacy continued with other NCC changes, working through the proposed changes with energy efficiency, with both dwellings and apartments having significant reforms proposed. Going into 2022, this will present a massive body of work for Master Builders. Our submissions and ongoing proactive advocacy have seen favourable responses by government right from the outset, with many of our own recommendations embedded in public consultation documents. A key focus with our advocacy is to have industry led reforms, and pathways towards establishing best practise for enhancing confidence within, and outside of, industry. Through our Housing and Construction Councils, Committees and Board of Management, Master Builders WA members can rest assured we are at the forefront of these reforms at a state and national level. Master Builders has continued to advocate on behalf of members, specifically addressing issues they experience. Examples of our work with state and federal governments, which have led to recommendations and positive changes for our industry, include provisions with “Work affecting other land” in the Building Act, through to pushing for commitments from government on changing internal

processes with practitioner and contractor renewals to name just a few. All these measures are ongoing, with Master Builders fully committed to seeing proactive advocacy changes occurring. Our advocacy work has included a significant focus on education and training and working collaboratively with government departments. Master Builders held (and continues to do so) meetings with Western Power and Water Corporation on a raft of industry issues, including working safely in and around assets. We have also worked closely with DMIRS on regional workshops for NCC changes. Feedback from members on issues has played an important part in shaping our responses, with true evidence-based decision making, and solutions presented that will assuredly work for, and be in the best interests of our members, industry, and the WA community overall. To all our members who provided feedback, we thank you. It is your feedback that plays such a pivotal role in effecting change. This year has seen rise to our industry continuing to respond and adapt to the challenges of a world with COVID-19 still taking centre stage, and our members can have full confidence we will continue to deal with the issues affecting them. Jason Robertson Director – Housing and Construction 11

REPORTS

Vaccination campaign In September Master Builders WA launched the ‘Let’s Get The Jab, Let’s Stay Open’ campaign encouraging voluntary vaccination to ensure we remain open and not shut down like other states around the nation due to the Delta variant. We want to continue to be able to work at 100 percent, which means supporting the 130,000 workers in the WA Building and Construction Industry, protecting the 40,000 small to medium businesses and thousands of apprentices. Our $30 billion sector is the backbone of the Western Australian economy and it is critical we continue to work and rebuild the local economy. As part of this campaign, encouraging voluntary vaccination, we have launched a partnership, with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to make it easier for the industry.

We have briefed the Vaccine Commander Chris Dawson, who acknowledged Master Builders proactive approach and efforts. Feel free to share this campaign with your employees, subcontractors, suppliers and others within your organisation. If you are concerned about vaccination, you should speak to your GP or local community Pharmacist. It is critical our industry remains operational and we continue to support all those who rely on the industry for their livelihoods. To do this, we must do our bit to keep ourselves, our families, our mates, our industry and our community safe.

This partnership involves an online portal to book a vaccination and a downloadable poster that has a QR code you can scan via your phone. Builders and tradespeople can voluntarily book a vaccination appointment within minutes, at a community pharmacy that’s local to them. To support this campaign, MBA WA has undertaken media promotions and provided our members with dedicated resources, such as posters to use within your organisations and on building sites around the state. We thank Pharmacy Guild for their support in enabling another way to access a vaccination booking point, besides the Roll up WA platform. Master Builders WA has also set up a dedicated page on our website, which has access to the posters, media statement, video and further details.

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

REPORTS

Ride Against Suicide More than 25 bike riders – on both bicycles and motorbikes – took part in the annual Ride Against Suicide event earlier this year, raising money for the MATES in Construction charity, that highlights awareness of mental health issues in the building and construction industry. Every year, 190 Australians working in the construction industry take their own lives, which means we lose a worker every second day to suicide. That’s why Master Builders WA holds the Ride Against Suicide event, to raise funds for our good mates at MATES in Construction WA. The charity runs community development programs on building sites and supports workers in need with case management and a 24/7 helpline. MATES case managers can support you with any issue affecting your mental health, including: relationship, financial, legal, workers comp, drug and/or alcohol issues; anger; anxiety; depression; suicide ideation; grief and loss. It is only with the financial support of our valued industry stakeholders that we are able to make such a difference to live of workers throughout the state and across the country.

Access to support can be initiated by contacting us via our 24/7 helpline on 1300 642 111 or through our website at www.mates.org.au

Taking the four steps: NCC 2019 performance solutions Builders will be aware that a single National Construction Code (NCC) is in operation – NCC 2019 Amendment 1 – after May 2021 marked the end of a transition period that had allowed reference to the previous edition. NCC 2019 Amendment 1 now sets out the way performance-based design solutions are prepared. Clause A2.2(4) requires designers to develop a Performance-Based Design Brief and have it approved by relevant stakeholders before a performance-based design solution can be applied to a project. This aligns with previous guidance from Building and Energy and aims to deliver a nationally consistent process. Where a performance requirement is proposed to be satisfied by a performance solution, the following steps must be undertaken: • Prepare a brief • Carry out analysis • Evaluate results • Prepare a final report. WWW.MBAWA.COM

This four-step process will help develop a solution that satisfies the NCC 2019 requirements. This approach must now be taken to all performance solutions, including: • the use of building products that have been certified under the CodeMark scheme; • engineers’ construction details that include a performance solution such as alternative window and sill flashings or specialised waterproofing details; and • NCC areas that have been assigned with a performance requirement but do not have any corresponding deemed to satisfy provisions. If it is not a deemed to satisfy solution then the provisions of Clause A2.2 will apply.

Building and Energy Executive Director Saj Abdoolakhan

The Australian Building Codes Board resource library – abcb.gov.au/resources – has a wide range of useful materials on performance solution processes. Building and Energy continues to engage with industry through regular seminars, bulletins, updates and alerts. Visit our website (dmirs.wa.gov.au/ building-and-energy) for more details or to subscribe. 13

AWARDS

2021: A big year for awarding building and construction excellence

Zorzi Builders, 'The Peak'

The WA building and construction industry has remained strong, despite significant challenges thrown at us due to COVID-19, and there was a swag of awards this year celebrating the excellence in building and construction in Western Australia. The Master Builders-Bankwest Housing Excellence Awards kicked things off in May, covering 50 categories. Twenty-six judges assessed almost 300 entries for the awards, which added up to a total building value of just under $165 million.

Zorzi Builders took out the 2021 Bankwest top WA home award for their work on a lavish riverside house in Dalkeith. Situated on a beautiful stretch on the Swan River, this home ticked all the boxes in terms of attention to detail, highly skilled trades, top-level craftmanship and excellent customer service. The home called ‘The Peak’ was built over four storeys’, demanding significant reinforcement on rising land overlooking the river. Details noted by the judges include a spiral staircase cut from one pipe and one of the largest sky-framed windows in the southern hemisphere, which opens from a living area for balcony access. The house is truly stunning. MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

AWARDS

Bluewater Building Co, Eagle Bay

Plunkett Homes, 'The Norfolk'

The Best Country Home award was won by Bluewater Building Co for a residence overlooking the ocean at beautiful Eagle Bay, which judges described as ‘a house you just want to be in’. The three-storey home features enclosed balconies which can be used all year round and exceptional stonework blending in with beautifully finished timber floors.

Then we celebrated the best of Perth’s commercial construction industry at the Master Builders-Bankwest Excellence In Construction Awards in July. The industry demonstrated resilience and determination and there were more than 100 entries across 60 categories, which were inspected and judged by a panel of experienced builders, architects and engineers. The judges look closely at the quality of construction, project management, value for money, innovation and site management, among other factors.

The award for Best Display Home went to Plunkett Homes for their display home, ‘The Norfolk’, located in in Jindalee. A Hamptons-style home adapted to the West Australian lifestyle with open plan living, dining and kitchen area flowing seamlessly into a large and inviting alfresco space. WWW.MBAWA.COM

AWARDS

Multiplex Constructions, NextDC P2

Crothers Construction, Broome Senior High School

Facade Management Australia, UWA School of Indigenous Studies Building

Crothers Construction, Broome Senior High School

It was a glittering event at Crown Perth, with more than 600 industry members attending the black tie gala ball which showcased excellence in the commercial, industrial, and civil engineering sectors.

The key feature of the upgrade was the creation of a new state-of-the-art two storey teaching block and the project was completed while the school remained operational, with two-thirds of the subcontractors and suppliers sourced locally.

Multiplex Constructions took out the top accolade, the 2021 Bankwest Best Project award for delivering WA’s largest data centre, NEXTDC P2 in the Perth CBD. This follows plaudits for their amazing work on the new WA Museum complex.

