2014 Master Builders Western Australia Magazine Jul-Aug

VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 3 | JULY - AUGUST 2014

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NW AWARDS

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Mischin looks into future

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Harnisch on rogue unions

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Broome prosperity under scrutiny

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CAMS two years on

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• Understanding how you can protect yourself is critical. You have the power to refuse to use non-compliant steel.

• Demand ACRS verified materials and ask for the ACRS Certificate of Product Compliance to help check compliance to the required Codes and Standards.

• Protect yourself, your family and your business, and ensure every project using reinforcing, pre-stressing and structural steels has an ACRS Certificate.

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contents J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

OUR COVER Broome was at its picturesque best for the Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards with Kimberley Green and Broad the big winners. See pages 24-27 for details

IN THIS ISSUE...

FOREWORDS

UPDATES

FEATURES

President’s File........................................................4

Opinion ...................................................................8

Air Conditioning..................................................... 11

Director’s File...........................................................5

Membership..........................................................28

Hot Water Systems................................................70

Safety....................................................................32

Building Software .................................................73

REPORTS

Members’ Health...................................................34

Steel......................................................................77

Word from the Hill....................................................6

Industrial Relations................................................37

Outdoor Living.......................................................83

Master Builders General News..............................10

Insurance...............................................................40

Master Builders Branches.....................................45

Legal......................................................................41

What’s New...........................................................87

Housing.................................................................42

Directory................................................................88

AWARDS

Personal Pars .......................................................50

Kimberley Pilbara Awards .....................................24

Technical...............................................................55 Training..................................................................57 Utilities...................................................................62 Building Business..................................................65

PUBLISHED BY

Crowther Blayne & Associates Pty Ltd Phone: 1800 222 757 Fax: 1800 063 151 Email: publications@crowtherblayne.com.au Advertising Sales Manager Stuart Tovey Email sales@crowtherblayne.com.au Layout Byron Bailey Graphic Design Team Byron Bailey, Amanda Bennett, Carol Taylor Editor Sue Guilfoyle Production Coordinator Yvonne Okseniuk Printed by Newstyle Printing Master Builder is the official publication of The Master Builders Association of Western Australia. It is produced five times per year and published by Crowther-Blayne & Associates Pty Ltd. Master Builders Association of Western Australia was established in1898 and is the state’s oldest building industry organisation. The MBAWA is part of the Australia-wide Master Builder movement. Master Builder is produced to keep members informed of matters affecting them. Opinions and/ or statements in any editorial and/or advertisements are not necessarily those of the publisher and/or the MBAWA. The publisher reserves the right to reject any material deemed unsuitable for publication. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the copyright Act 1968, no part of Master Builder may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission from the MBAWA or Crowther-Blayne & Associates Pty Ltd.

MBAWA BOARD OF MANAGEMENT: President: John Ripp Senior Vice President: Robert Spadaccini Vice President: David Crothers Treasurer: Chris Lillis Immediate Past President: Robert Shaw Board Members: George Allingame, Simon Birkhead, Jason Kunkler, Andy Peppercorn, Dan Perkins, Jack Pleiter, Michael Vermey.

SENIOR STAFF: Director: Michael McLean Special Projects Director: Gavan Forster Contracts & Administration Manager: Charles Anderson Construction Director: Kim Richardson Membership Services Manager: Veronica Mill Housing & Business Development Director: Geoff Cooper Partnerships & Marketing Manager: Kelly Dewar-Matusik Events Manager: Pippa Tearne Technical Advisor: Romina De Santis Training Director: Neil Du Rand Safety Manager: Michael Fitzgerald Regional Operations Manager: Graham Bell Waste Reduction Consultant: Michael Norriss

HEAD OFFICE: 35-37 Havelock Street, West Perth WA 6005 Post: PO Box 167, West Perth WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9476 9800 (Country) 1300 550 262 Fax: (08) 9476 9801 Email: mba@mbawa.com Website: www.mbawa.com MASTER BUILDERS TRAINING CENTRE 594 Hay Street Jolimont WA 6014 Phone: (08) 9441 8000 Fax: (08) 9441 8001 Email: training@mbawa.com REGIONAL BRANCHES: Albany-Great Southern: Linda Gibbs Ph 9841 6232 Bunbury-South West: Geoff Bosustow Ph 9721 6547 Geraldton-North West: Dianne Gilleland Ph 9921 5061 Esperance: Doug Backhouse Ph 0437 184 366 Kalgoorlie: Colleen Horton Ph 0412 487 970 MEMBERSHIP INQUIRIES: Veronica Mill Ph (08) 9476 9800 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES: Master Builder is available for subscription at a cost of $55/year. Contact Membership Services Manager Veronica Mill via email at veronica@mbawa.com for further information.

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FOREWORDS president’s file J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

NEW APPRENTICESHIP MODEL FOR TOMORROW

John Ripp

The building industry has relied on the apprenticeship system for more than 60 years to provide a skilled workforce. However, the time has come to introduce a new twenty-first century model. Many builders commenced their careers as apprentices – carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers or tilers. In most cases, the apprenticeship system served these builders well and they probably would recommend it to younger generations to follow.

Despite the acknowledged strengths of Australia’s apprenticeship training system, with its close integration of work and learning, construction apprenticeships have declined for a number of years. In September 2013 there were 45,825 construction trade apprentices in training compared with 56,447 in September 2010.

This fall results from rising costs, increasing red tape, uncertain industry conditions and questions about the relevance of the apprenticeship model.

The high drop-out rate and the reluctance of employers to take on first years suggests the current model is not working. To boost apprenticeship numbers, Master Builders is proposing an alternative to the current apprenticeship model to address the crucial transition from school to an apprenticeship.

Proposed model: key elements • Our problem relates to the supply of young kids interested in a career and how to enhance the industry’s attractiveness during the Year 11 VET phase. There’s a big opportunity here for the Construction Training Fund to sell the benefits of a career in our industry.

• A compulsory VET-in-school program would be used in Year 11 (and a different program for mature age candidates) to sift out people unsuited to construction work and to ensure prospective apprentices have basic industry knowledge and can make informed decisions about whether construction is for them.

• The first year of an apprenticeship would be primarily off-site (classroom or simulated workplace-based) through approved public and private RTOs, but including exposure to work placement. By second year, the apprentice will have completed most theory units. This creates a value proposition for employer and apprentice.

• The first year of an apprenticeship could be integrated with a school leaving certificate to enable the student to obtain a Year 12 qualification.

• The remaining 2-3 years of an apprenticeship would involve primarily on-site training and assessment to maximise productive time available to the employer. By this stage, the apprentice would be old enough to have a driver’s licence and probably a car.

• All apprentices would receive industry mentoring and support services, such as through Master Builders’ Construction Apprenticeship Mentoring Scheme.

• The range of construction trade apprenticeships would be reviewed to reflect current skills in demand. The review would include whether new and/or ‘part trade’ apprenticeships would better align with likely jobs.

• Measures would be introduced to support students in remote areas to access first year off-site training. This could include travel bursaries, mobile training units and online delivery.

The value of an off-site first year The first year of an apprenticeship can be challenging for employers and apprentices.

During this intense learning phase, it is unreasonable to expect that the apprentice will add significant value to the employer. Our alternative approach is to take the first year off-site while still delivering quality industrystandard training. This would involve an apprentice spending the first year in a mix of classroom, simulated workplace and unpaid work placements to gain a wider capability to be productive on-site in the second year.

The off-site approach removes the pressure on the apprentice and supervisor that comes from being on a live construction site from day one.

Similarly, removing the obligation to pay first year wages relieves employer cost pressures

and also the pressure on the apprentice to be productive. The focus of this early stage should be on acquiring essential skills. During an off-site first year, the apprentice’s expenses could be met by Youth Allowance (if eligible) or parental support, as is the case for other full time university and TAFE students.

A big advantage is that from second year, apprentices should be more productive, working full five-day weeks and not being off-site at a training facility one day a week or for twoweek blocks. With first year front loading of theory units, it should be possible for remaining training and assessment to be conducted by training providers on-site. This offers significant benefits to employers through avoidance of lost time, and to apprentices through integration of training and assessment with actual work in the later stages of the qualification.

Conclusion The building industry faces challenges in meeting long-term demand for skilled labour.

To meet this, we are trying to add value back into the apprentice-employer relationship. With apprenticeship numbers declining, it is timely to consider how the apprenticeship model can deliver better outcomes for apprentices and employers.

There are many alternatives to this model, including integration into Year 12 certificate (for those wishing to obtain a school leaving qualification). Our model should provoke some thought from a cross section of Master Builder members. The approach has been to develop a broad concept and not get too caught up in detail at this early stage. This is a complex and emotive issue but we need to start by accepting that our apprenticeship system is in need of revamping. We are confident we can develop a new model which will build on the past and adapt to the needs of the twenty-first century.

John Ripp

Acknowledging the Support of our 2014 Partners:

FOREWORDS director’s file 5 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY With WA’s population forecast to grow faster than any other state over the next 20-30 years, our attention should turn to how we can deliver more affordable housing. It wasn’t that long ago that WA had the most affordable housing in Australia. Statistics now show that WA is one of the least affordable locations in the world even though we have abundant supplies of land – which ironically is battling to keep up with the demand for new houses.

Politicians continually pledge their commitment to affordable housing especially prior to elections, but their policies are consistently adding to the cost of building new homes!

Over the last five years, there have been many inquiries and reviews to suggest that federal and state governments were starting to get the message that something needed to change to make housing more affordable. These inquiries have included: • A Department of Planning review of the impact of planning on affordable housing.

• A Department of Finance review conducted

by ACIL Consulting on how to make the planning approvals process more efficient.

• A federal government review of the impact of foreign investment on affordable housing.

• An Economic Regulation Authority inquiry into micro-economic reform.

• A Red Tape Reduction Task Force.

• A Productivity Commission report on cutting red tape for small business.

• An ERA review of housing indemnity insurance.

• The Harper Review of Competition Policy.

Then we have the 2014 state and federal budgets which hit home buyers by: • Abolishing the NRAS scheme.

• Reducing the threshold for first home buyers’ exemption from stamp duty from $500,000

to $430,000 home and land packages.

• Abolishing the home saver deposit scheme.

• Increasing the cost of landfill by 400 percent.

• Land tax increases.

We should add here the proposed changes to building in bush fire prone areas which could add more than $5000 to a new home in some of these areas next year.

The good thing about our last state budget was the retention of some incentives for first home buyers, including the continuation of the KeyStart Scheme and First Home Owner Grant.

So, the intentions of government with respect to affordable housing are not entirely clear. It would appear from their policies, track record and lack of action that they don’t understand the impact of their policies or aren’t serious about making housing more affordable for first home buyers and other punters.

From an industry perspective there are six simple policies that would provide long term benefits to housing affordability in WA: 1. Exempt all single detached housing that complies with the Residential Design Codes from having to obtain planning approval.

This, along with a private certification regime for planners, would expedite the building approvals process significantly for 80 percent of home buyers.

2. Abolish the statutory housing indemnity scheme which has become uncertain, inequitable and costly. If the State Government isn’t prepared to ‘expose’ home-buyers to builders without some form of protection, at least limit the scheme to the Home Building Contracts Act and let the punters opt out if they chose to.

3. Abolish stamp duty on property transactions, abolish payroll tax and introduce a broader based land tax (per the ERA recommendation). This would improve home owners’ ability to relocate

Acknowledging the Support of our 2014 Partners:

in accordance with changes to their employment and lifestyle needs.

4. A more radical but better approach would be to increase the GST by 2.5-5 percent and get rid of the nuisance taxes, like stamp duty, payroll tax and possibly land tax.

Taxing expenditure rather than revenue and income is more equitable and would benefit the supply of, and demand for, housing.

5. Establish an Australian Building and Construction Commission to prosecute unlawful industrial relations behaviour. This initiative has been advocated by Master Builders for years to ensure that the multi-unit development market operates productively without inappropriate union interference.

6. The Department of Planning should exert more influence over local authorities which have a propensity to introduce their own unique town planning schemes. It’s getting to the stage where the cost and design of new homes varies significantly from one local authority to another because of these ridiculous differences.

Master Builders attaches high priority to achieving affordable housing. It is an issue about which we need to remain vigilant. Otherwise, new ‘initiatives’ get introduced by bureaucrats and governments which continue to erode the attractiveness of home ownership. It is encouraging that other prominent industry groups are now meeting with us on this agenda.

A combined approach to government will have a lot more clout and we are confident of being successful in making housing more affordable in WA. Our growing and ageing population demand that our mission be successful.

Michael McLean

6

word from the hill REPORTS J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

From time to time, Master Builder invites government members to contribute on current topics and developments. As Attorney General and Commerce Minister, Michael Mischin’s responsibilities often have a big bearing on the building industry. Here, he touches on some of the issues aimed at...

FUTURE-PROOFING THE BUILDING INDUSTRY The building industry in Western Australia is vital to our economy and our community.

As Minister for Commerce, I want to work with you to prepare for a bright and prosperous future.

Perth is the fastest growing city in the country. To meet the demand this generates, the industry needs to look at more productive and innovative ways of doing business. Building information modelling, modular construction, 3-D printers and a global supply chain have the potential to create enormous opportunities for improved efficiencies and advancing the quality of our buildings in ways undreamt of when many first started in the industry. Government can help you through supportive policies and appropriate regulation, that while preserving the quality of construction work we have come to expect in Western Australia, will provide the flexibility for the industry to exploit new techniques and encourage imaginative innovation.

The Government will continue working with the industry to enable you to make the most of the opportunities that arise.

A high priority is to continue the significant work we are already doing in finding a home indemnity insurance solution suitable for WA. In the meantime, the Government is supporting the existing insurers to ensure that pending a more long-term arrangement, it can be business as usual for your industry.

It was recently agreed by Building Ministers around the country that the National Construction Code Series, which includes the Building Code of

Australia, should be made available free of charge and online, including a fully electronic version of the Code that will be readily accessible on site. It is proposed that this be commenced in 2015.

These changes are an important step in not only ensuring that the Code is available in a cost-effective form, but to facilitate proposed moves to the electronic lodgement and processing of building applications, and to recording and accessing building information.

A review of the Construction Contracts Act 2004 has now commenced to ensure this Act works effectively with other new building legislation to provide effective and affordable dispute resolution. The review will consider the context in which the Construction Contracts Act now operates and whether it or other Acts need to be amended to improve operation.

Professor Philip Evans of Curtin University has been appointed to conduct the review and there will be an opportunity for industry to provide feedback. I encourage you to participate, to ensure the Act delivers the best possible protection for subcontractors, head contractors and building owners alike.

Research and innovation are vital to a growing and profitable building industry. The State Government is investing in research through the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre, now based at Curtin University, and will continue to invest in your industry through a huge range of government projects. I urge you to support research and development of new ideas, products and processes, either in your own business or through our universities and research institutions, to make our industry world’s best practice.

I look forward to working with you to embrace change and build the industry of the future.

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opinion UPDATES J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch looks at recent Supreme Court contempt action against the CFMEU and concludes that...

...ONLY A REVIVED ABCC CAN TAME THE ROGUE UNION The community must understand that this latest conviction of the CFMEU resulted from the principled stand of Daniel Grollo and the deep pockets of Grocon, which provided the wherewithal to take the union to court in 2012 and weather the costs of drawn-out legal action, which only ended recently – two years later.

The union’s violent protest also led to the company incurring a range of additional costs, which has led to a damages claim of $10.5 million.

You surely could be forgiven for thinking that the conviction of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union for criminal contempt of the Victorian Supreme Court over its violent protest at the Grocon Emporium site is evidence that the union and its officials choose not to behave like normal people, but rather see themselves as above the law.

For most in the community, a contempt of court conviction is sufficient to elicit some form of contrition, but in the CFMEU’s case this is yet to occur, even in the face of a $1.2 million court-imposed penalty.

Instead of a chorus of condemnation from the nation’s union leaders, we hear from the union that its criminal contempt was justified by the need to represent workers despite the fact that there was no dispute between Grocon and its employees on the Emporium site.

In a sick irony, the union also claims it was acting on safety grounds when in reality its violent blockade was a brutal show of strength targeted at preventing employees and contractors from safely entering their workplace and suppliers delivering to their customers.

For the vast majority of the construction industry, finding the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is more realistic than marshalling the resources necessary for such legal self-defence. The magnitude of the damages sought by Grocon graphically illustrates the financial and industrial gun the union holds to the heads of builders and helps explain why some in the industry cave in to union demands.

During its operation, the ABCC was an independent umpire which acted on behalf of this majority and was extremely successful at suppressing industrial thuggery of the kind displayed by the union at the Grocon Emporium site. During its operation, the ABCC also made significant inroads in tackling the toxic culture of the building industry, which allows industrial unlawfulness to flourish. Addressing the culture of the industry is vital, as much of the union’s power derives from this toxic culture of intimidation.

This is a national problem, as witnessed by the recent resurgence of industrial thuggery in states and territories including WA, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland as well as Victoria.

Prior to its abolition, the ABCC successfully prosecuted building unions in WA and Queensland, resulting in the courts imposing multiple millions in fines.

But as surreal as it sounds, this landmark judgment against the union is merely the latest in a long litany of litigation and fines for industrial thuggery on construction projects including the Westgate Bridge and hospitals in Melbourne and Brisbane.

The CFMEU should not be allowed to get away with claiming that incurring these fines is the price of standing up for workers. As the Supreme Court noted, when it comes to violent industrial thuggery the ends do not justify the means.

How much more will it take to convince the renouncers that the construction industry suffers from an endemic culture of building union intimidation and coercion?

What further evidence is required to justify the urgent restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission? There must be a point at which the Labor Party and the Greens act in the community’s interests and pass the Government’s legislation to restore the powers of the ABCC.

Sadly, without industry-wide action to curb the CFMEU’s practices, its recent criminal contempt conviction risks being just one more for the history books. While the judgment exposes the union’s modus operandi to the Heydon Royal Commission into union governance and corruption, it is only the ABCC which can safeguard the rights of all participants in the construction industry and boost its productivity.

UPDATES opinion 9 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

The State Government and local authorities are in the firing line and need to improve their planning processes.

According to Master Builders’ housing director Geoff Cooper, a damning survey shows...

...GOVERNMENTS NEED TO PULL UP THEIR SOCKS ON PLANNING A recent Master Builders’ survey of metropolitan members highlighted the urgent need for reform of planning departments of local governments and the flawed rules that they administer.

Members reported that local governments were causing major delays in their clients’ construction projects.

Of those responding to the surveyed, 83.7 percent said they were extremely or very concerned about local government delays. The strength of the feedback was a surprise. Members are clearly exceptionally frustrated. They experience different requirements imposed by different councils, which creates uncertainty and delays if requirements are not clear.

Many members reported that trivial issues were regularly being picked up to justify council delays that are adding to the time taken to process approvals. Members also are reporting a lack of accountability where statutory time frames are not being met by local government officials. Inexperience, bureaucratic thinking, and staff distractions were all identified as concerns.

Our members want to see private certification of planning requirements, stricter deemed approvals, consistent terminology, and less ambiguous provisions.

Some members reported that there were insufficient planning staff to deal with applications at some councils, which is all the more reason to allow private certification. Multiple respondents complained about local governments in Stirling, Wanneroo, Vincent, Cockburn, Bayswater and Joondalup.

Members were strongly in support of local government amalgamations at 78.3 percent. This strong support reflects ongoing concerns, expressed in the survey, that members are experiencing inconsistent and slow approval processes with applications in front of local government.

The Master Builders’ survey on local governments was sent to all metropolitan members via email. Eighty percent of responses were from residential builders and renovators and the balance from commercial builder members.

The major concern seems to lie with the planning departments, rather than building departments. The continual planning delays also are affecting the clients of our members who want their projects progressed.

Meantime, interest and rental costs mount. Our members often bear the brunt of their clients’ frustrations.

The delays cost the industry, clients and the broader community. At Master Builders, we expect planning and local government reform to be given priority by our elected representatives.

