SEPTEMBER 2015 | Training
Training PAGE 14
• SCA National Convention Wrap-up PAGE 9 • Revolutionise your internal training PAGE 22 • Lock in your Safety PAGE 30
Exclusively Strata, it’s our policy.
Strata Insurance Specialist Call us today 1300 361 263 or visit www.chu.com.au J5356
LL
N ATIO INCL DE
ONLY
U
$349
D
I NS TA
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PARKING SPACE
INSTALLED GST INC.
Remote controlled Helps prevent car theft Security alarm Professionally installed
Price Includes: Full installation Two remote controls A battery charger
SECURE YOUR PARKING SPACE TODAY
1300 760 068
contents Reports President’s Report
6
CEO’s Report
8
SCA National Convention
9
SPECIAL FEATURES Training To educate or not to educate
14
Remember, always tell your insurer
16
Higgins rolls out new online training system
18
The sky’s the limit with fast broadband
20
Revolutionise your internal training
22
New national qualifications for strata managers
26
Lock in your safety
30
An insight to window safety
34
Chief Executive Officer Kim Henshaw Ph: 02 9492 8252 E: kim.henshaw@stratacommunity.org.au SCA National Office Level 1, Suites 101 & 102 845 Pacific Highway Chatswood, NSW 2067
Lifestyle Car Stacking
35
State Pages New South Wales
40
Victoria 42 Queensland 44 Western Australia
46
South Australia
48
Australian Capital Territory
50
ABN: 57 074 729 007 Contact: PO Box 824 Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Phone: 1800 222 757 Fax: 1800 063 151 Email: publications@crowtherblayne.com.au Website: www.crowtherblayne.com.au Editor: Samantha Regan Production Controller: Yvonne Okseniuk Business Development Manager: Trish Riley Sales Manager: Peter Bunn Studio Manager: Byron Bailey Design Team: Andrew Crabb and Michelle Triana Printed By: Newstyle Print
national partners
business supporters
Give your project the Taubmans touch.
Taubmans now provides professional advice, onsite inspections and tailored specifications to ensure the right finish for every substrate. No matter the project size, our experienced commercial team is committed to supporting strata managers and building specifiers at every stage with a personal touch. To schedule a visit, call 131 686 or request a specification at www.taubmans.com.au/ColourCentre/RequestSpecification Plus, with the added reliability of Taubmans Endure Nanoguard Technology, Taubmans can ensure the highest quality coatings specification for every project. TAUBMANS
Taubmans is preferred partner of Natspec and Autospec.
Both the interior & exterior of this landmark building on the Gold Coast in Queensland have been coated in PPG Architectural product. The quantities of product that have been applied to The Oracle are amazing, Armawall Tuscany Sand 3,280 drums, Armawall Roll on Membrane 850 drums, Armawall Ultrafine Flat 450 drums, Armawall Primer 300 drums, Armawall Patch 450 drums, Internally there were 1,950 - Block Filler, 1050 drums - Tradex Ceiling White, 1,800 drums - Easycoat Low Sheen, not to mention hundred’s & hundred’s of litres of other PPG paint products.
STRATA PAINTING Call John’s Painting Group • Strata specialists: All Interior, Exterior, high-rise short & long term maintenance program • High Access Specialists: Swinging stage, Scaffolding & Cherry picker, Bosun’s chair & Lope work • Commercial & Industrial experienced, we are the preferred painters to the Historic Houses Trust of NSW • A large team of Qualified staff painters enabling us to complete your job on time and with the quality workmanship that you expect • A proven record over 20 years of delivering exemplary service
Contact us today for your next strata project
JOHN’S PAINTING GROUP PTY LTD P: 9715 5555 M: 0402 133 333 E: quotes@johnspainting.com.au PO box 515 Strathfield 2135 NSW (NSW)
WORK?
www.johnspainting.com.au
REPORTS president’s report
It has been almost a year since I took over as SCA President from Mathew Amber. A lot has been achieved in that time. I have enjoyed working with Kim Henshaw and his very capable staff and I have been fortunate to have a very supportive, effective and hardworking Board. Our Agenda is a full one and based on a number of strategies from our 2014 Strategic Plan. Kim will be discussing progress on the implementation of each component of the Plan. Our primary focus has been to complete the process started when SCA Limited was created. The Constitution was written with the express intention of each State becoming a chapter of the national body. To date, four states remain independent entities, but we are preparing a memorandum so that all states express their intention to work through the obstacles to convert by 30th April 2016. Simon Barnard will chair the working group and he will work with the State Presidents and Boards to arrive at an outcome by June next year.
The majority of delegates rated the conference as very good and we have taken on board the fact that more than half of the respondents felt that content at future conferences should be more industry specific. There were aspects of the venue that made the event not as good for sponsors, and we will recognise these shortfalls at future conferences. The social events at Parliament House and the War Memorial were well received and unique. I am personally very excited by the decision of the Events Committee and Board to hold next year’s conference at Alice Springs. The Events Committee will internalise all suggestions made by members and will ensure the National Conferences will keep improving and producing the best social, networking and learning experiences possible.
Our major sponsors are keen for this to happen so that there is a fair allocation of sponsorship monies, giving both members and sponsors the best outcome for their investment. Standardising of sponsorship arrangements is a high priority and will remain foremost on our agenda. To quote Michael McQueen “Winning the battle for relevance is about anticipating, preparing for, and re-positioning yourself for change - no matter how uncomfortable or confronting it may be” Talking about change, the National Conference in Canberra produced some remarkable speakers, and change was the primary focus. Our surveys indicated that the sessions by Bernard Salt, Daniel Borin and Peter Williams were very popular.
6
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Erik Adriaanse FCPA National President Strata Community Australia
REPORTS ceo’s report
SCA’s 5 PRIORITIES Some time ago, the SCA National Council agreed that there were five areas of the association’s activities that were important to concentrate on if it were to achieve the goals set for it by its members. Those priority areas were Branding, Advocacy, Careers, Knowledge Sharing and Standards. Over the next five editions I’m going to explain a little about what your association is doing in these five key activities. Today I’m going to talk about Branding. Branding is the art of aligning what you want people to think about your company with what people actually do think about your company. And vice-versa. This definition dispels the myth that branding is all about logos. Yes, logos are part of the equation but there are a myriad of other avenues for establishing and enhancing a brand. The magazine you’re reading right now, for example, is one of them. Some of the others SCA is employing, and the reasons they’re being used include; ww A national media campaign – to bring visibility to the issues surrounding the strata industry, explain to the general public and Government the scale and importance of the sector and influence the “court of public opinion” on the benefits of dealing with SCA members. ww The SCA national convention – this annual event seeks to position SCA as a vibrant and active industry association with a truly national membership base. Securing top quality guest speakers who have valuable insights is an important contributing factor.
ww Nationally consistent email signature blocks – again, this reinforces the notion of a cohesive national organisation that seeks to present itself in a highly professional manner. Literally thousands of email messages are sent by SCA staff each month, providing an ideal opportunity to subtly but effectively highlight SCA’s national footprint ww Regular internal communications – this magazine and our monthly national e-newsletter show SCA to be active, authoritative and relevant. Building a strong SCA brand amongst members and staff is every bit as important as enhancing our standing in the wider community Next issue I’ll talk about Careers – an issue of significance given the very rapid growth of the strata industry now and in the future.
Kim Henshaw Chief Executive Officer Strata Community Australia
8
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
NATIONAL CONVENTION 31 MAY - 2 JUNE 2015
LEADING THE NATION
SCA NATIONAL CONVENTION 2015 WRAP-UP 31 May - 2 June 2015 INCLUDES AN EXCLUSIVE UPDATE ON THE 2016 CONVENTION
SCA NATIONAL CONVENTION
9
SCA National Convention 2015
Leading the Nation
In its fourth year running, SCA National led the nation in Canberra at the SCA National Convention 2015. Just over 400 delegates enjoyed seventeen plenary sessions from leaders in their respective fields. KPMG Partner and columnist for The Australian, Bernard Salt discussed the new generation of Australians questioning the logic of low density living in his keynote session Strata’s Golden Future. We thank BCB for sponsoring this session, which was voted as the top session for 2015. C.E.O of the St James Ethics Centre, Dr Simon Longstaff explored the real tension in the task of making choices between competing values and principles, especially when the options are equally weighed. Proudly brought to you by TPG, Dr Longstaff’s Making Ethics Pay session discussed how to be ethical and profitable in business.
10
SCA NATIONAL CONVENTION
Peter Williams, the C.E.O of Deloitte Digital discussed Digital Disruption, This innovative session sponsored by Macquarie Bank explored the rapidly changing digital world and the opportunities for the Digital Strata Manager in terms of owner and occupier engagement, streamlined communication and continual innovation.
NATIO NA L CONVENTION 31 MAY - 2 JUN E 2015
Sustainability in Vertical Cities was discussed by the C.O.O of the Green
Building Council of Australia, Robin Mellon. In this inspirational session, Robin Mellon outlined some best practice examples from across Australia and other green building councils as he underlined our need to ‘fall in love again’ with the places in which we live.
LEADING THE NATION
Tomorrow’s Technology Today was explored by Group Sales Director of
MaxSoft Group, Daniel Borin. Key building blocks of technology and how they are shaping our future were discussed in this eye-opening session. Daniel Borin taught us the significance of positioning ourselves to adapt to the future. We would like to thank CHU for sponsoring the Welcome Cocktail Party, where we enjoyed delicious beverages and networked with members from around Australia. We’d also like to thank Macquarie Bank for the Back to the 80’s Gala Dinner where the Black Sorrows performed. Last but not least, a special thank you to Programmed Property Services for sponsoring the Closing Cocktail Party: We Remember Them, where we heard from Dr Brendan Nelson with his moving speech on WWII. Would you like to re-cap on the excitement? Visit the SCA National website and click on the convention logo for the official photo album and the available presentations.
SCA NATIONAL CONVENTION
11
SCA National Convention 2016
Alice Springs A place rich in Aboriginal history and rugged, natural beauty, the Northern Territory offers the quintessential Australian experience. With a huge array of wildlife, colourful outback characters and awe-striking landscapes,
Alice Springs is a place of adventure where you can lose or find yourself. A thriving, spirited outback centre, Alice Springs is as famous for the personality of its locals and contemporary and traditional art as the natural wonders, including the stunning Larapinta Trail and the MacDonnell Ranges, which surround it. We’ve listened to your feedback and are working hard to make this a truly memorable experience. With more industry content and more social/networking time, the SCA National Convention 2016 is not to be missed. Details will be released shortly.
