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…


COVID-19 Incident Notification Requirements

The new OH&S (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulations 2020 requires employers to notify Worksafe Victoria if a person with confirmed COVID diagnosis has attended the workplace. The Victorian Government has introduced the Occupational Health…


NCC 2019 Amendment 1

The  National Construction Code 2019 Amendment 1 came into effect on 1 July 2020. Changes include: A new provision regarding egress from early childhood centres. Clarification that anti-ponding board requirements only apply to roofs were sarking is…


Professional Indemnity Update

Government moves to ease restrictions on professional indemnity insurance In August last year, building surveyors and inspectors were permitted to hold policies with exclusions, following a tightening of the insurance market. Since this time, the…


Code of Conduct

The VBA has released a draft Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors which outlines the expected standard of professional conduct. The Code is designed to enhance safety and quality in the building and construction industry, with the intent of…


Cladding Rectification Levy

On 1 January 2020, the State Government implemented the combustible cladding levy to fund rectification works for high-risk buildings. The levy will apply to all Building Permit Applications (including staged permit applications) received by…