10

REPORTS general news J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

POST-BUDGET CONFIDENCE BOOST NEEDED other dwellings (including apartments) which followed previous strong growth in units and apartments over the past 12 months,” Master Builders chief economist Peter Jones says.

“The multi-unit sector has enjoyed a stellar run in recent months and therefore this fall back is not entirely unexpected,” he said. “It is in contrast to the small drop in approvals for detached houses of 0.3 percent in April to a level still 16.5 percent above its position at the same time last year.

Builders are confident the slight cooling in the rapid rise in approvals in recent months sets the scene for a more sustainable upswing without risking input cost inflation.”

Master Builders Australia chief economist Peter Jones

June national building approvals highlight the need for the Federal Government to continue setting out its post-Budget growth strategy to boost homebuyer and investor confidence, according to Master Builders Australia.

“The 5.6 percent drop in total dwellings approved, seasonally adjusted in April, is largely due to a 14 percent decline in approvals for

Mr Jones said that while the latest building approvals data did not foreshadow the end of the upturn in residential building, confidence was crucial.

COCKTAILS FOR CHINESE TRADE DELEGATION New business opportunities with China and international co-operation were high on the agenda at a Master Builders’ cocktail function held recently at Royal Perth Yacht Club.

Housing Minister Bill Marmion welcomed 13 Chinese delegates who were visiting Perth to explore potential investment opportunities.

Around 30 local representatives from the building, financial and legal sectors attended to exchange information and network on a formal basis.

“Master Builders calls on the Government to continue implementation of measures to grow the economy to ensure that the Budget’s structural repair initiatives do not unduly dampen sentiment,” he said.

WAPC PRESIDES OVER PLANNING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT The building industry often sees planning as a thorny issue. WA’s peak planning body, the Planning Commission, has a range of members with many being senior public servants. There is limited private sector representation.

Eric Lumsden chairs the Commission with directors general of the Planning Department (Gail McGowan), Environment and Regulation Department (Jason Banks), State Development Department (Steve Wood), Housing Department (Grahame Searle), Water Department (Maree De Lacey) and Transport Department (Reece Waldock) as members. The professions are represented

by Paul Drechsler and Professor Robert Harvey. The metropolitan local government representative is Mayor Henry Zelones and non-metropolitan, Cr Valerie Ammon.

Glen Kelly is the member representing indigenous interest and Dr Garry Middle, coastal planning and management. Paul Rosair, the director general of the Regional Development Department. is an associate member.

Deputy members for local government representatives are Mayor Russell Aubrey (deputy to Mayor Zelones) and Cr Ammon (deputy to Cr Ray Colyer). The WAPC secretary is Tim Hillyard. The deputy member’s position open to nomination by the Regional Minister is vacant.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIP Master Builders recently met representatives of the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors to discuss the two organisations working to enhance services to builders.

“As a peak industry association, we deal with many different organisations,” says Master Builders’ director Michael McLean. “It’s part of our role and network. ABSA agree with us that improved building energy efficiency should be seen as a value-add opportunity for the building and construction industry rather than yet another regulatory compliance hurdle.”

Pictured after the meeting at Master Builders are (l-r) Robert Spadaccini (Master Builders’ senior vice president), Michael McLean, Rodger Hills (Sydney-based ABSA CEO), Si Thoo (ABSA chairman), Neil Du Rand (Master Builders’ training director), Duncan Wilson (ABSA board member and Kalamunda principal building surveyor) and ABSA member Eddie Roe (True North Energy).

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REPORTS general news J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

MASTER BUILDERS WELCOMES SMALL BUSINESS MINISTERIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

MASTER BUILDERS’ BOARD MEETS IRONS

opportunity to advise Small Business Minister Bruce Billson on initiatives that will help create a business friendly environment.

“In the building and construction sector, thousands of small businesses literally are building Australia,” Mr Harnisch said.

“The industry is one of the nation’s largest employers and trainers of apprentices, providing jobs for more than a million Australians and a pathway to a rewarding career for thousands of young people.

Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch says the advisory council championing small business is welcome.

Master Builders Australia says establishment of the Government’s Small Business Ministerial Advisory Council recognises the vital role small businesses, including small building and construction firms, play in creating economic growth and employment.

CEO Wilhelm Harnisch says 98 percent of building and construction businesses are small firms and the Council will provide an

“Boosting the productivity of small business will deliver important benefits in economic growth and job creation, helping to better position the economy to meet its structural challenges.

Cutting red and green tape is an important weapon in this battle and easing the burden of regulation is especially important for small building firms which operate in one the most intensely regulated industries.”

Mr Harnisch said Master Builders strongly supports the Government and the Minister for Small Business in their efforts to slash $1 billion worth of red tape from the economy, freeing business people to focus on building profitable businesses and generating new jobs across Australia.

Member for Swan Steve Irons (centre) attended Master Builders’ May board meeting. He is pictured with Association director Michael McLean and president John Ripp.

Master Builders meets Finance Minister Dean Nalder shortly to discuss a number of matters including Building Management and Works, project bank accounts and the review of the Construction Contracts Act.

Master Builders’ board met Federal Member for Swan Steve Irons in May with discussion focusing on the Federal budget and abolition of red tape.

Master Builders’ director Michael McLean says the board often invites guests to address it on important industry issues. He said the talks with Mr Irons also covered boosting apprenticeship training, taxation reform, the future of safety harmonisation and industrial relations reforms.

“It is always useful to update Federal and State politicians about how the regulatory environment is impacting on builders,” Mr McLean says. “We believe Steve, as a former air-conditioning contractor, understands our industry better than most.

LANDCORP ON THE MOVE LandCorp’s builder liaison manager Rachel McAllister met recently with Master Builders’ director Michael McLean (right) and housing director Geoff Cooper to discuss the launch of LandCorp’s new Vernacular housing display village in Karratha in July. Ms McAllister has returned to her job after six months’ maternity leave and is keen to engage with builders in relation to opportunities to partner with LandCorp.

LandCorp has appointed senior development managers in Broome (Hillary Wilkins), Port Hedland (Brad Pawlenko) and Karratha (Travis McNaught who has taken over from Jacinta Harvey). Ms McAllister can be contacted on 9482 7544 or 0434 184 629 or email Rachel.mcallister@landcorp.com.au.

“Master Builders will continue to engage with politicians to discuss how they can help our members. Meetings in the near future are planned with Don Randall and Christian Porter at a Federal level and Dean Nalder and Michael Mischin at a State level.”

general news REPORTS 13 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

AUTHORITY WARNS ON DANGEROUS SOLAR ISOLATING SWITCHES

COMMON SENSE IN DUMPING OF ARCHITECT REQUIREMENT Fremantle is a major WA tourist destination but Master Builders says a rejected proposal to allow only architects to design certain buildings in the City would have been a retrograde step.

The City of Fremantle has dropped a planning scheme amendment that sought to restrict the design work on many buildings to registered architects. A closely contested Council meeting rejected the proposal that would have applied to buildings three stories and over.

Master Builders’ housing director Geoff Cooper says the rejection of the proposal was a victory for common sense.

“The amendment would have been a retrograde step that would have driven investment away from Fremantle,” he said.

“Unfortunately, for many decades the City of Fremantle has been regularly bypassed by investors due, in part, to inflexible and impractical approaches to planning regulation.

The direct result is that Fremantle residents have missed out on significant investment in office, retail and tourism infrastructure that has flowed to other Perth localities such as Booragoon, Cockburn, and East Perth.”

Mr Cooper said that one consequence is that Fremantle’s office and retail stock is old, with high relative office vacancies - typically double that of Perth’s CBD - and the area has been unable to attract large private or public sector tenants to drive economic development for local businesses.

“Indeed a number of tenants have been lost to nearby areas where more modern facilities are available,” he said. “Local researcher Y

Research previously has provided us with strong evidence of the poor performance of Fremantle in Perth’s suburban office markets.”

Master Builders opposed the proposal on a variety of grounds, arguing that the amendment would: • Restrict competition in design services, without any evidence to suggest that unregistered designers are unable to do good quality work.

• Push up costs for developments in Fremantle where architects would not otherwise be used, with no guarantee of better design outcomes.

• Establish a requirement that does not exist elsewhere in WA, making it less attractive for construction companies which engage inhouse design teams to be active in Fremantle.

• Add to bureaucratic requirements with flimsy evidence from NSW as the basis for the unwarranted change.

• Push investment into surrounding areas.

• Fly in the face of a trend in the construction industry to take design in-house.

Mr Cooper acknowledged the work of Paul Wilson and the Building Designers Association of Western Australia to oppose the amendment, saying that they had done a good job of advocating on their members’ behalf.

EnergySafety has issued an update on May public warnings about dangerous switches used in some solar systems. The supplier of Gen3 and SPM branded dc isolators has now announced a replacement program for all dc isolators with model numbers GEN3DC-25, GEN3DC-32, SPMDCISO25 and SPMDCISO32.

The dc isolators are required to be replaced. EnergySafety says anyone identifying one of the isolators within their solar system should contact Uniquip on 0457 505 122 or prp@uniquip.net.au to schedule a replacement.

“If you have not yet done so,” it says in a media statement, “shut down the system immediately by following the shut down procedure located in your main switchboard or near your invertor. If you are unsure or cannot identify the types of isolators you have, check your operating manual or invoice. If you are still unsure, contact the company that sold the solar system for further advice.

“You do not need an electrician to shut the system down. However, you should seek assistance from the solar company if you are unsure of how to carry out the shut-down procedure safely. The system will only be electrically safe once it is shut down. Do not attempt to get up on your roof to check the switch as there is no need to do this.”

For more information on consumer rights, contact Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54. EnergySafety (6251 1900) can assist with any technical queries related to electrical safety.

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TENNIS BUILDERS KINGS OF THE PARK The Robert and Kalistah Shaw combination from Daly and Shaw looked a million dollars.

Unfortunately, they failed to trouble the scorers as much as expected with the immediate past president’s usually lethal serve contributing to more double fault calls than John Tomic’s had tantrums. Something for Shaw to address before his next outing – the serve that is.

Master Builders’ tennis troopers assembled at Kings Park Tennis Club in April.

With the mid-year Grand Slams coming up, Master Builder magazine’s renowned tennis correspondent Harve Vollee roused himself from his autumn idyll to take in what he hoped would be some quality tennis at the Master Builders Butler Settineri Georgiou Corporate Tennis afternoon at Royal Kings Park in April.

Naturally eschewing actual participation, and restricting his exertion to lifting his Pimm’s, he reports faltering at the inordinately long title of the event, but nevertheless enjoying the perfect weather conditions and the antics of the 20 keen tennis enthusiasts who turned up for the tournament. His impressions follow.

Along with the usual motley collection of male competitors, the event on this occasion was graced by the presence of a record three ladies. This is indeed a welcome trend in a tournament which otherwise has reflected the macho building industry disposition. Hopefully it will inspire more of the fairer sex to follow.

Players were supposedly randomly selected (as ever, by the tournament director and chief match fixer, Michael McLean) into teams of two, purportedly to create an X-factor in the final scoring. Fortunately all pairs bonded well even though the combinations only came together once throughout the five matches.

The competitive spirit exhibited by the combatants was extraordinary. Doubtless, there were some aching bodies languishing at work the following day – pride often exceeds physical capacity among the Master Builders casual tennis players.

Regardless of the handicapping, the outstanding player was Andrej Petrovic, from sponsor Georgiou, with 25 games. He was followed closely by debutant Richard Kiel (Skill Hire) and said McLean (unashamedly oblivious to any conflict between the roles of director and player) both on 24 games.

Butler Settineri’s Joe Gangemi (nicknamed the Italian Stallion by the tournament director, for reasons of his running style, we hope) knew with whom to curry favour and saved his best form for playing with McLean. In one of the major upsets, they walloped a fit young Nathan Szkoruda (CAMS) and newcomer Astrid Cooper (Nomad) 6-1.

The other Italian import, Tony Tarzia (Coastal Tiling) struggled in the conditions but was consistent with what the tournament director somewhat ungraciously labelled, mediocre scores.

Virgina Burke (Brian Burke Homes) was a welcome addition to the tennis circuit but probably couldn’t fathom some of the unconventional styles and wasn’t able to bring her A grade game to her B grade competitors. Nevertheless, she’s one to watch in future tournaments.

Bankwest’s Paul Burnett played a solid game but faltered in the third match to ruin his chances of glory. The two most consistent pairings, however, were the ultimate winners Kiel and Ray Kershaw (Mondo Homes) and fourth placegetters Frankie Cousin (Georgiou) and Gangemi.

When it was all over tournament director McLean’s summary of the scores showed Kiel and Kershaw winners with 47 games, Stephen Lee and Petrovic second with 43.5 games, Matthew Felton and Rod Bragge third (43) and Cousin and Gangemi fourth (42). They were followed by Burnett-Cooper and, fading down the rankings, Burke and handicapper McLean (40.5), then Robert Conolly and Tarzia (31.5), Tom Jacobs and K Shaw and James Moore and Grant Rodoreda (30) and finally Szkoruda-R Shaw (21.5).

Lee (Medibank Private), perhaps stung into action by previous unkind comments regarding his timeliness, showed the greatest improvement among the undistinguished company and obviously has undergone some serious tennis training since his debut last year.

The grass courts were in great condition although some players were unaccustomed to the occasional strange bounce (not the only thing at this event which might be thus described). Sad to report, a few big names were missing from the tournament including president Ripp (who excused himself on the basis of injury and, to substantiate his claim, cunningly sported a wrist bandage in the lead up events), senior vice president Spadaccini (whose tennis ranking, in the absence of participation, continues to decline) and housing director Geoff Cooper whose body has become more susceptible to injury as a quadragenarian.

Tournament director McLean, as ever, was effusive in his thanks to Butler Settineri and Georgiou for hosting the day and, more particularly, in providing the refreshments throughout. The next corporate tennis triumph will be on 12 November. Phone Skye to reserve a spot as numbers are limited to 24.

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Pictured celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Small Business Development Corporation are (l-r) Neville Pozzi (REIWA CEO), Anne Driscoll (Commissioner for Consumer Protection) and Master Builders’ director Michael McLean.

THIRTY YEARS UP FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION The Small Business Development Corporation is celebrating 30 years since its launch and at an anniversary function late in April, screened a video giving a rundown of the organisation’s achievements since its 1984 launch by the first Small Business Minister Mal Bryce.

The SBDC has helped thousands of small business entrepreneurs over the years. Mr Bryce was a guest speaker at the anniversary event and gave an enthusiastic speech on the future for small business in Australia.

2008 GFC when it introduced the $1million BiZFiT resilience program to help businesses weather the economic downturn and prepare for a return to stronger trading conditions.

In his speech to guests at the event, Small Business Minister Joe Francis said the SBDC was a fierce advocate for small business, advising governments at all levels to ensure a fair go for the sector.

In the mid 1990’s, it was at the forefront of e-commerce for small and medium businesses with a specialised, independent information service for business owners wanting to embrace computer technology.

Small Business Commissioner David Eaton gave a run-down of current services offered by the SBDC which include a free two-hour workshop for potential small business starters that provides all the information needed to start a business in WA. More than a hundred people attend the workshops every week, but the Commissioner added that some decide they either are not suited to running their own businesses or don’t have sufficient funds to start. Mr David Eaton said it is a good outcome for people to make this discovery before they give up their job and waste their hard earned money. For those who choose to go ahead, the SBDC provides a range of advice and guidance, information and further workshops.

Issues such as extended trading hours kept coming up time and again with debates on Saturday afternoon trading in 1987, late night trading in 1995 and 2003 and total deregulation today. Throughout the years, the SBDC has tackled big issues, including the

In the past two years an Alternative Dispute Resolution Service has been established to assist businesses to resolve disputes without the need to go to court. The service is a low cost, convenient way to resolve disputes. The early stages of the service are free, with a

Highlights from the SBDC video included the introduction of Small Business Studies in secondary schools in 1985 and the opening of a number of Small Business Centres around the State in 1986. In 1991, the SBDC led the first women’s trade delegation to Indonesia and in 1993, commenced business advisory services on Christmas and Cocos Islands.

Small Business Commission David Eaton (right) is congratulated by Mal Bryce, WA’s first Small Business Minister.

small subsidised fee if mediation is required.

Mr Eaton oversees the service and says the aim is to resolve disputes as quickly as possible and get businesses back to business with relationships intact. There has been an 80 percent success rate achieved in the first stages of the resolution process.

Also in recent times, the SBDC has conducted an investigation into non-payment of subcontractors on Building Management and Works projects, launched an Aboriginal Business Directory and developed Industry Link programs providing tailored advice for selected industries, including Master Builders.

For more information on the services offered by SBDC and to view the anniversary video, visit www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au.

general news REPORTS 17 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

EARLY CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Part of the record 2013 Master Builders Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards crowd: numbers were down this year reflecting concerns about Broome’s future business prospects.

MASTER BUILDERS EYES BROOME’S PROSPECTS Master Builders has expressed interest in working with the Shire of Broome to shape the town’s future. According to Master Builders’ director Michael McLean, Broome always will be a popular tourist destination but its future prosperity and potential to attract investment to grow is less certain.

“Master Builders held its annual Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards in Broome in May and this attracted 270 builders, specialist contractors, suppliers and their guests – about 40 fewer than last year,” Mr. McLean said. “The feedback we are getting consistently from the local builders and small businesses is that Broome is becoming a less attractive place to do business, very different to what it used to be like. For a town like Broome, which has so much to offer in terms of natural attributes and capacity to attract tourists, it is very surprising that annual events like the North West Expo and Opera under the Stars have been cancelled this year.”

Mr McLean said the consequences of these decisions are very negative on business and consumer confidence.

“Now that Woodside has decided not to proceed with its James Point project, someone in Broome needs to take a leadership role and determine what the future of Broome is going to be,” he said. “Broome either can maintain the status-quo and go backwards in terms of job opportunities and new projects, or it can determine a new vision for the next 30 years when WA’s population is expected to double to five million people.

“Compared to Karratha, Broome’s building industry is currently in good shape but it won’t take long for the town to lose many of its competent tradesmen unless a clear and simple plan is developed for the future.

“It is pleasing that the Shire has recognised a strong economic direction is required for Broome and is in the process of establishing an economic development advisory group which, together with the Chamber of Commerce, the newly formed Broome Future Limited and the Broome Open for Business campaign, should kick some goals for Broome.”

Ric New Medal for Excellence Selection Criteria Entrepreneurial flair, examples of lateral or creative thinking, outstanding potential and achievements of a young person (35 years and under) to the building industry in WA. Practical applied achievements, rather than academic performance.

Prize In addition to the Ric New Medal, a return economy class airfare from Perth to London and $2,000 expenses.

Ric New “Rising Star” Award

Selection Criteria Outstanding potential, work ethic and commitment of a young person (25 years and under, other than apprentices) to the building industry in WA. Achievements (rather than academic performance), overcoming adversity and potential contribution to the building industry.

Prize $2,000 plus unique trophy Nomination Forms, to be completed by third parties, can be obtained from Master Builders (ph: 9476 9800 or email: skye@mbawa.com).

The closing date for nominations is 19 September 2014.

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CRUISEY MASTER BUILDER MEMBERS RIDE AGAINST SUICIDE Master Builder motorbike enthusiasts raised more than $5000 for MATES in Construction with a ‘cruise for a cause’ run from Association headquarters in West Perth to Ledge Point in May. More than 20 bikers gathered at Construction House for the ‘ride against suicide’ which took in scenic stops at Toodyay and Moora. The entry fee for the ride covered a barbecue at Ledge Point, memorabilia and, most importantly, a donation to MATES in Construction, the organisation which aims to reduce the level of suicide in the building industry and improve mental health and wellbeing.

Suicide levels within the construction industry are up to two times higher than those for other workers and workers are six times more likely to die through suicide than through workplace accident. MATES in Construction now operates in most Australian states and in just two years has delivered training to more than 5000 building workers and project managers in WA. ReddiFund is the organisation’s primary financial sponsor along with some State government funding.

