- Reforms include ongoing devlopment
- Third-party peer reviews for complex building designs such as three storey residential buildings
- Consultation for the reforms is now open
Building regulations are being prioritised by the Northern Territory Government, which it argues will boost greater confidence in the local building industry.
The reforms are set to build upon the implementation of the National Building Confidence Report (BCR), which hopes to improve regulatory compliance and quality-building outcome for both homeowners and investors within the Territory.
“Buying a home is one of the single largest investments a person will make in their life,” said Eva Lawler, the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.
Reforms include a framework for building practitioner’s ongoing professional development, a new category for commercial builder registrations and the establishment of a third-party peer review for complex structural building designs.
Under the reforms, ongoing professional development will be required before the renewal of builders two-yearly registrations.
The registration of commercial builders would see those who build boarding and guesthouses along with car parks and office fit-outs, registered as builders for the first time in the Territory.
The peer-reviewed component will be for buildings deemed as medium complexity or higher – such as residential buildings three or more storeys tall – whereby a qualified independent reviewer would need to approve before a building permit can be issued.
In addition, both the capacity to undertake physical audits and the dollar value of civil penalties by the Building Practitioners Board will increase.
“We want Territorians to be confident that their home has been built to a quality standard that meets the National Construction Code,” said Ms Lawler
“We will continue to work with the building industry to ensure we have a robust, high-quality industry in the Northern Territory.”
Consultation for the reforms will be open from now until 1 April 2021.
