Eight new rapid response officers, four additional compliance officers and four new information officers are to be recruited to help Access Canberra’s crackdown on the ACT’s dodgy property developers and builders.
Announced by the Minister for Building Quality Improvement, Gordon Ramsay, the new staff members will be funded in the Territory Budget to be delivered next Tuesday (4 June).
According to Mr Ramsay, the new officers will visit building sites, administer tougher licensing requirements and better educate and engage the community and the industry.
Mr Ramsay said the Government was committed to improving building quality and raising standards within the industry to ensure homes built today were comfortable, safe and liveable into the future.
“Our community rightly expects that building work is of a high standard and new homes are built to stand the test of time,” Mr Ramsay said.
“So we are investing in a range of initiatives to ensure local builders have the skills and knowledge to build to a high standard and are fully compliant with building laws and regulations.”
He said the rapid response officers would undertake up to 1,000 more inspections and site assessments each year; the compliance officers would support the administration of the Government’s tough new licence requirements for new and existing builders, while the information officers would help consumers know their rights.
Mr Ramsay said the $8.9 million to be allocated for the initiatives would be offset by an increase in the annual Builder Levy of 0.1 per cent, as well as builder licence application fees.
“I anticipate this new investment will be welcomed by industry who, through my discussions, has shared the Government’s drive to raise standards and professionalism,” the Minister said.