Robert Shaw, national treasurer Dan Perkins and senior vice president Robert Spadaccini.

To contact the MATES in Construction team, phone 1300 MIC 111 (1300 642 111) or email information@matesinconstruction.org.au.

1. In the hands of the starter: participants in the cruise for a cause ride for MATES in Construction.

2. The assembled safety conscious Master Builder bikers.

3. Construction industry mates (l-r): Master Builders’ director Michael McLean, Godfrey Baronie (MATES in Construction WA CEO) and Chris Fitzhardinge (Construction Contractors Association CEO) after a meeting at Master Builders’ offices to discuss the progress of the suicide prevention program.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson took part in the ride alongside, among others, Master Builders’ immediate past president

BUILDING COMMISSION LOOKING AT PLUMBING COMPLIANCE The Building Commission’s enforcement branch has recently examined as part of its compliance monitoring activities, selfcertification of plumbing work as set out in the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000.

The investigation found that 64 percent of the 4046 licensed plumbing contractors in WA did not submit any notices of intention, certificates of compliance or multi-entry certificates in 2013. Penalties apply for non-compliance and in some cases, contractors will face disciplinary action which might jeopardise their plumbing contractors’ licences.

The Commission says the system of selfcertification is in place to provide a mechanism by which the Plumbing Licensing Board can monitor the quality of work to ensure plumbers are meeting proper standards.

“This ensures consumer confidence remains high and the industry continues to be vibrant,” the Commission says. “Those who cut corners not only risk bringing the industry into disrepute, they disadvantage contractors who are doing the right thing. All licensed plumbing contractors are reminded that it is a requirement of their licences that they must submit the necessary notices and certificates

in respect to plumbing work. Failure to do so will be detected either through the Building Commission’s ongoing investigation or as part of its new audit program.”

For further information about the Plumbing Licensing Board’s compliance initiatives, download the publication ‘Licensed plumbing contractor obligations’ on the Building Commission website.

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PROPERTY BREAKFAST PROVES POPULAR

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO IMPLEMENT TENDER PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS From 1 July the Department of Finance is introducing changes to the way its construction contracts are tendered and awarded. The Department says the changes cover two-stage tendering, contractor performance appraisal and the Department’s works tender evaluation and contract award processes. The initiatives are being introduced as part of a commitment to continuous improvement.

The Department’s advice is that there will be an increase in the use of two-stage tendering for contracts valued in excess of $5 million. In the first stage, contractors will be required to respond to an expression of interest with information on the team, experience and approach they can offer to deliver the requirements of a project. In the second stage, shortlisted contractors will be required to submit prices that the Department can consider against the information provided in the first stage to select the builder which offers the greatest value for money.

In addition, the Department is implementing a Contractor Performance Appraisal Framework.

The framework, which builds on existing practices, will require qualitative and quantitative assessments of contractor performance to be made for most works contracts valued above $300,000. Over time, the Department says, it plans to build the performance appraisals into its tender evaluation processes.

More than 100 people attended Master Builders Residential Economics Breakfast at Royal Perth Yacht Club in May. Guest speakers Alan Langford (Bankwest chief economist), Stewart Darby (REIWA executive manager research and policy) and Landgate general manager Bruce Roberts provided an in-depth update on housing approvals, population growth, demographic trends, settlement times and land supply.

Master Builders’ housing director Geoff Cooper (pictured) commented on the impact of the State budget and also put some hard hitting questions to Mr Roberts (left), Mr Darby and Mr Langford.

The Department states it has heeded industry feedback about the time it says it will take to award a contract and the time actually taken. It proposes to ensure that published tender validity periods more accurately reflect the time required to properly evaluate a tender. The standard tender validity period for most works contracts is 35 days, and the aim will remain for most contracts to be evaluated and awarded within that time. However, the Department will specify longer tender validity periods of 42 or 56 days where necessary for complex contracts that will take longer to evaluate.

For tenders published from 1 July, detailed financial and technical assessments will be done on multiple tenders to help identify the best value for money tender.

The Department also has advised it will increase the information flow to tenderers at key stages of the tender evaluation process. Tenderers can expect to receive a status update on their tender when, or if, it is deemed non-compliant, undergoing further assessment, placed on hold, no longer undergoing further assessment and when the contract is awarded. In addition, the Department will publish tendered prices for most works contracts a short time after tenders close.

For detailed information on these changes, see the fact sheets on the Department of Finance website at www.finance.wa.gov.au/works.

CALL FOR URGENT REFORM OF RIGHT OF ENTRY Master Builders Australia is urging early reform of the right of entry workplace laws to redress the current imbalance which favours unions.

The call for change came in an address by Master Builders’ national director of industrial relations Richard Calver to the 2014 Industrial Relations Conference.

“The current position with right of entry law is that it is too complex, unbalanced and is permitting unions to enter work sites on doubtful work health and safety grounds without any consequences for the unions,” Mr Calver said. “It is these practices that are illegitimate and to which the law should be directed. Recent evidence of a systemic campaign to misuse right of entry to intimidate a contractor at its Adelaide sites together

with the horrendous disruption caused by the Myer Emporium dispute over who controls health and safety, the employer or the union, reinforces the need for action to be taken.

“Master Builders will be highlighting this situation to the new Senators who take office from 1 July and informing them of the urgent need for the Senate to pass the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014 to restore a fairer balance to the laws.”

Mr Calver said passing the Bill will restore an appropriate balance to workplace relations.

“For example, the changes to the law which require employers to provide accommodation and transport to unions on remote sites are a

step too far,” he said. “Construction employers are not travel agents.

“The Queensland Government reform recently introduced amendments to the State work health and safety laws that require 24 hours’ notice for right of entry on health and safety grounds. This change is one step towards improving right of entry laws. Safety considerations should not be so devalued that they are used as a mask for other agendas.

This reform should be introduced in each State and Territory. Unions should play a constructive role in health and safety and not use it as a destructive industrial relations weapon.”

general news REPORTS 21 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

REVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS ACT SIGNED OFF

Building Commissioner Peter Gow has announced a review of the Construction Contracts Act.

A key piece of legislation that supports security of payment in WA’s building and construction industry will be reviewed this year. Building Commissioner Peter Gow recently announced that Professor Philip Evans of Curtin University has been appointed to review the Construction Contracts Act.

w w w . i n t e g r i t y n e w h o m e s . c o m . a u

“The Act is part of a suite of new building legislation implemented in WA over the past decade that has delivered significant reforms to building regulation in this State,” Mr Gow says. “With the major reforms now behind

us, and with a steady increase in the use of alternative dispute resolution in recent years, the time has come to take a good look at the operation of the Construction Contracts Act. The review will ensure the Act is providing the best possible protection for subcontractors, head contractors and building owners.”

home building work and makes provision for home indemnity insurance; and the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act which provides a system for dealing with complaints about building services, home building work contract matters and disciplinary matters.

The Act supports security of payment in the building and construction industry by: • Prohibiting or modifying unfair provisions in construction contracts.

• Implying provisions in construction contracts about payment and dispute processes if there are no written provisions about the matters in the contracts.

• Providing a means for adjudicating payment disputes arising under construction contracts.

Mr Gow said the review would consider the context in which the Construction Contracts Act now operates and whether amendments to it or other Acts are needed to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. The review was expected to commence in June.

It operates in conjunction with two other pieces of legislation, the Home Building Contracts Act which regulates contracts between consumers and builders for the performance of certain

The Construction Contracts Act came into operation on 1 January 2005. Since the introduction of the Act, the number of applications under the rapid adjudication process has been increasing. A total of 208 applications worth $226.3 million were adjudicated in 2012-13, up from 178 applications worth $183.7 million the previous year.

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SOS FOR APPRENTICE BRICKLAYERS commencements in 2011 and 2012 compared to the 10-year average,” Mr. Richardson said. “The boom-bust cyclical nature of our industry once again has conspired against maintaining a steady supply of bricklayers.”

programs is becoming more critical. Bricklayers need to be aware they can access up to $21,000 in subsidies from the Construction Training Fund and the Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation to take on and train an apprentice bricklayer.”

Mr Richardson said that although there has been a higher take-up of bricklaying apprenticeships in the last 12 months, it is not enough to offset the previous downturn.

According to ABBTF state manager Dean Pearson, the big upturn in housing starts has caught everyone by surprise which has created a major shortage of apprentice bricklayers.

Master Builders is calling for more young and mature-aged people to take up a bricklaying apprenticeship. According to the Association’s construction director Kim Richardson, the recovery in the new homes sector has highlighted a critical shortage of bricklayers.

“The average number of apprentice bricklayer commencements in WA was 300 in 2005 and the number is 324 today, but we are now building 2000 more new homes,” he said. “A bigger issue is that only 44 percent of these apprentices complete their trade, which is not enough to replace those bricklayers who are retiring. I think the time has come for a major re-think of our training regime if we are going to have a skilled workforce in the next 10-20 years.

“To maintain high standards of workmanship in the building industry will require a twentyfirst century training regime for our younger generation,” Mr Richardson said. “Otherwise we won’t be able to attract and retain the necessary skills to service the needs of our industry. The responsibility falls to all builders and specialist contractors in the building industry to train their future workforce.”

“The problems currently being experienced in the housing industry are largely due to a 50 percent decline in apprenticeship

“The establishment of more targeted tradespecific apprenticeships and channelling more students into Vocational Education Training

Master Builders’ construction director Kim Richardson says there’s a desperate need for more apprentice brickies.

MORE SCOPE FOR SKILLED MIGRATION WELCOME “Master Builders is committed to getting unemployed Australian tradies back to work and training more apprentices for rewarding careers in the building industry, as evidenced by our successful Construction Apprentice Mentoring Scheme” he said. “Master Builders’ National Survey of Building and Construction reports strong growth in the residential construction sector while our industry forecasts highlight that this trend is set to continue. As with all previous cycles, this will quickly lead to renewed shortages in critical construction trades.

Master Builders Australia acting CEO Richard Calver.

The Government has made the right call by increasing the building trade occupations eligible for skilled migration to Australia according to Master Builders Australia.

“The decision means the industry can better respond to increased future demand for skilled tradespeople such as bricklayers, driven by the strengthening recovery in the residential building sector,” the organisation’s acting CEO Richard Calver says.

Mr Calver said that prior to 2012, around 200 bricklayers a year came under the skilled independent migration scheme, with many going on to be leaders of the industry.

“Contrary to the denigration directed at foreign workers by building unions, skilled migrants add enormous value to the Australian economy,” he said. “It is simply a union myth that skilled foreign tradespeople are taking Australians’ jobs and that employers in the building industry have any incentive to employ them before unemployed locals.”

“People coming on skilled visas respond to longer term structural demand in the economy.

They are also more likely to be mature tradespeople interested in establishing businesses that train and employ young Australians.”

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J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

AUSPAN Group – A key to winning your next project AUSPAN GROUP is WesternAustralia’s leader in the design and construction of structural steel sheds and buildings for builders’ projects.

AUSPAN specialises in providing all that is needed to make the builder’s job easier. Many builders across the state have partnered with AUSPAN as a simple and easy way to win more work.

As design and construct specialists, AUSPAN looks after the complete package for your shed requirements - including the design, supply and installation of the structural steel, insulation, cladding, ventilation and roller/sliding door packages, which takes the load off your estimators and project managers. AUSPAN is able to take your project forward even from a simple hand sketch or floor plan of what you require. We then design cost effective solutions

and submit some options to add to your overall project package. Our detailed proposal will include complete 3D concept drawings that you can use as a selling tool to present to your client.

At AUSPAN we strongly encourage architects and builders to involve us at early planning and budget estimate stages so that we can assist you to our full potential and avoid the need for reworking designs to be more efficient for the end client.

Our factory and office is based in WA where all of our buildings are designed, fabricated and distributed. Being local we are readily available to call into your office to discuss your project.

Whether it is a warehouse shed for the back of your concrete offices, a curved roof only community facility, a workshop with office roof structure and column layout to match your wall framing fit out or maintenance depot with An overview of how AUSPAN can assist mezzanine floors, gantry crane and canopies – your projects can be viewed at: AUSPAN has got you covered. www.auspangroup.com.au/auspan-video.

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AWARDS kimberley pilbara awards J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

KIMBERLEY PILBARA AWARDS A ROARING SUCCESS The Master Builders Bankwest Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards at Zanders on Cable Beach in May have been acclaimed as the best ever and, with an African flavour to the night’s theme, a roaring success.

Broome’s balmy breezes set the stage for a night of highlights and a touch of Serengeti magic, with rustling grasses courtesy of Bunnings, zebras and elephants. Compere ABC broadcaster George Manning ‘yip-yipped’ his way to the stage clad in Maasai warrior cultural dress and held the audience captive for the rest of the night.

Kununurra builder Kimberley Green Constructions was the major residential winner on the night, taking out the Roebuck Estate Developments Best Country Home for a project in Riverfarm Road Kununurra. As well as the main award, the house gathered an extraordinary collection of additional awards – Contract Homes over $1 million, Best

Kimberley Home, Best Appointed Bathroom and Best Appointed Kitchen. Trade awards were Excellence in Glazing, Wall and Floor Tiling and Carpentry.

Landcorp’s Best Pilbara Home winner was Timik Developments for a home in Bardurra Street Karratha. The Bankwest Best Commercial Building went to Broad Construction Services NW for the Central Facilities Building in Wickham. The project also took out the Judges’ Innovation Award, Excellence in Energy Efficiency gong and a new award introduced by the Waste Authority, Excellence in Recycling.

Head regional judge Charlie Baggetta was highly impressed with the quality of entries in the 2014 awards. Point scores were close, and contractors had excelled in terms of quality and innovation. Other Contract Home category winners were H & M Tracey Construction, Brolga Developments & Construction,

Fleetwood’s Craig Kenyon and Terry Williamson with the company’s Transportable Homes and Most Liveable Home awards.

Kimberley Green Constructions’ Peter Green, flanked by Master Builders’ president John Ripp (left) and sponsor Rob Menzies (Roebuck Estate Developments), holds the plaque for the Best Country Home Award

Broad Construction Services won the Best Commercial Building. Celebrating the win are (l-r) Renae McNamara, Neil Woodroffe, Chris Owen and Nathan Ogilvie with Master Builders’ president John Ripp

Part of the striking facade of Kimberley Green Constructions’ award winning Kununurra house.

kimberley pilbara awards AWARDS 25 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

With Cable Beach in the background, Zanders was decked out with an African feel for the 2014 Master Builders Bankwest Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards.

Williams Homes, IP & ST Elston, Eaton Building, Broome Builders and Colin Wilkinson Developments. Fleetwood won the open category for Transportable Homes.

Apprentice of the Year was electrician Jayde Ralph employed by Kimberley Group Training and host employer Gully’s Electrical Services.

An encouragement award was presented to carpentry apprentice Dion Billycan.

SPARKIE IS TOP APPRENTICE Jayde Ralph, an electrical apprentice with Kimberley Group Training, has been recognised as the Kimberley Pilbara region’s 2014 Apprentice of the Year at the Master Builders Bankwest Building Excellence Awards in Broome.

Master Builders’ regional manager Di Gilleland says high importance is placed on apprentices as they represent the lifeblood of any industry. She praised builders and subcontractors who take on and nurture young and mature age apprentices.

“We need to look forward and realise the importance of sustaining the building and construction industry,” she said. “If we ignore the warning signs such as the shortage of trades we already face, then we are not only hurting ourselves but crippling the entire construction workforce long term.”

Host employer Gully’s Electrical reported that Mr Ralph has the drive to succeed at anything he

Though down slightly on last year’s record, 275 guests attended the awards in Broome.

Regional manager Di Gilleland said the cancellation of the North West Expo had an effect on numbers, but the awards proved the value of Master Builders’ presence in the region. “In addition to local attendance, the awards bring visitors to Broome, boosting the town’s economy with money spent on travel, hire cars, food, accommodation, tourist attractions and other aspects,” she said.

does and is proactive in the way he approaches his work. “Jayde has turned into a tradesman of very high quality with a very broad range of skills,” the employer said. “He is a fantastic role model and motivator for junior apprentices learning the trade. He has the ability to build strong relationships with fellow workers and the clients he deals with daily. People appreciate his open and honest nature; the way he communicates any work related issues is delivered in a direct uncomplicated manner and he has naturally become a leader.”

An Apprentice Encouragement Award also was presented at the Broome function with Kimberley Training Institute carpenter Dion Billycan the winner. Institute carpentry and joinery lecturer Brad Durack selected Mr Billycan for the Encouragement Award because of his dedication and excellent punctuality at trade training. “Dion is a resident with, and apprentice for, host employer Brolga Developments & Construction and travels for two hours to participate in his studies in Broome, which means he faces a number of challenges by being away from

Jayde Ralph is the Kimberley Pilbara region Apprentice of the Year for 2014.

home,” Mr Durack said. “Dion works particularly hard at his studies and sets an enormous example to his fellow apprentices. He is well respected and a fantastic team member.”

Able Electrical was named 2014 Employer of the Year at the Building Excellence Awards.

