ACT bill lets stalled homes finish under the original building code

The headline change is for buildings that are substantially complete but whose building approval has expired. Under the Bill, the owner will be able to obtain a new approval for a further year and finish construction under the same version of the National Construction Code that applied when the original approval was granted. The release says this will avoid costly redesigns, delays and, in some cases, significant rebuilds.

Steel framed the package in one line: “We’re cutting unnecessary red tape, reducing costs for industry and homeowners”. The release also says the Government expects financial benefits for homeowners, practitioners and businesses, though it gives no dollar estimate.

The numbers

The release describes four reforms, and the only figures in it are the one-year extension and the 30,000-home target.

• Expired approvals: a substantially completed building with an expired approval can get a new one for a further year, under the Code version that applied at the original approval.
• Certificate of Partial Completion: a new certificate issued by the Construction Occupations Registrar will confirm that work done to date was lawfully undertaken and is suitable to be finished. The release says this draws a line in the sand so certifiers and others have confidence to step in and complete a project.
• Solar: solar panel and solar hot water installations on existing commercial and multi-unit buildings will no longer need a building approval where a professional engineer verifies structural safety requirements.
• Licences: licence holders will be able to move to a different licence type at renewal without lodging a new application or paying additional fees, matching the flexibility available to new licence applicants.

What’s next

The release says the Bill builds on a first stage of productivity reforms that simplified development assessment and building processes for energy efficiency upgrades to home extensions and renovations, and for low-impact minor building works.

Further tranches under the Construction Productivity Agenda will be brought forward throughout the term, the Government says. It describes their focus as improving productivity to support housing and economic outcomes, strengthening the resilience of the construction sector and making sure new homes are delivered to high standards within a timely manner.

The release does not give a commencement date for the new provisions or say how many approvals or projects are expected to be affected, so builders and certifiers will need to watch for those details. More information on the Construction Productivity Agenda is on the ACT Planning website, according to the release.

Our earlier coverage of a separate Assembly measure is in the missing middle housing bill story.