Complex or Standard Gas Installation?

Energy Safe Victoria is responsible for ensuring that all new and existing gas installations are safe and meet requirements as stated in applicable Acts and Regulations. Complex gas installations by licensed gasfitters must lodge an ‘Application for…


NCC 2022 Notable Changes

NCC 2022 is now here! The ABCB has released the first stage of the 2022 edition in ‘Preview’ to get you started before it comes into effect on 1 September 2022 Below is an overview of the notable updates to the NCC: Major Changes Livable Housing…


Domestic Builder Changes

The class of Domestic Builder – Manager (DB-M) is being phased out and will cease to exist from 30 June 2022. Up until 31 January 2022, building permits could name a DB-M, CDB-M or DBU-40 practitioner as the builder for domestic building work.…


Gas Portal

A new online portal for licensed gasfitters to submit a record of gas servicing work has launched on the VBA website GAS PORTAL LINK Effective from 1 June 2022, gasfitters are now required to: > comply with the requirements of AS 4575 in carrying…


Partnerships, Domestic Contracts & Insurances

New rules which became effective on 1 December 2020 require building surveyors to check whether the name of a builder and any partnership they are involved with match the corresponding names on the relevant major domestic building contract and…


NCC 2022 Delay

Adoption of the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC) will be delayed Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented a variety of significant challenges for the building industry, regulators and consumers, Building Ministers have…


Building Surveyors Code of Conduct

The VBA released its first Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors on 1 January 2021, which will improve safety and oversight in the building industry and help keep Victorians safe. The Code contains eight core principles that building surveyors…


Ban on High Risk Cladding Products

The Victorian Minister for Planning has declared external wall cladding products to be prohibited from being used in the course of carrying out any building work in connection with buildings of Type A or Type B Construction effective 1 February…


Changes to the Cladding Rectification Levy

Changes have been made to the way the cladding rectification levy is applied to certain building works from 1 February 2021. Where a building has multiple classes of building work, the cladding rectification levy will be calculated on the…


Yarra Planning Scheme – New Development Contributions Levy

From 1 February 2021 a new Development Contribution Levy (DCL) came into effect under the Yarra Planning Scheme. The new DCP levy will apply to development applications for: a) new additional dwellings; and/or b) new additional retail, commercial…