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AWARDS kimberley pilbara awards J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

AWARDS HONOURS LIST BEST COUNTRY HOME Sponsor: Roebuck Estate Developments Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra Design: Eastman Poletti Sherwood Architects BEST COMMERCIAL BUILDING Sponsor: Bankwest Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham BEST KIMBERLEY HOME Sponsor: Landcorp Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra BEST PILBARA HOME Sponsor: Landcorp Timik Developments Pty Ltd Bardurra St Baynton Design: LE Roberts Drafting & Design APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR Sponsor: Kimberley Roof Design Jayde Ralph Employer: Kimberley Group Training Host Employer: Gully’s Electrical Services APPRENTICE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD Sponsor: Regal Transport Dion Billycan Employer: Kimberley Training Institute Host Employer: Brolga Developments & Construction EMPLOYER TRAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD Sponsor: Pilbara Institute Able Electrical SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR Sponsor: Kimberley Bug Busters Steve Norman Broome Builders CONTRACT HOMES $250,000 - $300,000 H&M Tracey Construction Pty Ltd Hatoyama View Broome North CONTRACT HOMES $300,000 - $350,000 Brolga Developments & Construction Pty Ltd Nakamura Ave Bilingurr CONTRACT HOMES $350,000 - $400,000 H&M Tracey Construction Pty Ltd Dunnart Cres Broome CONTRACT HOMES $400,000 - $450,000 IP & ST Elson Builders Fairway Dr Cable Beach

CONTRACT HOMES $450,000 - $500,000 Eaton Building Echidna St Baynton West CONTRACT HOMES $500,000 - $650,000 Broome Builders Kapang Dr Broome CONTRACT HOMES $650,000 - $850,000 Colin Wilkinson Developments Gorgon Pl Broome CONTRACT HOMES $850,000 - $1,000,000 Sponsor: The Laminex Group Williams Homes Celtic Loop Broome CONTRACT HOMES OVER $1,000,000 Sponsor: The Laminex Group Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra RESIDENTIAL ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS UNDER $100,000 Custom Lifestyle Homes Glenister Loop Cable Beach RESIDENTIAL ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS OVER $200,000 Brolga Developments & Construction Pty Ltd Coverley Cnr Broome TRANSPORTABLE HOMES OPEN CATEGORY Fleetwood Pty Ltd Kangaroo Cres South Hedland MULTI RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS $1,000,000 - $2,500,000 Williams Homes Monjon Loop Broome MULTI RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS $6,500,000 - $10,500,000 Sponsor: MBA Insurance Services H & M Tracey Construction Pty Ltd Foundation Housing Broome MULTI RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS OVER $10,500,000 Sponsor: MBA Insurance Services Jaxon Pty Ltd Indian Ocean Suites Counihan Cres Pretty Pool Port Hedland COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL BUILDING $1,000,000 - $2,500,000 Sponsor: McKeno Blocks & Pavers PJ & T. Ellis Builders Wyndham Residential Care Facility O’Donnell St Wyndham

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL BUILDING $2,500,000 - $6,500,000 Sponsor: McKeno Blocks & Pavers Ri-Con Contractors Warmun Health Care Warmun COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL BUILDING OVER $6,500,000 Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL & CIVIL OVER $50,000,000 Georgiou Group Pty Ltd Mooka Village and Office Facilities 260 km Chainage BHPBIO Mainland Port Hedland JUDGES’ INNOVATION AWARD Sponsor: Lysaght Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE VOLUME PROJECT BUILDERS Sponsor: Bankwest Broome Builders MOST AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOME Sponsor: Department of Housing H & M Tracey Construction Pty Ltd Hatoyama View Broome EXCELLENCE IN BUILDING PRACTICE Sponsor: Building Commission Williams Homes SILVER TROWEL AWARD Sponsor: Midland Brick M & M Masonry Timik Developments Pty Ltd Bardurra St Baynton EXCELLENCE IN RECYCLING Sponsor: Waste Authority Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham EXCELLENCE IN CARPENTRY (INTERNAL/EXTERNAL) Sponsor: Qantas Link External: Lachlan Hard & Will Construct Internal: Pete Murphy, PJM Carpentry Colin Wilkinson Developments Gorgon Pl Broome

kimberley pilbara awards AWARDS 27 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

EXCELLENCE IN CABINET MAKING Sponsor: Jackson McDonald Brock Solid Cabinets Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra

EXCELLENCE IN WALL & FLOOR TILING Sponsor: Carpet Tile & Paint Centre Carpet Vinyl & Tile Centre Kununurra Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra

EXCELLENCE IN CEILINGS Sponsor: Cbus T & K Interiors Broome Builders Sultan Way Broome

EXCELLENCE IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY Sponsor: Steibel Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham

EXCELLENCE IN CONCRETING Sponsor: McCorry Brown & Holcim Karratha Concreting Eaton Building Balyarra Parkway Baynton West BEST APPOINTED BATHROOM Sponsors: Hays Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra EXCELLENCE IN PAINTING Sponsors: Valspar BMP Painting & Decorating Pty Ltd Timik Developments Pty Ltd Bardurra St Baynton

BEST APPOINTED KITCHEN Sponsor: Schweigen Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra EXCELLENCE IN ROOFING (TILE, METAL & OTHER CLADDING) Sponsor: Market Creations RAGS Roofing H&M Tracey Construction Pty Ltd 18 Dunnart Cres Broome BEST STEEL BUILDING Sponsor: Colorbond Eaton Building Euro Boulevard Baynton West

KIMBERLEY PILBARA AWARDS SPONSORS

MOST LIVEABLE HOME Sponsor: Liveable Homes Fleetwood Pty Ltd. Kangaroo Cres South Hedland EXCELLENCE IN GLAZING Sponsor: Toyota WA Kimberley Green Constructions Riverfarm Rd Kununurra EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATIVE CLADDING Sponsor: Oaks Hotels & Resorts Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham INNOVATIVE USE OF BUILDING MATERIALS Sponsor: Ray White Broome Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd Central Facilities Building Wickham Dr Wickham EXCELLENCE IN STRUCTURAL STEEL Sponsor: Kimberley Manufacturing Ri-Con Contractors Warmun Health Care Warmun

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UPDATES membership J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

BANKWEST-MASTER BUILDERS REFERRAL PROGRAM TO BOOST APPRENTICESHIPS Master Builders and Bankwest have teamed up to boost apprentice numbers in WA with a new referral program for Master Builder members. For eligible loans taken out by members Bankwest will be supporting the WA construction industry by paying Master Builders a commission.

Bankwest’s Paul Burnett addresses attendees at the recent Master Builders Residential Economics Breakfast.

“We will use these funds to run apprenticeship and traineeship recruitment programs including promoting careers to students and providing information to construction employers and apprentices in WA,” says Association housing director Geoff Cooper.

employee savings, which includes a home loan specialist who will come to your office or home, and exclusive home loan offers. It’s a fantastic alliance between two well established Western Australian organisations, which benefits our members and the industry.”

“Master Builder members have access to dedicated business development managers at Bankwest, who will ensure that the best business finance and home loan deals from Bankwest are available. Another advantage of partnering with Bankwest is access to the exclusive Bankwest Work Perks program of

For member enquiries, contact: • Garry Murphy – business loans, 0407 879 684.

• Paul Burnett – Work Perks benefits for your employees, 0459 802 312.

• Lisa Hutchins – home loans and personal loans, 0467 807 662.

Alternatively, for a Bankwest representatives to make direct contact, speak to Kimberley at Master Builders (9476 9800) who will pass details on to Bankwest within five business days.

Important things you should know: lending criteria, fees and charges apply. Terms and conditions apply and are available on request. New consumer credit only. Deals greater than $4 million will be agreed on a deal-by-deal basis. Bankwest may pay a commission of 0.33% on each new referral deal from Master Builders.

SOCIAL MEDIA BUILDS CUSTOMER LOYALTY Social media is a powerful tool that can be used by organisations to build trust and loyalty with customers, according to guest speaker Tenille Bentley at the Women in Building and Construction breakfast in June.

Guests at the breakfast were captivated by Ms Bentley, managing director of Socialite Media, philanthropist and finalist in The Australian Financial Review’s 2013 Women of Influence, who explained the importance of organisations having a presence on social media.

“Social media is a customer relationship management tool that gives organisations the ability to continually connect with their customers and build brand loyalty,” she said.

“It also gives organisations the ability to reach potential customers that they would otherwise have no way of connecting with. Sixty-five percent of Australians are using social media, with the average Australian spending in excess of seven hours a week on Facebook, making

us the highest users of the networking site in the world. The first step is to know your customer. This will define what you do in the social media space.”

Ms Bentley also highlighted the importance of having a social media policy, which is continually updated, incorporating a crisis management plan.

“It’s important to deal with any negative comments that appear on social media by responding to the comment and then taking the conversation offline. The worst thing you can do is immediately delete the negative comment.”

Tenille Bentley had the WinBaC audience rapt with her address on social media.

The successful event was supported by WinBaC sponsors Brikmakers, Cbus, Hays, Jackson McDonald and MBA Insurance Services. The Women in Building and Construction End of Year Lunch will be held on 9 November.

Part of the large crowd at the June Women in Building and Construction breakfast.

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Construction Training Fund Introduce Cash Incentives for Employers Members of MBA know how the Construction Training Fund can reduce the costs of employing apprentices in WA’s building and construction industry.

The Training Fund has introduced a range of new incentives for eligible employers of apprentices in construction trades, with up to $21,000 in cash now available to help reduce the costs of adding a new apprentice to your business.

The minimum standard grant available to an eligible employer is now $4,000 (for a 12 month traineeship), rising to a maximum of $10,000 for a 48 month apprenticeship in core construction trade areas.

In addition to the standard grants, the Training Fund provides a one-off bonus to an eligible employer of up to $4,000, depending on trade qualification. A further bonus of $2,000 is available to an employer of an apprentice that has successfully completed a recognised Certificate II VET-in Schools or pre-apprenticeship qualification. Existing allowances for employment of indigenous and regional trainees/apprentices remain, bringing the maximum grant available to a total of $21,000.

The new grants are available to employers of trainees/apprentices registered with the Department of Training & Workforce Development on or after 1 July 2014. Direct indenture employers receive the grant in

three equal instalments. The first is paid after probation and six months of employment; the second at the halfway point of the indenture and the final payment is made after successful completion of the qualification.

Trade and/or VET-in Schools/Pre-apprentice bonus payments are paid to the employer together with the first instalment.

You’ll also receive the benefits of the grant from the Training Fund if you host an apprentice through a Group Training Organisation (GTO). The GTO claims the grant and any bonus payments on your behalf and puts this funding towards the cost of employing and training the apprentice.

This will result in a net reduction in your net costs of hiring an apprentice through the GTO. Look for the note on the GTO’s invoice that shows your apprentice is being supported by the Construction Training Fund.

Visit bcitf.org or call 9244 0100 for more information about the Construction Training Fund’s apprenticeship grants and other support programs for the construction industry.

It’s your training fund.

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UPDATES membership J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

JOIN HUNDREDS OF OTHER WA CALTEX STARCARD HOLDERS Master Builder members in WA now can save even more through the Caltex StarCard. The Association has negotiated a better deal for its members. The exclusive deal with Caltex offers more than 50 percent off the monthly fee on StarCard fuel cards, and four cents per litre off the pump price for diesel and unleaded fuel.

As well as financial benefits, Caltex StarCard has many additional advantages for members including: • Reduced paperwork with a single, easy to read, ATO approved monthly invoice.

• More than 2000 participating fuel outlets Australia-wide.

• Increased control by deciding on the types of purchases allowed on each card.

• The ability to track vehicle spending and maintenance online.

• Maximised security with a PIN and odometer reading for every card.

• Access to a dedicated Caltex Customer Support Centre for lost and stolen cards.

Master Builders’ communications and housing officer Kimberley Alexander says the Caltex offer has been successful in WA. “It is one of many member savings we now have for members,” she said. For more information or to sign up, visit www.mbawa.com or call Kelly Dewar-Matusik on 9476 8900.

WINBAC COMMITTEE SNAPSHOT – CARLA BRADFORD business through our data. Having the right information and the right statistics is vital for our customers and that’s what Cordell has been providing for over 45 years.

New WinBaC committee member Carla Bradford.

State manager for WA and SA at Cordell Carla Bradford is the newest member of the Woman in Building and Construction committee.

After 14 years with Cordell and with her vast knowledge of the construction industry, Ms Bradford is seen as a great asset to WinBaC. Tell us about Cordell and your role as State Manager I handle new business enquiries and presentations of our electronic data base Cordell Connect which is an interactive management program of construction and mining leads in WA. I also support and manage customers once they come on board with Cordell in assisting in their training and customer support of the data base program.

In my role as state manager I help companies prospect new opportunities in the construction, civil and mining industries to source out new projects and assist them in winning new

When did you get involved at Master Builders and in particular WinBaC? Cordell was already a member when I joined the company so I attended my first event way back then. I can remember the event; it was a Trade Night at City West.

Likewise I jumped on board with WinBac when it first started up in 2004. Master Builders had implemented a mentoring program and I signed in as both a mentor and a mentee. When I started out, the industry was very male-centric.

Over time the barriers have been breaking down and I think WinBaC has been a very positive medium for driving some of that change.

Would you encourage women to look to the building and construction industry as a worthwhile career path?

Definitely. From a personal perspective I have always been encouraged and supported. I do understand that overall there is still some way to go before women enjoy full equality and are afforded the same opportunities, but things are changing. And let’s face it, the more women who enter the industry, the easier it will become. I’m passionate about the

construction industry and helping women grow and be recognised, so I was very pleased to be invited onto the WinBaC committee.

In your role you keep a close eye on the state of the market. How do you see things currently?

The residential sector is flourishing and we’re now seeing some significant changes in the statistics. The commercial sector has slowed down and we are not seeing as many projects over $50 million in WA but civil construction is always very buoyant in this State. Development is now back under way, construction of apartments is booming and it appears that subcontractors are in high demand.

Balancing work and family and finding time for yourself can’t be easy. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Well, with a husband and six boys at home, there’s not a lot of what I’d call spare time.

Weekends usually involve different sporting fixtures with the boys. My relaxation time comes in the morning. I’m up at 5.30am and off to the gym for spin and boxing classes which I enjoy immensely. I’m also a member of a book club, although finding the time to read is a huge challenge.

membership UPDATES 31 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

MASTER BUILDERS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS 888 BUILDING COMPANY PTY LTD

0433 500 323

CAMBUILD 08 9244 8522

FRONTLINE INTERIORS

08 9249 7133

QUALSTRUCT PTY LTD

0401 207 844

GREG HORAN CONSTRUCTION

0417 090 366

REDSTONE CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD08 9414 5680

08 9279 4599

I.D. DESIGN 0400 771 076

THIRD MILLENIUM BUILDING CO.

08 9302 4461

DANGOO ENGINEERING CONSULTING 0439 081 969

MEGARA CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD 08 9230 3600

TROPICAL POOLS

0414 557 322

CAPITAL RECYCLING

0401 534 709

MG GROUP (WA)

08 9443 4795

TV FINANCIAL SERVICES

08 9072 1138

DESIGN & CONSTRUCT RESIDENTIAL 08 9244 2883

NADIM SADER

0410 320 003

VDEC GROUP

0450 449 021

PERTH MEDIATION CHAMBER

08 6113 2645

VERSATILE FENCING

0418 370 370

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WESTWAY CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD 0424 838 516

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WOOD GROUSE CARPENTRY PTY LTD 0478 973 104

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FREMANTLE DESIGN & CONSTRUCT 0418 913 060

OH WHAT A FEELING FOR MASTER BUILDER MEMBERS Toyota has committed to continuing to support Master Builder members through its National Gold Fleet Discount across the full range of vehicles. The deal applies to all models, from the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser and unbreakable Hilux to the luxurious Aurion Presara.

a decade with the discount upgraded to the highest level, Gold, in November 2011. Toyota Australia also has committed to supporting the Master Builder movement through ongoing sponsorship of the Master Builders’ National Conference and National Awards for Excellence in Building and Construction.

Members are encouraged to visit their local Toyota dealer to explore the range of vehicles and to take full advantage of the outstanding member discount.

Toyota’s relationship with Master Builders and the member discount spans more than

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32

UPDATES safety J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Sites, large and small, require proper safety management plans and safe work method statements for high risk work.

An Occupational Safety and Health Management Plan (Safety Management Plan) for a construction site is a documented process of how occupational safety and health is managed within the workplace.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLANS A MUST FOR MOST SITES

Mike Fitzgerald

than five people will be working on site, a safety management plan is recommended as it provides written evidence of how risks are being managed within the workplace.

When do I need a safety management plan?

Division 12 of the Western Australian Occupational Safety & Health Regulations 1996 requires the main contractor to develop and implement a safety management plan for a construction site where five or more people are, or are likely to be, working at the same time. Although not legally required where less

A safety management plan must be prepared for the site before work commences and be kept up to date for the duration of the project.

It is a plan that, as far as practicable: • Identifies each person on the site who has a specific occupational safety and health responsibility in relation to the site and describes how those responsibilities are coordinated.

• Describes what occupational safety and health induction training will take place in respect of construction work being conducted on the site.

• Describes the arrangements for managing occupational safety and health accidents and incidents on the site.

• Sets out the site safety rules and describes the arrangements for ensuring that all persons on or visiting the site are informed of the rules.

• Includes information in relation to the identified hazards to which a person at the

construction site is likely to be exposed, the risk of injury or harm to a person resulting from those hazards and the means by which the risk may be reduced.

• Includes any safe work method statements or job safety analyses for the site.

The main contractor also must ensure, as far as practicable, that: • Every person doing construction work at the construction site has been given a copy of the safety management plan.

• If the safety management plan is amended, every person is given a copy of the changes that relate to the person’s work.

• Until the construction work is completed, a copy of the safety management plan is available for inspection by any person doing, or about to commence, construction work at the site; a member of a safety and health committee for the site who is an employee; and a safety and health representative for the construction site.

Safe work method statements and job safety analyses The OSH Regs require a safe work method

safety UPDATES 33 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

statement (SWMS) to be conducted for the following high risk work activities: • Construction work involving a risk of a person falling two metres or more.

• Construction work on telecommunications towers.

• Construction work involving demolition.

• Construction work involving removing or disturbing asbestos.

• Construction work involving alteration to a structure that requires the structure to be temporarily supported to prevent its collapse.

• Construction work involving a confined space.

• Construction work involving excavation to a depth of more than 1.5 metres.

• The construction of tunnels.

• Construction work involving the use of explosives.

• Construction work on or near pressurised gas pipes (including distribution mains).

• Construction work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines.

• Construction work on or near energised electrical installations and lines (whether overhead or underground).

• Construction work in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere.

• Construction work involving tilt-up or precast concrete.

• Construction work on or adjacent to roads or railways that are in use.

• Work on a construction site where there is movement of powered mobile plant.

• Construction work in an area where there are artificial extremes of temperature.

• Construction work in, over or adjacent to water or other liquids if there is a risk of drowning.

• Construction work involving diving.

The main contractor for a site must ensure that all high risk construction work done, or to be done, at the site will be covered by a safe work method statement.

Where high risk construction work is, or is to be, done at the site, the main contractor must, as far as practicable, ensure that each person identified by the main contractor as having day to day, on site control of high-risk construction work at the site gives the main contractor a safe work method statement for that work before the work commences. The main contractor also must ensure the safe work method statement is kept up to date.

A person having day to day control of a high risk work activity on site must, as far as practicable, give the main contractor the SWMS for the high risk construction work that the person is in charge of and keep it up-to-date. If the main contractor is unable to obtain a SWMS from

the person/s conducting the activity then the main contractor must prepare the necessary statement and keep it up to date.

The safe work method statement must be in writing and, as far as practicable, identify: • Each high risk construction work activity that is, or includes, a hazard to which a person at the construction site is likely to be exposed.

• The risk of injury or harm to a person resulting from any such hazards.

• The safety measures to be implemented to reduce the risk, including the control measures to be applied to the activity or hazards.

• A description of the equipment used in the work activity.

• The qualifications and training (if any) required for persons doing the work to do it safely.

The main contractor must ensure that there are measures in place to ensure, as far as practicable, that: • High risk construction work is carried out in accordance with the relevant SWMS. • If the work is not carried out in accordance with the statement, the work ceases, when safe to do so.

• Work does not resume until the SWMS is complied with.

For further details, or help in developing a safety management plan, contact Mike Fitzgerald on 9441 800 or email safety@mbawa.com.

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UPDATES members’ health J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Cutting both ways: employers have a duty to protect workers from sun exposure and employees, a duty to cover up. Image courtesy of Queensland Health.

UV OVEREXPOSURE A BUILDING INDUSTRY WORKPLACE HAZARD For many Australians, the workplace is a major source of sun exposure. When you think that most of us spend at least 7.5 hours at work a day, those who spend most of their working day outside could potentially be exposed to about 1875 hours of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) at work in a year – meaning that outdoor workers receive the vast majority of their total yearly sun exposure during work hours.

About 23 percent of all Australian workers are estimated to be exposed to solar UVR at work.

Building and construction workers receive some of the highest levels of exposure.

Exposure to ‘Class 1 Carcinogens’ in the workplace Solar UVR has been classified as a ‘Class 1 Carcinogen’ – meaning that it causes cancer in humans, just like tobacco, asbestos and alcohol. Exposure to solar UVR is the most common carcinogen that the majority of Australian workers are exposed to, with more than two million workers exposed to significant solar UVR. Exposure to reflective surfaces in the workplace People who spend a lot of the working day near reflective surfaces, including water, roofing iron, glass and sand, are exposed to increased solar UVR. In Australia, about 46 percent of workers reported working near reflective surfaces. Tradesmen (including painters,

plumbers, carpenters and electrical workers) are an occupational group that is more likely to work near reflective surfaces.

Exposure to solar UVR in work vehicles Workers who spend considerable time in their vehicles can receive significant exposure to solar UVR. This is because plain window glass used for side windows usually only has an ultraviolet protection factor of about 12, which provides only moderate protection. The level of solar UVR inside a vehicle varies depending on whether the side windows are open or closed, the orientation of the vehicle with respect to the sun and if the windows are tinted.

Use of window tinting on vehicles is strongly recommended as it can reduce UVR to virtually nil inside the vehicle. Modern laminated windscreens block basically all solar UVR. Skin cancer risk from cumulative damage UVR related skin damage accumulates over time. The more overexposure to solar UVR a person receives, the higher their risk of developing skin cancer. In the building and construction industry, workers need to complete much work outside and thus are exposed to a lot of solar UVR. Protection on the worksite Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their workers from ‘foreseeable harms’. As a ‘Class 1 Carcinogen’, solar UVR is a known harm which is ‘foreseeable’. This means that

employers have a duty of care to protect their workers from overexposure to solar UVR while they are outdoors. Workers have an equal duty to cover up when asked by the boss. It’s the smart way to go.

