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“However, with Victoria looking to adopt the ban ahead of other states and with little implementation time, it will leave industry and consumers in an extremely challenging position,” HIA Executive Director – Victoria, Keith Ryan said today.
“The issue of working with engineered stone is one HIA takes extremely seriously, and we are supportive of the need to minimise the potential exposure of workers to harmful levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
“Ministers have now come to an agreement to define what engineered stone products can be specified, supplied and used into homes.
“At the recent meeting Ministers' they determined an indicative timeframe for the ban which would honour home building and renovation contracts entered into prior to the end of last year to allow for those projects to be completed after the 1 July 2024 date. This is a sensible approach.
“Disappointingly, it appears from emails sent by WorkSafe that Victoria will not be following the approach of other states and territory Governments. Instead, it will forge ahead with no transition or acknowledgement of contracts already entered by consumers prior to the Ministers decision on the ban.
“However, the Minister has made no announcement on the transition which leaves open the question of whether there will be a transition. Importantly, there is also no message from the Government to consumers who will need to vary their building contracts, probably at greater expense, to enable a different product to be installed in their new or renovated home.
“HIA urges the Victorian Government to provide a reasonable timeframe that causes the least disruption and impact on the industry and consumer.
“Furthermore, the industry requires adequate time to adapt, and to make necessary adjustments to plans and manufacturing processes, as well as accessing alternate benchtop products to build the high volume of much-needed Victorian homes that the Government has committed to.
“It is critical now that the Victorian Governments provide a detailed industry transition and communications plan addressing these matters as soon as possible,” concluded Mr Ryan.
“Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are seeing residential land values grow at a rapid rate, while Sydney and Melbourne’s values remain relatively stable,” stated HIA Senior Economist Matt King.
Plumbing and drainage inspections in the Huntlee and North Rothbury areas are moving from Cessnock City Council to Building Commission NSW.
The BASIX Transition period for eligible signed building contracts will end on 30 September 2024. BASIX Certificates must be generated by this date to apply the pre-1 October 2023 BASIX standards.
“As the number of new homes under construction continues to decline builders are reporting fewer difficulties scheduling skilled trades workers on their jobs, although availability of skilled workers remains worse than prior to the pandemic,” stated Geordan Murray, HIA Executive Director – Future Workforce.