Plumbing and drainage inspections move to Fair Trading (NSW)

The NSW Government has announced that NSW Fair Trading will become the state's single plumbing and drainage regulator for the plumbing industry. Sydney Water ceased undertaking plumbing inspections at end of March 2010. Inspections in Sydney, the Illawarra and Blue Mountains areas are now undertaken by Fair Trading representative inspectors. On-site plumbing and drainage inspections will continue to be carried out by local councils and county councils under a delegation model from NSW Fair Trading from a date yet to be announced. 

Currently, the onsite regulation of plumbing is administered by Sydney Water, Hunter Water, Country Energy and other water supply authorities, while waste water is regulated by local councils and water utilities. Plumbing licences are issued by NSW Fair Trading and plumbing standards are set out in the NSW Code of Practice for Plumbing and Drainage, as well as Australian Standards.

NSW Fair Trading will have responsibility for all of the functions of plumbing and drainage regulation including setting standards, on site-regulation and licensing for the plumbing industry. This will commence from a date yet to be announced. The integration of functions is aimed at providing a seamless and more effective and consistent regulatory framework across the state. It will also provide a one-stop shop to access information, book inspections and address issues. 

In Sydney, the Illawarra and Blue Mountains areas:

Certificates of Compliance and Sewer Service Diagrams must be provided to the Office of Fair Trading instead of Sydney Water after 29 March 2010.

Members need to be aware that the inspection booking system and telephone number 1300 889 099 remain the same. The technical advice line, the Quick Check agent services and the recently introduced Audit Inspection regime continues.

Sydney Water will continue to control the following work on Sydney Water’s mains and systems including applications for connections and disconnections, backflow prevention for site containment, main to meter installations by developers, trade waste agreements and sewer junctions and sidelines.

For further information HIA members can contact HIA’s Building & Planning Services staff on 1300 650 620 or hia_technical@hia.com.au or visit the Office of Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Tradespeople/Plumbing/

If you would like to become a HIA member, contact 1300 650 620 or enquiry@hia.com.au

_{The above is intended to provide general information in summary form. The contents do not constitute specific advice and should not be relied upon as such. Formal specific advice should be sought by members with respect to particular matters before taking action.}