Check the list of plumbers pinged by the VBA, what they did and how much they were fined

They’re essential and hardworking tradies but some Victorian plumbers have landed themselves in hot water for failing to do these things.

Plumbers have copped hefty fines for a range of oversights and transgressions.

Three Victorian plumbers have been successfully prosecuted through the courts and another 10 fined by the Victorian Building Authority so far this financial year, after getting into hot water with the industry watchdog.

Andrew Gamble was convicted and fined $14,000 in October last year for carrying out stormwater and roofing work without registration, while IAG Roofing and director Kris Pigdon were both fined $2500, without conviction, for engaging a plumber to undertake work while unregistered.

Plumbers fined by the VBA for amounts up to $9000 were sanctioned for transgressions including:

> Failing to provide a compliance certificate within the required time frame

> Installing a gas hot water system that did not comply with the Plumbing Code of Australia

> Carrying out non-compliant work

> Providing misleading or factually incorrect information on compliance certificates

> Failing to comply with rectification notices

> Failing to provide a customer with a document displaying their name, business and license or registration number before starting work

> Failing to provide a drain plan to the relevant water authority

VBA executive director of regulatory operations David Brockman said most plumbers did the right thing but individuals who broke the rules eroded public trust.

“We will not hesitate to take action against those plumbers who fail to work in a way that ensures the health and safety of their clients, themselves and those around them,” he said.

“Any plumbing product purchased must be installed by a licensed or registered plumber, doing it yourself can pose risks to your health and that of others.

“If you’ve engaged a licensed plumber to do work for you, ask for your compliance certificate. Plumbing compliance certificates provide Victorians with a level of confidence that their plumber has the experience, qualifications and insurance protection to complete the works.”

The VBA has had the power to immediately suspend plumbers since December 2020 if it believes it is in the public interest to do so.

The release of details on plumbers sanctioned comes after the Herald Sun revealed Victorian building firms and individual tradies who copped fines and bans over the last six months.

Failing to provide a compliance certificate within the required time frame has landed some Victorian plumbers in hot water with the VBA.

Some builders were fined thousands of dollars while others were suspended from operation for long periods.

Building company directors were among those disciplined and fined, with amounts ranging from $1000 to nearly $28,000, between July 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023.

Many fines fell in the $2000 to $6000 range.

And nine builders were suspended by the VBA over the time period.

Balla Constructions, Campagna Developments, Mutlu Alan, Marc Harrison, Ali Osman, Makal Constructions and Watkins Building Group were banned from working for a whopping 36 months while Anthony Middling and Melway Bin Hire and Demolition were suspended for much shorter periods.

Two builders were successfully prosecuted through the courts, with Maria Tuitupou fined $5000 for carrying out building work without a permit and performing domestic building work under a major domestic building contract while unregistered, while Dan Yang was fined $1500 for building a deck at a commercial property without a permit.

BUILDING MOULD IN FOCUS

Water damage and potentially dangerous mould in buildings is being tackled by the Victorian Building Authority, as it teams with academic researchers to find new ways of designing, constructing and maintaining buildings to improve ‘moisture resilience’.

VBA state building surveyor Andrew Cialini said the research would provide valuable guidance for the industry. It would also inform regulatory decisions into the future.

Steven Constantinou looks for signs of mould in a Victorian home. Picture: David Caird

“Condensation and mould in buildings is linked to negative impacts on human health and amenity, as well as building structural integrity,” Mr Cialini said.

“As water damage routinely tops the list of defects encountered in buildings and in complaints to the VBA, as well as other agencies, it is important that we find solutions to reduce it.”

Associate Professor Arianna Brambilla from the University of Sydney said the research would include analysis of typical building envelopes constructed in Victoria, including details such as building corners, balconies and wall and roof intersections.

“Water damage can be exacerbated by poor design, poor construction practices and poor

maintenance practices, resulting from lack of awareness and knowledge by some practitioners,” she said.

“This research aims to find ways to increase moisture resistance in the built environment so future building design can counter this common problem,”