12
SCA NATIONAL CONVENTION
21
COMPREHENSIVE WINDOW SAFETY SOLUTIONS FOR STRATA LIVING
ASQB SPECIALISES IN
Site Specific Window Safety | Reports and Assessments | Tailored Solutions Supply and Installation Certification and Record Keeping | Education & Awareness
ASQB are proud partners with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. $2 from every safety device installed by ASQB will be donated to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
(02) 9785 7893 | asqb@stratawindowsafety.com.au | stratawindowsafety.com.au
ERS
INT A P L A ION TA SECTOR S S E F PRO THE STRA FOR
Supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Personalised Maintenance Programs • Superior Project Management • Difficult Access Work • External Building/Window Cleans Servicing SE Qld | 07 3341 3403 enquiries@leisuretexpainting.com.au leisuretexpainting.com.au QBCC 1252883
TRAINING
education
TO EDUCATE OR NOT TO EDUCATE WHY THERE SHOULD BE EDUCATION REGIMES FOR STRATA/COMMUNITY
Strata and Community titles are the largest growing type of development across Australia. All States & Territories are experiencing growth in most sectors of the market (residential, industrial, commercial, retail and mixed use). In addition most States and Territories are also reviewing legislation to keep up with the ever changing shift into strata. Recently I had the privilege to share the stage with Bernard Salt the world renowned author and demographer at the Strata Community Australia National conference. In that presentation Bernard shared his insights into the increasing challenges of the growing strata market and the management of strata schemes generally. One theme that came throughout the presentation was education of strata managers, executive committees and owners on how schemes and associations function. In this brief article I tackle what an executive committee should be thinking about but above all else everyone needs to increase their knowledge and skill development no matter whether you live, work, invest or manage a strata or body corporate building.
The Executive Committee The Executive Committee is a small representative group of owners or owners nominees elected by the owners at a general meeting. Its basic function is to administer the day to day running of the strata scheme with, on some occasions, the assistance of managers and/or caretakers. Before determining the responsibilities you first must consider how to get onto the executive, its role, the roles of its members, the limitations and then what things the executive has to contend with. Before even getting onto an Executive Committee you should have some basic grounding in strata schemes and their management. Owners need to know: ww What people own in a scheme – in each state the ownership (or title) varies from cubic airspace (internal walls, floors and ceilings etc) or centre line rules (ie the centre of a wall is shared ownership) or external walls boundaries. If you are an owner across various borders you need to be mindful of the differences. ww How to get elected properly. Each piece of legislation has a process of election. If you do it right there is little difficulty defending an election. ww Understand what your role is on the Executive Committee. As a member of the executive your primary role is to act in the best interests of all owners not your own interests (a fiduciary relationship). The executive also has various positions, Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. These are honorary position not a position of power or overlord. In most instances their roles are defined and should be followed. ww Follow the proper procedures when making decisions. All legislation has procedures to follow when holding meetings. approving works, maintenance, court action etc. These must be followed as decisions can be challenged and in some instance action taken against the scheme (or owners) for improper decisions.
ISSUES FOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES Repairs and maintenance The executive must be mindful that its obligations which are to be strictly adhered too. In carrying out any repairs the executive should consider: ww Using licensed, qualified and insured persons ww Entering into proper contractual relationships ww Having major works projects supervised ww Reviewing OH&S requirements ww Considering the funding of the works
Building defects Flowing from repairs and maintenance is building defects. The Executive Committee should notify any and all defective construction work to the builder and insurer (so that the rights under the relevant legislation is kept intact).
Understanding ownership One of the most difficult issues for an executive is to deal with ownership issues (lots and common property). Clear determinations are required so that repairs and maintenance and works by owners can be defined and responsibilities clearly set out.
By-law enforcement A major task/challenge for Executive Committees is by-law enforcement. Understanding the by-laws applicable to the scheme and how to enforce them is critical. ww Notice to comply ww Mediation/adjudication ww Penalties ww Other options (ie Council involvement)
Owners works in lots As an adjunct to the problems with determining lot and common property, when owners wish to undertake works there will be further challenges. In these instances: ww Consider the work and its impact on common property ww What type of consent is required (by-law 5 or special by-law) ww What conditions are relevant ww What warranties and indemnities are appropriate ww What costs are involved (and who pays for it) ww What experts are required
OH&S, lift registration, Annual Fire Safety statements In the life of the scheme different requirements will be placed on the owners corporation to deal with fire certification/registration, Annual firs safety statements, OH&S audits (or included in work schedules), or Council orders. In all of these instances the owners corporation (and its executive) must carry out the task in compliance with the appropriate laws and at the proper times.
Know. Act. Resolve
This article was kindly supplied by Grace Lawyers
14
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Facility management you can count on We are Australia’s largest Property and Facilities Manager servicing the Commercial Office, Retail, Residential, Industrial and Health & Aged Care sectors. Our professional and comprehensive caretaking, building and project management services are tailored to suit your requirements and budget. James Guthrie Regional Director – NSW (02) 9220 8493 | james.guthrie@ap.jll.com
Building Management ▪ Caretaking ▪ Engineering Services ▪ Risk Management Services ▪ Facility Management
jll.com.au/management
ABN lift consultants Elevation by Design.
Complete painting services of all interior, exterior projects & project management All access solutions from fixed scaffold, elevated work platforms, abseiling, swing stages Graffiti removal and prevention Sustainable painting methods, advice and practices including lead based
ABN Lift Consultants
Suite 2, 81 Hibiscus Street, PO Box 5068, Greystanes NSW 2145
paint management Line-marking Pressure washing & soft washes Maintenance painting schedules
Speak to a Strata Specialist today. T: 1300 916 291 E: enquiry@premierpainting.com.au
www.premierpainting.com.au
02 8004 6832 | info@abnlift.com
www.abnlift.com
TRAINING
insurance
Remember … Always tell your insurer
In all States and Territories relevant strata legislation makes it mandatory for Owners Corporations (OC’s) to buy certain types of insurance, including reinstatement and replacement for the building.
Whilst the VBA audit requirement covers specific number of buildings, it was been widely speculated the same type of cladding has been used in a strata construction Australia wide.
To ensure you are protected, all OC’s need to understand one of their key legal obligations as an insured. This obligation is the duty of dis-closure to insurers. In practical terms this means the requirement to openly answer all questions asked by the insurer and prudently advising the insurer of any major matters that may impact the insurance of the building. The potential risk of not advising the insurer of any changes to the OC, is the possibility of having a claim denied or the policy being cancelled from inception.
If an OC are, or become aware that poor quality cladding was used in the construction of its building, they should immediately advise their insurance partner. Full disclosure means the OC has met their legal requirements and allows OC and insurer to work out a solution with all of the facts.
To illustrate this requirement let’s look at a current high profile issue facing many Victorian OC’s.
At time of quoting for or renewing a policy, insurers may start asking for more detailed information on construction, specifically around any external cladding used. The OC will need to be able to answer this question if or when it is asked.
As you will likely be aware there was a major fire at the “Lacrosse” high rise residential apartment block in Melbourne’s Docklands in November 2014. Due to the nature and severity of this fire it has rightly received wide spread media and government scrutiny. Major concerns have been raised about the suitability and compliance of the external cladding used in construction and how this poor quality cladding contributed to the severity of the fire and speed of it spreading.
For the Victorian case study, properties issued audit notices by the VBA should advise their insurers without delay.
Appropriate strata insurance is a legal requirement for all OC’s and protects a key financial asset for individual lot owners. If you have any specific information on the insurance aspects of the above or any other strata insurance related matter, don’t hesitate to contact your local CHU office.
It has been announced the Victorian Building Authority has now issued audit notices to builders and surveyors for 170 buildings around inner Melbourne to ensure they had been built with compliant cladding. The inspection is will cover approximately 170 public and residential properties constructed since 2005. "The audit will determine which buildings will require further investigation and uses the VBA's coercive powers to compel building practitioners to comply or face prosecution," VBA said in a statement. The VBA said the details of "non-compliant" builders would be posted on its website.
16
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
This article was kindly supplied by Alan Ferre, CHU State Manager VIC & TAS This information is of a general nature only and does not take into account the individual needs of Owners’ Corporation or their objectives or financial situation. We recommend that you carefully read the Product Disclosure Statement and Policy documentation provided by the Insurer and any other information before making your decision.
ADVERTORIAL
YOUR SMALL CHANGE WILL GET YOU BIG SAVINGS Are you paying a $17 booking fee to book your own flights on the Internet? Did you know that for a mere $3 more, you could get a fully organised, receipt free, secure business trip? Before you book it yourself, let us take you on a little travel booking journey that proves your small change will get you big savings. You've gone to the website to book flights yourself, but did you remember to... ww Remember to uncheck the Travel Insurance ww Select your favourite seat ww Enter the credit card numbers and appropriate frequent flyer/ loyalty program detail ww Searched for the best deal ww Checked your loyalty program ww Uncheck the excess reduction for your organisation’s travel policy Your extra $3 buys you the peace of mind of letting an FCBT Travel Manager take care of all the finer details for you. All you have to do is board the plane, pick up your car at the airport and check into your hotel room. Time is money in the business world, and your time is better spent where it matters.
We Reconcile Your Monthly Travel For You The above list was just one booking for the month. What happens at the end of the month and it is the time to reconcile all those travel expenses and receipts. Compare this to sending an email or making one phone call to your dedicated, professional Travel Manager, advising them of the dates you want to travel and where you are going to. Within two hours of contacting your Travel Manager you receive an email confirmation that everything is booked and ready to go. You get all of these services and more when you use Flight Centre Business Travel as your Business Travel Partner for a bundled price of just $20. That is just $3 more than you would have paid for the privilege of booking your own flights. For more information: Phone: 1300 797 826 Website:fcbt.com.au
The benefit of working with FCBT doesn't end there though...
september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
17
TRAINING
technology
Higgins Rolls Out New Online Training System
As the National Preferred Painting Contractor for the SCA, Higgins places a high level of importance on ensuring that our people are equipped, educated and have the necessary skills to support our customers. As a tri-certified (Quality, Safety and the Environment) company it is necessary that we meet the ongoing requirements of certification to deliver safety, quality and environment training, so that our workers never have to guess at any part of their role. However, with over 1,000 workers spread across Australia and New Zealand, face to face training has become increasingly difficult to deliver consistently. Cost, timing and inconsistencies in delivery led us to pursue online training as a medium to assist us in on-boarding workers and delivering pro-active training solutions to the workforce. The online learning system that we have invested in is specifically designed for small businesses and is easy to use and administer. Depending on the platform, online learning can be as simple as a PowerPoint presentation or as complex as creating quizzes and recording results. Higgins uses a combination of software to author training such as Tumult Hype and Adobe Captivate. Tumult Hype enables us to easily create interactive web content and engaging presentations using animations. This content is mainly used for providing new employees with knowledge about the business. With Adobe Captivate we can produce SCORM compliant courseware that includes quizzes and has the ability to track utilisation and results.