Want help with sun protection in your workplace?

Cancer Council WA can provide the information required to develop a comprehensive sun protection program in your workplace. Contact Lorena Chapman, SunSmart workplace coordinator on 9388 4360 or lchapman@cancerwa.asn.au if you are interested to find out more.

For more general information about why and how you can protect yourself and your workers from overexposure to solar UVR have a read of the Cancer Council’s ‘Skin cancer and outdoor work – a guide for employers’.

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UPDATES members’ health J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

WORKPLACE WELLNESS IS THE KEY Employees are the most valuable assets to any company and are the lifelines of organisations.

Engaged and healthy employees look forward to, and are passionate about, their work, and cooperatively work together to grow and build a stronger company. They support a company's goals, vision and brand, and look for new and better ways to achieve outcomes, drive business and promote innovation. The cost to replace an engaged, healthy employee can be as high as 10-30 percent of the employee's salary.

Sometimes, just a little intervention can have a positive impact on employees and the business's bottom line. More specifically, well-structured wellness programs have been shown to improve the mental, emotional, physical and professional health of an employee, thereby increasing employee engagement, productivity and retention.

As workplace wellness programs are becoming more widespread throughout the country, the buzz is catching on. The bottom line of such programs is this: healthy employees tend to be happier and more productive employees.

The benefits for employers are obvious.

Wellness programs provide the company with strategic advantages and lowered expenses in

return, often in the form of better performing workers, and lower absenteeism and health care costs.

Increase productivity Fatigue is one of the most serious healthrelated problems in the workplace, having an impact on accidents, absenteeism and lowered productivity. Along with fatigue (often caused by poor sleep), other common ‘energy zappers’ are poor food choices, lack of exercise, dehydration, and stress. All of these factors can affect employee productivity.

Reduce absenteeism Stress is a contributing factor in many health problems and accounts for billions of lost workdays annually. Unresolved stress, whether physical, mental or emotional in nature, has a negative effect on health. Regular or continuous stress weakens the immune system, increases the likelihood of illness and slows the healing process.

Employee wellness programs save companies money Studies of worksite health promotion programs show: • Average 28 percent reduction in sick leave absenteeism.

• Average 26 percent reduction in health costs.

• Average 30 percent reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims costs.

(The Art of Health Promotion – American Journal of Health Promotion)

Wellness programs have proven to be an effective tool in reducing the growth of health care costs. While health cost reduction from employee wellness programs may be less evident than productivity gains, research shows that medically high-risk workers are medically high-cost workers as they use additional health care and generate higher claims costs.

For information on how your team can benefit from a tailored workplace program contact the Warrior Wellness Program, Conan Fitness, 0402128725.

industrial relations UPDATES 37 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Master Builders’ construction director Kim Richardson looks back on an overseas mission by WA builders more than two decades ago and sees the long-term gains.

THE CANADIAN TRIP DELIVERS

Master Builders’ construction director Kim Richardson

contractors which employed union members while those contractors competed with others which did not have union labour. In essence, the presence of an effective non-union construction sector played a positive influence keeping irresponsible union conduct at bay with union strike action generally only limited to times when the union was renegotiating a new labour agreement with individual employers. The competitive tension kept both sectors in balance.

The early 1990s saw a WA delegation of building industry representatives return from a State Government sponsored Canadian trip to review that country’s construction industry industrial relations framework. The trip would prove to have a profound impact on the WA industry and its industrial relations culture over the next two decades, though few appreciated what was happening.

The employer delegates decided on laying a foundation of achieving a similar outcome for the WA construction industry in the future.

Some at the time considered it unachievable, given the poor state of industrial relations in the local construction sector, the major level of construction union influence and the militant attitude of the construction unions for selfserving purposes.

Canada is comparable to Australia in many ways but at that time its construction industry industrial relations climate was much more stable than in WA where the situation was very volatile. Strike action was a weekly occurrence with Perth construction sites suffering stoppages for such things as ‘no union ticket/no start’, inter-union rivalry, hot water in the site hut not hot enough and other ridiculous reasons that resulted in construction cost blow-outs and delays. Payment of ‘strike pay’ was a common feature of strike action.

Construction unions rarely complied with the construction award dispute resolution clauses that were supposed to stop irresponsible strike action while disputes were being argued before the Industrial Relations Commission as the independent umpire. Such clauses eroded union control and were ignored by them. The Commission, in turn, was impotent in holding the construction unions to account.

However, a little over two decades later, the vision of that employer delegation has come to pass. Other factors also have made a big contribution but the rise of market forces in the local construction sector cannot be understated. It was not easy, with much pain along the way, but the WA commercial construction industry now reflects the Canadian and US construction industry labour market model. The upshot has seen the CFMEU recently issue a new pattern union EBA that reduces labour costs by about 20 percent as the union has finally recognised its existing pattern EBA – that sees labourers earning about $130,000 and trades about $145,000 per year respectively – simply was unsustainable. The concession only came as, over the past decade or so, many building contractors walked away from dealing with the union because of its irresponsible conduct and inability or unwillingness to change, and also because of the commercial disadvantage employer signatories to the union pattern EBAs suffered. The union did itself no favours by ignoring the facts that contractor signatories to the union’s very expensive EBA were losing work and sacking employees, employees who were union members.

The employer delegates returned to Perth with a profound belief in the need for a fundamental change in how the local construction industry conducted itself on the industrial relations front. The Canadian model was based on the US model with both providing stable industrial relations that saw builders build and construction workers do what they do best, go to work and build things, not strike for the sake of taking strike action.

The key aspect of the North American approach was the influence of market forces.

Unions worked in a co-operative manner with

What this meant was the emergence of a nonunion EBA sector that increased its influence to the point of reaching a critical mass whereby it was the more dominant sector of the local commercial construction market. It offered reduced construction costs by as much as 10 percent which attracted clients and employed

a large portion of the commercial construction sector workforce.

Market forces today are a major driver of WA construction industry change and shape the responses of industry participants, including the unions, to what the market wants and is prepared to pay. Ultimately, clients decide if they will or will not build a project, and at what cost. Building contractors need to meet those expectations. Excessive labour costs work against contractors winning construction contracts.

The recent recognition by the CFMEU of the need to wind back its unsustainable EBA package is a step in the right direction but time will tell if the union really ‘gets it’, as absent from that new workplace offer was any improvement in productivity.

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UPDATES industrial relations J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

PRAISE FOR FWBC CLAMP ON UNION MISCONDUCT Master Builders Australia legal counsel and acting CEO Richard Calver has praised the level of FWBC activity.

Master Builders has congratulated Fair Work Building and Construction for its increased activity cracking down on union misconduct.

Master Builders Australia acting CEO Richard Calver says that 135 active FWBC investigations into union activity show the inconvenient truth of the industry is that coercion and unlawful industrial action are daily occurrences.

“Master Builders has noticed an increase in unlawful activity, including an increase in secondary boycott conduct,” he said. “The

Fair Work Building and Construction Agency has limited powers, particularly if a settlement is reached between an individual building and construction industry participant and the union, following the union’s misconduct. This has led to the union providing members with pro forma deeds of settlement that, on the payment of a small amount of money, settle any matters which might otherwise be able to be prosecuted by FWBC.” Mr Calver said the tactic relies on the omission in the law that was deliberately established to strip the agency of powers to follow up on unlawful behaviour.

“Master Builders is therefore renewing its call for the Australian Building and Construction Commission to be reinstated as soon as possible and for the Bills currently before Parliament to be passed as a matter of urgency,” he said.

• ABBTF Brickstart Subsidy is additional to Federal Support • Quality school leavers are keen and ready • ABBTF supports bricklayers to find the right candidate.

WA EMPLOYER SUBSIDY PAYMENTS AVAILABLE ON A NEW BRICKLAYING APPRENTICE: (Direct indenture system based on 3 year term):

*Conditions Apply

$3,333 $4,000 $1,500 $1,000 $3,333 $1,000 $2,500 $3,333 $1,000

$21,000

Bricklayers and builders employing a new apprentice through a group training organisation should enquire on the availability of the above benefits. * Brickstart Applications are required within 3 months of start or recommencement. For ABBTF Conditions and application details visit abbtf.com/industry-subsidies.

Bricklayer & Apprentice Makes good business sense

www.abbtf.com.au/industry-subsidies

or call 1300 66 44 96

An international union body ranks Australia as a nation of concern on handling IR along with other recalcitrant countries such as the UK and Canada. More loved countries among others include the Russian Federation, Rwanada, New Zealand, Italy, Togo and Uruguay.

One might wonder how this ridiculous survey was done and who answered the questions from some countries.

BIGGEST LOSER CANDIDATE

BRICKLAYING APPRENTICE

Total Subsidy

AUSTRALIA CRITICISED

The Oz tradition of the ‘sickie’ might be under attack with discussion about adopting the UK model where doctors write a note setting out what duties a sick employee can do! A far cry from the local meaningless doctor’s note of “unfit for work/ study” that is often produced these days.

FOR INVESTING IN A NEW WA

CTF Standard Grant CTF Trade Bonus Federal Government Commencement ABBTF Brickstart Subsidy CTF Standard Grant ABBTF Brickstart Subsidy Federal Government Completion CTF Standard Grant ABBTF Brickstart Subsidy

The CFMEU has announced it will fight “tooth and nail” against the Federal Government increasing the pension access age to 70 in 2035. This is the same union that was mute when the previous Labor Government raised the pension age to 67 from 2023 and raised no complaint. Maybe they missed that?

SICKIE IN DANGER?

$21,000 6 months 6 months 6 months 12 months 18 months 24 months 36 months 36 months 36 months

CROCODILE TEARS

A recent Bloomberg report on the national workforce revealed an increase in state and federal public servants over the past decade of 370,000. Compare that to the mining sector of only 170,000 over the same time. Little wonder government budgets are under stress!

STOP MEANS STOP A coal mine truck driver failed in an unfair dismissal claim after failing to immediately stop when alarm bells sounded in the truck cab – a direct contravention of operating rules reinforced at tool box meetings every shift. Continuing to drive the truck with no oil resulted in $500,000 in repairs. Oops.

STICKS, STONES, NAMES...

The MUA has been convicted of breaching the Federal adverse action provisions when the union assistant secretary put up posters around Fremantle naming five port workers and including their photos and calling them scabs and other obnoxious names for not striking. Seems the MUA fails to understand this is the twenty-first century as it battles the struggles of the last century. The union faces heavy fines for its stupidity and rightly so.

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To find your local Fleet Specialist Dealer, call 1800 444 847

2014

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40

UPDATES insurance J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE FOR CONTRACTORS MBA Insurance Services’ WA state manager Nick Vernon explains Professional Indemnity insurance (or PI insurance) which provides financial protection for companies and individuals for claims made against them in the course of carrying out their professional services. of professional duty, even if provided by an external consultant. Here’s an example:

MBA Insurance Services’ WA state manager Nick Vernon can assist with Professional Indemnity insurance issues.

Why you need PI insurance Construction industry professionals such as contractors and builders who provide design or other professional services in addition to, or as part of, their construction activities for clients assume the additional responsibilities and liabilities of a design professional. Claims against design and construct contractors almost always involve professional (for example, design) and non-professional (for example, workmanship) services. The problem arises where there are two or more proximate causes of a loss and one of those causes is excluded, then legally the entire claim may be excluded!

Whether or not you provide these professional services in-house or engage an external consultant, you assume liability to your clients or other parties for claims arising out of injury or loss incurred as a result of a breach of professional duty in the provision of these professional services. Design and construct firms face significant liability exposures from the multi-disciplinary professional services they provide on a daily basis. Getting it wrong can have catastrophic financial consequences so managing those exposures and purchasing high quality, comprehensive professional indemnity insurance is no longer an option – it’s a necessity for survival.

Who takes out PI insurance?

In the past, PI Insurance was only considered by engineers, architects or designers and the like. But as you can see, the contractor or builder entering into a design and construct contract assumes the liability arising out of injury or loss incurred as a result of a breach

You enter into a design and construct contract with an owner to build a house. You have all your plans signed off by an external consultant.

An incident occurs and it is found to be an error in design that led to the loss. The owner claims against you, because it’s you that entered into the contract with the owner and therefore have assumed liability not only for the build, but for the design. You then claim against the external consultant who signed off on your plans.

• What if the external consultant’s policy has expired and hasn’t been renewed?

• What if they have several other claims and have exhausted their aggregate limit of liability?

• What if they don’t have adequate coverage?

The owner still needs to be compensated for the loss and you can’t recover from the external consultant. A Professional Indemnity policy is critical.

PI insurance also can be required by contract.

For example, if you are engaged to design and construct a building for a principal, you might be required to show you hold PI insurance before being awarded the contract.

What are you being covered for?

Professional Indemnity insurance provides essential financial protection for construction (design and construct) consultants against potential losses as contractors increasingly take on design liability either by employing their own in-house design professionals or by assuming liability where they subcontract out the design element. Key exposures are design failure; inadequate or incorrect advice, design, specification; inadequate supervision in project management; inappropriate or incorrect certification; lack of experience; poor work documentation; poor communication with clients.

How does PI insurance work?

PI insurance must be in place at the time a claim is made against you and therefore is described as a ‘claims-made’ policy. This

means that the policy only provides cover for claims made against you during the period of insurance and subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy in place at the time. It is critical you advise your insurance broker as soon as you are aware of a claim against you, or even an incident that possibly could give rise to a claim prior to the expiry of your policy.

Who can claim against you?

PI claims can be made against you by clients, regulatory authorities, professional bodies and associations, as well as other third parties to whom you owe a duty of care (including communities). PI insurance protects you against a number of allegations such as claims for: • Negligence – if you fail to exercise the standard of care for your profession or occupation.

• Libel and slander (also known as defamation).

• Infringement of intellectual property rights, including breach of copyright, patents and trade secrets.

• Breach of legislation such as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (formerly the Trade Practices Act) for claims alleging misleading and deceptive conduct.

Professional liability insurance is no longer just the domain of architects, engineers or draftsmen. Contractors entering into design and construct contracts, even if the design component is subcontracted to a third party, are at risk of professional indemnity claims.

legal UPDATES 41

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

BARKER V MIDSTYLE NOMINEES – you cannot sell land you do not own At its most basic, section13 of the WA Sale of Land Act (1970) prohibits a person from selling five or more lots in a residential land subdivision or any lots in an off-the-plan strata development unless the seller is the owner of the underlying parcel of land on which the development is taking place.

Contraventions of s.13 have been more common than you might assume and you may know of a project where there was a contravention. Commonly used acquisition structures will need to be modified to avoid the dire consequences of a contravention.

While on the face of s.13, a contravention of the section results in a relatively minor penalty, what happens to the contract that was signed in breach of the section? Can the buyer get out? Can the seller get out?

For how long does the right to get out continue?

The problem with s.13 is that while the prohibition is quite clear, the consequences of breaching that prohibition are not. The section does not say what happens to a contract signed in breach of the section.

In the recent decision of Barker v Midstyle Nominees Pty Ltd [2014] WASCA 75, the WA Court of Appeal discussed the construction and interpretation of s.13 and decided what a contravention of that section means for sale contracts that breach the section.

What was the question in front of the WA Court of Appeal?

In the Barker Case, Midstyle Nominees Pty Ltd (the seller) sold strata lots off-the-plan at a time when it was not the owner of the development site. But about three months after signing the contracts it did become the owner of the development site. Midstyle admitted that it had breached s.13 of the Act but the parties were in dispute as to the legal consequences of the breach. The buyer terminated the contract, but Midstyle wanted to hold the buyer to the contract even though there had been a breach of s.13 because Midstyle eventually became the owner of the development site and was of the opinion that doing so remedied the breach.

What did the WA Court of Appeal decide?

The WA Court of Appeal did not agree with Midstyle. The court decided Midstyle was unable to enforce the contract against the buyer at any time notwithstanding Midstyle becoming the owner of the development site. The contract was enforceable by the buyer against Midstyle notwithstanding Midstyle’s breach of s.13 of the Act. So in effect, where a contract to buy off-the-plan is signed in breach of s.13, the buyer can get out but the seller cannot.

Consequences for the construction and development industry The message for developers and sellers of apartment projects is clear.

You cannot sell lots in an off-the-plan strata project unless you are the registered proprietor of the development site. If you do, then you will not be able to enforce those sales. But the buyer will be able to enforce the sale against the seller. The offending sale contracts are akin to call options held by the buyers.

Consider the following approach to development site acquisitions: • Step 1: developer enters into an option to acquire the development site or enters into a contract to buy but settlement is deferred.

• Step 2: developer undertakes a marketing campaign to see if the development is viable.

• Step 3: developer enters into binding contracts to sell lots off-the-plan.

• Step 4: developer decides (based upon binding pre-sales) that the project is viable and exercises the option or decides to proceed to settlement.

• Step 5: developer settles on the purchase of the land and becomes the registered proprietor.

The law is now clear all the contracts entered into at step 3 are unenforceable by the seller but are enforceable by the buyer. To ensure compliance with s.13, at the time of signing sale contracts a seller needs to be the registered proprietor of the development site. Having the site under option or contract is not good enough.

What if at the time the sale contract was signed the seller was the registered proprietor of 90 percent but not 100 percent of the development site? Although there is no direct law on point, the outcome is most likely to be that near enough is not good enough. There will be a contravention of s.13.

Lenders will not allow sale contacts entered into before the seller is the registered proprietor of the land to count towards the minimum pre-sales condition before funding will be advanced.

A contravention of s.13 could put an entire project at risk. The contravention by a seller is likely to be an event of default under its loan documents; a default that could put a stop to funding midway though a project. While it would be unusual for builders to check the enforceability of the seller’s sale contracts, builders would be well advised to verify that the seller was the registered proprietor of the land at the time the off-the-plan sale contracts were signed.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide general information only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

The article was prepared by Jackson McDonald Property, Planning and Finance team Partner Simon Moen and Associate Mitchell Spurge. Jackson McDonald understands the law applicable to off-the-plan strata projects and can draft template documentation and advise in relation apartment projects generally. For further information, contact Mr Moen on 9426 6757 or at smoen@jacmac.com.au.

Simon Moen

Mitchell Spurge

42

UPDATES housing J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Property rights in WA have been quietly and methodically eroded, making construction less feasible and building more expensive, says Master Builders’ housing director Geoff Cooper.

UNDERMINED PROPERTY RIGHTS A BLOW FOR WA BUILDING Transaction property taxes also are applied (stamp duties on property transfers, GST, capital gains tax). Indirect property taxes also hit owners (insurance taxes, building levies, developer contributions).

Property is a target for the tax man because it cannot be outsourced overseas or hidden from view.

Property owners also can be deprived of the development potential of their land, without compensation. Heritage is a glaring example.

Heritage limitations on use can be imposed (usually initiated after a DA is lodged) to restrict future uses for the benefit of the community, yet the community doesn’t have to pay the cost, the cost of the heritage.

Master Builders’ housing director Geoff Cooper is calling for policies to support property owners.

It is a case of the boiled frog. While we watch seemingly well-intentioned regulation grow over time, we have seen property rights being lost among the thick soup of red tape and cost. There are many examples of property rights being diced up in WA. Property taxes and ‘levies’ have expanded to deprive owners of the benefits of ownership.

Taxes are applied directly on ownership (for example, land tax, the Perth parking levy and the metropolitan region improvement tax).

Governments also can take land from private property owners through the subdivision approval process, without compensation.

Public open space requirements are only one example.

Planners can re-zone land or impose planning conditions that make development unfinancial.

Planners regularly restrict what owners can do on their properties, ruling on what an owner is allowed to build on the property, the design and situation of buildings, the use of buildings, the materials and colour of outer walls, boundary walls and fences and in some cases even the plants and plant species that can be planted on or removed from the property.

Some restrictions are warranted. However, no rigorous assessment of their validity is necessarily conducted. Our members report considerable subjectivity in decision making.

