FEATURE BEN PONTON ACT Chief Planner ACT BUILDING REGULATORY REFORMS The ACT Government implements important building reforms designed to improve the building regulatory system. Amongst national debate and been introduced, including increased class A and B builder licence applicants concerns about building powers of the building regulator to refuse •education and training courses for compliance and quality issues, or condition a licence for people with a practitioners on the ACT building the ACT Government continues topoor compliance history and the extension regulatory system. strengthen the regulation and integrity of theof statutory warranties to all residentialThe ACT Government has increased ACT building industry by implementing its buildings. resourcing for auditing, inspections and important reforms. Reforms scheduled for introduction by responding to complaints. Reforms The government undertook a full June 2019 include: also include a new risk-based auditing review of the building regulatory system, •new information and documentationsystem for building documentation and and announced a comprehensive reform guidelines for building approval building work. package in 2016 following community applicants The program includes further consultation and industry consultation. The reforms •codes of practice for builders and on a range of licensing, insurance are designed to improve the operation building surveyors to improve supervisionand contracting matters, and the ACT and effectiveness of the ACT building and consistency in stage inspectionsGovernment will continue to engage the regulatory system. during construction community and industry on these reforms. A number of these changes have already •expanding exams for new applicants to The reforms are important to improve fairness and design, building and training practices where needed across the ACT. The project webpage includes a full list of reforms and the forward work plan. To stay informed, visit www.planning.act.gov.au and search ACT Building Regulatory System Review. ...THE REFORMS ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACT BUILDING REGULATORY SYSTEM P8 BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 1/2019