All workers have or are provided with an e-mail address and as new training hits our online learning platform, an e-mail is immediately sent to the worker advising of the requirements to complete it. Prior to their commencement, all employees complete the mandatory courseware that we have developed in-house, such as a welcome to the company and compliance training. They also have access to further knowledge through our online library of courses, which includes soft skill and Microsoft Office training. If a customer has specific access or induction requirements for the works that we are undertaking, we are able to swiftly create and deliver these requirements online. Switching to the new online training system has meant that we’re able to deliver training to a flexible workforce that consistently changes working location and requires a tight turnaround time for commencement. This effective, yet simple solution meets our needs and those of our customers, ensuring that our entire workforce is not only adequately trained prior to project commencement but also has immediate access to information at any time.
The majority of our workers are provided with mobile devices, so the roll out has been simple. This article was kindly supplied by Sarah Rowley, HR Manager – Higgins Coatings
18
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
TRAINING
technology
The sky’s the limit with fast broadband The number of homes and businesses that can order an nbn™ service has passed the one million mark. That means one in ten Australian premises can now order fast nbn™ broadband.
What is the nbn™ network? It’s Australia's first national wholesale-only, open access broadband network to all Australians The aim is to enable access to fast and reliable landline phone and internet services, from a range of providers. The nbn™ network will help ensure Australia’s transition to a digital future. Fast broadband has the potential to fuel growth and drive improvements to local economies, businesses and homes, bringing new opportunities to the whole country. We are committed to closing the digital divide by providing access to a minimum level of broadband services to homes and businesses across Australia. Due to the nature and size of our country, we plan to use a mix of technologies to deliver the nbn™ network, using the best-fit solution for each area. This means that the steps to get up and running will be specific to your address.
Connect to a better future The nbn™ network presents opportunity in education, business, entertainment, health care and sociability giving everyone the potential to be more productive, more creative, more efficient and more connected for decades to come:1 ww Work, life balance – working from home becomes a real option ww Connecting with those that matter – enjoy smooth video conferencing ww Better for busy households – everyone at home can be online at the same time ww Entertainment for everyone – choice on every connected device in your home ww A brighter future – improving the education landscape for Australia ww Healthier options – e-health and telehealth can thrive with fast broadband.
Broadband for business The nbn™ network will facilitate the digital economy by providing; access to new markets, opportunity to reduce costs and drive innovation as well as gaining competitive edge on the global stage:1 ww Better engagement, stronger relationships – access to fast, reliable broadband brings video conferencing to life. Meet with customers, suppliers and colleagues, regardless of location, face to face without even leaving your desk, saving time consuming and costly travel. ww Connectivity counts, so does cutting costs – the benefits of cloud based services are realised with access to high-speed broadband. Access to customers, suppliers, staff and information at home as well as in the office, on any connected device, will help you have the freedom to work smarter. ww New markets, new opportunities – fast internet can help improve the online experience for your customers, remove geographic barriers and as we connect more homes in Australia, grow your potential local market too. ww Flexible working, boost productivity – widespread availability of fast, reliable broadband could allow more flexible working, the ability to open up new employment opportunities, including those in more remote locations. The nbn™ network has the potential to boost productivity of your existing staff.
20
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
ww Improve performance, focus on the future – the nbn™ network provides potential to sell new products and services, exploit new channels to market and to offer services globally. It could provide the opportunity to improve operational efficiency and change the way you do business in the future. ww Celebrating collaboration – bring together the best possible team regardless of location and when team members are away from the office they can still be connected to the project.
Strata and the nbn™ network To find out whether a building you manage is in the nbn™ network rollout, check the address on nbn’s website
If your building is ready to connect to the nbn™ network nbn will communicate with all the occupants within the building, both business and residential and tell them that it’s time to switch to the nbn™ network. They will have 18 months to switch after which time most existing networks will be replaced by the nbn™ network and affected services like landline phone and internet won’t work after unless connected to the nbn™ network.2 All the occupants need to do is contact their preferred phone or internet provider If your building has other services such as a lift phone, fire panel, ATM or vending machine that uses a landline connection, you need to talk to the provider and your phone or internet provider to ensure it continues to work after the switch off.
If the nbn™ network hasn’t reached your building yet You can register your contact details on nbn’s website and nbn and our construction partners will be in touch with you as the rollout gets underway in your area. Registering your contact details will streamline the installation process so that your building is connected as fast and efficiently as possible.
For more information about all aspects of the nbn™ network or to see if the nbn™ network is available for you, visit nbn.com.au 1 Your experience including the speeds actually achieved over the nbnTM network depends on the technology over which your services are delivered to you premises and some factors outside our control like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how your service provider designs its network. Access to your work network will depend on factors outside our control like your organisation’s IT policy and infrastructure. 2 Services provided over the nbnTM network will be replacing phone and internet services provided over most of the existing landline networks, including copper and the majority of HFC networks within the fixed line footprint. Services provided over existing fibre networks (including in-building, health and education networks) and some special and business services may not be affected. To find out if your services will be affected, please contact your current phone or internet provider. For more information, visit www.nbn.com.au/switchoff or call 1800 687 626.
YOUR COMPLETE COMMUNICATION SOLUTION
“The best business partner you’ll ever have” bing have been partnering with strata for over a decade. Our automated mail solution is currently used by over 100 strata management companies, saving them significant time and resources by distributing correspondence such as levies, AGMs and other ad hoc mail, quickly and efficiently. With bing you can: • lodge postal mail directly from any computer, with no minimum volumes • send documents via post, email and SMS in the same submission • have your communication managed, allowing you to focus on your core business activities If you would like to know more, please contact me or visit us at the Griffith University Strata Title Conference on the Gold Coast, 2-4th September. Nadine Bucher | National Sales Manager Ph: 1300 309 800 www.bingmail.com.au
TRAINING
technology
Revolutionise your Internal Training with Screen Recording Whenever we ask Managers what their main issues are when running an office, staff turnover often rates in the top three. Not surprisingly, this places significant pressure on those staff responsible for onboarding and training of new staff. Further to this, lack of confidence and insufficient training are regularly sited by exiting employees as contributing factors to them leaving. Many businesses use online training videos and tutorials as part of their standard internal training which is great for a portion of the overall training requirements but often does not provide the ins and outs of specific company processes, procedures and tools. This is where a fantastic tool called Screenr can help. Screenr is an online service which enables anyone in your office to record a video of their computer screen for up to 15 minutes. The service then provides you a unique link to that video for future reference. As this is a browser based solution there is no requirement for custom installed software and the service can be easily and quickly launched when required. This enables staff in a specific department to capture their more complex processes in a simple video (with screen capture and audio). These links can then be pasted into existing procedure manuals to provide detailed instructions for new staff or even used for existing staff who need a refresher on a process or procedure. The service starts from $19US a month and provides storage for up to 250 videos. A 15 day free trial is also available from the following site. www.screenr.com Why not give it a try to compliment your current training.
This article was kindly supplied by StrataMax
22
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Exclusively Strata, it’s our policy.
Strata Insurance Specialist Call us today 1300 361 263 or visit www.chu.com.au J5356
ADVERTORIAL
BODY CORPORATE MAINTENANCE: ARE YOU PREPARED FOR UNEXPECTED REPAIRS? Keeping a consistent, quality body corporate maintenance plan is essential to successful body corporate/owners corporation management. Painting, gardens, lawns, pests, gutters, facilities, utilities and essential structural elements are all responsibilities of the body corporate to keep maintained and up to standard. Keeping good maintenance helps a property retain or even increase its value, makes it a pleasant place to live for residents, and assists in preventing more serious damage and safety hazards. Planning well ahead is essential to keeping standards high and avoiding unwanted surprises.
Long-term forecasting Depending on the state as well as the size of the property, regulations will vary in regards to the required maintenance plans and maintenance cycles put forth by the body corporate. Regardless of whether a plan is mandatory, it is recommended practice for body corporates to implement a maintenance plan with a minimum forecast of 10 years, although 15 to 20 years is more common. To finance this plan a long-term sinking fund, with contributions made by body corporate members, will be required to ensure the cash flow is available to cover regular services. A long-term forecast helps to identify repair and maintenance expenses that are likely to occur during the forecast period, and calculate the amount of money the sinking fund will require to fund these expenses.
Preventive maintenance vs. reactive maintenance Long-term forecasting allows for preventive maintenance (regularly scheduled maintenance regardless of condition) of the property instead of reactive maintenance (only performed when conditions have deteriorated to an unacceptable level). Just as a visit to the dentist every 6 months (while still uncomfortable) is much better than the pain and cost of not going and then needing a root canal, preventative maintenance of property provides stress and financial benefits over reactive maintenance.
24
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Preventive maintenance keeps things in optimum condition, which helps keep the building looking consistently good, increasing value, keeping residents happy and ensuring maximum life expectancy of a feature is achieved. As reactive maintenance isn’t performed until it is no longer unavoidable, it can bring about unexpected costs and downtime. Sourcing labour and materials on short notice will generally be far more expensive than when it has been scheduled in advance, and if something has been left to deteriorate long enough it could need to be completely replaced, incurring even further costs. Allowing a building and its facilities to deteriorate over an extended period of time can reduce the value of the property and leave residents feeling dissatisfied with their surrounds.
The importance of a professional painting program For a body corporate, keeping a regular painting programme is one of the most beneficial plans that can be undertaken. Consistent planned painting helps to protect external substrates like timber fascias and windows from breakdown, helping to extend the life of the building. Keeping the property’s appearance up to standard will help to maintain the property value and entice future residents. Programmed Property Services provide maintenance painting programmes tailored specifically to the suit the unique needs of any property. With over 60 years’ experience in developing and delivering maintenance painting solutions across Australia, Programmed Property Services can help ensure a property is kept to the highest quality, with consistent service and costing to simplify maintenance, improve appearance and save money.
Visit www.programmed.com.au for more information.
Recruit. Deploy. Manage. Maintain.
MAINTAIN THE APPEARANCE OF YOUR BUILDING WITHOUT EMPTYING THE SINKING FUND. Repainting a strata complex doesn’t always mean a large sum of money upfront. Our long-term painting maintenance programmes enable you to get the work done when you need it coupled with flexible payment options. For instance, our popular Classic Programme allows you to get the bulk of work carried out upfront, while payment is evenly distributed over the entire life of the programme. Typically, a repaint of the property is carried out in the first year, while maintenance work, including washing and section painting, is carried out annually for each subsequent year of the programme. Visit www.programmed.com.au/long-term-programmes to watch our video and find out more on the long-term maintenance programmes available. Otherwise phone 1800 620 911or email marketing@programmed.com.au for a noobligation, free quote on a maintenance programme that suits your property and budget.
Services Property Services Facility Management Electrical Technologies Construction & Maintenance Turnpoint Marine Workforce
1800 620 911 programmed.com.au
TRAINING
qualifications
New national qualifications for Strata Managers under development
New Strata Community Management national qualifications are currently being developed. Once developed, Strata Managers will at long last have a clearly defined industry specific qualification pathway. The development of the Strata Community Management national qualifications is part of a larger project to re-design the Property Development, Sales and Management qualifications within the current CPP07 Property Services Training Package to meet the national Standards for Training Packages. In addition to meeting the structural and format requirements defined in the national Standards, Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC) who is responsible for managing this project for SCA is keen to ensure the process of re-design also delivers enhanced, up-to-date and robust qualifications and units of competency for our Real Estate, Business Broking, Strata Communities Management and Stock and Station Agency industry sectors.