Collectively, regulation has further increased the complexity of the planning approval process, increasing the cost of property development and home building and pushing up the cost of buying or building a home in Perth.

The consequences of the erosion of property rights are of serious concern to our community and industry. The erosion undermines the potential for property ownership, reduces WA’s productivity and standard of living, distorts investment patterns and increases the reliance of the community on fewer individuals.

We need to stand firm as an industry to ensure that we continue to support a vibrant property sector where all citizens ought to be able to own, use and enjoy property. We need to see our legal and political systems protect the existing rights of property owners.

Policies should be supporting property development in WA and encouraging participation in property ownership by ordinary citizens and investors, especially by moderating property taxation and government charges. This will free up opportunities for building in WA to meet the continually evolving needs of our community.

BUDGET SURPLUS COMES AT EXPENSE OF HOUSING May’s state budget was a blow to West Australians aspiring to home ownership prompting Master Builders to call on the Government to make a commitment to reduce the cost of building in WA.

Master Builders’ housing director Geoff Cooper says the housing affordability crisis could worsen.

The purchase of a median price home in Perth (currently more than $500,000) already costs six times the median income of the city’s residents.

Housing was made less affordable with a range of measures increasing the cost of buying a home. These included hits on land tax and the stamp duty threshold for first home owners, payroll tax bracket creep and increases in the Metropolitan Region Improvement Tax and waste levy.

“This is the tax man putting his hands in the pockets of WA home buyers,” Mr Cooper said.

“The budget did nothing to reduce costs of buying homes. But worse, it pushes up the costs of housing in WA, which is not in the interests of our community. We are asking the Government to acknowledge its role in increasing housing costs and for it to make a genuine commitment to cutting the costs of building.

“A long term plan is needed that addresses the housing affordability crisis. Government failure to tackle affordability over many decades means the need for public housing and other social support services have an impact on the budget itself.”

Mr Cooper said there was a need for radical reform of infrastructure delivery in WA, immediate steps to address planning delays, and a commitment to support the supply of quality and affordable buildings.

housing UPDATES 43 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

This St James home is built using essential Liveable Homes design features – more details are at www.liveablehomes.net.au.

LIFETIME BENEFITS IN LIVEABLE HOMES DESIGN Resources developed by the Disability Services Commission with support from the housing and building industry – including Master Builders – can deliver enormous benefits to a home over its entire life. Available at www.liveablehomes. net.au, essential Liveable Homes design features help improve the adaptability and accessibility of new housing designs or homes under renovation. By enhancing accessibility, designers, builders and home-buyers are able to meet the changing needs and abilities of people at any stage of life.

Number one on the essential criteria list is a need for a flat, level walkway to the house’s main entrance. The path should have an even, firm slip-resistant surface and be a minimum 1000mm wide with a level transition and threshold, have reasonable shelter from the weather and a level 1200mm by 1200mm landing area at the door.

Accessible homes also should have at least one level entrance so people can enter and exit easily. It must incorporate waterproofing drainage and termite risk management that complies with Building Code of Australia performance requirements.

Flush entry doors should have a clear 820mm width. Corridors should allow for comfortable and unimpeded movement between spaces and have a minimum 1000mm clear width. Inside, doorways also need to have a clear 820mm width and a level transition and threshold.

Showers and bathrooms should be designed for easy and independent access – one bathroom should feature a slip-resistant, stepfree shower recess in the room’s corner. This allows for grab rails to be installed in the future.

A toilet should be included on the home’s entry level to support easy access. It should have a minimum clear width of 900mm between the bathroom walls, if located in a separate room.

Also required is a minimum 1200mm clear circulation space forward of the toilet pan, exclusive of the door’s swing.

Walls around the shower, bath (if provided) and toilet should be reinforced for the safe installation of grab rails. Solid masonry or concrete walls are exempt from this requirement.

BCA items, such as fire safety, water proofing of internal wet areas, termite protection, window location and size, stairways, floor surfaces in wet areas and on stairs and external weather proofing are also requirements when designing accessible homes.

44

UPDATES housing J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

GROWTH IN HOUSE FINANCE EASES April national housing finance data released in June suggests the recovery in residential building is set to continue but at a more sustainable rate.

According to Master Builders Australia chief economist Peter Jones, despite the flat headline figure for the number of owner occupied housing finance commitments in April, builders should be encouraged to see that overall, finance commitments underpinning the upturn in residential building activity are holding up.

“While the number of commitments for construction or purchase of new dwellings fell in April, there has been solid growth over the

year,” he said. “Commitments for construction of dwellings fell in April, but are up 15 percent over the year. Investors remain a key driver of the upturn in residential building activity, with the value of commitments for investment housing continuing to power ahead, up by 2.3 percent in April to be 30 per cent higher than a year ago.

“However, first home buyers only represented 12.3 percent of all dwelling financed in April, down two percentage points on the 14.3 per cent last year,” Mr Jones said. “Looking ahead, builders will be looking to the Government to roll out the detail of its national economic growth strategy foreshadowed in the Budget to boost home-buyer and investor confidence.”

Master Builders Australia chief economist Peter Jones.

AGE-FRIENDLY HOUSING NATIONAL AWARD UP FOR GRABS continuing support for the Award highlights the importance of creating age-friendly environments that maintain and, indeed, improve the health and wellbeing of Australians of all ages.”

The Award is divided into two categories: owner-occupied purpose built detached dwellings and multi-unit developments. The Award is limited to Class 1 and 2 buildings but may include dwellings that are set within a complex that provides complementary facilities to support the lifestyle of the residents.

The multi-unit development winner of the 2013 National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award was the Masonic Homes Lumina Apartments project in South Australia, built by Mossop Construction + Interiors.

Master Builders and the Department of Social Services are calling for entries in the 2014 National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award which recognises excellence in building, and the industry’s role in developing innovative options for, housing for older Australians.

Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch says that as the population ages,

there is a need to build housing that suits the changing requirements of ageing residents.

“The National Lifestyle Housing Award acknowledges best practice in design and construction, and aims to foster a greater awareness of healthy ageing with the benefits of innovative and adaptable housing,” he said. “The Department of Social Services’

The 2014 Department of Social Services National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award will be presented at the Master Builders Australia National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards Dinner to be held at Parliament House in Canberra in November. Builders wishing to nominate their projects for the 2014 Award have until 22 August to lodge their submissions.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.masterbuilders.com.au.

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ALBANY CONTRACTORS PONDER APPRENTICESHIP STRATEGIES Master Builders’ Great Southern Branch recently held an information evening looking at strategies to boost apprenticeships. Regional manager Linda Gibbs says the informative and entertaining evening featured guest speakers Braden Lang (CTF), Ian Fitzgerald (ABBTF), Anderson Dufty and Lee Pavlovich.“Branch chairman Luke Leeder was a very competent compere for the evening,” Ms Gibbs said. ”Everyone stayed for a barbeque and spent a further hour discussing ways to encourage builders and subcontractors to take on an apprentice or trainee and support the industry they work in.”

At the apprenticeship strategy information evening (l-r): Andrew Penson, (SkillHire), Branch chairman Luke Leeder, Chris Walker (CCI Apprenticeship Solutions), Peter Adams (ATC Work Smart), Braden Lang (CTF) and Ian Fitzgerald (ABBTF).

BOARDROOM LUNCH COVERS WIDE TOPICS The first of three boardroom lunches scheduled by the Great Southern Branch for 2014 was held late in May at the Branch headquarters with a number of key speakers.

Bankwest sponsored the event and Peter Scott, the bank’s senior relationship manager for rural and regional Albany, spoke on financial indicators and the Bankwest-Master Builders referral program and what it means for members.

Marcus Hodge spoke about the new Australian Privacy Principles and anti-bullying legislation that have come into effect this year and Julie Mackaway looked at the big picture in relation to adopting national workplace health and safety legislation. Master Builders’ regional manager Linda Gibbs said the program of forums is designed to keep members informed and provide the opportunity to raise questions.

All those attending the first lunch said it had been informative.

Bankwest’s Peter Scott addresses the lunch.

ROAD SHOW IN BUNBURY South West Branch members gathered recently at the Association’s new headquarters and function centre in Bunbury for a briefing on the Master Builders-Bankwest referral program and updates on issues surrounding the employee-subcontractor dichotomy and contractors’ insurance needs.

success of the event has been implemented in the region as an alternative method for supplying important information in a relaxed social environment.”

Speakers came from the Association’s principal partner Bankwest and strategic alliance partners MBA Insurance Services and RSM Bird Cameron.

Regional manager Geoff Bosustow says the speakers were well versed on the topical issues affecting members and their employees and subcontractors.

MBA Insurance Services state manager Nick Vernon addresses the South West Branch gathering.

“It was encouraging to see so many new faces attending,” he said. “A program to build on the

Part of the attentive South West Branch audience.

To find out more, contact Mr Bosustow for details on 9726 0939 or Geoff.bosustow@mbawa.com.

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CHAMPAGNE AND PEARLS FOR BREAKFAST

Karen Germinario, Maggie McCrum, Lisa Sweet and Kyla Vincenti enjoy the Broome WinBaC breakfast.

Cygnet Bay Pearls hosted this year’s Broome Women in Building and Construction champagne breakfast in May, a prelude to the evening’s Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards. Master Builders’ regional manager Di Gilleland says the breakfast was a perfect start to what was to be a long day for most.

cabinet for all at the WinBaC breakfast to admire) as a prize draw at the Excellence Awards.

Cygnet Bay Pearls sales manager Kevin Jackson demonstrated how easily an expert with a trained eye can remove a pearl from a live shell. The company donated a superb pearl necklace (which sat glistening in a glass

“Oaks business and development manager Zoe Marsh addressed the WinBaC gathering” Ms Gilleland said. “She has had 13 years’ experience in the food, hospitality and tourism industry and is passionate about her role. She

Ms Gilleland said a delicious breakfast was provided by Broome Oaks Hotels and Resorts.

has been integral to the substantial growth in the Oaks Hotels and Resorts in Broome over the past four years and continues to foster positive, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in the Broome corporate community.”

Ms Gilleland said long time Master Builder member Broome Fire and Safety sponsored the WinBaC breakfast which has fast become an annual event.

HOT CLEANING SERVICES HOT SHOTS IN NATIONAL AWARDS Master Builders Midwest member HOT Cleaning Services recently was named the winner in the services category of the 2014 Australian Small Business Champion Awards held in Sydney.

The Awards are the only nationally recognised program for Australian small businesses.

Their aim is to recognise outstanding small businesses and encourage high standards of excellence in small business practice. Small

businesses from across Australia delivered an impressive array of entries, with winners representing a broad range of industries from all States and Territories.

HOT Cleaning Services competed against businesses such as furniture removalists, security services, sign-writers and lift maintenance providers. Companies were invited to submit applications for particular award categories and from the submissions,

shortlists of finalists were identified. The finalists were invited for the award ceremony in Sydney.

HOT Cleaning Services managing director Charity Mezger said she was satisfied to be shortlisted and wasn’t expecting to win as she believed the national competition was already at a very high level.

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COULD IT BE YOU? Members of Master Builders’ South West Branch committee proudly stand in front of the Association’s Bunbury premises. Regional manager Geoff Bosustow (second from right) says Association members are invited to view available office space within the newly refurbished facility.

“We have two office suites available along with a warehouse ideal for maximising exposure to the building and construction industry,” he said.

Contact me 97260939 to discuss this rare opportunity to be co-located with the South West’s leading construction industry association.

Senior regional Building Excellence Awards judge Charlie Baggetta (left) with Steven McMullen (Bankwest), regional liaison officer Doug Backhouse and fellow judge Anton Smith.

JUDGES IMPRESSED WITH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION IN GOLDFIELDS/ESPERANCE Master Builders gave Goldfields-Esperance Branch members the opportunity to meet the regional Building Excellence Awards judges at a recent Bankwest-sponsored sundowner in Esperance.

A total of 19 builders met the judges. Heading the evening was Harvey builder Charlie Baggetta from Baggetta Builders, who has been the senior judge for our Regional Building Excellence Awards over the last 12 years.

Joining him was first time judge Anton Smith from Bluewater Building Company in Bunbury.

Both were impressed with the quality of entries in the upcoming Goldfields-Esperance Awards.

Mr Baggetta, described as epitomising the traditional Master Builder with his incredible

eye for detail and unwavering focus on quality workmanship, led an informative discussion regarding the judging criteria. Geoff Collins, the newly appointed development compliance officer with the Esperance Shire,also spoke providing a short presentation on his responsibilities and expectations of the builders in the region. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to address members and is looking forward to working with the builders in the region.

Master Builders’ regional liaison officer Doug Backhouse was pleased with the turn out and positive feedback from all who attended the evening.

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PRESIDENT RIPP AT BROOME SUNDOWNER Master Builders’ president John Ripp met North West members at a sundowner in Broome in May in the lead up to the annual Kimberley Pilbara Building Excellence Awards.

In his introduction as the new president, Mr Ripp took members back to years past when he first joined the Master Builders’ Board. Since that time, he said he had seen the industry face many challenges. He was keen to meet and discuss challenges, issues and ideas with builders during his time in Broome.

Association director Michael McLean outlined the many changes in the industry over the

past year, new initiatives coming to the fore and industrial issues facing industry. He said the support Master Builders give North West builders is important, given the logistical challenges which many face on a day to day basis.

“Not only do we provide services and information to our builders and trades but we bring informative training courses to the region for both industry and Broome businesses”, he said.

Joe Giancono, Victor Butera, Nat Giancono and Luke Sharland at the Broome sundowner.

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Three of the four Geraldton corporate golf day winners – Nathan Szkoruda, Serena Giudice and Brian King.

TEE-RRIFIC GERALDTON GOLF DAY In keeping with television’s crop of cooking shows, Master Builders’ Geraldton North West regional manager Di Gilleland says a corporate golf day is like the baking of a perfect cake.

“With the correct ingredients – a mix of golfers and non-golfers, the addition of a number of tasty ingredients, perfect temperatures

Jane Foreman fuels up Master Builders’ regional operations manager Graham Bell for a further attack on the course.

all round and a generous pinch of fun – the Master Builders Midland Brick Geraldton golf day cake takes the prize,” she said. “This annual building industry event stretches back well over 15 years, and this year, at the Geraldton Golf Club in May, was acclaimed as yet another winner.

“The golfers were treated to on-course massages plus Branch member Jane Foreman cooked up a mean sausage at the Kingspan BBQ midcourse. Branch chair Serena Giudice couldn’t believe it when she was announced as part of the winning team claiming she’d never won a thing in her life.”

Winners on the day were Serena Giudice, Ryan Kneale, Brian King and Nathan Szkoruda. Craig Johnston, Tim Rogers, Eddie Thompson and Steve Sutton were runners up.

Taking the dubious NAGA honours were Cheryl Cocking, Jon Ward and Mark Rowe.

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Restoration of His Majesty’s Theatre was one of architect Peter Parkinson’s best known projects.

Prominent Perth architect Peter Parkinson died in April, aged 88. He was a partner of Howlett and Bailey and designed several prominent theatres including he Octagon and Dolphin at UWA and Hayman Theatre at Curtin University. Mr Parkinson was also a judge in Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards and renowned for his witty and entertaining overviews of the entries at our awards presentations. He was a registered architect for more than 60 years and recognised for his contribution to architecture in 1980 with an MBE.

Due to Federal Government funding cuts, Sharren Holt has concluded her term as workforce development industry consultant with the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council in Perth. Mark Pincott, who is based in Canberra, has taken over Ms Holt’s responsibilities. He can be contacted on (02) 6253 0002 or 0448 105 166. Ms Holt has been appointed operations manager with the Apprentice and Traineeship Company based in Perth. Bryce Steele has left the Master Plumbers Association to take on the state manager role with SPASA.

Paul Rosair has resigned as director general of the Department of Regional Development after a fiveyear stint.

Congratulations to the Civil Contractors Federation in WA on celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year.

The Property Council has appointed Ken Morrison to replace Peter Verver as its national CEO from August.

Mr Morrison was previously the Property Council’s chief operating officer. Mr Verver is moving to Singapore to head up the Asia Pacific Real Estate Association.

Jane Fitzgerald has been appointed CEO of the Heydon Royal Commission, based in Sydney.

Christine McDonnell, executive assistant to the CEO, has left Master Builders Australia after seven years.

A cheerio to Eddie Roe who is recovering from a medical procedure.

Following this year’s Federal Budget funding cuts, Janet Curran has been retrenched as the state manager of MEGT in WA. Ashley Williamson will now report to an MEGT manager in SA. Master Builders’ director Michael McLean says Ms Curran did a brilliant job with MEGT and her services will be missed.

Valdis Luks has been elected president of Master Builders ACT following John Haskins concluding his term of office.

Blaire Brown has been appointed as the new general manager at Silver Trowel Trade Training.

James Burrow, a Ric New Medal finalist on two occasions, has left John Holland to work with Georgiou as a project manager.

A cheerio to David Crothers who is recovering from a bike accident in Geraldton.

Shane Maraldo has been appointed general manager of Ngarda Civil Mining. He replaced David MacGeorge and Daniel Tenardi.

Congratulations to Master Builders’ communications and housing officer Kimberley Alexander on her engagement to long time boyfriend Luke Blackwell.

Congratulations to Bill Marmion, the Minister for Housing, on becoming a sexagenarian in May.

Hugh Nicol has been appointed executive manager commercial with BGC Contracting.

Bob McKinnon, former managing director of Austal and Fleetwood, has been appointed a managing executive director with Peet.

Congratulations to Bob Greaves, a life member of both Master Builders WA and nationally, on becoming an octogenarian in June.

Congratulations to James Moore from Cbus who celebrated his fortieth birthday in May. Well done on becoming a quadragenarian.

Condolences to Scott and Craig Park – (Redink Homes and Blueprint Homes respectively) on the death of their mother recently.

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Congratulations to Master Builders’ Great Southern chairman Luke Leeder and his partner Chelsea Frost from Greg Leeder Homes who became parents for the first time in May with the safe arrival of Dusty.

Master Builders’ Perth head office team have welcomed new receptionist Juanitta Evans and contracts and administration assistant Tramaine Dukes. Ms Evans joins the Association staff with an extensive background in customer service in both the airline and hospitality industries.

She is settling back into Perth life after living for four years in Brisbane where she worked for Virgin Australia. She previously was employed by Etihad and lived in Dubai.

Ms Dukes worked in the hospitality industry for the last two years. Prior to that she was a receptionist for Master Builders in the Northern Territory, her role including accounts, training course bookings, events, contracts, human resources and industrial relations.

Master Builders’ board member Jack Pleiter from Genesis Homes Master Builders and wife Natalie became grandparents for the first time on Anzac Day.

NEW MASTER BUILDERS’ STAFF

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Congratulations to former Australian Institute of Architects’ state president Rod Mollett who was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Mr Mollett was recognised for his service to the built environment and the architecture profession through contributions to professional bodies.

VALE GRAHAM KEMP Graham Kemp, who until recently was executive director of Master Builders Association Northern Territory, died unexpectedly in June. He had been undergoing rehabilitation from strokes.

Mr Kemp took charge at what was then the Territory Construction Association in 2008 and oversaw the organisation’s change to Master Builders Association NT. Colleagues described him as working tirelessly for the building industry and he also was prominent in a number of community causes.

Master Builders WA director Michael McLean says Mr Kemp’s death was a real shock.

“It’s a sad ending to the great career of someone who loved his job and the organisation he worked for and the colleagues he worked with,” Mr McLean said. “We will miss his friendship, but remember him fondly, especially in hosting [Master Builders Australia meetings] in the Northern Territory in typical Northern Territory style.

“Graham’s rapport with Northern Territory

members was first class which reflected the respect in which he was held within industry and government circles alike.”

A News.com article published recently said Mr Kemp was remembered for his wit and his bad golf swing along with his devotion to his industry, charity and his family. MBANT acting executive director Dave Malone said Mr Kemp had been a great servant of the building industry. He had been well liked and was a tireless worker for the construction industry.

