The Home Owners Building Guide - Building certification

Congrats QBCC - A great series for renovators!

Building Certification review

In 2011, the state government responded to concerns expressed by Certifiers and others that the system wasn’t working as well as it could. They released a discussion paper to review private building certification. Progress stalled due to a change in Government. It seems we are back on track.

Have your say on the review of the Building Act and building certification Read the discussion paper & get involved!

 

Let’s hope the review achieves real changes and assists certifiers to ensure we can adequately perform our functions.

QLeave

Changes to QLeave requirements now mean work under 150K doesn't attract a levy, up from 80K.  This raises applies to work started after 1 July 2014. Good news for builders of small additions! The new changes won't reduce workers entitlements. QLeave

Pool Safety Certificate

Pool safety certificates are required when selling a property or when leasing property with a pool. Pool owners have until 30 November 2015 to comply with the new pool safety standards, or earlier if their property is sold or leased. Avoid the rush, contact Blue Tongue approvals for your pool safety certificate now!

Blue Tongue Approvals has staff with over 20yrs experience in approving pool fencing to suit State and Federal government requirements. In Queensland, Swimming Pool Safety Inspectors have been licensed since 2010. Before this, there was no requirement to have a Pool Safety Certificate. When the pool is installed, Building Certifiers check the fence to make sure it meets pool fencing requirements.

The advantage of swimming pool safety inspectors who are also Building Certifiers is that they have an excellent understanding of the history of swimming pool safety barrier regulations. On occasions, the legislation governing swimming pool safety certificates is unclear, or your circumstances don’t fit within the parameters of the legislation. Certifiers have excellent problem solving and judgement skills. This enables Blue Tongue Approvals to determine the best way for your pool safety barrier to comply so a Pool Safety Certificate can be issued.


  

Changes to approved plans

There have been a few cases recently where the plans approved by Blue Tongue Approvals don’t match what has been built.  This can cause major problems, the most dramatic of which is that Blue Tongue Approvals can’t finalise your application. If your approved plans don’t match what you want to build, you will need to amend them. Some amendments don’t need formal approval but it’s always a good idea to check with your building certifier before you do the work.

While the agreement to certify your project is with Blue Tongue Approvals, Council is the "record keeper" for your approval documents. If Council doesn't have a copy of the "as-constructed" work, it may cause a problem in the future or when you want to sell the property.

New planning scheme for Redcliffe

Hi, I have had a few requests to provide more detail on the proposed changes to the planning scheme for the Redcliffe area.  

The current Redcliffe Planning Scheme is based on;

MBRL Project Change Report (50007372 V8), Transport and Main Roads, June 2011 - Figure 2 Existing Land Use Planning w/o Moreton Bay Rail Link, p 15

The proposed changes - MBRC Draft Strategic Framework

 
Red is high density –  at least 60 people and/or jobs per hectare (current density is 20 -25 per hectare)

Dark pink – medium density -at least 35 people and/or jobs per hectare. (current density is 15- 20 hectare)

Light pink areas (Suburban neighbourhood)  - (no change) average density of 11 dwellings per hectare

Purple – industrial (expansion of Clontarf industrial area)

Yellow – is special purpose.

Blue – high density commercial /mixed use zone- schools, TAFE, Hospital, residential on upper floors 

Comment:

There is likely to be 3x the number of people on Redcliffe Peninsula within 20yrs.


Draft Strategic Framework  (Pg  71)

(Yellow areas)

“Special places that contribute to the unique identity of the planning area includes Old Petrie Town, Redcliffe Aerodrome, Scarborough Boat Harbour, Shaftesbury Citizen Centre, Watson Park Convention Centre, Dakabin regional waste facility, Murrumba Downs and Redcliffe wastewater treatment plants. “

Comment:While the Redcliffe wastewater treatment plant is necessary, I do not think of it “as contributing to the unique identity of the area”.

 Draft Strategic Framework (Pg  127)

“The green infrastructure network is incorporated into the design of new development and rehabilitated in accordance with green infrastructure network detailed maps, where possible.”

Comment:
This sounds like developers adjacent to parkland may not need to provide open space within the new development complex. Possibly it is a proposal to sell parkland to developers and convert public open space to private open space .  

More detail will be provided by Council in the coming months.

Building without an approval?

Think again! It's not worth the extra money and the worry.

Here’s what will happen;

1.       You decide to sell the house – you may want to move to another area; upsize or downsize;  you may have experienced a traumatic event like a death in the family or divorce. You want to sell quickly, but a Council search shows unapproved building works, so the sale falls through. Council will follow up, as detailed below.
OR

2.       You might get a new neighbour. For whatever reason, the new neighbour complains to Council about something that interferes with their lifestyle - your dog; your cat; your kids playing the drums etc. Council will investigate the complaint. During the investigation, they discover that there has been an addition or alteration. This will need building and possibly planning approval. Since these are different sections of Council, a request will go to both of these sections to investigate a complaint. So now you have two more Council officers knocking on your door, possibly several months apart. If you tell them to go away, they will come back with a warrant to inspect the property.

In scenario 1 or 2, once Council inspects the property, they will issue a show cause notice asking you why you have built without an approval. If you do nothing, they will issue an enforcement notice requiring you to demolish the structure or obtain an approval. If you ignore it, they will either issue an on the spot fine, or take you to court. Either way, it costs you money. If at some point you decide to get an approval for the unauthorised work instead of demolishing it, you will have to pay for a building approval.  This is the role of Building Certifiers.  Building Certifiers want to approve, inspect and finalise new proposals, so if you happen to find a private building certifier willing to take on your job, treat them with respect. They are likely to ask for;

1.       Architectural plans – drawn by a QBCC registered building designer;

2.       Structural engineering plans – drawn by a RPEQ registered engineer;

3.       Land surveyors plan– showing the location of the addition and property boundaries;

4.       Since no inspections have been carried out during construction, engineering reports (Much more expensive to do retrospectively);

5.       Details of termite management systems (More expensive to install retrospectively);

6.       Details of wall & roof insulation (More expensive to install retrospectively);

7.       Sewer location and depth details;

8.       Details of any Council approvals obtained for the building, such as siting variations, build over sewer approvals and plumbing approvals.

Once you have obtained an approval for the work, there will be conditions attached to the approval which you must complete to obtain a satisfactory final inspection certificate. These often include rectification work and the provisions of certificates for wet area sealing of showers and window glazing. If you can’t provide the certificates within the prescribed time, your application will lapse, meaning your approval is invalid. This allows Council to re- start the process of pursuing you to obtain an approval for the building work. If the building needs rectification work, the occupants are living in a substandard building until the work is done. So isn’t it easier to get an approval before you start work?

 

Blue Tongue Approvals does not certify existing structures.