‘It is only through the involvement and input of our industry stakeholders that we can achieve excellence in the design and implementation of nationally recognised qualifications’ says CPSISC’s Deputy CEO David Magee. Specifically, the Strata Community Management qualifications being redeveloped include: ww Certificate III in Strata Community Management ww Certificate IV in Strata Community Management ww Diploma of Strata Community Management The project is guided by a Project Reference Group comprising key industry and government representatives including a representative from Strata Community Australia. For further information on this important national project visit the dedicated CPSISC project website: http://www.cpsisc.com.au/projects/Prop_Projects/Redesign_PDSM_
This article was kindly supplied by Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council
26
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
invitation
65 Medium
A TY
You are cordially invited
2015 Whitbread Strata Community Awards TO ATT E N D T H E
When: Friday, 30 October 2015 Where: Hyatt Hotel Canberra – Federation Ballroom Address: 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla ACT Dress: Black Tie Time: Drinks and canapÊs from 6pm with formal proceedings to commence at 7pm sharp Registration: To access the registration form, visit the SCA (ACT) website RSVP: convention@stratacommunity.org.au by Friday, 9 October 2015
ACT
ADVERTORIAL
HAVE YOU LOCKED IN THE WINDOW SAFETY REQUIREMENTS? Each year more than 50 children fall from windows and balconies in Australia, resulting in injury or death. With ever more families living in apartments, window safety devices are a necessary last line of defence to prevent serious injury or death to young children. What are the new laws?
When do the locks need to be installed?
Under the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Child Window Safety Devices) Act 2013, all strata buildings must be fitted with devices that enable windows to be locked at 12.5cm when the devices are engaged. In NSW owners corporations must have devices installed on all common property windows above the ground floor by 13 March 2018. The safety devices must be robust and childproof.
Owners corporations risk fines if they don’t comply by 13 March 2018. A lot owner may install a window safety device in their property at any time, letting the owners corporation know. Tenants can ask their landlord permission to do so.
Residents will still be able to open their windows, however they will have the security of knowing that when the lock is engaged, children in their strata scheme will be protected. The alternative to window locks is to have security screens, such as bars or grills on the windows so long as they have gaps no bigger than 12.5cm. Flyscreens do not comply unless they are the reinforced security type and capable of resisting very strong outward pressure – 250 newtons of ‘outward horizontal pressure’.
Did you know? Similar laws in New York resulted in a 96 per cent decrease in hospitalisations due to falls from windows. Which windows does this apply to? The laws apply to openable windows more than 2m above the ground floor outside and within a child’s reach (less than 1.7m above the inside floor). The details are explained in the regulations available at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
This window needs a safety device
This window does not need a safety device
If an openable window is less than 1.7m above the floor and the floor is more than 2m above the outside ground, a safety device must be installed
An openable window higher than 1.7m above the floor does not require a window safety device
2m or more
INSIDE STRATA
FAQs These commonly asked questions will help you navigate some concerns raised by owners corporation members. Q: I live on my own on the third floor, will this mean that I’ll never be able to open my windows? A: A window lock that allows the window to be fully opened, fully closed and also locked at 12.5cm would comply with the legislation. When children are in the apartment, or on all common access areas such as stair landings, it makes sense to engage the locks at 12.5cm or less at all times to prevent falls. Q: Is this going to cost a fortune? A: Window safety devices can be easy and cheap to install. It’s not necessary to hire a consultant to do an initial assessment. You may simply get quotes from a range of appropriately qualified tradespeople and then chose the best one. Fair Trading has produced a short ‘Window locks save lives’ video series including a step-by-step DIY video ‘How to install window locks’ http://bit.ly/1FqnpgS Q: We have fly screens, so we don’t need to do anything, right? A: The law requires the window safety devices to be robust and childproof. Ordinary flyscreens are not strong enough to stop a child falling through a window and provide a false sense of security. They are designed to keep insects out, not kids in. Q: Our windows have grills over them, do we still need locks? A: If the grills or bars over the windows are no more than 12.5cm apart in width then they may comply with the regulation. For details, visit fairtrading.nsw.gov.au Q: Can we just wait until 13 March 2018 to comply? A: If the window safety requirements are not met by 13 March 2018, owners corporations risk fines. Leaving it to the last minute places your scheme at risk of not complying by the due date and leaves young children vulnerable to falls from windows in your scheme.
ground level
28
Landlords and tenants entering into a new tenancy agreement must use an up-to-date Residential Tenancy Condition Report (available from the NSW Fair Trading website) which lists window safety devices.
september 2015
Supporting people working and living in strata with: • free info • expert advice • mediating disputes • strata reform updates and more
Visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or call us on 13 32 20
Each year 50 children are injured or die falling from windows and balconies in Australia. Keep kids safe on your watch. Fit windows with lockable safety devices cheaply and easily with our tips and videos online.
Find out about window safety laws in NSW at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
Supporting local communities
TRAINING
safety
Lock in your safety Nearly every week in Australia, a child falls from a window or balcony! NSW was the first state to implement measures to curtail this disturbing statistic on 11 December 2013. As per the amendments made to Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 and Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2010, Owners Corporations in NSW are required to install window safety devices on all windows above the ground floor. A window requires the installation of a safety device such as a lock if: ww The lowest part of the window is less than 1.7m above the floor; and ww The internal floor under the window is 2m or more above the outside surface. The safety device must be able to limit the maximum window opening to 12.5 cm and be robust and childproof. The compliance is to be met by 13 March 2018. These laws apply retrospectively to all buildings and are in line with the changes to the Building Code of Australia which has made window safety devices compulsory in new residential buildings from 1 May 2013. These legislative changes are timely as it is estimated by 2030 more than 50 per cent of the State’s population will live in a strata scheme. When similar legislation were implemented in New York, it led to a 96% reduction in child fall hospital admissions. A screen, lock or any other device is a complying window safety device for the purposes of section 64A of the Act if it: ww Is capable of restricting the opening of a window so that a sphere having a diameter of 125mm or more cannot pass through the window opening, and ww Is capable of resisting an outward horizontal action of 250 newtons, and ww Has a child resistant release mechanism, in the case of a device that can be removed, overridden or unlocked
30
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
It can be a daunting task to ascertain which lock is compliant. There are many locks available in the market that appear to be suitable. Now that the regulation has been in place for more than 12 months, locksmiths are well aware of the locks available – the ones that are compliant and the ones that just appear to be compliant but are just not good enough. The disturbing statistics of accidents endangering children have encouraged building managers to take initiative fast, however it is a massive undertaking by the state of NSW. Window locks are yet to be installed in thousands of buildings. Other states are under pressure to implement similar legislation and for peace of mind it is recommended that building and strata mangers in other states systematically schedule installation of window safety devices in all the buildings under their duty of care.
This article was kindly supplied by Marc Cohen, Director – Carbine Locks
When you just need it done, CALL us. We’re a preferred insurance provider with an accredited team. Emergency glass repairs are what we do. We’re available 24/7/365, Australia-wide.
1300 666 234 expressglass.com.au
service@expressglass.com.au
CardnoKnows
Small_advert_87x130_v3.indd 1
23/07/2015 11:41 am
remedial engineering Before
> > > > > > > > > > >
During
Defect inspections Report writing Expert witness Insurance reporting Design and documentation Concrete corrosion reporting Membrane failure reporting Scope of works Specifications Calling of tenders Contracts
Contact
After
Contract administration Project management Sinking fund assessment Technical due diligence Forensic engineering Building refurbishment Rope access General building maintenance and supervision > Facilities management > > > > > > > >
Tadd Walford, Cardno Remedial Manager 02 9496 7700 remedial@cardno.com.au www.cardno.com
ADVERTORIAL
COSTS AND PROBLEMS WITH INDOOR POOLS Condensation and corrosion have long been an issue within poorly ventilated indoor pools, there is a new solution available that will also reduce running costs. Indoor pools are one of the most energy intensive building spaces with inherent health and safety risks, challenging architects, developers, builders and building managers with questions of design, installation, operation and maintenance which owners must ultimately fund. In addition to the high operating costs of any heated pool environment, there is the hidden costs of building fabric degradation if the moisture in the air is allowed to condense. To achieve the ideal balance between a safe and healthy indoor environment and operating costs, presents owners with a complex set of interrelated control and management issues. The ideal indoor environment requires good temperature and humidity control but this comes at an increased cost of operation.
Most people associate the interior of indoor pools with high humidity, stuffy chlorine smelling air and steamy windows, floors and walls. Water condensation is not only a safety, comfort and health problem but will in the long term cause serious, expensive structural damage to the building. Without effective dehumidification and ventilation control, there is a risk of mould, corrosion, structural damage and an uncomfortable pool environment. This does not have to be the case and in a correctly designed pool heating system, a well-controlled environment can be had at the same cost as heating the pool water.
Some typical Swimming Pool problems ww ww ww ww ww ww
Uncomfortable humidity around the pool Condensation on vents/ glass panels/ AC grills / floors etc. Strong and persistent smell of chlorine (chloramines) Building degradation and corrosion Mould and mildew growth Frequent accidents (slipping/ falling) caused by wet floors
All of these problems have a cost and amenity impact for the building owner’s corporation.
Avanti Apartments Avanti apartments, built over a decade ago, located in Hornsby 25km Norwest of Sydney’s CBD includes two towers with 198 residential apartments, 45 commercial spaces, 8 shops, a childcare centre, heated pool, spa and fully equipped gym. Since the original construction,
32
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Avanti have been struggling with mould, mildew and corrosion in a pool space that had inferior ventilation installed during the original build. This poor indoor air quality led to the eventual deterioration of the ceiling panels within the pool area, and the corrosion of many surfaces in the space. Air Change, with its local engineering and manufacturing team were able to tailor a customised ‘turn-key’ solution for Avanti from design, through to installation and maintenance. The original brief from Avanti was simple: 1. Provide energy efficient heating for the pool, both air and water 2. Eliminate condensation and corrosion issues 3. Improve indoor air quality within the pool environment
Avanti also had the added challenge of space restrictions due to the limited available plant space. Air Change’s solution was to supply a split DX heat pump system. A fully ducted fan coil incorporating an air to air heat exchanger was installed in the ceiling space to manage the quality and temperature of the air. To heat the pool water, Air Change installed a heat pump in the lower car park. The most innovative aspect of this design is that the two units are linked, to ensure the energy from the exhaust air in the pool room released during water evaporation is recycled back into the pool air and water. This system dramatically reduces the heating costs compared with conventional pool water heating systems. The air to air heat recovery further reduces the overall running cost by improving the overall system efficiency. The installed equipment has an energy metering and logging device that tracks energy consumption. Current indications show an annual energy cost reduction of 51%. More importantly, the pool air environment is healthier and more comfortable whilst preserving the building fabric and this all occurs at a lower heating cost than before the system upgrade. As the cost of gas increases on the Australian East Coast, the Air Change PoolPac plus system offers an ideal solution to reduce energy running costs, minimise condensation and improve air quality in new pools and refurbishments.
