PRESIDENTS REPORT ANTHONY GLEESON HIA President – NSW APPRENTICESHIPS, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & ELECTIONS HERALD IN 2019 Welcome to 2019 and what promises to be another busy year for our industry. Ihope you have all returned safe and well I encourage you to advise anyone that you OUR STRONG FOCUS ON from a highly deserved Christmas and know who may be interested in starting an PROMOTING THE SKILLED New Year break. Our industry faces a apprenticeship in residential construction challenging time in NSW with a declining to attend one of these events. You can find TRADES AND housing market, a State Election in March, out more on the HIA Facebook page listed APPRENTICESHIPS a Federal Election in May and the impact under Events or contact Carolyn Sheenan CONTINUES WITH A SERIES of the current credit squeeze. Focussing on 0420 977 437. OF SKILLS EXPOS BEING on the health of your business makes a Following reports in December 2018 lot of sense at these times to seek advice of structural damage to certain concrete HELD AROUND THE STATE and information from HIA on areas needing elements of the Opal Tower building in attention. Whether advice on industrial Homebush Bay, the NSW Opposition called on home builders when they simply build relations, contracts, planning and technical for changes to certification and in particular what is shown on plans prepared by other or what training courses and seminars are the introduction of a ‘cab rank’ style professionals like architects, building available to upskill and inform you or your appointment system. In response to this the designers and engineers. employees – HIA can point you in the Government announced an audit regime Ensuring that each person involved in right direction. capturing 30 per cent of all certifiers, but the design and construction of new Keeping members informed is a key distanced itself from the idea of cab-ranking buildings is responsible for the part they play service HIA provides, so please check out certifiers. This is largely due to lobbying has the potential to reduce the burden on the events schedules in this Building News HIA carried out in the months leading up to home builders. and get along to the various trade nights in December in relation to this issue. Very little detail was provided on the your area. Importantly one of our big events The interim report on the investigations recommendations, but rest assured that of the year, Building & Business, will be into the Opal Tower confirmed that the HIA will remain active in this space, working held on Friday, April 5th at the International building is structurally sound and the issues with the Government to ensure these Convention Centre (ICC) in Darling Harbour. are localised damaged within the building reforms are sensible and achieve tangible As in previous years Building & Business rather than throughout the structure. The benefits to the housing industry in NSW. will run in parallel to the Sydney HIA Home probable cause for the cracking resulted This is my last Presidents message for Show which runs over three days from from a number structural design and NSW Building News as this year is an HIA April 5th – April 7th. Building and Business construction issues. election year. In late February a new NSW tickets sell fast so make sure you secure As result of this, and in the light of the president will be voted in. It has been an your tickets soon. Lambert report and recommendations honour and a pleasure to represent HIA Our strong focus on promoting the skilled made by Professor Shergold AC and members in this office and I will continue trades and apprenticeships continues with Bronwyn Weir, Minster Kean announced to support and contribute on the NSW a series of skills expos being held around broad reforms to building laws in NSW. Executive Committee as Immediate the state. Whilst primarily targeting school One of these reforms was a requirement Past President. Taking an active role in students in years 10, 11 & 12 and their for designers, including engineers, to be representing and guiding policies for our families to provide information on the skilled registered and ensure that their designs great industry through volunteering for HIA trades as a legitimate and rewarding career, comply with the Building Code of Australia. committees is a most rewarding experience. anyone interested in an apprenticeship In addition a Building Commissioner would I recommend and urge you to consider should attend. These expos are part of be appointed to act as the regulator for all contributing as a committee member on one HIA NSW and the NSW Government these reforms. of the various HIA committees. Contact your Apprenticeship Compact program and The current rules place an unfair burden local HIA office for more details. BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 1/2019P5 TNEDISERP