Builders back fewer councils, saying it will make slow system more efficient

The building industry is supporting moves to make local government rules easier for homeowners and would-be homeowners.

The building industry has called for local government reform to be fast-tracked to cut the red tape which is adding to the housing crisis.

As The Advertiser reveals an ambitious local government amalgamation agenda set by the state government, the sector which deals most with councils has also called for help.

Builders and their customers are suffering from long delays to find tradespeople, shortages in supplies and spiralling costs driven by high inflation as well supply and demand issues.

Master Builders Association chief executive Will Frogley said proof of the need for reform was the “vast difference” between councils and how quickly, efficiently and sympathetically they could process approval for the industry.

“Many of our members complain that there are huge differences between councils in how they process work and this could be addressed,’’ he said.

“There are councils which are far more accepting of the process than others.

“There are also obvious efficiencies which could be made by council amalgamations.”

Local Government Association chief executive Clinton Jury said reform in the sector was happening already.

“Proponents of council amalgamations often overlook or ignore the fact that councils are already achieving cost savings and efficiencies through regionalisation and shared services,” he said.

“It’s unsurprising the topic of forced amalgamations has again been raised as we prepare to enter local government elections.”

Will Frogley from Master Builders. Picture: Matt Loxton

Housing Industry Association executive director Stephen Knight said delays of up to five months for house approvals were adding significant costs to projects because of inflation factors.

“Without naming names, some councils are very different and far less efficient at approving work, and there is no real reason for this,’’ he said.

“There are performance issues which become very obvious during the approval process, and some councils are notorious with builders and homeowners.

“Approval should able to be completed within a couple of weeks, many are taking a couple of months and builders are complaining some of their projects are taking four or even five months.”

Mr Jury said a statewide planning system introduced by the previous Liberal government was already forcing change.

“The introduction of South Australia’s new planning system in March 2021 is a good example of achieving greater consistency across the board in terms of development applications, with councils simply tasked with enforcing the legislation,’’ he said.