Solve your condensation and corrosion issues whilst reducing overall running costs with the Air Change PoolPac™ Plus Air Change is an Australian manufacturer specialising in pool heating, ventilation and air conditioning, focused on delivering customised solutions for new and existing aquatic centres and residential pools. We approach every project with the aim of minimising energy consumption and increasing air quality to provide optimum environments for occupants. Multi Award Winning Technology AIRAH “Excellence in Innovation” Winner 2013 AIRAH “Excellence in Innovation” Winner 2012 ARBS Industry Awards “ESD Product” Winner 2010
Phone 1300 766 704 or visit airchange.com.au Air Change Pty Ltd products internationally patent protected I Refrigerant Trading Authorisation No: AU23586
TRAINING
safety
An insight to Window Safety It’s an insight that most are not privileged to, while personal spaces are always well respected, the behaviours, crammed living conditions and general vague attitudes towards fall prevention are sometimes much too difficult to avoid. As a window safety expert, access to every window within a strata building is essential, there are not many (if any) industry professionals that require the same extent of access. While the majority of residents practice some level of care around windows, there are a few too many who are lucky tragedy hasn’t struck, yet! Bunk beds hard up against 5th floor windows, windows being used as bedheads, cots sitting higher than window sills. These are some of the more shocking examples ASQB window safety installers have witnessed. The changes to the Strata Schemes Management Regulations 2010 (child window safety), was a positive move forward, not only for the welfare of young children living within the growing strata sector, but for all other parties that are directly and indirectly subjected to negative impacts as a result of falls from multi-level buildings. One of those parties negatively impacted as a result of falls from windows is The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, in 2011-2012, 39 children were admitted to this one hospital, as a result of window and balcony falls. These statistics prompted the Health Promotion Unit to create a ‘Kids Don’t Fly’ campaign, a cause specifically designed to increase awareness and educate the community. While education programs such as the ‘Kids Don’t Fly’ campaign are vital to reduce the rate of injury and death from window falls, statistics suggest that mandatory safety provisions of physical barriers is the most effective measure to save children’s lives. In 2014 ASQB and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead formed a partnership with one main objective, reduce the risks of window falls occurring. ASQB donates $2 from the profits of every safety device installed back to the hospital, which in turn contributes to raising awareness and educating the community.
34
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
False sense of security. While an implementation date has been set by NSW govt, many executive committees mistake this period as a security buffer to delay the works. This implementation date might be considered a false sense of security. The dangers around window falls have been well recognized for a reasonable period, if an accident was to occur prior to the March 2018 implementation date, it could be argued that the owner’s corporation failed to uphold their duty of care responsibilities, placing personal liability on all owners.
The overwhelming task facing the Strata Community. 72000 is the number of strata titled buildings within NSW that have been directly impacted by the window safety legislation, some will place the works in the ‘to hard basket’, stretching out the March 2018 deadline. Those that have surged forward with the mammoth task, understand that fully complying a strata plan can be stretched out for months, while the bulk of the upgrade is typically complete within days, some upgrades can lag due to numerous factors, such as uncooperative resistance. ASQB Window Safety specialised in window safety solutions and window compliance in accordance with both the Strata Schemes Management Regulations and the Building Code of Australia, our services’ are comprehensive and are designed to lighten most of the work load imposed on strata managers.
For more information, contact ASQB window safety on 02 9785 7893 or visit stratawindowsafety.com This article was kindly supplied by Anthony Shakar, Managing Director – ASQB window safety
car stacking LIFESTYLE
Product Variants There are three very distinct variations found in multi-storey buildings: The basic stacker. Highly reliable, and very simple in both design and operation. These units only go up or down and can be surface mounted or built into pits. The semi-automated stacker. Becoming the popular choice for larger buildings with broad footprints, these systems are easy to use and very popular. Typically called a “puzzle” stacker, cars can move up, down and sideways. The fully automated stacker. Typically used in buildings with limited area, but with the ability for vertical storage, users have a single car garage experience which includes high levels of security and efficient parking.
Car Stackers POWERED CAR STORAGE SYSTEMS – OR CAR “STACKERS” - ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO MANY NEW AND HIGH VALUE MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPMENTS AROUND AUSTRALIA. WHILE A NEW CONCEPT TO SOME, THE PRACTICE OF “STACKING” CARS IS BECOMING COMMON AS THE COST OF A STACKING MACHINE IS QUICKLY JUSTIFIED THROUGH LOWER CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND INCREASED NET SALEABLE AREA.
History As early as the late 1950’s, developers in Europe were thinking about the amount of net saleable area absorbed by conventional car parking. In response to an increasing need to release the valuable space of a car park, car stackers were introduced and quickly became standard fare for developments in high value areas with dense population. In fact, there are some examples of car stackers dating as far back as the early 1900’s. The first stackers provided the ability to park one vehicle above another, thereby doubling the number of cars parked in a given space. Now, through advanced manufacturing techniques, with modern materials and powerful control systems, it is possible to provide car parking solutions with a myriad of designs to suit most requirements. The larger systems can store vehicles down into very deep shafts or into the podiums of buildings using lifts and robots to move vehicles onto shelves up to 15 cars high. Some of the larger automated systems can hold thousands of vehicles.
Australia In Australia, developers are embracing the benefits of car stackers at an exponential rate. Introduced in the late 1990’s, stacker sales are now hotly contested with several companies providing product out of Germany and into the most valuable locations. The bulk of these locations are large multi-storey residential towers operated through strata companies. One such interesting example is the Phoenix tower in Melbourne. Given a footprint of three car spaces, 26 cars can be safely parked on shelves up the back of the building. Current hotspots for sales of stackers are Melbourne CBD, Sydney CBD and Melbourne’s South Yarra area. Upcoming locations are Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley and areas around Burswood in Perth.
Reliability Initially, users are cautious about machines which store their secondmost valuable asset – and rightly so. Like any machine, quality of product has a direct relationship to reliability. In the same way, the performance of the company supporting a car stacker has a direct relationship to the reliable experience to be had by the user. Product quality can somewhat be assured through confirming that the stackers meet the stringent requirements of the European standard for the safe design of stackers, EN14010. While most new car stackers come with at least 12 months warranty, ongoing reliability is best assured through engaging a reputable company to service the stackers and keep them in safe and operational condition. Some key abilities of companies servicing car stackers are advised below: ww Provide a 24/7 support service. Users require access to their car at all times. ww Access to spare parts. No stackers are manufactured in Australia, so a good local supply of parts is necessary. ww Deliver on promises. Talk to other building managers about their experiences with service providers. It is very important to note that a reliable program of preventative maintenance is not only recommended, but is required through the Plant Safety Regulation and by Worksafe. Worksafe treat car stackers in the same way that car hoists (commonly used in mechanical workshops) are treated. It is mandated that car stackers are serviced in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations which are typically every 6 months.
Induct all users! A common challenge among building managers is the safe management of the use of car stackers. As with any other aspect of car driving, the ability of the driver plays a significant role in the safe use of a car stacker. It is of critical importance that each and every user AND each and every car is inducted into a car stacker by a person trained to do these inductions in order to mitigate risk to the building manager and their insurance. 90% of all car damage within a car stacker is due to misuse. Induction of users can provide protection against claims for personal injury and property damage. Invest in professional induction of users and avoid claims.
The future Along with the increased use of car stackers comes increased density of residences and, thereby, increased number of residents for strata companies to manage. A very good upside indeed. The number and size of car stackers being built in Australia is staggering. Developers, architects and builders are adopting car stackers in numbers which have the ability to outstrip demand. Almost one in three new towers in Melbourne are proposed with car stackers. Strata companies should develop standardised operating practices to manage such huge machines and then align themselves with reputable service and induction providers in order to mitigate cost and risk. september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
35
ADVERTORIAL
LIFT SERVICE … IS IT JUST ANOTHER BILL TO PAY? Those of us living in Sydney know that we are living in one of the world’s most expensive cities, (most other Australian cities are not too far behind) consequently we are all looking for ways to save, and in particular save on those seemingly insurmountable bills. Is lift service just another bill? What should you be getting for your money and why should you maintain your lift. Often a ride in a lift is an everyday occurrence, one that requires little thought or consideration. Push a few buttons … wait a few seconds … arrive at your desired floor. These marvels of engineering allow us to live and work in high-rise buildings, provides convenient access within multilevel shopping centres, efficiency when travelling and dining, is ideal when moving goods from floor to floor which reduces the need for manual labour and also gives those in our community that are less active a chance to participate. Most of us have only seen the external features of these pieces of equipment and have minimal understanding about the technology and engineering that equips them to operate safely and reliably. You simply expect the lift to be in full operation when you need it. Lifts contain sophisticated operating hardware software, numerous safety features both electronic and mechanical which need to be maintained. Just like your motor vehicle they need to be inspected and registered. But unlike your motor vehicle lifts and escalators make 1000’s of trips per year and are utilised by numerous operators and the general public. The maintenance of your motor vehicle is a decision you make for your own peace of mind and your families safety. Who’s making the decision on the maintenance and safety of your lift? Are they making a well-informed decision? In recent times we have seen consumers making decisions predominately on price, and some elevator companies are heavily discounting their services due to an unstable building economy with the view of holding and boosting their portfolios, thus prices for lift maintenance have fallen to record lows. While I’m sure this discounting of services looks appealing to the consumer what should concern you is the level of service that’s being eroded along with the price, and inturn the erosion of the item of plant. A 13-minute ”visual inspection” is not “preventative maintenance” by Liftronic standards, neither is ticking a few boxes on a generic report. Maturity needs to come back to the maintenance market industry, and its clients need to focus on safety and lift lifecycle. By this I mean the cost in relation to the initial outlay and costs accumulated over the potential life span of the equipment. It is far from sound economics to accept an inexpensive lift maintenance cost and due to “budget” maintenance being performed the lifts expected lifecycle could be shortened. This is when you will find yourself prematurely paying for equipment upgrades and major component replacement, which can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in expenses. Have your equipment maintained to the highest standards, and you will inevitably see your lifts lifecycle reach its complete design life.