Another friend said Mr Kemp’s witty sense of humour and wayward golf shots would be happy memories.

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OXLEY A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Condolences to the family and many friends of Tom Oxley, the co-founder of Cooper & Oxley, who passed away peacefully in May, aged 82. Mr Oxley was a past president of Master Builders and a long-standing contributor and supporter of the Association.

“The early eighties saw a particularly volatile era of industrial relations,” he said. “New industrial awards with generous allowances and the introduction of rostered days off came into effect. Unions pressed for strike pay and aggressively pursued no-ticket-no-start. The BLF – the Builders Labourers Federation – was at the heart of much of this and of many demarcation disputes and, of course, then was the subject of famous deregistration proceedings.

Tom Oxley, who died in May, was a much respected and admired figure in WA’s building industry over more than 60 years.

Contracts and Administration Manager Charles Anderson provided a brief eulogy at Mr Oxley’s funeral highlighting a long and impressive building industry career. He said the lifelong Tom Oxley and Bob Cooper partnership started in Northam in 1952 with pre-cut houses for the State Housing Commission. Cooper & Oxley quickly became a prominent central wheatbelt builder.

“The company trained many apprentices including some who spent the remainder of their working careers with Tom and Bob,” Mr Anderson said. “That’s something which speaks of the company’s leadership qualities.

“With building companies coming and going all the time, the success and longevity of Cooper & Oxley is something of a rarity. In 1973 it established a Perth office and began to expand its operations and strong reputation throughout the State.

“Tom also broadened his involvement in the industry, on the professional side, through the Australian Institute of Builders, and on the policy front, through Master Builders. He joined the Association’s Contracts and Industrial Relations Committees, chairing the latter during the late 1970s. He served on the organisation’s Council and held the offices of vice president and senior vice president and then took over the helm as president in 1982 and 1983.”

As senior vice president and president, Mr Oxley also served on the national Master Builders Federation council, Mr Anderson said.

“As well as these IR high-jinks, the housing market was depressed and then, as now, adequate training of the future workforce was a worrying issue.”

Mr Anderson said Mr Oxley steered the Association through the confronting times, winning respect through his knowledge and understanding of the industry and its needs, and through his fairness and unfailing courtesy.

After his term as president, Mr Oxley continued on the Association’s Executive Committee, Council and Industrial Committee for some years before easing out of the limelight.

“After 38 years of productive and profitable management, Tom and Bob retired from Cooper & Oxley in 1990 leaving George Hampel, Max Rivett and Barry Edwards in control,” Mr Anderson said. “That the company continues to thrive is a tribute to the foundations Tom and Bob built in the people around them. And, more importantly, as Max has put it, Tom’s legacy, as with Bob, is in how his life and career touched people in so many positive ways.

“As a gentleman and

as a man for all seasons – old school builder to modern success story – Tom Oxley will be deeply missed by all at Cooper & Oxley, but also by Master Builders and the wider building industry.”

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Persuading builders and contractors unfamiliar with concepts of waste management, avoiding waste, reusing and recycling and reducing disposal costs, is a challenge. But it’s a challenge Master Builders is taking up with the production of its Commercial Construction Waste Management Guide and the important appointment of waste reduction consultant Michael Norriss who talks about his new role.

Master Builders’ waste reduction consultant Michael Norriss.

PEN PORTRAIT: MICHAEL NORRISS How long have you worked for Master Builders?

I only started with Master Builders as waste reduction consultant in mid-February, so I have been working with the Association for about six months.

What does your role involve?

It’s quite extensive – I am currently on a one year contract, three days a week, to implement the Master Builders Waste Reduction Program. The program is new and the goal is to increase the recovery rate of C&D (construction and demolition) waste and reduce the amount of waste to landfill. There are targets and KPIs to meet and the program involves educating, assisting and encouraging the industry to avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle waste. I will be out on building sites and working with the stakeholders to achieve the targets. The role is supported by the Waste Authority.

What most excites you about the project?

Breaking down some of the perceptions about waste and getting positive results due to the impact of the program – that’s what excites me. I am working to bring together the stakeholders so we can ‘be on the same page’ and bring about the cultural change that is required. This should achieve the best outcome because the stakeholders (builders, trades, consultants and those in the waste stream) can work together to meet our goals. ‘Closing the loop’ in the life cycle of materials and waste is also a challenge that I am looking forward to.

How do you feel you’ve settled in your role?

The acceptance and response within the industry has been great and this is helping me to settle into the role.

What interests you about the construction industry?

The concept of designing, drawing and building something interests me greatly and when I started out as a builder’s labourer in my late teens I was fascinated by this. My background is architectural design, building and sustainability. Although I did leave the industry for a few years – and promised myself that I wouldn’t return – I have always maintained a connection. In my time away I was involved in T-shirts and Ugg boots, and combined with building this was coined ‘clothing, footwear and shelter’. The sustainability element of the industry appeals to me the most.

Where did you work before Master Builders?

I had a number of roles including builder’s assistant on site. Geoff Cooper jokes that he poached me from a Master Builders WA member – but the builder member is supportive and we remain friends. Another role is as a lecturer (casual) in building design and construction technology and sustainability; and performing sustainability assessments on properties. I remain a lecturer at Central Institute of Technology, part time. However, I needed to drop some other roles to focus on the Waste Reduction Program.

What do you outside of work?

Try to get a work-life balance. I took up surfing again recently so I try and surf as often as possible (that is when there is surf!). The surfers out there will know what I mean. I also get out of town and go to Busselton (surfing at Smiths Beach is good) and I have friends in Northcliffe, near Windy Harbour.

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NEW IN THE NCC – USE OF PHOTOLUMINESCENT EXIT SIGNS BCA 2014 now includes compliance requirements for the use of photoluminescent exit signs. Photoluminescence is the ability of a material to absorb light and UV rays and re-emit visible light for a period after the source light has been removed. The low cost, low maintenance alternatives to illuminated exit signs have been used in a number of countries including New Zealand, Japan, the United States and Canada.

The Australian Building Codes Board has received a number of enquiries regarding the use of photoluminescent exit signs.

What compliance requirements apply?

A new Specification for the requirements for the signs is included in Volume 1 of BCA 2014. Specification E4.8 lists the illumination requirements and refers to AS 2293.1 for pictorial elements and design and limits the viewing distance to 24 metres. Luminance must be maintained for 90 minutes in the event of power failure.

Master Builders’ technical advisor Romina De Santis.

A better option?

Not so, according to the Lighting Council Australia, electrical contractor representative bodies and the fire industry. Lighting Council Australia chairman Russell Loane says: “One of the major concerns is the confusion among electricians, building owners and building managers as to how PL exit signs may be used. If installed in accordance with the NCC amendment, PL signs will cost considerably more to install and maintain than the current electrically powered LED exit signs.

“The installation of a PL exit sign typically requires the installation of two additional luminaires. Firstly, the NCC amendment requires that a PL exit sign must have

a dedicated, uninterrupted light source continuously illuminating 100 lux onto the face of the sign. Secondly, the NCC already requires, via AS/NZS 2293.1, that an emergency luminaire must be installed within two metres of an exit door or typically where exit signs are located (AS 2293-1 clause 5.4.1).”

Mr Loane said that in practice, this additional emergency light is not required where an electrically powered exit sign is used, as almost all internally illuminated exit signs already have sufficient light output to be also classified as emergency luminaires. PL material cannot achieve a light output to obtain this classification, so the additional emergency luminaires will be essential.

“The expected supply and install cost of a standard LED exit sign is in the order of $250, with ongoing energy costs of $3.16 per year,” he said. “The supply and install cost of a PL exit sign and accompanying emergency light and separate luminating light source is in the order of $550, with ongoing energy costs of $21.56 per year.”

WEATHERPROOFING OF PROJECTIONS THROUGH METAL ROOF SURFACES Roof flue with a pre-shaped upper edge.

The Building Commission issued Industry Bulletin 036 – Weatherproofing of projections through metal roof surfaces in February to assist building practitioners comply with relevant Australian Standards and ensure compliant flashing is provided. Since the bulletin’s release, the Commission has met with manufacturers and installers of metal roofing products to discuss ways of improving the method of flashing to the high side of the roof penetration.

A number of manufacturers of steel roofing products have advised the Commission that they now can provide the industry with a roof flue that has a pre-shaped upper edge that fits into the contours of corrugated roof sheeting.

This enables the installer to mechanically fix and seal the pre-shaped flashing into the pans of the sheet, avoiding any ponding caused by the overuse of flexible sealant allowing full drainage of the sheet pans.

The Commission’s opinion is that this method of flashing complies with AS 1562.1 clause 4.8 Projections through roofs in that it is considered to be an adequate flashing. In all cases, the high side of the projection must provide for adequate provision for drainage of all pans or corrugations.

Installers of metal roof products are not restricted to having to purchase and install a pre-shaped metal flue as long as the top

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edge of the flue flashing they are installing is adequately flashed using an acceptable trade method, which meets the requirements of AS 1562.1. The pre-shaped flue is now being provided to save installers time scribing the flues on site.

Regulatory documents Industry Bulletin 036 made reference to SAA HB39-997 Installation code for metal roofing and wall cladding as an Australian Standard.

However, information received from installers advised that this handbook was withdrawn from publication by Standards Australia in 2004.

The Commission contacted Standards Australia and established the handbook is still current and is being revised. A new publication is expected to be published in October 2014.

The intent of the Commission reference to the handbook was that it could be referred to by installers as a standard of good practice. In all cases, the Building Code of Australia applies as the regulating document. The BCA refers to AS 1562.1 as the acceptable construction manual for the installation of metal roof cladding.

Building Commission industry bulletins can be viewed and downloaded at www.commerce.wa.gov.au/ buildingcommission or email bcinfo@commerce.wa.gov.au.

TECHNICAL BRIEFS BUILDING REGULATIONS AMENDED Contractors will approve of some of the changes and clarifications made in amendments to the Building Regulations applying since 25 April. The main amendments include: • Extension to 1 May 2015 of the transitional provisions for 5-star energy efficiency for additions and alterations to existing dwellings.

• A new regulation regarding awning encroachments over Crown land, removing the requirement for the Minister for Lands’ consent for minor encroachments that have a Local Government planning approval.

• A new Division in the Regulations dealing with maintenance of Class 2-9 buildings through the life of the building: maintenance of safety measures and energy efficiency of installations.

• Where a builder is undertaking work and removes a fence or other barrier relied on as a swimming pool barrier, a suitable compliant temporary barrier must be installed.

Industry Bulletin 039 summarising the amendments is available on the Building Commission website, www.commerce.wa.gov.au/ buildingcommission.

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSHFIRE-PRONE AREAS IN WA FROM 2015

6-STAR COMPLIANCE FOR ADDITIONS FOR 2015

From 1 May next year, planning schemes across the State will include mandatory provisions for the construction of new homes in bushfire-prone areas to meet Building Code of Australia and Australian Standard AS 3959 requirements.

Transitional arrangements under Regulation 31B of the Building Regulations dealing with energy efficiency in respect of buildings or incidental structures that are being renovated, altered, extended, improved or repaired has been extended to 1 May 2015.

State-wide maps will identify subject areas that must comply with the required Bushfire Attack Level. Understanding the requirements and getting the right advice is paramount to delivering a compliant product for clients. Contractors are urged to familiarise themselves with the minimum construction requirements for each Bushfire Attack Level, and the assessment process.

A nominated BAL may be reviewed for a lesser level by a suitably qualified consultant.

This is in support of the implementation of a WA Alterations and Additions Protocol for energy efficiency when undertaking alterations and additions to Class 1 (residential) buildings. The Building Commission has issued a protocol that can be used by registered building surveyors to determine whether buildings comply with the BCA Performance Requirements for Energy Efficiency (P2.6.1 and P2.6.2 of Volume 2 of the National Construction Code).

The ‘Are you Bushfire Ready’ website has information on bushfire management (http://areyouready.wa.gov.au/).

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WE NEED MORE APPRENTICES Master Builders is continually looking at ways to boost the number of building industry apprentices being trained according to the Association’s training director Neil Du Rand. He says it is both a supply and demand issue and no one strategy will be enough to ensure there are enough apprentices to meet future industry needs.

“The Construction Training Fund, which collects more than $30 million from industry annually, has an important role to play in developing and implementing effective strategies to boost apprenticeship training,” Mr Du Rand said.

“Master Builders believes the CTF is on the right track with its careers promotions initiatives

which include a new vocational education training program in schools.

“But in addition, Master Builder members are encouraged to show leadership in finding ways to train more apprentices. WA is fortunate to have the CTF to subsidise the employment of building apprentices and trainees. For some of our trades in particularly short supply such as bricklayers, plasterers and tilers, the subsidies can be as high as $21,000. ”Du Rand said that via the Association’s website and Master Builder magazine, Master Builders is promoting members who currently employ or train apprentices or trainees.

“The future of the

building industry lies in the hands of builders and subcontractors,” “Please give this your serious consideration.

Within your own business, discuss how you might be able to take on an apprentice or trainee on one of your construction projects.’

Neil Du Rand

Master Builders’ training director Neil Du Rand urges builders and subcontractors to address the need for more apprentices and trainees.

MASTER BUILDERS RECOGNISES THE ROLE THE FOLLOWING 105 MEMBERS ARE PLAYING IN EMPLOYING AND TRAINING APPRENTICES. A & A Kitchens ABN Training Group A E Hoskins and Sons Active Plumbing Advance Formwork APG Homes Associated Painting Enterprises A.T Brine and Sons Pty Ltd ATC Worksmart Australian Brick and Blocklaying Foundation (ABBTF) Australand Property Group Pty Ltd Aquatic Leisure Technologies Badge Construction Baggetta Builders Batavia Constructions BD Partington Building Contractor BGC Residential Bill Pitt and Sons Brolga Developments and Construction Brown Brothers Furniture Built Environs Cachet Homes Capella Constructions Carter Roofing and Slating Pty Ltd Celebration Homes Civilcon (WA) Pty Ltd Coastal Ceilings Colgan Industries Cooling Bros Glazing Pty Ltd Cooper and Oxley Builders Pty Ltd Cottesloe Constructions Cowaramup Bay Building Co CPD Group Crown Construction Service Pty Ltd Cuccovia Contractors

Dale Alcock Homes Dale Alcock Home Improvements Dale Alcock Homes South West Designer Building Pty Ltd Devlyn Constructions Pty Ltd Diploma Plumbing Services Eco-Logical Building Element Construction WA EMCO Envar Engineers and Contractors Pty Ltd Ferguson Building Fox United Building Fremantle Engineering G&KD Harp Building and Construction Gemmill Homes Pty Ltd Genesis Home Master Builders Geraldton Natural Limestone GJ Gardner Homes Global Decorating Grandwood Homes Green Choice Painting and Decorating Gregory Gibson Plumbing Pty Ltd Highbury Homes (WA) Pty Ltd Home Buyers Centre HS Hyde and Son Interior Building Solutions John Holland Karamfiles Builders Just Tile and Stone KB Builders Kimberley Green Constructions Kimberley Group Training Longreach Building Services M&A Steel Fabrication Majestic Stairs Pty Ltd Martell Builders Pty Ltd

McGrath Homes Pty Ltd Mosman Bay Constructions Pty Ltd MPA Skills Northcraft Construction Pendlebury Constructions Perkins Builders Perth Tiling and Stone Company Pindan Quicklock Redink Homes Midwest Pty Ltd Robinson Buildtech Sime Building and Construction Simply Unique Constructions Skill Hire Spadaccini Constructions Spadaccini Homes Star Plumbing Pty Ltd Stepnell Carpentry Summit Home Improvements Summit Homes Sun City Plumbing Swan River Constructions Tara Constructions and Homes The Apprentice and Traineeship Company Tooltime Constructions Top Gun Roofing and Restoration Total Project Solutions Trac Building Services Trasan Contracting Pty Ltd Troy Leeman Building T & T Plumbing Air-Cond and Gas The West Australian Group Training Scheme Inc Universal Constructions Pty Ltd WA Country Builders (Geraldton) Water Corporation (Geraldton) Webb and Brown-Neaves

If you aren’t on the list and believe you should be, let Skye McCartney know. Phone 9476 9808 or email skye@mbawa.com.

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FROM SCHOOL TO TRADESMAN Qualified painter and decorator Ryan England gained valuable career guidance and business skills training as an apprentice under the CAMS program. Mr England qualified in his trade in April this year after beginning a school-based apprenticeship at Wanneroo High School in 2011.

In years 11 and 12 he completed off-the-job training at MPA Skills before graduating from school with his WACE. He started full-time employment with his father at GA England Painting Services and by mid-2013 had completed all of his off-the-job training enabling him to finally complete his apprenticeship seven months early.

Mr England joined the CAMS program in the final year of his apprenticeship. Mentor Scott Thomson from the Construction Training Fund helped Mr England complete his time as an apprentice and gain valuable career guidance and business skills. Mr England now is aiming to continue as a tradesman in the family business while also concentrating on his athletics career. He also wants to finish rebuilding a Kombi van he purchased during his apprenticeship before heading off around Australia for a well-deserved holiday.

CAMS KICKING GOALS Proponents of Master Builders’ national apprentice mentoring program CAMS – which has been running for two years and which has proved to be a huge success in the recruitment and retention of construction apprentices – are optimistic for the scheme’s future. At the time Master Builder magazine was in production, there was a strong possibility that funding will be made available to extend the program.

CAMS is the first program where all States and Territories have worked together on a national apprenticeship project. It has shown that despite jurisdictional differences, a nationally coordinated project is a viable option.

WA’s apprenticeship engagement officer Nathan Szkoruda says the program has greatly exceeded all targets.

“CAMS program has been able to retain more than 90 percent of the apprentices that have signed up,” he said. “Of 900 apprentices being mentored, only 30 have been lost to attrition.

This is a great improvement in the norm for apprentices under training where the rate is more than 50 percent. The program covers all construction trades and both metro and regional areas.

“In WA we have had 86 apprentices being mentored and only three have left their trade.

The apprentices varied in terms of gender,

year of apprenticeship, race, location and age.

Some of them were experiencing issues and could have been dismissed or dropped out had it not been for CAMS and the commitment of the volunteer mentors.”

Mr Szkoruda said national milestones included: • Twelve apprenticeship engagement officers across all States and Territories and a national coordinator in Canberra.

• Almost 900 apprentices signed into mentoring with 280 volunteer mentors.

• Fifteen high quality factsheets which have had more than 20,000 downloads since publication.

• 5000 ‘likes’ on CAMS’ Facebook page.

• 1000 school visits and career expos.

A snapshot of a survey of CAMS provided glowing feedback on the program: • Eighty-four percent of apprentices and 81 percent of mentors believe the program is making a difference to apprenticeship.

• Eighty-two percent of apprentices and 92 percent of mentors said they would recommend taking part in the program to others.

• Seventy-one percent of mentors and 69 percent of apprentices said they would

be more likely to get involved with Master Builders in the future as a result of being involved in CAMS. Courage Partners audited the CAMS program and in March reported: “Not only did CAMS demonstrate a real contribution to enhancing apprenticeship completion and retention, the program fostered in Master Builders a national prioritisation of apprenticeship issues and played an active role in supporting the supply of skilled workers in the building and construction industry.

“The awarding of substantial Commonwealth funding and subsequent implementation of the program was significant in that it facilitated State and Territory-based delivery of a nationally-led program which was a totally new operating environment for Master Builders.”

Mr Szkoruda says all parties involved in the CAMS program deserve thanks “especially the mentors who have given up their own time to make sure that there is a bright future for our industry”.

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PRAISE FOR COMMITMENT TO APPRENTICE REFORM Master Builders Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to a high quality training system with less red tape and an ongoing reform process to make it relevant to modern business needs and those of young people seeking a rewarding career.

Setting out the Government’s agenda for training in a speech recently, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane also highlighted the significant challenges the apprenticeship system faces, chief among them low completion rates and a growing disconnection from the system by many employers.

important that the Minister follows through on his commitment to work with industry to address these problems and to reverse current downward trends,” Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said.