Façade Management Australia took out the title of Subcontractor of the Year, for their work on the UWA School of Indigenous Studies building.

Crothers Construction won the 2021 Best Regional Project award for their multimillion-dollar facelift of Broome Senior High School, creating additional capacity for the school, which accommodates more than 800 students. 16

Builders in the South West continue to punch above their weight, as was recognised at the recent 2021 Master Builders-Bankwest Building Excellence Awards for the South West region which showed some awe-inspiring projects in this beautiful part of our state.

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

AWARDS

BGC Construction, Treendale Farm Hotel

Adrian Zorzi, Yallingup

The top award of the night – The Bankwest Best Regional Project for the South West Region – was won by BGC Construction for the new Treendale Farm Hotel in Australind, a family-friendly restaurant and pub.

Built by Adrian Zorzi, concrete minimalism, combined with contemporary sophistication best describes this self-sufficient home. It is designed to accommodate family groups, with designated wings to enable families and groups to come together or retreat for some privacy for extended stays.

The Treendale Farm Hotel comprises of a drive through bottle shop, commercial kitchen, large family dining area, sports bar, amenities, extensive alfresco area, carparking and children’s playground. The contract required delivery of the operational hotel within a 32-week time frame - a timeline challenge, given the added complexities of COVID-19. With the area home to many young families, this child-friendly restaurant will be a welcome addition to the local community. A stunning house situated on Caves Road in Yallingup took out the Best Country Home South West Region award. WWW.MBAWA.COM

AWARDS

Red Dog Carpentry, Middleton Beach

Realforce Property, Premier Hotel in Albany (Before)

The 2021 Master Builders-Bankwest Building Excellence Awards for the Great Southern region were held in September in Albany, these awards celebrated the outstanding commitment to building excellence in the region and highlighted its distinctive heritage of being one of the oldest colonial settlements in Western Australia.

Local builder Realforce Property was awarded for their win with the Premier Hotel renovation, for their attention to detail in ensuring the hotel retained its historic prominence in the York Street tourism strip.

A big win of the night was Best Country Home, which was awarded to Red Dog Carpentry for a new house in Wylie Crescent, Middleton Beach. The renovation of the Premier Hotel in Albany took out the 2021 Best Regional Project Great Southern award, for the outstanding job done in bringing the iconic hotel back to its former glory, after being almost razed to the ground from fire. 18

We would love to have more of our members involved in our awards, to find out more information, contact MBA WA Events on 08 9476 9800 or visit mbawa.com MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

AWARDS

Realforce Property, Premier Hotel in Albany (After)

Premier Hotel in Albany – local builder bringing iconic hotel back to life It’s pretty special when a building project benefits an entire community, but that is exactly what happened when local builder Realforce Property brought the iconic Premier Hotel in Albany back to its former glory.

Master Builders WA Great Southern Regional Manager Linda Gibbs said the restoration project was extremely well done and had taken about a year to gut the property before renovations could even begin.

The hotel, which is one of the first three buildings ever built in the beautiful coastal city of Albany located in Western Australia’s southern coast, was razed by fire more than five years ago.

“Realforce has done such an amazing job, with a property that essentially only had external walls still standing. That they brought it back to life so authentically is a real testament to their quality of work and craftsmanship,” Ms Gibbs said.

The owners of the hotel approached Managing Director of Realforce John Boccamazzo to restore the pub, which holds a special place in the hearts of locals.

“The Premier Hotel was first built in the late 1800s, and it is such an iconic building for our city - people will come to Albany just to see it.

Albany has a rich history of heritage, being the oldest permanent settlement and commercial seaport in Western Australia. It also was the departure point for the ANZAC troops in the first World War. WWW.MBAWA.COM

“The best part of it is that the Premier Hotel now is a mix of the best of both worlds, with its heritage being restored meticulously, while also meeting all the current codes and modern conveniences that we have come to expect. It really is a landmark building in Albany.” 19

IZONE

Reduce energy bills with a smart air conditioning system

iZone Smart Air Conditioning System

There is no denying that it gets hot in WA. In a summer season, heat waves with temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius is quite the norm. So much so, that in WA more than 93 per cent of Perth homes are air conditioned. Of these homes, around 26 per cent of the energy costs are attributed to air conditioning so it only makes sense that homeowners should look for ways to reduce their energy bills.

Cost Saving Features iZone’s moving sensor doesn’t remain in one location – it constantly moves around the home depending which zones are on and which zone is deemed to be the controlling sensor (the one that is furthest from the requested set point temperature). If just one room or zone is on, then the system will only cool that room until it is satisfied or has reached its set point and then just like a single room wall split unit, it will signal the compressor to wind back and ultimately shut down.

Choices As with all home products on the market, there’s choice, and air conditioning is no different. There are many brands, models, sizes and features to choose from. However, if cost efficiency is the number one priority, then a smart air conditioning system should be at the top of everyone’s shopping list.

iZone’s smart power monitoring allows homeowners to monitor how efficient appliances are, when they may be operating and how their usage during a 24-hour cycle impacts the amount of energy being consumed relative to daily billing tariffs. Appliances can then be scheduled to run at times to exploit the lowest tariffs on any given day, thereby saving on household energy bills.

A smart air conditioning system like one from iZone will provide homeowners with an energy-efficient solution for their home cooling needs. iZone’s clever sensing thermostat, power monitoring system and iSave feature make it a stand-out in the current market.

iSave is an integrated night cooling/economy cycle system, for small ducted reverse cycle systems. iSave draws cool outdoor air in the evening instead of using the air conditioning unit, saving homeowners thousands in energy consumption and associated running costs. It’s halfway between an evaporative system and a

reverse cycle system but still provides the full benefit of ducted reverse cycle when it’s needed. Traditional Systems Traditional systems chew up a lot of energy because they must be manually controlled and don’t have the capability to monitor the temperatures in each room or adjust based on climate and other factors. With less control and the inability to monitor exact temperatures throughout the house, homeowners may be wasting a lot more energy than they realise. It’s time people looked at investing more money to save costs over the long run. The solution is simple – a smart system! Control temperatures remotely from a mobile phone, set up reminders, set daily schedules or temperature changes based on the outdoor climate, but most of all, enjoy the cost savings!

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY

It’s time to act Workplace health and safety laws are undergoing their biggest shake-up in decades. Here’s what you need to know. In the coming months, the 1984 OSH Act will be history, and the modernised Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2020 will take its place. This Act will harmonise WA with the rest of the country - excluding Victoria. It is expected that the regulations will be finalised in early January 2022, but the WA Government is yet to confirm this. To make sure you’re prepared, let’s explore the key changes, potential impacts and what you should do next. Key changes In short, penalties are higher, terms are broader, and prosecutions are easier. Here’s a brief overview: 1. All penalties are increasing. Some penalties are increasing drastically, some with considerably higher fines and imprisonment time. 2. Introduction of the term ‘PCBU’. This stands for “person conducting a business or undertaking” and extends duties beyond the traditional employer-employee relationship. 3. Broadening the term “worker”. A “worker” now includes people such as volunteers, subcontractors, apprentices, employees of labour hire companies etc. 4. Severely higher industrial manslaughter penalties. The maximum penalty for a company under the OSH Act was $2.7 million, under the WHS Act this jumps to $10 million. For an individual, the maximum fine used to be $550,000 plus five years in prison, it’s now a $5 million fine and up to 20 years in prison. In addition to this, prosecutors no longer have to convict the company to prosecute a company officer. 5. Positive due diligence. If a company officer shows they have not met their obligations of due diligence, they can be prosecuted – even if an incident hasn’t occurred. 6. Insurance can no longer pay your penalties. But it can still pay your legal fees. 7. External WHS advisors are now liable. They can be prosecuted in the same way as a business owner. Potential impacts While the WHS Act affects all West Australian businesses, employers and employees, the law is notorious for prosecuting small and mediumsized businesses. “There is absolutely no doubt that health and safety legislation is substantially prejudice against small businesses,” says WHS lawyer and Director of Wayland Legal, Greg Smith. WWW.MBAWA.COM

“Every single company officer who has ever been prosecuted under health and safety legislation in Australia – ever – has been a small business owner, a working director with day-to-day involvement in the business,” says Smith. The penalties are also high enough to bankrupt these businesses, and it’s administratively easier to prosecute individuals. Financials aside, safety culture is also on the line. “Over the years, we have often seen the thought process of: ‘We don’t want to be prosecuted, so let’s make sure there is no ability to make a mistake.’ But this creates a damaging safety culture. One of the worst-case scenarios is an environment is created where incidents are swept under the rug and people don’t learn from them,” says Epigroup Co-Director, Jake Cole. This also creates a ‘leave your brain at the gate’ mentality, where employees lose capacity to make decisions because they’re never given the opportunity. Instead, we need to provide opportunities for them to make decisions and give feedback so they can improve those decisions. On the plus side, when a legislation change like this happens, it’s prime time to review and refresh your processes. Next steps To make sure you’re well prepared, follow these three steps: • Communicate the key changes with your key stakeholders – whether that’s your management team or boots on the ground.