36
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
To add to this we have recently seen new legislation enter the commercial property market where disclosure of energy efficiency is becoming almost mandatory seeing buildings standards rise. It won’t be too long before it enters into the private property sector. This is when lifecycle maintenance and sustainability will be considered of greater importance by the strata sector and inevitably its overall importance escalates in the commercial sector. A quote from John Ruskin (1819-1900) sums up the situation perfectly: “It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that’s all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot, IT CAN’T BE DONE If you deal with the lowest bidder, its well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.” FOR 30 YEARS LIFTRONIC HAS BEEN PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE TO THE AUSTRALAIN MARKET. Liftronic’s experienced technicians, and quality and safety assured value for money maintenance agreements, provide peace of mind for owners of lifts and escalators of all makes and models. Liftronic’s has a highly ethical approach to the provision of maintenance and understands the work that must be undertaken to maintain safety, reliability and high operational standards, which are class leading in the industry. Liftronic’s real value-for-money maintenance agreements and dedicated service technicians that support them are uncompromisingly committed to customer satisfaction.
Services include ww ww ww ww ww ww ww ww
24/7 Service and call centre operations Audits and dilapidation reports Upgrade paths Advice and consultancy Large local parts inventory and stores facilities A global supply chain Repairs crews In-house Engineering and Design
Liftronic Service Departments Experience Includes ww ww ww ww ww
Residential Strata Hospitality Government Commercial
Contact: 1800 663 922 Request a quote: www.liftronic.com.au
Travel in style Liftronic Pty Limited Elevators & Escalators Installation | Modernisation | Repairs | Maintenance 1800 663 922 www.liftronic.com.au
Proudly celebrating 30 years of service to the Australian building and property sectors
ADVERTORIAL
$1.6m helps
researchers translate evidence into action BUPA HEALTH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES HEALTH AWARDS 2015 RECIPIENTS Leading Australian researchers have received significant funding support with the announcement of the Bupa Health Foundation 2015 Health Awards. The Bupa Health Foundation, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, awarded approximately $1.6 million between five winning research projects to improve health and care outcomes for Australians. This year’s successful research proposals look to: ww Help reduce vision loss across the population with a technologydriven, user-friendly screening system ww which identifies people with eye disease; ww Improve clinical-decision making and patient care by using specific patient information to identify ways to use angiograms more appropriately; ww Reduce system cost and hospital stays for people who have had hip or knee joint replacement surgery; ww Decrease the number of hospitalisations and amputations by better managing foot ulcers in people with diabetes living in remote areas of Australia with information technology (‘telemedicine’); ww Predict response to memory-enhancing drugs for people with dementia using brain imaging techniques, delivering individualised care to improve outcomes for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Since its inception in 2005, the Bupa Health Foundation has contributed more than $26 million to fund more than 100 projects, with this year’s winners selected from a pool of 584 applications. Bupa Health Foundation Executive Leader Annette Schmiede said high quality health research is a critical driver of innovation to improve the effectiveness of Australia’s health services. “This year’s Health Award winners are dynamic projects embedded in the healthcare system, allowing for rapid translation of evidence into action and impact on clinical practice and patient care,” Ms Schmiede said. “Australians have access to some of the best healthcare in the world and continued investment in research is essential to sustaining our health system and delivering better health outcomes. “The Foundation is very proud to support each of these award winners, and we look forward to supporting each team to translate discovery into health benefits in the years to come.” The grant recipients were recognised at the annual Bupa Health Foundation Health Awards dinner held in Melbourne on Wednesday 29 April. The Bupa Health Foundation is one of the country’s leading private charitable organisations dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Australians across its five key focus areas: wellbeing, managing chronic disease, healthy ageing, empowering people about their health and promoting affordable healthcare.
38
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
2015 Bupa Health Foundation Health Award Winners: Development of an automated web-based screening system for eye diseases University of Melbourne, Centre for Eye Research Australia Professor Mingguang He Half of the eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal damage caused by diabetes, and age-related macular degeneration are undetected in Australia. Retinal imaging is a powerful screening method for these diseases but currently interpreting the screening results mainly depends on clinicians. This project will develop a webbased screening system incorporating artificial intelligence and automated grading. The system can be used at optometry or diabetes clinics. It will help improve access, reduce cost and waiting times and potentially maximise the vision outcome of patients.
Clinical decision-making and the appropriate use of coronary artery angiography University of Melbourne Associate Professor Vijaya Sundararajan An angiogram is a common procedure recommended for diagnosing narrowing of the blood vessels, which supply oxygen to the heart, and is recommended in all patients with a heart attack but in only a select group of patients with stable heart disease. However, research suggests that angiograms are underused in heart attacks and potentially overused in stable disease. This study will investigate how angiograms could be used more appropriately using specific patient information (including age, gender, risk factors and medical history) to improve clinical decision-making and patient care. The project, if successful, will provide insights into how to change clinical practice so that a projected 1000 lives in Australia each year could be saved in heart attack patients without increased resources or cost to the health system.
STEP – St Vincent’s Early Mobilisation Pathway for total joint arthroplasty University of Melbourne Dr Trisha Peel Researchers will conduct a clinical trial comparing two different care plans in people who have had hip or knee joint replacement surgery. The study will compare the length of time patients stay in hospital after surgery with an Early Mobilisation Plan compared with Standard Care. The results will help to improve health outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of care for these patients.
Telemedicine: New horizon in managing diabetic foot ulcers in remote/rural Australia James Cook University, Translational Research on Endocrinology and Diabetes [TREAD], College of Medicine and Dentistry, Townsville Associate Professor Usman Malabu Information technology (‘telemedicine’) will be used to help nurses manage foot ulcers in people with diabetes living in remote areas of Australia. Foot ulcers are a serious complication of diabetes, causing more than 80 per cent of lower limb amputations in people with diabetes. Yet, people in remote areas have limited access to wound care specialists. If this model is successful, and rolled out to rural facilities, it will provide greater access to specialist wound care, and reduce hospitalisations and amputations for people with diabetes.
Predicting response to cholinesterase inhibitors in people with dementia CSIRO – Digital Productivity Flagship, The Australian e-Health Research Centre Associate Professor Stephen Rose This study will investigate whether measuring brain function associated with memory in people with early dementia can predict their response to cholinesterase inhibitors, medicines that may enhance cognitive function and stabilise memory. Imaging techniques (PET and MRI) will be used to measure the function of specific (cholinergic) nerves in the brain, to help doctors decide whether to prescribe the cholinesterase inhibitors. This individualised treatment could improve outcomes for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Your Experts In Building Services •Project Works •Facility Management •Remedial & Rectification •Cleaning •Maintenance •Fully Licenced With qualified professionals from all areas of building services and a network of offices throughout NSW, VIC, WA and QLD, it’s little wonder we’re so popular with our clients including Woolworths, Kmart & NRMA.
Licenced & Guaranteed
1300 88 6462 www.minc.com.au
Pitfield and Associates
Elevator Consulants • Australia • USA
*VERTICAL TRANSPORT SPECIALISTS
Committed to happy residents & committee members. We are your eyes & ears onsite.
Environmentally friendly! Price match guarantee for any services. Clean Green Strata Maintenance Since 1992
VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.paaoz.com.au OR CONTACT
Servicing strata blocks of all sizes: • Cleaning, Building Management, Gardening • Pressure Washing, Window Cleaning, Carpets • Car Park Sweeping, Landscaping, Gutter Cleaning
Sam - P: 0408 174 410 E: sam@paaoz.com.au or
Noel - P: 0400 358 650 E: noel@paaoz.com.au *A FANCY NAME FOR LIFTS, ESCALATORS & MOVING WALKS
1300661182 | enquiries@cleangreenstrata.com.au
www.cleangreenstrata.com.au Exciting franchise opportunities available.
STATE new south wales
NSW
President's message NEW LEGISLATION, AWARDS, RETIREMENT – THERE’S BEEN A LOT HAPPENING AT STRATA COMMUNITY AUSTRALIA (NSW) AND PRESIDENT GREG HAYWOOD IS RIGHT IN THE THICK OF ALL THE EXCITEMENT.
At long last not one but two draft Bills have been released by the NSW Government to address the long awaited strata reforms. For the past 18 months we have been in somewhat of a holding pattern wondering when the work we have put into government relations, submission drafting and our own community consultation was ever going to pay off. In mid-July we started to see that light at the end of that very long tunnel with the NSW Government firstly inviting SCA (NSW) to a briefing on the new legislation and then releasing the Strata Schemes Development Bill 2015 and Strata Scheme Management Bill 2015 for public consultation. At the time of writing we are busy putting a submission together with the assistance of our members. It is due on 12 August and we are expecting that the final Bills will be introduced in the coming months. Reforms of the strata laws, which we support, include changing the 100 percent agreement of all strata owners to wind up a strata scheme to somewhere between 75 and 90 percent. The Government has not been clear on a final percentage only that the majority must be in agreement. We are still going over the details and our submission will be loaded up on the SCA (NSW) website in due course so please visit it for the detail. Another reform we have been waiting for, which will be of interest to all members around Australia, is the changes that will now be permitted under the by-laws. Finally there is permission in the legislation that says a by-law can be enacted that limits the number of persons who may reside in a lot. This is music to the ears of weary strata managers who are tired of dealing with overcrowded apartments.
40
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Now to other matters, we recently celebrated the 2015 Whitbread Strata Community Awards. There are pictures and details on the coming pages. We had a terrific night with MC Peter Berner. Congratulations to all the finalists, the highly commended and winners. These are people doing great things in the strata industry and it’s only right that we should recognise them and celebrate their successes, innovations and contribution to the strata community. So well done and thank you to all of those who turned out on one of the coldest nights of the year to be a part of this annual event. Speaking of events, don’t forget to pencil the NSW Convention in your diaries. It’s scheduled for Friday, 6 November at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney and is a one day only event this year plus gala dinner in the evening. More details coming soon. Lastly, some of you already know that I have announced my retirement at the end of this year as Group Managing Director/CEO with the PICA Group. From 1st January 2016 I will take on the role of Strategic Advisor and will also remain on the PICA Board of Directors. I am, however, staying on with SCA (NSW) as I want to see much more happen and to share my knowledge and experience. Until next time, keep working hard on your businesses and thank you for supporting your industry association.
Greg Haywood SCA (NSW) President
new south wales STATE
2015 Whitbread Strata Community Awards
NSW SPONSORS
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
41
STATE victoria
VIC
State of the State ww Over the past few months, four new member only resources have been added to the scores of Practice Guidelines: Internal Dispute Resolution – Practice Guideline & FAQs; Accounting – FAQs [re tax return, TFN, ABN/GST]; Car parking [including Local Councils helping re OC car parking problems]; & SubCommittees – FAQ [OC has to pass special rules in order to allow the appointment of subcommittees]. ww Commission to developers - wrong. It is unethical for strata managers to get new business by paying commissions etc. to a developer or owner. If you want to know more about this or have other ethical questions, see our Ethical FAQs in the Practice Guidelines section of the web site. ww Multicultural strata living in City of Melbourne - the proportion of people born overseas is 59%. The most commonly spoken languages, other than English, are Simplified Chinese and Arabic. As a strata manager, if you want to build community in these OCs, consider residents’ interests such as tai chi or mah-jong. ww The SCA Sustainability on-line tool-kit, Smart Blocks, which has received a number of awards, recently held a High Life Expo in Melbourne attended by 280 people. ww SCA (Vic) in partnership with Consumer Affairs Victoria agreed with the Victorian Law Foundation to be an Event Partner and hosted an event as part Law Week 2015 [11-17 May 2015], in order to promote strata to the public. This CBD event, a public information session, featured expert speakers such as Consumer Affairs Victoria, a strata manager, strata lawyer, and strata insurer. Attended by 80 people, it was well received and achieved its objectives.
