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Media Release
From the Building Commission
1 September 2009
Building Amendment Regulations improve building system and protect consumers
Building Commissioner Tony Arnel today announced the new Building Amendment Regulations
2009 come into effect today and amend the Building Regulations 2006.
The new Regulations support the Building Act Amendments of 2008. In doing so, they enhance
the current regulatory framework with changes to the building system, in particular the
registration process, and provide for increased consumer confidence.
“The refinements to the Regulations will help improve our state’s building industry, which
employs thousands of Victorians and is worth billions of dollars to our economy each year,” Mr
Arnel said.
“The new Regulations increase the power of the Building Practitioners Board and help protect
consumers against matters of builder misconduct. They also prescribe the qualification and
experience required for practitioner registration and increase skills shortages, particularly in
building and quantity surveying,” he said.
“In developing the Regulations we have taken into account a significant level of stakeholder
feedback on current issues facing Victoria’s building industry,” he said.
Key changes to the Regulations are:
Introduction of a two-tiered registration system for building surveyors
Availability of qualified building surveyors is an issue in Victoria, particularly in regional areas.
The amendments provide for a two-tiered registration system for a building surveyor to be
registered:
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A Building Surveyor Unlimited has an unrestricted scope of work and possesses
a degree in building surveying and three years practical experience to the
satisfaction of the Building Practitioners Board.
o
A Building Surveyor Limited has a restricted scope of work (able to certify
buildings up to three storeys and with a maximum floor area of 2000m²) and
possesses an Advanced Diploma in Building Surveying and two years experience
to the satisfaction of the Building Practitioners Board.
Registered Building Practitioners can be suspended or cancelled by the BPB
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Practitioners whose registration is suspended prior to a Building Practitioners
Board Inquiry must notify their clients using Form 7A.
o
Practitioners whose registration is suspended or cancelled as a decision of a
Building Practitioner Board Inquiry must notify their clients using Form 8.
Additional information required for new applicant registration
o
New applicants are required to provide the Building Practitioners Board with
additional information to assist the Board to determine the applicant’s good
character.
New prescribed qualification for a Draftsperson BD (Architectural)
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Applicants seeking registration as a Draftsperson Building Design (Architectural)
must hold the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) qualification.
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Transitional arrangements provided where an individual holds the previous
qualification, but not yet applied for registration.
Mr Arnel said the Building Amendment Regulations 2009
will play an integral role in ensuring
that our buildings are healthy, safe, habitable and energy-efficient in a cost-effective way.
A copy of the Building Amendment Regulations 2009 can be viewed at
-Ends-
For further information contact the Building Commission on (03) 9285 6335 or visit
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