• ‘I didn’t know’ won’t save you in court, so make sure your workplace health and safety is up to scratch by conducting an internal audit. Audit your business against the current requirements and the new. Update your outdated documents, interview staff about current processes, assess your equipment, and – most importantly – document the results. • Once you’ve identified the positive, negatives and any gaps in your processes, communicate your findings with key stakeholders. Then create 90-day action plans to get the wheels in motion. Epigroup has recently been appointed the preferred health and safety provider for MBAWA members. The Fremantle-based company offers consulting, labour hire, and training services with cutting-edge technology, streamlined systems and an in-house multimedia team. “We’re thrilled to partner with MBAWA and guide its members through the legislation changes and beyond. The construction industry in WA is preparing for some major projects, so we look forward to helping businesses keep their projects compliant and on time,” says Cole. If you need a hand with your workplace health and safety, get in touch with Epigroup for your exclusive MBAWA benefits.

Hayley Baldwin National Marketing Manager 21

HOUSING

Non-residential building in WA: Defying the odds Residential building in WA has pulled off a blinding performance since the pandemic began with detached house building approvals and major home renovations work reaching level not seen in years. At the outset of the pandemic, the obituaries were being quickly written for large portions of the non-residential building market including offices, tourism-related work and sections of retail. Eighteen months into the pandemic, how has WA’s non-residential building market actually been faring? There are many misconceptions about what nonresidential building activity really looks like. Latest ABS figures show that some $4.44 billion worth of work received approval in WA over the year to June 2021. Perhaps surprisingly, the average value of a non-residential building project in WA was a relatively modest $1.28 million during 2020-21. There is a perception that non-residential building is dominated by private sector projects. In fact, 40.5 per cent of work approved in WA during 2020-21 was for the public sector. In light of the shock to private sector confidence delivered by COVID-19, public sector demand has played an important role in shoring up non-residential building activity. While many expected to see the demise of nonresidential projects for as long as the pandemic raged, the number of non-residential building projects approved during 2020-21 totalled 3,477 jobs, a healthy gain of 4.9 per cent on 2019-20. As the chart below shows, the volume of non-residential commercial building approvals in WA is currently elevated by historic standards and recent momentum may well bring us to high never before seen. One of the big surprises of the past 18 months has been the boom in industrial building work across Australia. This largely stems from changes in customers’ retail habits as well as a greater emphasis on domestic production and distribution capabilities. In the case of WA, building work related to agriculture and aquacultural activity has soared and is piercing new all-time highs by the month. There are also strong expansions underway related to factory building and the construction of warehouses. There was much talk of ‘the death of the office’ during 2020. However, the latest building trends suggest that this was overplayed. While the number of approvals for new office buildings did fall back last year, the June 2021 quarter saw 174 office 22

building projects approved across WA - a gain of some 22.5 per cent on the same period last year. At about $800,000 in value, the average WA office building job is smaller than many might imagine and indicates that the scale of projects in the sector will be well-placed to fine tune its output to match future fluctuations in demand.

other state and territory. Some of this is undoubtedly linked to the state’s success in containing infections since early last year. However, the strong rebound in the local economy after years of stagnation is also firing building demand up. The eventual reopening of WA’s economy to international visitors and those from other states could mean that even brighter days are yet to come.

As the chart below illustrates, non-residential building activity in WA is currently outperforming nearly every MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Workers Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2021

Consultation draft The State government has announced it intends to change the Workers Compensation scheme in Western Australia, thereby following through on its 2021 election commitment and further recommendations of WorkCover WA. A draft Bill has been released for public comments.

superannuation and PAYG withholding purposes. Many members will be familiar with the ATO online tool to decide whether a person is an employee for superannuation purposes. This change is welcome, owing to the uncertainty of the existing common law test of who is, or is not, an independent contractor.

principal is no longer required to make a remuneration declaration as a (deemed) employer of the contractors’ workers. Working Directors covered Working Directors will be covered by WorkCover. The existing exclusion and opt in provisions for working Directors is removed.

Master Builders is preparing a submission to the Bill. The key changes concerning employers include: Pre employment It will be an offence under the proposed laws for employers to require job applicants to disclose their workers compensation history. Test of who is a worker for WorkCover purposes There is a new definition of ‘worker’ based on an ‘employee’ for Pay-AsYou-Go (PAYG) withholding under Commonwealth taxation law. The definition of ‘worker’ will therefore be assessed with the same test as applied by ATO for 24

To satisfy the test, (and avoid WorkCover liability), employers must ensure any ABN workers who are engaged on term or period contracts (e.g., hourly rate) have a written agreement enabling the ABN worker to engage others to perform the work. Master Builders has period contracts (edocs) that satisfy this requirement. Principal contractors and subcontractors It is common practice for principal contractors to require subcontractors to indemnify them for the principal’s liability to pay compensation that arises under the Act. This will continue, with some standardisation of paperwork. However, where a subcontractor holds a suitable indemnity policy, a

Increased compensation payments There is a significant change in compensation payments to workers. The Bill proposes to extend the period, from 13 to 26 weeks of the payment of average weekly earnings before reducing to 85 per cent of average weekly income for the remainder of the period of workers compensation. This method will apply for both award and non-award employees/workers. The capped amount for medical and health expenses has been increased from 30 per cent to 60 per cent MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS of the general maximum amount, ($71, 754 to $143, 507), indexed annually. This increase is beyond the recommendations of the WorkCover Review of 2014, from which the government has drawn much of the content for the Bill. Provisional compensation payments The Bill aims to protect the income of an injured worker during delays in determining claims. Insurers must give notice of liability, or notice of deferral of the decision, within 14 days from time of the employer lodged the claim. If the insurer still hasn’t decided by the 28th day following the claim, the employer must pay an employee payment (provisional payments) for the period since the employee first has an incapacity for work. However, if liability is subsequently accepted or determined, any provisional payments made to the employee are counted towards compensation caps and in any settlement. Provisional payments are not recoverable from workers if liability is subsequently not accepted. Stress claims Stress claims, specifically claims for compensation for alleged psychological or psychiatric disorders, is not an injury to a worker if it results wholly or predominantly from management actions that are not unreasonable and harsh. For example, reasonable counselling and discipline, training, and supervision. This clarification is important for employers and recognises the management prerogative to give reasonable and lawful instructions to workers. However, it also means that employers need to demonstrate good policy, procedures, and documentation in managing employees. Injury management A keystone of the Bill is to enhance return to work and injury management. Most of the proposed changes are welcome and should enable workers and employers to resolve return to work timetables and duties. This phase of workers compensation is often very frustrating largely because of uncertainty over obligations of workers and employers. For example, workers may be reluctant to notify the employer of any changes to the likely period of absence.

Provided the reason for termination is lawful - such as a redundancy - employers must give employees on workers compensation at least 28 days’ notice of the termination. Labour hire hosts The Bill introduces a new obligation on employers using labour hire workers and requires the host employer to cooperate with labour hirers in respect of return-to-work programs for hired workers, including arranging suitable light duties.

As recommended by WorkCover, there are new provisions requiring employees to attend Case Conferences, if arranged by the employer, insurer or treating medical practitioner. A Case Conference is intended to monitor and instruct the employee before and during a return-to-work program.

Rehabilitation expenses There is a change in the characterisation of workplace rehabilitation. The Bill moves the cost of rehabilitation services out of workers compensation and onto the employer. It is no longer regarded as a workers compensation expense. The government states it will regulate workplace rehabilitation service providers and fees to minimise over servicing or overcharging.

Employers will not be allowed to direct an employee to a preferred doctor or attend a medical consultation with the worker.

