Thursday, November 7, 2024

Western Sydney councils welcome NSW Building Commission news

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), has welcomed an announcement by the State Government that it will establish a NSW Building Commission by the end of the year.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns says the Commission – a single body to oversee the regulation, licensing and oversight of the industry – will be set up by the end of 2023 and will focus on ensuring the quality of new housing, particularly apartments, and boosting housing supply.

The Government also announced it will introduce a new ‘plain-English’ Building Act into Parliament which aims to consolidate and modernise decades-old industry legislation.

WSROC President, Councillor Barry Calvert said member councils looked forward to working with the NSW Government to strengthen the building industry and ensure best practice at all intersections of government.

“The homes we build today will be in place for many decades to come,” said Cr Calvert.

“We want to see homes that are safe, comfortable, and healthy to live in – and that don’t cost the earth to run.

“Quality homes are energy efficient, reducing energy bills and keeping us comfortable and healthy.

“They should also keep people safe from natural hazards, such as floods and bushfires.

“Well-designed, well-built homes emit fewer carbon emissions during construction and operation and are future-proofed – allowing for the easy adoption of new technologies, such as electric motor vehicles.

“Good homes should last a lifetime,” he said.

“WSROC’s member councils look forward to working with the NSW Government to strengthen the building industry and ensure best practice at all intersections of government.”

Premier, Chris Minns says the Building Commission will build on the strong foundation laid by Building Commissioner David Chandler since his appointment in 2019.

“I’ve made clear we need more supply, there’s no two ways about it,” the Premier said today.

“The pressure on the rental market is severe, and the government’s job is to get more supply into the system to help alleviate some of that pressure.

“But I want to provide confidence to the public that when we build, we’ll build properly.

“We want well-built, well-designed suburbs with top-tier buildings and top-tier builders.

“The Building Commissioner David Chandler has done a remarkable job cleaning up the construction industry. We want to expand on that and ensure can get supply moving while still maintaining public confidence in the quality.”

He said Commissioner Chandler has sent a strong message to the high-rise apartment sector that there is a tough regulator policing the industry.

“The NSW Building Commission will elevate and strengthen this work, ensuring people who purchase any property in NSW can have even greater confidence in the quality of the work,” said Mr Minns.

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