Savings from red tape reduction hit home

Thursday, 13 October 2016
 
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• Changes to demolition notifications save building industry time and money
• Fewer restrictions on building surveyors, reduce fees for home owners
• Plumbers can access drainage plumbing diagrams online at a fraction of the cost

Western Australia's home building industry and new home owners are continuing to enjoy savings, as more outdated requirements are removed from the State's building regulations.

The next reforms include reducing the number of utility providers, demolition contractors must notify before undertaking demolition work.  Building surveyors will also be allowed to certify new home buildings and alterations.

Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said the reforms, which featured on the Liberal National Government's 2016 Red Tape Reduction Report Card, would continue ongoing work to free the building and plumbing industries of unnecessary red tape.

"The Government is continuing to turn ideas into action in order to cut red tape and deliver meaningful improvements to the building process," Mr Mischin said.

"Soon demolition contractors won't have to notify certain utility providers prior to undertaking demolition work.  The Government is removing outdated notification requirements made superfluous by the success of the free national referral service, Dial Before You Dig.  This reform is expected to save the home building industry at least $700,000 a year in administration costs.

"We are also reducing restrictions on, and clarifying, the types of buildings and incidental structures for which a building surveyor with a level 2 or building surveying technician qualification may sign a compliance certificate.  The reform is expected to increase competition for such work without compromising the quality of certificates.  Home owners will save an estimated $270 in building surveying fees."

This reform will apply to low-medium risk building work, including residential buildings and incidental structures such as retaining walls, carports or swimming pools, which would normally be certified by a level 1 building surveyor.

Plumbers are also benefiting from recent reforms and can now download drainage plumbing diagrams from the Building Commission website at a fraction of the previous cost.  This online functionality will save the plumbing industry time and money.

"These reforms build on work done at two Building Summits this year, where the building industry, local government and key State Government departments came together to identify opportunities to create a more efficient building process," Mr Mischin said.

Finance Minister Sean L'Estrange said a more efficient building process meant lower costs for business, government and ultimately, consumers.

"Well-designed regulation can provide adequate protection to the community, while removing unjustifiable inefficiencies and inconsistencies.  It can support industries to innovate and adapt to changing practices and industry demands," Mr L'Estrange said.