Loading on insurance premiums The government intends to remove the existing provisions that prohibit an insurer from charging a

WWW.MBAWA.COM

loading of more than 75 per cent on a recommended premium rate unless permitted by WorkCover. Although this change was sought by insurers in the 2014 review, WorkCover did not agree, as they were concerned at the lack of restraint on the price of premiums. Master Builders is strongly opposed to this change. Forms and administration WorkCover will move to digitise and modernise its administration and communications. Within the regulations, many paper based forms and records will be replaced with electronic forms. Further information Members wishing to discuss the proposed changes, or give input into submissions of Master Builders, should contact iradvice@mbawa.com.au. To obtain a copy of the Bill and supporting documents, go to www.workcover.wa.gov. au/resources/modernising-was-workerscompensation-laws 25

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WOMEN IN BUILDING

Women shine at WA’s Excellence in Construction Awards Left to Right: Alicia Gangemi, Astrid Vasile, Prudence McLoughlin

Women’s contribution to the West Australian building and construction industry was celebrated at the recent Master Builders-Bankwest Excellence in Construction Awards, with three exceptional people winning awards for their contributions. Prudence McLoughlin of Land Surveys won the Consultants-Professionals Award; Alicia Gangemi of Affordable Living Homes took out the Office-Based Award, and the Onsite-Award was presented to Astrid Vasile, Proprietor of Vasile Build. Master Builders launched the inaugural Women Building Australia Awards in 2020, with the key focus of the program to promote opportunities for women and employers in the building and construction industry. Women currently make up 11 per cent of the construction industry's workforce and one per cent of building trades (national figures). Master Builders is working towards capitalising on the skills and talent of women in the industry, attracting the best workers and opening up new skills, ideas and innovations. Prudence McLoughlin is a surveyor who works for national company Land Surveys. She gained her qualification from Curtin University, and while studying, worked as a surveyor’s assistant until gaining her bachelor’s degree. After working as a surveyor for 18 months, she took a position at Land Surveys as a surveyor working on large-scale jobs such as railway projects and high-rise construction. She has gained experience working with drones and laser scanners. Prudence also worked on the construction of the Art Gallery of WA Rooftop, an extension to the science building at Penrhos College, and the Metronet rail project. She participated in workshops for high school students while studying at Curtin University, showing students the different aspects of surveying and promoting surveying as a potential career choice. “As the course [Surveying] is fairly male dominated, my presence at these workshops for high school students showed that both boys and girls are able to follow this path,” she said. I hope that when I obtain my license I am able to inspire other women to join surveying. General Manager at Affordable Living Homes Alicia Gangemi was awarded for her longstanding dedication to the building and construction industry, along with her philanthropic work. Alicia started in the building industry as a trainee scheduler in 1994 while studying her Diploma of Building and Construction. In 2005, Alicia co-founded Affordable Living Homes and 16 years later she continues to oversee all general WWW.MBAWA.COM

business from estimating to scheduling and jobs in construction. Today, Alicia still holds the position of General Manager at the Delstrat Group for Affordable Living Homes, Ideal Homes and Broadway Homes where she is responsible for procurement, administration and construction. Alicia and her family have started a philanthropic fund called the Blue Ripple Foundation, which provides back packs and meals for the homeless and recently purchased a trishaw from Denmark in support of the Cycling without Age movement. Alicia said “During my 25 years in the industry, I have had the opportunity to work alongside many talented individuals. I have learnt from other professionals in their areas of expertise and together we have been able to provide housing solutions for families and give back to our community. Astrid Vasile is the Managing Partner of GV Constructions (WA) and Vasile Build. With a career spanning more than 23 years in the industry, and an MBA to boot, Astrid has been involved in the delivery of more than $60 million dollars’ worth of construction projects in WA. She has previously been awarded WA Business Partner of the Year and in 2009, became the 12th female Registered Builder in Australia. Astrid mentors employees in the building industry and graduate students. Outside the building Industry, Astrid is involved in supporting the AustralianIndonesian Businesswomen’s Network, and has been an active member of Master Builders Australia Women in Building & Construction Committee, committed to encouraging other women in the industry and support their businesses. “My role as the Principal Building

Practitioner and Building Inspector demands the highest standard of work and quality and I am very passionate about issues surrounding the building and construction industry. Construction is still very male dominated, but it's a great career for women. Every day is different, it is financially rewarding and there are many opportunities in the profession for women.” Master Builders WA Executive Director John Gelavis said the rising prominence and work-place excellence of women in the building and construction industry was a testament to the industry embracing change. “There was a time when the building industry was seen as male-dominated, but there has been such a major cultural change in the sector, with women taking up training opportunities and considering construction as their vocation,” he said. “Encouraging more women into the industry and acknowledging the advantage a more gender-equal workplace has to offer is something we consider a priority. “Master Builders’ Women Building Australia Awards recognise people who have made a positive contribution to the industry through leadership, support of diversity and inclusion. These winners have shown commitment to high standards of excellence and lead by example to continuous learning and healthy workplace practices. The winners are great role models for other women looking to enter the industry.” 27

LEGAL

Suppliers have increased their prices again – quick, call 1300 651 959! WA is experiencing a residential construction boom. With that comes shortages in the supply of materials and labour. As every economics student knows, a lack of supply tends to drive up prices. Builders are calling the Jackson McDonald MBA Advice Hotline with one question in mind: “Can I adjust the contract sum to allow for increases in the rates for materials and labour?” Well, most home building work contracts (contracts with values within the range of $7,500 to $500,000) restrict the Builder from being able to vary the price by reason only of an increase in labour and/ or materials rates incurred. Where such drafting appears, you cannot amend the contract to delete such terms or seek a general increase to the contract sum solely for materials and labour rate increases after the date the parties entered into the contract Indeed, section 13(1) of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) expressly prohibits a builder from entering into a contract that contains a ‘rise-and-fall’ clause and consistent with this prohibition, most of the standard form contracts offered by Master Builders WA (MBA) and the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and even some Australian Standard form contracts will not allow you to amend prices after the date the parties entered into the contract. Remember - if the cost increases relate to Provisional Sums or Prime Cost Items then the Builder CAN recover the adjusted actual cost. But without these mechanisms, there are some very narrow circumstances that will permit a builder to claim for increased building costs. So what are they? For Contracts for works between $7,500 to $500,000 If there is an “event” that prevents works from starting within 45 working days after the contract is signed, increased suppliers’ rates may be passed on. But the Builder must ensure that it has done all things necessary to ensure that the necessary approvals have been obtained within the required time frames before it can take advantage of this mechanism. 28

In both MBA and HIA contracts, the commencement of works is conditional on the Builder obtaining/ receiving all necessary approvals; evidence of title of land; and evidence of the Owner’s capacity to pay the contract sum (which, alternatively for HIA contracts, includes evidence of access to sufficient finance). The Builder will only be able to notify the Owner in writing about an increase in the rates for materials and labour if the delay in the commencement of the works has been caused because: 1. The Owner has not done all things necessary to equip the Builder with the necessary proofs of evidence and/ or documentation to ensure that the necessary approvals have been obtained in time (and the Builder does not wish to terminate the contract). 2. Both parties have done all they had to do but the delay has been caused by other external pressures. A Builder may be entitled to increase the contract price, if it has notified the Owner of an increase in the correct written form, and that increase genuinely reflects an actual increase in costs between the date of the contract and the date of the notice. This is a crucial step as an increase of more than five per cent of the contract sum will allow the Owner to terminate the contract and an ‘excessive’ or ‘unjustified’ increase can be reviewed by the SAT or the Building Commissioner on application by the Owner. If the

increase is reasonable, both parties should be careful not to allow the increase to cause the contract sum to exceed the maximum threshold of $500,000. What else can I do? Your options are limited. You could: • Try and negotiate a “fair and reasonable” adjustment with your client – but they may insist on you sticking to the contract sum. • Seek to procure supplies or labour from a different source. • Terminate the contract. But beware – if you are terminating in circumstances where you have no right to do so, you will expose yourself to a damages claim. As the industry continues to experience difficulties, call 1300 651 959 to let us know what contractual or legal issues you are facing. More information about the MBA Advice Hotline can be found on the MBA website. If you are not an MBA member or unsure as to whether any of the options mentioned above are applicable to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

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Commercial Vehicles

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TRAINING

Changes in the Diploma qualification On behalf of the Construction, Plumbing and Services IRC (Industry Reference Committee), Artibus Innovation prepared a proposal to undertake a full review of 10 Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package qualifications and 61 associated units of competency as part of the Industry Skills Forecast (ISF) 2018. The Residential Building and Non-Residential Building Construction sectors primarily involve the construction of houses or other residential buildings and non-residential buildings such as hotels, hospitals, prisons, or other buildings. The revised qualification – CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) was released as a part of the Construction, Plumbing and Services (CPC) Training Package Release 5.0. This revised qualification reflects the role of building professionals who apply knowledge of structural principles, risk, and financial management, estimating, preparing, and administering building and construction contracts, selecting contractors, overseeing the work and its quality, and managing construction work in building projects including residential and commercial with the following limitations: • Residential construction limited to National Construction Code Class 1 and 10 buildings to a maximum of three storeys

• Commercial construction limited to National Construction Code Class 2 to 9 buildings, Type C and B construction. To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have access to a live building and construction workplace to meet the requirements detailed in the Assessment Requirements of core unit CPCCBC4008 Supervise communication and administration processes for building and construction projects. Master Builders Western Australia in November 2020 undertook a full revision of the CPC550210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) which encompassed 19 Units of competency. After a years’ worth mapping, review and numerous hours spent with trainers and industry, Master Builders is pleased to have launched the first module of the CPC50220 - Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) on 16 September 2021. This qualification aims to strengthen the skills that an individual will require as a builder, building inspector, construction manager, project manager or supervisor. This revised qualification has a total of 27 units of competency with 24 core units and three elective units. The units of competency to be delivered as a part of this new qualification by Master Builders WA are listed on the next page.

