Builders hail proposed construction site reform plan as a ‘game-changer’

The construction industry says the measures will prevent unscrupulous operators from erecting apartment blocks.

The building industry has welcomed the NSW government’s plan to overhaul management of construction sites and restore confidence to the sector, calling the reforms a “game-changer” that will prevent unscrupulous operators from erecting apartment blocks.

NSW Labor and the Greens criticised the proposed regu­lations, revealed by The Australian on Tuesday, that would see regulators given the power to block suspect projects and builders subjected to a quality-rating regime based on their work history and other metrics.

The peak body representing apartments, units, townhouses and other strata-titled properties in NSW said the reforms would provide peace of mind to ­“millions of NSW residents”.

“These reforms are long overdue,” said Strata Community Association state president Chris Duggan. “It is very clear the apartment construction sector in NSW has been overdue for a clean-out.”

The overhaul was designed in consultation with the Master Builders Association, the Property Council of Australia and other peak industry groups, many of which have already expressed their support for the government’s proposal.

The overhaul still rests upon passage of the Design and Building Practitioners Bill through the NSW upper house, which remains to be debated in parliament. It passed the Legislative Assembly but was halted from an upper house vote in November when Greens MP David Shoebridge and Labor deputy leader Yasmin Catley called for significant amendments.

On Tuesday, Mr Shoebridge and Ms Catley criticised the government’s proposals but stopped short of suggesting they would block the bill. They are calling for a standalone building commission to police the sector rather than a building commissioner, though the NSW government has resisted this call. NSW Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson has urged both parties to support the bill.

“This bill looks to beef up enforcement, which is important, but that is not going to fix the problem,” said Ms Catley. “We need compliance, boots on the ground … fresh legislation that delivers great buildings that are safe, that are free of defects.”

Mr Shoebridge said the building industry crisis would not be fixed by an “under-resourced building commissioner doing on-line ­reviews”.