42
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
ww SCA (Vic) has been selected as one of the few forum participants to progress Resilient Melbourne. The City of Melbourne is hosting a project in partnership with metropolitan councils to develop a resilience strategy to equip our city to effectively deal with the chronic stresses and acute shocks that may emerge in coming decades. This project, led by Toby Kent, Chief Resilience Officer, is part of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative (www.100resilientcities.org). ww The value of Fee Units changes each year on 1 July, and has been increased to $13.60 for the 2015-16 financial year. This directly affects the fees for OC Certificates, Register & Records. Changes to the OC Regulations, effective 1 October 2014, have changed the fees for Certificates and for copies of the register and records. They are now indexed annually. ww In relation to charging of penalty interest on arrears, the current Victoria penalty interest rate has now decreased from 01/06/2015 to 9.5% per annum [was 10.5%]. It allows an owners corporation to charge interest on any amount payable by a lot owner that remains outstanding after the due date for payment, up to the maximum rate of interest payable under the Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983. Remember that there is no compounding allowed. Interest may not be charged upon interest. If you are unsure how to calculate, refer to the advice in the Practice Guideline area of the web site. ww VCAT fees increased again on 1 July 2015. 85% of cases are for disputes with values between $500-$10,000, typically fee recovery cases. These have increased again to $174.10, a 10% increase. For the other 15% of cases, those for amounts in dispute between $10k$100,000 or for disputes with no monetary value, the new fee on is a 10% increase to $575.30.
victoria STATE
VIC SPONSORS
2015 EVENTS CALENDAR Major Events in Victoria Principals Retreat
Full Day(s) Hamilton Island
22 – 25 October
Education Seminars 18 Sep
Business Writing Excellence
9:00am-5:00pm
20 Nov
Strata Insurance & Claims Trends Update
3:00pm-5:00pm
11 Dec
VCAT – Do’s and Don’ts
1:00pm-5:00pm
All education seminars to be held at the Manningham, 1 Thompsons Road, Bulleen (unless advised otherwise)
Round Table Discussions (RTD) 27 Nov
West
9:30am-11:30am
RTDs are free open forums (limited to 40 attendees) Venues vary per event, refer website for full particulars
Special Interest Groups (SIG) 10 Nov
Women in Strata
8:30am-10:30am
SIG discussions will be held at different venues, please refer to website for full particulars
Just a few of the highlights of the 2014/15 year include: ww Membership increased by 11% ww Financial position strengthened to $470k total equity. Financially strong with level of reserves at 86% ww More than 1,600 people attended events. 333 delegates attended the 2014 Symposium ww A renewed focus on Principals with 3 events – including 50 industry leaders attending the inaugural 2014 Principals Retreat, a SIG lunch, and a one day Strategy, Risk & Leadership Workshop ww Raised the media profile with 46 media mentions; and held public information forums to promote strata to the public ww Published 8 new Practice Guidelines, as well as resources for a successful tender ww 50% of all plans registered by Land Victoria in 2013-14 were strata i.e. OCs ww Raised the SCA (Vic) voice and profile as the peak body through advocacy and lobbying. The problem of recovering OC fees from overseas lot owners was solved, and SCA (Vic) was appointed to the short-stay serviced apartment’s government panel reviewing the regulation of short-term letting.
september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
43
STATE queensland
QLD
President's message 2015 has been a year of change, evident in many economic indicators showing a gradual improvement in the economy across the country. The so called crane index reflects an increase of operating cranes by 32% in the past six months, the vast majority of those for residential highrise developments. Approvals for dwellings remain slightly above the 10 year annual average in South-East Queensland, the total number of lots registered in Queensland is now 419,000, a growth rate of 3.5% in the 12 months from June 2014 to June 2015. Interest rates have dropped to an all time low which will further stimulate growth and on a federal level it is encouraging to see housing affordability has been addressed with 40 recommendations including rental affordability which may lead to more development approvals, adding to the strata titles sector. Given the continuing growth in strata titles, it is critical for SCA (Qld) to engage with the decision makers to shape our future and the Board has developed a strong Strategic Plan that will position us well in the current political landscape. Our ongoing relationships with the Attorney-General’s office as well as the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management have been more positive than ever though the Review has not been addressed since the election in early 2015. The draft strata legislation in NSW however has been received with interest and our plan is to actively pursue policy makers to get them on board. SCA (Qld)’s new Strategic Plan defines our vision as leaders, supporters and representatives of the strata management sector in Queensland. We have defined 7 key performance targets and already identified no less than 20 action items for the next 2 years. This encompasses member facing value add initiatives as well as corporate governance audits and stakeholder liaison. The Board has taken on board member feedback to develop a strategy that will focus on our key strengths and offer a solid and sustainable value proposition to members. I am excited to share this new strategy with the membership at our Leadership Forum in November.
INSIDE STRATA
1 Educate, train and inform members and stakeholders Rethinking education and training to tailor it to member needs. Feedback surveys to understand member needs, modern digital seminar offers and a relaunch of e-communications are the key goals. 2 Advocate and lobby to government, the public and other bodies Position statements are to serve as clear guiding principles in SCA (Qld)’s advocacy agenda. 3 Promote professionalism of members SCA (Qld) will focus on member compliance with the SCA Code of Ethics, develop Best Practice Guides and maximise CPD compliance. 4 Promote business interaction and social networking among members and stakeholders Providing the chains to successfully link the sector’s businesses and individuals is a core day-to-day focus for SCA (Qld). Connecting members with members to better service customers. 5 Develop and maintain links to organisations with similar objectives Reaching out to property industry associations and sharing knowledge will empower the sector to lead. 6 Provide member services and market SCA (Qld) A marketing review of SCA (Qld)’s public profile is key to developing an integrated digital campaign to market and promote SCA members. Our template agreements library must grow and a preferred professional indemnity insurer can help members save. 7 Run the association well SCA (Qld)’s value proposition to members must be well defined to grow membership which in turn increases our advocacy power. A re-forming of Committees and giving them a new Term of Reference are critical to a successful SCA (Qld). Member services can be delivered more effectively by defining responsibilities and delegating well. Education resourcing, the opportunity to form regional committees and a young professionals committee are a central consideration for the board.
Simon Barnard SCA (Qld) President
44
SCA (Qld) Strategic Plan 2015-2017
september 2015
queensland STATE
Queensland State Budget neglects strata sector Budget time reveals government priorities so we were keen to see Queensland initiatives following the 2014 Federal budget provision of $11.6 billion for the growth of infrastructure and in particular, the very specific support of the North Queensland insurance market which has been suffering from high premiums in the past few years due to natural disasters. The budget directly provided $12.5 million over three years from 2014-15 to provide “grants to bodies corporate to undertake engineering assessments of strata-title properties in North Queensland”. The plan incorporated to develop an insurance information and comparison website (or an insurance ‘aggregator’); promote resilience of strata title buildings by facilitating engineering assessments of strata title properties in North Queensland; and to expand North Queensland insurance markets by encouraging participation by foreign insurers. As reported in the last edition of Inside Strata, SCA (Qld) officially reminded the new Queensland Treasurer to provide funding to the North Queensland economy in this year’s budget to assist severely impacted strata schemes after natural disasters. Disappointingly, the release of the budget in mid-July revealed no big surprises for the property sector despite the tremendous growth across the state. SCA (Qld) asked for $15 million initially to cyclone proof some of the worst affected strata schemes in North Queensland. The Treasurer acknowledged our concerns and assured us that the establishment of the Northern Australia Insurance Premiums Taskforce will explore options for reducing strata insurance premiums in that region. In light of more and more concrete cancer reports, we have now publicly called for the introduction of mandatory inspections.
Short-term letting in the spotlight The Gold Coast City Council’s introduction of new regulations regarding so called “party houses” has addressed recurring issues for strata communities that have lately been receiving media attention. Unapproved shortterm letting in residential areas on the Gold Coast (so called "party houses") can now be stopped due to the Gold Coast City Council's adoption of the Temporary Local Planning Instrument No.1 (Party Houses) 2015. As of 18 May 2015 until 17 May 2016, local councils can enforce restrictions on short-term letting by applying assessment provisions for the restriction area where residential premises are being used as a commercial venue for accommodation or facilities that are regularly used by guests for parties.
into the Australian holiday letting pool, without a single new development required. That is not necessarily seen as a negative impact on a sector where there has been a shortage in vacancies. Where does that leave the consumers then? We will have to continue our collaboration as strata communities will always have a high degree of complexity where a single stand alone answer may rarely be found. That doesn’t mean that we cannot speak with one voice though.
The Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management Mr Chris Irons joined SCA (Qld) recently in facilitating a debate surrounding the party houses topic. The implementation of the “party houses” regulations must be commended because they go a long way to safeguarding both bodies corporate and holiday goer’s interests. While only a handful of reports have been made to the regulator the obvious need for this type of regulation on the Gold Coast highlights the frequency of the issue and the ramifications that can arise from private short term letting where the body corporate hasn’t consented to it. Uncontrolled letting activities which often are from a desire to have a higher return on investment are in the long run causing a lower return on investment due to the risk to security, and amenities. Both Federal and State Governments have not shown any signs of introducing regulations to address the issues that can arise, in particular for schemes without resident managers. In fact, Malcolm Turnbull has praised the online private letting sites, as their introduction has injected millions of rentals
september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
45
STATE
western australia
Dr Longstaff
members are prepared to stand up and speak out to identify practices, which are unethical or may be damaging to the industry as a whole. As Dr Longstaff stated “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept”. It is in the interests of all our members that we each ensure high standards are the norm.
WA
President's message A modest contingent of our WA Members attended the SCA Convention from 31 May 2015 – 2 June 2015 in Canberra. Of the full and wide ranging program, two particular themes stood out to me as having a high degree of relevance to our Association and our members. The first arose from a presentation by Dr Simon Longstaff of the St James Ethics Centre entitled “Making ethics pay”. Dr Longstaff talked about ethics in business not from a standpoint of rigid rules but rather as a mindset. The mindset of which he spoke was one of “what can I do for my community?” He made the observation that our society is very much one that focuses on entitlements but that good ethical practices derive but from a sense of obligation not entitlement. He spoke of the need to embrace a sense of obligation at a grass roots level and, to resist the natural tendency to duck responsibility. As an industry the issue of ethics is one that has critical bearing on the reputation of strata managers with the public at large. The ethical standards that an industry adheres to have a massive impact on the image of the professionals within that industry and the trust that clients and customers have in their strata managers.