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

TRAINING Code

Title

Core (C ) /Elective ( E)

CPCCBC4014

Prepare simple building sketches and drawings

CPCCBC4010*

Apply structural principles to residential and commercial constructions

CPCCBC4001

Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Class 1 and 10 buildings

CPCCBC5001

Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Type B construction

CPCCBC5018*

Apply structural principles to the construction of buildings up to 3 storeys

CPCCBC4013

Prepare and evaluate tender documentation

CPCCBC4003

Select, prepare and administer a construction contract

CPCCBC4004

Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects

CPCCBC5007

Administer the legal obligations of a building or construction contractor

CPCCBC4005

Produce labour and material schedules for ordering

CPCCBC4018

Apply site surveys and set-out procedures to building and construction projects

CPCCBC5002

Monitor costing systems on complex building and construction projects

CPCCBC5003

Supervise the planning of onsite building and construction work

CPCCBC5005

Select and manage building and construction contractors

CPCCBC5010

Manage construction work

BSBWHS513

Lead WHS risk management

BSBOPS504

Manage risk

CPCCBC4008

Supervise site communication and administration processes for building and construction projects

CPCCBC4009

Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects

CPCCBC4012

Read and interpret plans and specifications

CPCCBC5011

Manage environmental management practices and processes in building and construction

CPCCBC5013

Manage professional technical and legal reports on building and construction projects

CPCCBC5019

Manage building and construction business finances

CPCCBC4053

Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Class 2 to 9, Type C buildings

BSBPMG532

Manage project quality

CPCSUS5001

Develop workplace policies and procedures for sustainability

CPCCBC4052

Lead and manage teams in the building and construction industry

If you are looking to take the next step to become a Registered Builder in Western Australia, the CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) will give you the educational requirements needed to get Registered. Course dates for Perth: • 14 October 2021 • 11 November 2021 Expressions of interest are now open for Regional Western Australia. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) RPL is an assessment process, Master Builders can use to evaluate a person’s skills, knowledge and experience gained through working and learning. This process is completed by three easy steps. • Submit the completed Enrolment Form. • Meet with one of Master Builders Skilled Trainers WWW.MBAWA.COM

• Submit the Portfolio of Evidence to demonstrate your skill and knowledge. • The portfolio of evidence may consist of documents, photos, contracts, 3rd party reports, video footage as well as other proof of the competencies. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the determination, on an individual basis, of the skills and knowledge currently held by the learner acquired through formal, nonformal and informal learning. The onus is upon the candidate to demonstrate competence to the satisfaction of the assessors, including the provision of certification documentation.

For more information on the Diploma or RPL, please Contact the Master Builders Training team on 08 9476 9800 or email Diploma@mbawa.com 31

INSURANCE

Cyber insurance Cyber insurance protects businesses against online risks such as computer hacking, breach of privacy or data theft. As we all now rely upon technology the threat of a cyberattack is inevitable. The consequences of an attack are far-reaching and may damage your IT systems, compromise your data and temporarily stop you from doing business. Simple errors such as clicking on a malicious link (malware), attaching the wrong file to an email to more complicated situations such as network or website attacks are time consuming and costly. They may expose your business and directors to fines and penalties. On 6th July 2021 The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) issued a medium level alert to all Australian construction companies who are now being actively targeted by cybercriminals using business email compromise (BEC) scams. The ACSC added that “all parties to construction projects should be vigilant when communicating by email, particularly when discussing bank account details or invoicing”.

They also suggested some risk mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of a cyberattack: • Verify payment-related requests: If you receive a request to make a large transfer or to change bank account details, you should verify that the request is legitimate before actioning it. Call the sender's established phone number or visit them face-toface before transferring any funds. • Secure your email account: It is recommended that construction companies and related businesses use strong passphrases and enable multi-factor authentication on their email accounts. • Training and awareness: Ensure that your staff are trained to recognise suspicious emails, including fraudulent bank account changes or requests to check or confirm login details. The latter may be a phishing attack which could compromise account security. Key features of cyber insurance include: • Financial loss to your business resulting from cyber-crime. • Data restoration costs • Incident response and investigation costs supported by a 24/7 incident reporting helpline. • Legal costs

• Crisis management and mitigation expenses. • Liability arising from failure to maintain confidentiality of data • Data breaches resulting from malware and loss of hardware such as laptops, tablets and phones Is your turnover more than $3,000,000? If your company has a data breach you are required to notify affected individuals and make a report to the Privacy Commissioner in circumstances where the breach could cause ‘serious harm’. Failure to do so will result in significant fines for the business and individual directors

Neil Gray, WA State Manager Master Builders Insurance Brokers ACSC source: https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-allcontent/alerts/cybercriminals-targeting-constructioncompanies-conduct-email-scams (6th July 2021)

Master Builders WA’s new marketing and events team Master Builders WA has a new marketing communications and events team, led by Kunal Bhaduri, State Marketing Manager. Kunal has a wealth of international and local experience, spanning over two decades leading marketing teams. He has in-depth experience working in the corporate and start-up environment, specialising in integrated digital marketing and management. Kunal is supported by Event Manager Sharmen Wilson, who has worked in the event industry for over 20 years and in the WA Building and Construction industry for over 12 years. Sharmen is a specialist in organising events and is – thankfully – a perfectionist by nature with her attention to detail. She also loves to cook for people and ensures the MBA WA team is kept with a healthy supply of baked goods. Sharmen is supported by our extremely efficient Senior Event Coordinator Danielle Massara, who is a powerhouse in managing multiple events simultaneously while keeping a friendly and calm demeanour. Danielle also volunteers out of work hours at various events, as she is committed to giving back to the community. Chiara Oteri is another welcome addition to the Marketing and Communications team, having just completed a bachelor’s double degree in Psychology and Marketing from Curtin University. Chiara's passion revolves around developing engaging campaigns. She is also a stickler of processes which helps the team to stay on track. 32

The new Marketing, Communications and Events team is excited to support Master Builders WA members in celebrating our thriving industry.

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

CITY OF STIRLING

Leading local government planning and development reform The City of Stirling is proud to be a leading local government in planning reform by providing an efficient and customer centric development approval service. Over the past three years, the City has engaged in a comprehensive reform process to identify and implement improvements to benefit all of our customers. In addition to the State Government’s planning reform agenda, the City is committed to continuous improvement of our service. Through the City’s recent Small Business Friendly Approvals project and other reform initiatives, the City is providing the benchmark in how local government can work with and assist the development industry to implement lasting reform. The City is aware that customers are diverse and have different needs when it comes to developing a property within Stirling. Assisting these diverse needs effectively is the key to providing a truly customer centric and efficient development service. To achieve this, the City has worked collaboratively with the Master Builders Association WA and wider development industry to ensure these diverse needs are identified and to implement efficient services that these customers can utilise. The City’s Small Business Friendly Approvals project, completed in September 2021, has enabled the City to provide customers with a more informed and efficient development approvals service. We now provide for streamlined approval timeframes, improved customer service, and the ability for customers to self-serve and search the development opportunities at any address WWW.MBAWA.COM

in the City with ease via our bespoke Address and Application Assistant. The implementation of another reform initiative - a new concurrent crossover approval process - is already working to reduce red tape. This new process now negates the need to lodge a separate crossover application, with the crossover approval now provided in conjunction with a development approval. ‘Fast-Track Stirling’ - a new streamlined development approvals process is another bespoke reform initiative and is due to be launched in early 2022. Fast-Track Stirling will enable applicants to receive development approval for Single Houses and applications associated with Single Houses within 28 days. This new and innovative process will enable applicants to work collaboratively with the City to ensure their applications can be determined in a more streamlined manner and enable developments to get to shovelready stage faster. The City is excited to be working closely with MBA WA members over the next few months to finalise FastTrack Stirling and ensure that when launched, this new initiative will benefit and meet the needs of the wider development industry. The City of Stirling is proud of the journey we have taken over the past three years as a leading local government in planning and development reform.

