Regulation & Legislation
There are a huge number of planning and building laws that HIA members need to keep up to date with. Federal, State and local council rules can all impact on your work. The information sheets in this section aim to provide short explanations of changes that may affect you and your business.
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Current at: 09 January 2009
Building using other peoples plans (Nat)
Builders are often asked to provide a construction price for plans and specifications prepared by another person. It is important to remember that these plans may not be totally accurate in relation to construction details and/or material selection – no one is perfect.
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Current at: 18 December 2008
NSW Housing Code Factsheet (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
The NSW Government has released a new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) which will allow single and two storey houses, alterations and additions and a range of other building work to be approved as complying development. New rules have also been included for minor building work to be exempt development.
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Current at: 10 November 2008
Next stage of planning law changes start November 2008 (NSW)
The third set of changes to the Environmental Planning & Assessment (EP&A) Act and Regulation and the Building Professionals (BP) Act and Regulation commenced on 3 November 2008. This information sheet provides a brief summary of the changes.
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Current at: 11 September 2008
Planning and building approval process (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
In NSW, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (EP&A Act) is the principal law overseeing the assessment and determination of development proposals. There are three main types of development in NSW for residential buildings.
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Current at: 11 September 2008
Working near Telstra underground cables (Nat)
Do you every forget to check what might be underground before you start work? Do you know how to find out what’s in the ground and who owns it? This information sheet explains who to talk to and what to look out for in relation to telephone cabling.
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Current at: 11 September 2008
New swimming pool regulations start 1 September 2008 (NSW)
New Swimming Pools Regulation 2008 for NSW started on 1 September 2008. This regulation replaces the old 1998 Swimming Pools Regulation that is enforced by local councils for all new and existing swimming pools.
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Current at: 02 September 2008
Further changes to NSW Planning laws start 1 Sept 2008 (NSW/Hunter/ACT Sthn NSW)
The next set of changes from the major NSW planning reform package commenced on 1 September 2008. These affect the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act, Regulation and the Strata Titles Act.
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Current at: 04 August 2008
Changes to NSW planning & building laws start 1 August 2008 (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
The Environmental Planning and Assessment (EP&A) Amendment Act 2008 and the Building Professionals (BP) Amendment Act 2008 passed through Parliament on 25 June 2008. Changes to the two principal Acts will commence in stages over the next 12 months with a number commencing on 1 August 2008.
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Current at: 29 July 2008
Asbestos Removal Regulations (NSW)
Under NSW legislation, material that contains asbestos is referred to as either friable or bonded and there are specific rules for working with and removing asbestos from building sites.
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Current at: 22 July 2008
Electrical safety on residential construction sites (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
In New South Wales, there are specific requirements for the management of electrical risks. This information sheet gives you an overview of the requirements for electrical safety on residential construction sites.
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Current at: 11 July 2008
Major Planning Reforms get approval (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
The NSW Government’s major raft of planning reforms were passed by Parliament on 18th June 2008. The Environmental Planning & Assessment Amendment Act 2008 will introduce changes to all major aspects of the legislation, including plan making, development assessment, development contributions and building certification. Accompanying changes to the Building Professional Act and strata legislation, were also endorsed.
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Current at: 07 July 2008
Summary of important changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Regulation
The NSW Government’s planning reforms were passed by Parliament on 18th June.
A subset of the planning reform package is the NSW Housing Code, scheduled to be introduced later this year. The Code is part of a State Environmental Planning Policy which will override local council policies in relation to exempt and complying development.
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Current at: 11 June 2008
BASIX for alterations and additions (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
A BASIX certificate is required for all alterations and additions to existing houses, valued at $50,000 or more requiring council approval. Each design will need unique options based on the type of renovation or alterations.
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Current at: 13 May 2008
National Water Efficiency Regulations (Nat)
This information sheet provides a simple summary of current state water efficiency regulations in place across Australia for new homes and renovations.
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Current at: 12 December 2007
Electrical Equipment Testing and Tagging (NSW/Hunter/Sthn NSW)
There are laws in NSW that cover the testing and tagging of electrical equipment used on construction sites. This information sheet provides a summary of these requirements which are generally contained in the Code of Practice for Electrical Practices for Construction Work.
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