SCA (WA) recognises this and so a key part of our strategy this year has been to strengthen the accreditation process and design quality practice standards for our members. We intend to promote accreditation to the public to promote the reputation and image of strata managers and to engender trust in the profession. However these steps will not be enough on their own to raise the profile of strata managers. One of the comments that Dr Longstaff touched upon is that trust with the general public and customers will tend to decline as the complexity of services increases. While the role of strata managers and the Strata Titles Act are perceived as complex, this will pose a challenge in building trust. SCA (WA) Inc can play a role in educating the public and breaking down perceptions. The second way in which ethics is relevant to our industry is on an individual level. As individuals we each need to take responsibility for our own and other’s ethics. We therefore want to foster a culture where
46
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Our Legal Affairs and Public Policy Committee is now working on policies and procedures which will be made accessible to our members which will set out the standards to which we as an Association strive and which we strive for in the industry. We hope this will help arm our members to take responsibility for high ethical standards. The second theme from the Conference was the importance of risk management. Jason Star-Thomas from CHU delivered a paper on Risk Management Best Practice reiterating many concepts about risk management in business with which most people are familiar. This session was particularly pertinent to SCA (WA) Inc as the Council had earlier embarked on a high-level risk analysis process for SCA’s business. Risk management was the subject of lengthy discussions at Council’s June Council Meeting. This was a valuable process for identifying areas of focus, areas of vulnerability and generally understanding the environment in which we are operating. Having undertaken this process I believe Council is in a great position to make decisions to lead the Association in a sound and prudent manner.
Law Week May 2015 I would like to extend enormous thanks to our staff Suellen and Jo and to our presenters Warren Kiddle and Phil Monaco for their contributions to our inaugural Law Week Public Education Event. Around 50 people attended the event, which was held at Loftus Recreation Centre as part of Law Week. Involvement in Law Week gave us an opportunity to promote SCA (WA) Inc to and through the Law Society and the public. The event itself was designed to provide free education and information to the public about the role of strata managers and basic aspects of the Strata Titles Act. Public Education Events tie in well with our strategy of promoting strata living and improving the public image of strata managers. However, the event had clear immediate benefits for those attendees who were grateful for the opportunity to attend the event. Their feedback was that it was very useful, informative and that they would love to see our Association do more of the same. Suellen and I recently met with representatives of Landgate who recognise our Association as a great repository of information and experience, which can be a valuable resource to the general public. We are com-mitted to continuing involvement in Law Week to this end. We are also looking at partnering with Landgate in other ways to deliver information and education to the public. I welcome members’ contributions to these endeavors.
Rachel Cosentino SCA (WA) President
western australia STATE
SCA (WA) PD Events Levies, Recoveries and the Strata Company Presented by Phil Monaco
101 Strata Plans Presented by Shane White
Meeting Procedures Presented by John Angus and David Price Meeting Procedures, presented by John Angus and David Price, were a crowd pleaser! John spoke about the conduct and best processes of council meetings, minutes, voting and resolutions. David Price informed us how to Chair a meeting and the key elements to making your meeting procedures efficient.
Member Update MANAGEMENT BUSINESS MEMBERS Access Housing Realty – Laura Chapman Ace Body Corporate Management Fremantle – Sandra Glossop Southern District Estate Agency – Liesl Swart
BUSINESS MEMBERS ACOR MCE Consultants – Duncan Pratt Culshaw Miller Lawyers – Marcus Easthope Protek Total Facility Management – Jason Pearce
OWNER MEMBERS Ian Fensome Eldred Day Jeanne Reid Carol Trinidad Wendy Fletcher Georgina Lambert Robyn O’Brien Rhonda Dunn
PERSONAL MEMBER Jayme Erhardt – Body Corporate Brokers
september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
47
STATE
south australia
SA
President’s message STRATA MANAGER’S AGREEMENT The SA chapter of SCA has been drafting a management contract that will be available to all SCA (SA) members. At our recent members educational seminar we had Tim Graham from HWL Ebsworth Lawyers present the draft contract and explain the Strata Manager’s statutory, contractual and legal duties and how to use the Contract of Appointment effectively. The event was successful with nearly 70% of our members attending. We are looking forward to releasing the contract which will exclusively be made available to our members. We hope that the contract will become an industry standard and one that will be requested by unit owners in South Australia.
Matthew Amber SCA (SA) President
48
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Let’s talk smarter strata 1300 442 676 www.longitudeinsurance.com.au For smarter strata insurance, ask your broker for a quote from Longitude.
Lvl 13, 141 Walker Street, North Sydney NSW 2060 PO Box 1813, North Sydney NSW 2059
Longitude Insurance P/L is an authorised representative of Austagencies P/L ABN 76 006 090 464 AFSL 244584 The Policy is underwritten by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230 859 trading as Vero Insurance
STATE ACT
ACT
President's message IT IS AMAZING TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALREADY HALF WAY THROUGH 2015, ALTHOUGH WHEN I CONSIDER EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS IT IS A STARK REMINDER OF THE DEPTH AND RANGE OF ISSUES THE STRATA INDUSTRY FACES, BOTH DIRECTLY AND BY EXTENSION. Canberra was privileged to host our national and international colleagues at the annual SCA National Convention held at the end of May / beginning of June. Some of the clear highlights included the fascinating overview of Australian demographics delivered by Bernard Salt, and also the inspirational speech by Dr. Brendan Nelson on the contribution of Australian solders, delivered at the Australian War Memorial during the closing cocktail party. On the regulatory front, SCA (ACT) continues discussions with ACT Government on the review of the Unit Titles (Management) Act 2011, and specifically the provisions of a legal framework to better accommodate stratum (subdivision in airspace) developments. This will continue to be a matter of great interest for owners, developers and strata managers alike. We have also committed to work with the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) to ensure widespread distribution of a comprehensive information booklet intended for new strata owners, or just for those who seek to expand their knowledge of the strata landscape. The booklet has been an initiative of the ORS, assisted by the Owners Corporation Network (ACT) and SCA (ACT). Growth within the local strata sector remains strong with a diversification of service providers, perhaps in response to a strong performance of the property development sector in recent years. Although new large-scale apartment developments will begin to slow down due to natural property cycles. The immediate future continues to look bright as many significant new buildings which commenced within the past 24 months complete construction. Much of this development has concentrated around greenfield sites and precincts, often within entirely new suburbs.
50
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Urban infill projects will also receive a counter cyclical boost as a result of the Mr. Fluffy buy back scheme carried out by the ACT Government. For those unfamiliar with the program, Mr. Fluffy refers to homes across the ACT affected by asbestos contamination by a private insulation contractor many years ago. The ACT Government has stepped in to buy all contaminated homes back from private property owners for decontamination, and resale to the open market. Early indications suggest that legislation will be passed to loosen redevelopment planning requirements in an effort to enable low and medium density apartments and townhouses. This will buoy activity for small – mid size developers and builders for the duration of the program, which is expected to run over several years.
Save the date – Strata Community Awards 2015 The annual Strata Community Awards 2015 will be held Friday, 30 October. The awards program recognises excellence and professionalism in the industry and community. Full details of our annual awards night and gala dinner will be sent shortly, so stay tuned! Any suppliers, managers or individuals who wish to be added to the invitation list are encouraged to contact us at: admin@stratacommunity.org.au We look forward to building on the success of last year’s event as we celebrate excellence with you.
Chris Miller SCA (ACT) President
DIRECTORY Cleaning Services
Maintenance
Painting
CELEBRATING OVER 20 YEARS in the Strata Industry.
“Small to Tall, we do it All” YOUR ONE STOP STRATA SPECIALISTS EXPERT & FRIENDLY SERVICES A FAMILY COMPANY FOR OVER 30 YEARS
Speak to a Strata Specialist today. T: 1300 916 291 E: enquiry@premierpainting.com.au www.premierpainting.com.au
From fixing a lock to painting a block, The Scotia Group can do the lot!
02 9567 9200 www.commercialcleaning.com.au Maintenance
Pest Management
• Insurance Repairs • Maintenance Works; Reactive & Programmed • Facilities Management
Marble/Granite/Limestone Specialist Leaking Balcony Repair and Sealing Grout Replacement Advanced Waterproofing Ceramic Tiled Showers Systems & Technology
Servicing Melbourne & surrounds with genuine 24/7 attendance and care. 1300 SCOTIA (1300 726 842) service@scotia.com.au
www.scotia.com.au Security
Commercial Locksmithing Serving the locksmithing industry for 40 years
We can provide full design, installation and maintenance services Australia-wide.
24 HOUR SERVICE
• Re-keying existing locks & deadbolts
• Electronic keypad & keyless entry
• Master key systems
• Digital control locks
• New Keys or Key Cutting
• Access control systems
• Lock Installation & Repairs
1800 555 700
Please call or contact one of our locksmithing branches: Melbourne | Sydney | Launceston | Hobart | Adelaide | Brisbane | Darwin
www.accesshardware.com.au september 2015
INSIDE STRATA
51
DIRECTORY Ventilation Systems
Crowther Blayne is an Australian leader in business-to-business online and print publications for a variety of industries worldwide. Crowther Blayne publications provide businesses with the broadest possible audience and target the most relevant decision-makers. By providing a platform of the highest quality, products and services are presented in the best possible light to the marketplace. If you have a specific enquiry about our services, or simply want to get in touch, please contact: Trish Riley | Business Development Manager | P: 1800 222 757 | trish@crowtherblayne.com.au | crowtherblayne.com.au
52
INSIDE STRATA
september 2015
Give your project the Taubmans touch.
Taubmans now provides professional advice, onsite inspections and tailored specifications to ensure the right finish for every substrate. No matter the project size, our experienced commercial team is committed to supporting strata managers and building specifiers at every stage with a personal touch. To schedule a visit, call 131 686 or request a specification at www.taubmans.com.au/ColourCentre/RequestSpecification Plus, with the added reliability of Taubmans Endure Nanoguard Technology, Taubmans can ensure the highest quality coatings specification for every project. TAUBMANS
Taubmans is preferred partner of Natspec and Autospec.
Both the interior & exterior of this landmark building on the Gold Coast in Queensland have been coated in PPG Architectural product. The quantities of product that have been applied to The Oracle are amazing, Armawall Tuscany Sand 3,280 drums, Armawall Roll on Membrane 850 drums, Armawall Ultrafine Flat 450 drums, Armawall Primer 300 drums, Armawall Patch 450 drums, Internally there were 1,950 - Block Filler, 1050 drums - Tradex Ceiling White, 1,800 drums - Easycoat Low Sheen, not to mention hundred’s & hundred’s of litres of other PPG paint products.