Stevan Rodic Director Planning and Development City of Stirling

The City looks forward to working collaboratively and proactively with the Master Builders Association in future to assist the industry by providing high quality and sustainable development across the City of Stirling. 33

PLUMBING

MPAWA welcomes new lead content limit in plumbing products

The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of Western Australia (MPAWA) has welcomed the decision by the Australian Building Codes Board to reduce the amount of lead allowed in plumbing products that are in contact with drinking water. A lead content limit of 0.25 per cent will be written into the new version of the National Construction Code that will be adopted in September 2022. There will be a three-year transition period so products can be recertified under the WaterMark Certification Scheme to prove they comply with the Code. CEO of the MPAWA, Murray Thomas, said the decision means that the association has achieved one of its key policy objectives. “We have worked long and hard to see Australia catch up with countries such as Canada and the USA that have had a 0.25 per cent lead content limit for years. From a public health perspective, 34

there was no justification for retaining Australia’s existing 4.5 per cent limit,” Mr Thomas said. “I also want to remind the public to look for the WaterMark Certification symbol on all plumbing products, such as taps, that their drinking water touches. I strongly advise against buying cheap products online. Many such products do not comply with WaterMark, which means it is illegal to install them. They may have an even higher lead content than is currently allowed.” Lead is a toxic substance that accumulates in the human body. For children, the dangers are extremely serious and include impaired brain development, learning disabilities and behavioural problems. Long-term exposure in adults can cause kidney damage and high blood pressure. The MPAWA states that it will work closely with the Australian Building Codes Board, other regulatory bodies and industry groups to ensure plumbing contractors and the public are well informed about the decision and its public health significance.

The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of Western Australia (MPAWA) is an independent not-for-profit organisation. Although its name has changed a number of times, it has proudly served the people of Western Australia since 1901. Membership is available only to people who are registered plumbing and gasfitting contractors in Western Australia. They are all business owners and most of them employ other qualified trades people or apprentices. MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

MEMBERSHIP

Master Builders WA welcomes new members Acacia Builders

Form Projects Australia

Peel Building Inspections

Advanced Homes

Goldman Constructions

Perth Carpentry and Roofing

Affinity Windows

Guilbert Building Co

Perth Waterproofing and Silicone Solutions

AGL Energy Limited

Hawkins Prestige Homes

Pinelock Systems

AHP Industries

Heritage Carpentry and Joinery

Pritchard Francis

AIM Renovations WA

Home Pro Property Maintenance

Project Building Supplies

AR Building

Homes By Nature

Qualstruct

Art of Green

Hunter Building Services

Red Dust Holdings

Artique

IBS Construction & Maintenance Group

Reface Painting Contractors

Auscut and Core

Imperial Building Services

Rialto Homes

Aussie Bush Cabins

In & Out Plastering (WA)

Ruscon Construction

BBM Building-Maintenance-Painting

Inspect My Property

Sebbes Painting Services

BGC Plasterboard and Fibre Cement

Inspiration Home Builders

SHURE Building & Pest

Billabong Pools

Jacob Skinner

Smart 1 Group

Blax Builders

James Laurino

Southern WA Building and Maintenance

Bob Edwards

Jersey Building Group

Southwind Construction

Brennan Custom Constructions

JP Construction Projects

SpectrumWest

Building Rooms

JP West

Terpstra Constructions

Buildwell Group

Katoi Homes

Threadgold Architecture

Cabinet Inspirations

Korosko

Timberbuilt Australia

CBM Projects

L A Webb Construction

Tradewind Building Services

Christopher Liddle

LP Airconditioning & Refrigeration WA

Truform Carpentry & Construction

Coast Edge Developments

LRH Construction

Unique Residence

Coastal Design & Construction

Luke Bartlett Tiling

Vidal Construction

Construction Ingenuity

M & MP Builders

WA Elite Homes

Cope Construction

Magic Touch Painting

WAFIC

CT Building Maintenance

Maslen Construction

West Coast Turntables

D & J Windsor

MAXTRAINING

Western Heroz

Delwest Constructions

MJW Building

Wiseman Carpentry

Dreamview Construction

Monico Australia Holdings

Wright Renovations and Building Solutions

Elite Compliance

Moxies Plastering Maintenance

Embersafe Fire Protection

Nara Training & Assessing

ENSO Construction

Neil Cowan Carpentry

Epigroup

NuForm

Esperance Sheds and Patios

Original Custom Homes

ETT Decoration

Paul Wettinger

First Principle Contracting

Peak Evolution Construction

WWW.MBAWA.COM

MEMBERSHIP

New Master Builders WA Board Members Master Builders WA welcomes our two new board members, Shaun Hughes from Focus Building, who has been on the Master Builders WA Construction Council for the past three years and Michael Vermey, who has been instrumental in the building industry in WA. Shaun Hughes, who is Company Director of commercial building company Focus Building, said he was excited to join the MBA WA board to access the expertise and industry knowledge of other members, but also as a younger builder he is keen to bring a fresh perspective to the industry. He comes from a long line of builders, and he is excited to continue this tradition. “From an early age, I have been passionate about delivering quality buildings I am proud of. I joined the MBA WA Board to give back to this industry that my family has been involved in for a long time. Being involved with an organisation like Master Builders provides you with a sense of the bigger picture in the industry, and the important advocacy role they play, that sometimes you don’t necessarily see.”

Michael Vermey is the Operations Manager for the Homebuyers Centre /ABN Group. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the Master Builders WA Association as a registered builder and is excited to be joining Master Builders to “give back to the industry,” he said. “It is really good to be part of a member association that gives our industry such an acknowledged, and respected voice at both federal and state levels. Our industry is such an important one in terms of jobs creation and driving the economy, but it is also important to recognise the impetus on integrity and keeping our esteemed voice on the behalf of the industry. We lobby hard on behalf of the betterment of the construction and housing industry.

As leaders in the supply, fabrication and installation of quality structural steel to the commercial building & construction industry within Western Australia. With an advanced fabrication facility and over two decades within the industry, Ascent has participated in many successful projects throughout Western Australia including: • 8 x WA PPP Schools- Ellenbrook, Lakelands, Hammond Park, Harrisdale, Baldivis, Alkimos, Byford & Landsdale • The West Coat Eagles Training Facility • Sunningdale Public School • Western Power Pinjarra Depot E: admin@ascentstructural.com.au PH: 08 9454 4333 W: www.ascentstructural.com.au

MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

FORD & DOONAN

Ford & Doonan find their voice with Dean Clairs partnership Ford & Doonan is excited to announce new brand ambassador Dean Clairs to the Ford & Doonan family! “Dean has been a voice on WA’s radio networks for more than 35 years and is as local as us” said Ford & Doonan’s Marketing Manager, Christian Ford. “He encompasses so many of our company values, from doing things the right way the first time, to maintaining a consistent image in the public eye. He is an absolutely perfect fit! Everyone loves Clairsy, who is a consummate professional and arguably Perth’s most popular Breakfast Radio Announcer, and together with the team at Ford & Doonan, with 35 years as Perth’s favourite and most trusted name in air conditioning … it’s a match made in heaven. We look forward to working with Dean for many years to come and our entire franchise network is excited for the opportunities this partnership will bring.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Ford & Doonan team in 2021 in the role of Brand Ambassador. Ford & Doonan have proven themselves to be a great organisation for such a long period of time I didn’t need to think twice about teaming with them,” said Dean Clairs. As a proud West Aussie I’m looking forward to getting involved with the entire franchise network.” Ford & Doonan, comfort that moves you.

