Melbourne builder Andrew Donald Little suspended by building watchdog

The building watchdog has suspended the registration of a Melbourne tradie who allegedly failed to implement fire safety measures into designs, posing a public safety risk.

Melbourne tradie Andrew Donald Little had his registration suspended by the building watchdog. Picture: file image

A Melbourne builder accused of not implementing fire safety measures in designs had his registration suspended after the building watchdog alleged he posed a public safety risk.

The Victorian Building Authority said that Andrew Donald Little, of ADL Home Building & Constructions, is also accused of failing to take out domestic building insurance and leaving customers with non-compliant buildings.

Mr Little - who is appealing the immediate suspension to VCAT - has been alleged to have committed 58 offences and now faces the threat of a three-year ban, having his building registrations cancelled and being whacked with fines of up to $160,000.

Melbourne tradie Andrew Little is appealing the immediate suspension to VCAT. Picture: file image

Victorian Building Authority alleges that Mr Little’s company presented designs for two building sites – at Emerald and Kurunjang – that failed to comply with fire safety standards.

The regulator alleged he didn’t include water sprinklers in designs to build a disability accommodation facility, and also didn’t factor in fire safety in the plans.

He is also accused of commissioning work under a non-compliant major domestic building contract, taking money without obtaining domestic building insurance and leaving customers with a non-compliant building that required significant remediation to make it suitable to house people with disabilities.

Victorian Building Authority acting chief executive officer Todd Bentley said: “Protecting consumers is our priority and that means removing those who do the wrong thing from the industry.”

The Melbourne builder is accused of not implementing fire safety measures into designs. Picture: file image

“The VBA is continuing to use its full suite of disciplinary powers to ensure those who harm consumers are held to account,” Mr Bentley said.

The Herald Sun contacted Mr Little for comment.

A publicly available statement on the company’s website hit out at the VBA’s processes, claiming they didn’t reach out to the builder during the investigation.

“The failure of the VBA to follow its own published process before, during and after its investigation is a serious concern and further goes to undermine the credibility and confidence in the building regulator,” the statement read.

“We are equally as frustrated about the impacts of the VBA actions is having for our clients and we look forward to the opportunity to respond to the allegations and reinstate our registrations so that we can proceed with assisting our clients to complete their projects as soon as possible.”