1800 AIR CON (1800 247 266) www.fordanddoonan.com.au

• Air Conditioning • Project Management • Mechanical Contractors & Services • Industrial / Medical Gases • Ventilation - Refrigeration • Process Cooling • Commissioning • HEPA Testing • Centigrade Mechanical Contracting Pty Ltd • Centigrade Services Pty Ltd • Centigrade Commissioning Pty Ltd • Centigrade Medical Gases Pty Ltd

7 Macadam Place, Balcatta, WA 6021 Tel: +61 8 9240 1992 | info@centigrade.com.au | LinkedIn.com/Centigrade-Group WWW.MBAWA.COM

AFFINITY

Affinity Windows: Ahead of the trend

Affinity Windows is proudly WA owned and operated and has been a manufacturer of windows, doors, shower screens, robes, security and commercial products for more than 43 years. Having manufactured and installed over 1.5 million windows in over 140,000 WA homes speaks for itself. We don’t sacrifice quality and durability either. Every product is independently tested by AZUMA who is NATA accredited. At Affinity, we believe that everyone deserves a home that is ahead of the trend. We do this by a commitment to product innovation, technology and offering perfectly designed products. Innovative products Sustainability has become a greater priority for home buyers with environmentally friendly features, such as energy efficiency, a popular choice. To remain ahead of this trend, Affinity Windows has just introduced doubled glazed products and a new energy efficient glass - E-Tech Lite. Both these products reduce your daily energy costs and add value to your home. 38

E-Tech Lite is the result of collaboration between Affinity Windows and a well-regarded local glass provider. E-Tech Lite has been specifically designed for the harsh Australian climate, making your home easier to cool in summer and heat in winter. Affinity Windows double glazed awning windows and doors are designed to integrate with the standard window range, making it easy to upgrade for a minimal cost. Double glazed products reduce acoustic noise, add thermal benefits and are fully tested and compliant. Innovative technology Affinity Windows is investing and expanding! This expansion is taking us on an exciting journey to a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Jandakot. Here we will be commissioning best-in-class aluminium converting, automatic cutting line and CNC equipment coupled with lean manufacturing initiatives to increase productivity and output capacity. All these improvements echo our quality and customer service guarantee, as we help thousands of home owners live their best lives.

Perfectly designed We understand Australians love luxurious and beautiful homes. We are spending more time at home, working at home and travelling less. Therefore, our home environment is more important than ever. We keep this in mind when developing and designing new features and products. Affinity Window bi-fold and stacking doors offer flexibility to connect creatively designed spaces from indoor living to outdoor entertaining. To keep ahead of the trend, our trendsetting 3130mm double panel slider is the widest glass door available in the WA residential market. Affinity Windows offers a complete package for any home that is ahead of the trend.

Our hand sanitisers clean hands and kill germs whilst leaving you hands feeling soft and moist. We are 100% Western Australian family owned hand sanitiser business that supplies top quality CE certified and lab tested 75% Alcohol based hand sanitiser that dries fast and leaves your hands feeling soft and moist, not sticky and dry like some others in the marketplace. We supply both 60ml & 500ml Gel as well as 100ml Sanitiser Spray, which can be also be used as a surface spray. These are perfect for the office and reception areas, hotel rooms, bars, gyms, handbags, cars home etc. We can arrange any quantities large or small to be delivered with a smile Australia wide.

We also stock a range of face masks and other PPE. We have both disposable and washable facemasks, surgical and non surgical, with disposable masks available in both blue and black.

RW Clean Hands 0412 741 788 info@resiwest.com.au PO Box 7068 Applecross WA 6153 WWW.MBAWA.COM

Trade Enquiries Welcome Contact us for more information

P: 6465 4999 44 O’Malley Street, Osborne Park WA 6017 w w w. a i r f o r c e a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g . c o m . a u 39

BALCONIES AND BALUSTRADES FEATURE

Keeping balconies and balustrades safe and sound

During COVID lockdowns balconies have provided a refuge for people to safely enjoy fresh air and sunshine. As the warmer weather approaches and lockdown restrictions ease, balconies have become an enticing place for larger gatherings. It is therefore a good time to check on the safety of residential and commercial balconies and balustrades to avoid any incidences of collapse and putting people at risk of serious injury or death.

member in the presence of moisture. If untreated, the strength and condition of timber can be affected by termites and borers.

The Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety points to a number of factors that can affect the safety of a balcony over its lifetime. Corrosive environments, particularly in seaside areas along the coastline, can affect unprotected steel structures, reinforcing steel and fixings such as bolts and fixing plates.

Structural safety To ensure the balcony structure is safe it is important to check fixings such as bolts and screws that can loosen or corrode or deteriorate over time when exposed to the elements. Balustrades are made of various materials such as concrete, steel or timber and need to comply with building regulations and standards. Simple things such as re-tensioning tension wire balustrades, checking and tightening fixings and treating signs of corrosion greatly improve the long-term safety of balustrades.

Treated timbers can provide resistance to deterioration for an extended period of time, however wet rot can still occur when timber is in constant contact with the ground or another timber 40

Concrete balconies can become unsafe when concrete cracks and flakes or when the reinforcement corrodes, often due to moisture. The balcony loading is critical to safety too. Some balconies are simply not be designed to support the increased weight of bulky garden pots, heavy furniture and large groups of people.

An annual visual inspection should identify potential problems, and some of the risk factors to look out for are: • Pooling of water on the balcony or deck surface. • Balustrades that are fixed to the balcony’s top surface and not fixed directly to the main supporting structure. • Tops of solid balustrades and balustrade fixings at wall junctions which may be loose or not adequately fixed. • Cladding that finishes hard against the balcony may contribute to wet rot. • Cladding or lining board that is fixed to the balcony which prevents visual inspection of the supporting members and connections of the structure. • Beams that span long distances without any supporting posts or columns. Maintenance check list Stairs, handrails and balustrades • Check for signs of rot, corrosion, looseness or instability. • Stairs, handrails and balustrades should be securely fastened at all points. Particular attention MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

BALCONIES AND BALUSTRADES FEATURE should be paid to balustrades that are fixed to the balcony’s top surface and not fixed directly to the main supporting structure. • Look for signs of sagging or loss of tightness where wire balustrading has been used. Timber balconies • Check the timber for signs of decay, rot or insect attack, for example is the timber spongy when probed with a sharp object? • Look for any signs of bending, warping, sagging and splitting. • Check to see if the timber needs reapplication of stains, oils or paints. • Check all connections for signs of deterioration such as at beam to post connections and for any loose or rusting fixings. • Check for loose decking boards or flooring. Concrete balconies • Look for signs of deflection (leaning). • The presence of spalling, where chunks of concrete are flaking off or cracking. • Examine the underside of the balcony for rust stains or exposed steel reinforcing.

deck it must be designed and constructed legally, which means applying for a building permit and have the balcony appropriately designed.

Homeowners should have a structural engineer or registered building practitioner conduct an assessment. To replace or build a new balcony or

Most well-maintained timber balconies should last for at least 20 years, and a well-maintained concrete balcony should last for 40 to 50 years.

For more information see Building and Energy, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Balconies and decks – a guide to maintenance online at: commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/ balconies-and-decks-guide-maintenance

The finest outdoor umbrellas in Australia PREMIUM PRODUCTS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INVEST IN THEIR OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE Balustrading WA (established in 1995) is one of the biggest and the longest serving balustrading companies in Western Australia. As a WA family owned business and part of the M & B Building Products Group, these years of experience are clearly demonstrated through the sound advice, unsurpassed service and innovative designs that Balustrading WA can provide to meet the most unique requirements. Our company ethos is reliability, professional service, client focus, quality craftsmanship and diversity.

Balustrading WA product range: • • • • • •

Balcony Balustrade Staircase Balustrade Pool Fencing and Gates Fencing and Fence In-fills Screening Gates

If you are looking for high quality shade options to suit your home or business outdoor area, The SHADOWSPEC range of pool umbrellas, pool shade systems and wind resistant sun shade options consist of the finest in design and construction, and has been thoughtfully designed and developed to accommodate the extremes of the Australian climate.

+61 8 9208 2900 sales@balustradingwa.com.au 138 Beechboro Road South, Bayswater WA 6053 WWW.MBAWA.COM

Contact Kevin on:

0415 896 537 kevin@exclusiveoutdoors.com.au | www.exclusiveoutdoors.com.au 41

SUSTAINABILITY FEATURE

A third of our waste comes from buildings This one’s designed for reuse and cuts emissions by 88 per cent Designing buildings so they can easily be taken apart and the materials reused provides a feasible and commercial pathway for minimising waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Our research shows one such Curtin University building, the Legacy Living Lab in Fremantle, reduces construction waste and cuts emissions to almost a tenth of what a conventional building process would produce. The modular, circular economy building produces benefits in all six environmental indicators we assessed. It’s part of our vision for the decarbonisation of buildings.

Learning from nature Natural biogeochemical cycles create little or no waste. These circular cycles eventually transform used material into a new resource. For example, through the nutrient cycle a fallen leaf provides the building blocks for future leaves. It’s simple and beautiful. The opposite of a linear model of “take, make, dispose”. It’s complex and ugly. Unfortunately, this is the model industrialised society has adopted. And not only for our coffee pods, which mostly end up in landfill, but also for most commercial and residential buildings. The building industry consumes about 50 per cent of mineral resources and produces about 35 per cent of waste. It’s a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions. What, then, can be done?

Rethinking ‘downward spiral’ recycling The answer lies in revisiting the basics of our recycling

practices. Since the late 1990s, recycling has been considered an environmental solution, with recycling bins popping up everywhere. However, researchers and consumers alike have begun to realise recycling often comes down to mere “wishcycling”. Less than 10 per cent of plastics is actually being recycled. Reprocessing is considered the best way to keep materials in use, particularly for artefacts like coffee cups or microchips. However, for many other products, such as building materials, recycling often translates into less than helpful down-cycling. Even seemingly environmentally benign material, such as timber, often cannot be recycled. Rather, it is remanufactured into products of lower economic value and quality. The material is in a downward spiral that only delays its disposal to landfill. Clearly, it is much better for the environment if we can find ways to reuse products. Indeed, there are “reusable alternatives for almost everything: beeswax or silicone food wraps, reusable coffee pods, shampoo and conditioner bars, reusable safety razors and bars of soap, rather than liquid soap”.

The Legacy Living Lab (L3) is a highly functional, state-ofthe-art building with offices and space for collaboration. Yet it can be taken apart – deconstructed or disassembled – moved and reused anywhere within weeks. Findings from studying the environmental impact of this facility point towards a resounding yes to the question of whether reuse practices can be adopted for buildings. The in-built reuse practices of the L3 save 18 tonnes of construction materials from disposal compared to common building industry practices. This leads to an 88 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Applying reuse principles to buildings Can this reuse practice be adopted for buildings too? After all, a building is a sophisticated and complex product compared to coffee pods or cling wrap. Researchers from Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute put this question to the test by building a modular, reusable laboratory. It’s a place where researchers, builders and citizens alike can meet to prototype and study new products.

So how was this done? Simply, by choosing reused steel frames, opting for steel foundations instead of concrete, and designing internal wall cladding that’s easily disassembled. This makes it almost as easy to take the building apart as your average Lego spaceship. When the time comes to decommission the building, it can be deconstructed as eight modules. These can be moved to the next site for reuse rather than being demolished. MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

The building’s eight modules were built off-site and then rapidly put together on site. Author provided

The internal wall cladding is designed to be easily taken apart. Author provided

The reuse of steel frames for building saves costs and reduces resource consumption and emissions. Author provided

The Legacy Living Lab is a highly functional building that can be taken apart and reused elsewhere within a matter of days. Author provided

SUSTAINABILITY FEATURE

Modular buildings are made of box-shaped structures, built off-site and delivered on-site in a matter of hours. This has the added benefit of minimum disruption for our cities compared to traditional construction sites. Modular buildings come in all shapes and dimensions, from tiny houses to skyscrapers and factories. They are often more cost-effective to produce than traditional double-brick constructions. Thus, as well as a minimal environmental footprint, the advantages of modular buildings include flexibility, speed and cost.

Creating a new building materials market By adopting easily disassembled modular buildings, we can create a whole new market for reusable building materials. Design-for-disassembly and closed-loop supply chains can keep building components in the material loop as they are – without the need for wishy-washy and wasteful recycling procedures. WWW.MBAWA.COM

Similar to the way nature operates, the team at CUSP created a building whose byproducts from one process remain in the loop as inputs for the next, keeping waste to a minimum. In this way, disassembly becomes much safer and cleaner, which benefits our cities and their residents. All that does not mean recycling building waste isn’t beneficial. It all depends on the project. Timber can at least be chipped into garden mulch, bricks and concrete crushed into road base, and so forth. But this approach is not nearly as neat as nature’s way of handling waste. Design for disassembly and modularity comes closer to that. It can lead the way towards a marketplace where it is common practice to retain material in the supply chain. If our goal is to create products and processes that “solve our greatest design challenges sustainably and in solidarity with all life on Earth”, it’s time we turned toward nature. We believe it will be a wiser guide than any other in our efforts to redefine wasteful, linear business models.

The Legacy Living Lab, Curtin University's Circular Economy Research Facility is proof that designing buildings for disassembly and reuse greatly reduces their environmental impacts. To view the YouTube video, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf8SBkBfzCs&t

Roberto Minunno Research Fellow in Sustainability Buildings, Curtin University Greg Morrison Professor and Director, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Curtin University Richard L. Gruner Senior lecturer, The University of Western Australia Timothy Michael O'Grady PhD researcher, Curtin University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: theconversation.com/a-third-of-ourwaste-comes-from-buildings-this-ones-designed-forreuse-and-cuts-emissions-by-88-147455 43

MENTAL HEALTH FEATURE

R U OK? launches Tradies Tools to Talk R U OK? is calling on Australian tradespeople to add conversation skills to their toolkits and has released ‘Tradies Tools to Talk’ to help them know when and how to ask their workmates ‘are you OK?’. The resources feature tradies sharing their stories and practical tips supported by information about how to spot the signs someone might be struggling, and how to navigate the conversation if someone answers, “no, I’m not OK.” Katherine Newton, CEO, R U OK? says that tradies face challenges across their working lives and the impact of COVID-19 has increased uncertainty for a workforce already dealing with job insecurity pressures and the inability to adopt a Work From Home model. Trades workers and technicians make up more than 13 per cent of the Australian workforce with men filling 84 per cent (1.5 million) of those 1.8 million jobs.1 Within this sector the Building and Construction industry has experienced significantly higher rates of suicide when compared with the general population.2 “The pressures of job insecurity, financial position and intense physical demands are part of their everyday. Coupled with life challenges such as relationship difficulties and grief, there can be a cumulative effect which impacts mental health and senses of social connection,” said Ms Newton. “This sector is where stigma is high and internal pressure builds when workers feel they can’t talk to others about what’s happening for them. To help 44

reduce that stigma we’re encouraging workers to use of our ‘Tradies Tools to Talk’ to open conversations and check in with those working alongside them. “By making time to meaningfully reach out and offer support, you can make a difference to someone struggling with life and help them find professional support where it’s needed.” The free ‘Tradies Tools to Talk’ resources provide guidance on how family, friends and fellow workers can spot the signs that a tradie in their world may be struggling. The resources feature stories of tradies told by tradies and aim to empower individuals with the confidence to check in with a workmate who might be doing it tough. Plumber Justin Geange has been an R U OK? Community Ambassador since 2015 and works as a Field Officer for suicide prevention charity Mates in Construction. He says that while construction workers were thought of as tough as nails, a lot were hurting and masking their pain. “I was on struggle street back in 2012 and had a mate call me out on the stuff that he was noticing and the changes in my life,“ said Mr Geange. “That conversation led me to get the help that I needed and it’s the reason I’m here today.” Mr Geange says one of the biggest challenges for time poor tradies is finding time to really talk. “Maybe go for a walk down to the coffee shop and grab a pie and have a yarn or have a yarn in the car

on the way to work or on the way home from work,” he said. “These are great opportunities to have meaningful conversations, fair dinkum, real R U OK? conversations. “As an industry cultural change is happening, and I want play my part in spreading the message that it’s OK to speak up when your struggling,” said Mr Geange. “As someone with a lived experience of mental health and circumstantial challenges, I am passionate about how transparent conversations with a mate or someone you trust can actually change your life, I know, I’ve experienced that firsthand.” “As a tradie, I know how hard it is to put your hand up when you’re struggling, yet we are more likely to accept offered help from a mate or someone you trust. R U OK? has given us tradies some tools we can use to help us with these important conversations.” The R U OK? Tradies conversation guide was made possible with the support of R U OK? partner Hard Yakka. Download the free resources including the ‘R U OK? ‘Tradies Tools to Talk’ at ruok.org.au/tradies. For crisis support at any time of day or night, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Footnotes 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Survey June 2021 2. Milner A, Law P, Mates in Construction, Mental Health in the Construction Industry June 2017 while construction workers were thought of as tough as nails, a lot were hurting and masking their pain. MASTER BUILDER SPRING 2021

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Brikmakers and Midland Brick have joined! Two iconic WA brands have joined forces, Brikmakers and Midland Brick have merged! Our workforce, production and websites have all combined and will remain under the shared name, Midland Brick. We are excited about this change and look forward to continuing to provide the best quality products and service to our customers.

For more information and to check out our combined product offering, head to midlandbrick.com.au