“In particular it’s important that a modern apprenticeship system allows for many pathways to obtaining a trade qualification in order to reflect the increasingly diverse training approaches of employers and of people seeking to enter building trades.

“Master Builders welcomes the Minister’s announcement of $5 million to extend apprentice mentoring programs such as Master Builders Construction Apprenticeship Mentoring Scheme as evidence of the Government’s commitment to increasing apprentice numbers through the employment of ‘next generation’ support for apprentices and employers. ”Mr Harnisch said reducing the red tape compliance burden is also very important to encourage more employers to take on and retain apprentices.

“The need for reducing compliance costs is particularly pressing given the decision by the Fair Work Commission in response to the CFMEU’s claim, to increase pay rates for first and second year apprentices engaged from 1 January this year,” he said. “The prospect of paying up to 55 percent of the wage of a qualified tradesperson for a first year apprentice, in addition to the other costs of training, is acting as a barrier for construction industry employers and group training companies wishing to offer young people the opportunity to begin a trade career.

“Master Builders also welcomes the announcement of a new industry-led advisory group to advise the Government on reforming the skills sector as an important step in giving industry the confidence that skilled tradespeople will be available to meet future demand. Master Builders looks forward to working closely with the Government to help shape reform of the apprenticeship and skills training system to deliver a more contemporary model delivering enhanced outcomes for apprentices, the industry and the economy.”

“Master Builders recognises there is no silver bullet solution for apprenticeships but it is

Nous Group state manager Maryann Hazard and Master Builders’ Michael McLean.

MASTER BUILDERS MEETS ON FUTURE TRAINING NEEDS The State Training Board has engaged the Nous Group to carry out research and compile a report on WA’s future training and skills needs. The project involves the Nous Group meeting with a diverse group of stakeholders including Master Builders.

Association director Michael McLean recently met Nous Group state manager Maryann Hazard to discuss what the priority training and skill needs will be for the building and construction industry.

According to Mr McLean, It was a very useful and engaging meeting.

“Master Builders looks forward to the final report and recommendations to the State Training Board,” he said.

“We would certainly welcome more information from the State Training Board about what it is doing to help our industry.”

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The Young Builders Alliance Industry Support Program provides an opportunity to improve professional skills.

YBA INDUSTRY SUPPORT PROGRAM BUILDS FUTURE CAREERS The Young Builders Alliance is continuing its Industry Support Program – aimed at increasing the professional skills of members not currently employed in industry – in 2014.

The program commenced last year as a joint initiative between the YBA and its principal sponsor, John Holland, and ran during the university second semester.

In 2013, three YBA members were selected for the program and entered into one-onone professional advisory relationships with experienced John Holland employees.

Participants engaged in various activities, including reviewing and improving CV’s, oneon-one meetings to discuss industry queries, attendance at YBA and Australian Institute of Building events, investigating potential career paths and industry and personal mentoring.

WA YBA vice president Matt Bowen says the

John Holland employees passed on invaluable knowledge and advice to the younger YBA members through the skill-building exercises.

“Feedback from the YBA side confirmed that it had contributed to better grades during their tertiary studies, and also led to two participants gaining employment within the industry,” he said. “The select employees of John Holland noted that the experience had led them to improve their communication, interpersonal and advisory skills. Being fortunate to be in a position to relate previous experiences and lessons learnt in the industry, it was great to see a positive contribution to the start of a professional career.

“It is expected that this initiative will continue to provide a fantastic opportunity for current and future WA YBA members,” he said. “We thank John Holland, YBA’s principal sponsor for the past four years. Without their continuing support, the YBA would not be in the strong position it currently is in, nor be able to offer initiatives such as the Industry Support Program.

For more information on AIB and YBA go to www.aib.org.au.

”Mr Bowen said the program has been continued in 2014, with the response even greater than last year.

REWARDING BEST APPRENTICES The Construction Training Fund will increase prizes for the best apprentices in this year’s Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Awards to be held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre in November. Pictured making the announcement are (l-r) CTF director Ralph Dawson, Master Builders’ director Michael McLean and CTF’s field officer Scott Thompson and operations manager Eamon Moore.As part of industry’s push to employ more young people, CTF has developed a new training program for year 11 and 12 students.

The building and construction Trades Pathway is a new Certificate II qualification designed

by industry, for industry and is fully endorsed by the Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority as a VET in Schools program. Run over two years, it provides key competencies common to 11 different trades to year 11 students allowing them to choose a single trade in year 12. Students also complete 220 hours of work experience as part of the course which, when completed, counts for eight units towards the students’ Western Australian Certificate of Education.

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MASTER BUILDERS’ DIPLOMA COURSE LEADS TO REGISTRATION

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Master Builders Apprentice Awards The Master Builders Association invites employers of directly indentured apprentices to nominate their best building apprentice(s) for this year’s Master Builders’ Apprentice of the Year Awards. There are also categories for the best wall and floor tiling apprentice, best female apprentice and best bricklaying apprentice.

Apprentices engaged by Skill Hire, ABN Group Training, The Apprentice and Traineeship Company and the Department of Treasury & Finance (Building Management & Works) will also be participating in these prestigious awards.

Diploma of Building and Construction students at Master Builders’ Jolimont Training Centre.

Master Builders has increased the options for people wanting to complete the Diploma of Building and Construction, a step towards applying for registration as a builder in WA. The Diploma has been offered at the Association’s Jolimont Training Centre since 2012 when there were 30 participants. In 2013 there were two classes and 53 participants with similar arrangements this year. Master Builders’ training director Neil Du Rand says classes have been scheduled to suit the participants.

“Most of them are contractors, so now classes are offered once a month in a block session of four days on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Mr Du Rand said. “These are full day sessions and are quite intensive. It requires participants to miss work for 12 days over a six month period but nevertheless, it has proved very popular. The classes, coupled with after hours assignments and full time work requires great effort but the sacrifice is well worth it as participants get to complete the Diploma in about seven months. ”Mr Du Rand said the Diploma units of competency are aligned to Building Commission requirements for builders’ registration with participants doing slightly more than the 18 units required.

“The completion rate has been good, although personal issues have delayed some from completing the assignments on time,” he said.

“The majority have requested extensions and are still committed to finishing.

“Previously in 2012 and 2013 we were fortunate to receive funding from the National Workforce Development Fund which greatly reduced the registration fee. In 2013 we applied for more positions to be funded but the change in government and subsequent closure of the National Workforce Development Fund has delayed our application. We still are awaiting a decision on our application but in the meantime, participants are paying the fee and payment plans are offered.

“Most participants are not bothered by the cost and report that work pressure coupled with the amount of work, especially assignments to be completed, is the biggest issue for not getting finished within seven months. However, many of those who have completed the Diploma have now also applied for and received their builders’ registration.

Most have worked with Master Builders’ special projects director Gavan Forster and have found the process of applying for their registration easy. ”Master Builders also is offering the Diploma of Building and Construction in Geraldton, Bunbury and Albany although the delivery method differs.

How to nominate Employers wishing to nominate an apprentice should complete the nomination form which is available from Master Builders.

The nomination form must be received by Friday 8 August 2014.

Nominations should include sufficient information to allow the judging panel to properly assess the nominees and include details such as: • academic results plus any favourable reports from teachers/lecturers; • information on work skills, special skills, knowledge of trade and ability to relate to fellow workers; • achievements or awards received from TAFE or other training providers; • testimonials from teachers, lecturers, employers or community groups; and • reports of involvement in community groups/projects.

Recognising our best apprentices is a major step in encouraging more young people to choose a career in the building industry with employers of direct indentured apprentices urged to support these awards.

The Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Awards will be held on Friday 7 November 2014 at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre in conjunction with the Ric New Medal for young high achievers.

Download entry forms at: www.mbawa.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/04/2014-Apprentice-of-the-YearEntry-Kit.pdf For more information contact: Training Director, Neil Du Rand on 9441 8000 or via email to: neil@mbawa.com.

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FAIRS GO Andrew Fairs (left) has left the Public Utilities Office after seven years of assisting builders with energy ratings and sustainability enquiries.

Master Builders’ director Michael McLean, who had a farewell meeting with Mr Fairs in May, acknowledged his contribution and wished him well in his next career move.

Mr Fairs and eight other public servants from the Public Utilities Office were made redundant following this year’s State Budget. The decision was taken because of a change in Government priorities and a shift in emphasis from program administration and facilitation to the provision of policy and commercial advice to Government.

TURN OFF THAT SPRINKLER THIS WINTER The Water Corporation says that billions of litres of water can be saved by consumers turning off reticulation systems. Between 1 June and 31 August each year, the Corporation implements a total ban on sprinkler use for bore and scheme water users in Perth, Mandurah and some parts of the South West.

During winter, plants and lawns generally receive enough water from rainfall and turning off sprinklers during these months is a simple way to save water. Since its inception in 2010, the ban has saved more than four billion litres annually.

Hand held watering and maintenance testing of bores are permitted but anyone using their sprinklers between June and August risks a $100 fine. The usual, permanent watering rosters apply to all other parts of the State.

To find out where the ban applies or to see the watering roster visit watercorporation.com.au/sprinklerban.

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WATER CORPORATION MOVES TO STOP WATER METER THEFTS The theft of water meters and services from building sites in the Perth metropolitan area is an ever increasing problem, creating unnecessary expense and inconvenience for both builders and the Water Corporation.

The rising statistics are alarming: since June 2013 there have been months where thefts have been over 300, with the primary targets being new developments as there are few, if any, observers after hours or on weekends.

Until now, the Corporation has been replacing stolen meters and charging builders (as the party responsible for the security/care of the meter) the full cost of replacements. However, the Corporation says the situation can’t be allowed to continue and to assist, it created a committee to examine the problem and to provide a solution. As a result, the Corporation will be trialling a number of measures on a number of sites in the metropolitan area.

THESE ARE: • Installation of a water service without a meter. The meter would be installed on completion of the construction work. This will require the builder to promptly notify the Corporation when construction work is completed.

• Installation of a meter fitted with a locking device. This has been successfully used by the Victorian water authorities, with some success.

• Installation of a meter that has been sprayed with Nano Tags (microscopic identifying tags). The tags identifying the meters will belong to the Corporation.

Affected builders will be advised that the trial is taking place and although the water service may appear to be out of the ordinary, that this is no cause for concern. The Corporation says that with the assistance of the building industry, it aims to put an end to thefts and save builders, and their clients, the unwanted expense.

The trials were set to commence in late June.

The Corporation asks any builder with a site included in the trial who finds that the service or meter are damaged to report this to the Corporation’s Operations Centre on 13 13 75. When making the report, the operator should be advised specifically that the service or meter is part of the missing meters trials, the Corporation says.

WATER CORPORATION ADDRESSES CONNECTION ISSUES The Water Corporation has received a number of complaints where it has been unable to provide a water connection due to water mains being unavailable.

The Corporation says these situations have usually occurred where the water supply has been bonded and the building plans have been lodged early, despite the land owner being advised by the developer of the earliest date the connection will be available.The problem

has been most prevalent in the Alkimos, Baldivis, Banksia Grove, Brabham, Butler, Caversham, Hilbert, Iluka, Jindalee, Meadow Springs, Piara Waters, Wandi, Wellard and Yanchep.

The Corporation says that Master Builder members with clients (homeowners) in these suburbs, should ask the clients to check whether their subdivision is subject to this condition.

“You should also confirm the date when the connections will be available before agreeing on a start date,” the Corporation says. “We are unable to process any connection applications until the water mains are available, which is sometimes a cause of frustration for builders and their clients.”

For more information, contact Kevin Kannas at the Water Corporation 13 13 95.

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TELSTRA VELOCITY PROVIDES FIBRE TO THE HOME In greenfield residential developments, Telstra is installing ‘fibre to the home’ technology for the connection of Telstra services, under agreement with the property developers.

This technology is called Telstra Velocity, a name used to describe the supply of telecommunications services to customers’ premises using optical fibre instead of the traditional copper cable. A single optical fibre

supplies the home with telephone, broadband data and digital TV services.

Telstra says that it should be noted that homes built in a Telstra Velocity estate must be cabled to the Telstra requirements as an absolute minimum. Homes that are not cabled to these specifications may not have access to services across the Velocity network.

Visit telstra.com.au for more information.

WESTERN POWER AIMS TO SHOCK-PROOF WA workers and their families are affected by electrical accidents every year, but in many cases these could have been prevented with better knowledge of the potential hazards the electricity network poses.

ShockProof!, a program run by Western Power, aims to increase children’s knowledge of electrical safety in the home. The ShockProof! program is provided free to eligible schools connected to the Western Power network.

For more information about the ShockProof! education program or to request that the program visit your children’s school, visit www.westernpower.com.au.

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ALL EYES ON YOU: HOW TO ACE A PANEL INTERVIEW Panel job interviews can be nerve-racking.

But researching the panel, remaining calm and preparing success stories will help you impress at this stage of the hiring process, say recruiting experts Hays Construction.

“More so than telephone or one-on-one interviews, panel interviews with three or more interviewers all focusing their attention on you make jobseekers the most nervous,” says Simon Bristow, senior regional director of Hays Construction.

“But preparation is the key. Researching the panel, making a list of potential questions and practising answers beforehand will help calm those jitters. During the interview, taking a moment to collect your thoughts and talking to the entire panel will calm your nerves,” he said.

Here are Hays’ top tips for preparing for a panel interview: 1. Research the panel. Ask your recruiter for the names of the people on the panel and research them on the organisation’s website or LinkedIn page. This allows you to put faces to names, so you can address the panellists by name in the interview.

2. Anticipate questions. Also use this research to anticipate what each individual interviewer is likely to focus on. Then you can prepare relevant examples before your interview.

For example, for an HR representative. you could prepare examples of how your work style fits the organisation’s culture. For the line manager, you could demonstrate how you have overcome the common challenges of the particular role applied for. And for a co-worker, you could prepare examples to show you are a reliable team player willing to help others.

3. Speak to the entire panel. Make eye contact with each panellist. While your focus will naturally be on the individual asking each particular question, also talk to and engage with the entire panel to demonstrate your interpersonal skills.

4. Stay calm. Some jobseekers feel intimidated by a panel and so rush their answers.

One aspect of a panel interview is to test how candidates react in a high pressure environment. So take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and remain calm, particularly if the panel is asking a series of rapid fire questions.

5. Ask each panellist a question. Towards the end of the interview you will likely be asked if you have any questions of your own. Your research prior to the interview allowed you to identify the discipline and focus of each interviewer, so use this to prepare a question for each relevant to their role in relation to the vacancy on offer.

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

TAXABLE PAYMENTS ANNUAL REPORTS DUE Building and construction industry businesses that pay contractors for building and construction services need to report these payments to the ATO on the Taxable payments annual report due on 21 July.

The ATO says businesses need to report contractors’ ABNs, names and addresses, the total amounts paid for the year and the total GST included in those amounts.

“This information generally will be contained in the invoices you receive from your contractors,” the ATO says. “Now is the time to make sure your business is ready to prepare and lodge the annual report on time. If you filled out a paper report last year, why not make the process quicker and easier this year by lodging online?

All you need is software that can generate the

annual report and an AUSkey. To watch a short video that shows how to lodge online, visit ato.gov.au/tpr.”

Information reported about payments made to contractors is matched against other information held by the ATO to detect contractors that have not lodged tax returns or included all income in returns that have been lodged.

Go to ato.gov.au/taxablepaymentsreporting to find more information about the taxable payments reporting system including what needs to be reported, when reports are due, how to register for an AUSkey, how to lodge annual reports and how to register for a free webinar.

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LEVESYS founding director Mark Gravolin shares his thoughts on...

... THREE THINGS SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES HAVE IN COMMON The right people Successful construction companies are led by an exceptional leader and have a strong, trusted core team of competent people.

When a good leader is leading a strong team, extra people can be added or removed on a projects-won basis. However, the core team will ensure your company remains ever competitive with minimised risk and overheads.

A strong core team and good leader become a well-oiled machine and quickly develop a trusted reputation within the industry. A team that is efficient and that people like to work with sees many benefits. The team wins work more easily, completes projects to a higher standard, achieves a steady flow of projects and gets work completed more efficiently.

Benefits like these see flow-on benefits such as increased bargaining power with suppliers, the ability to pick and choose projects, higher profit margins and less influence caused by changes in economic conditions.

All construction companies that remain successful in the long term have this strong core team and a good leader. In the famous words of top business executive Jack Welch, “The team with the best players wins.”

Vision, positioning and quality Construction is competitive. To come out on top, a clear and executable plan is needed.

Our most successful clients have a very clear vision communicated unambiguously throughout the organisation and they simultaneously employ agile strategic planning practices to remain targeted but flexible.

Successful companies know what they do best and find their niche in the market – the thing they do a bit differently and better than other companies. For example, educational institution construction, mining accommodation construction, design and construct shop fitouts, luxury housing, largescale retirement living etc. Becoming specialist enough to be the company that comes to mind for certain projects, yet flexible enough to be able to take on a variety of projects seems to be the way to success.

Of course, construction companies with long term success also have an undying commitment to quality – regardless of their sub-industry or project undertaken.

Systems for success Systems and processes of successful construction companies are always spot-on.

With construction comes a lot of paper work, long term liabilities, a multitude of reporting requirements and a large amount of project documentation. Poor systems and processes can see administration and accounting costs skyrocket, decrease the efficiency of your organisation and make it near impossible to have real-time information on how your projects, and business, are tracking.

No matter the size of the construction company, leading companies always have strong and dependable software ensuring the integrity of their projects and accounts. Once a construction company reaches about $15 million in annual revenue (or sooner if it is a company looking for fast, sustainable growth), an end-to-end, industry-specific ERP software system is usually needed. These systems integrate all aspects of your construction company from both the financial and project management sides. They ensure information accuracy, streamlined project management and enable enhanced business management through real-time information that tells decision makers what they need to know. ERP systems are time-saving, risk-reducing, productivityincreasing machines and that is why successful construction companies almost always have one in place.

Easier said than done Of course, it is easy to be theoretical about what successful construction companies have in common. It is of course far more difficult to ensure the success of your company. However, over 25 years we have found that the right people and spot on systems and processes are common across all successful Australian construction companies.

LEVESYS is a software company that produces ERP software systems for the Australian construction industry.

To discuss the above or how software can assist your construction company, contact us today on +61 7 3004 6100 or email info@levesys.com.

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ALL SYSTEMS GO: AVOID DODGY DEVICES The consequences of operating a radiocommunications device that doesn’t comply with Australian law can be serious and may risk your business’s reputation. Taking some simple steps before buying your next product will help to ensure it operates on the correct frequencies and doesn’t cause interference. So make sure you remember to stop, research and question.

Stop! Research the product first • Can it be legally used in Australia? Seeking other information to that provided by the seller may alert you to potential issues with the product. ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (www. acma.gov.au), has detailed information on many devices including high-risk items like mobile phone and GPS jammers, illegal mobile phone repeaters and mobile phone boosters.

• Is the deal too good to be true? Is the price far cheaper than known reputable brands?

This may be a sign that the product hasn’t undergone the required testing to ensure it complies with Australian technical standards.

Sellers (or their suppliers) must meet a range of technical and compliance requirements before selling a radiocommunications device in Australia – but not all sellers comply.

• Where is the seller located? Devices made for overseas markets may use the incorrect frequency in Australia and interfere with important services.

• Does the seller look reputable? Only buy from websites that you know and trust.

Check recommendations and feedback from other customers.

Question Are you confident about the information you’ve been given? If you’re unsure, ask the seller if it meets Australian requirements and if it can be used legally in Australia. Be wary if the seller does not adequately address your questions or concerns.

Know the consequences • You could block or disrupt important communications systems. If the device operates on the same frequencies as those used for emergency services, there is a risk it could substantially disrupt or block these vital communications systems.

• You could receive an unwelcome visit.

ACMA inspectors investigate and locate

Are you responsible for buying and managing wireless communications systems in your workplace? Do you shop online or while overseas?

Is your communications set-up relatively simple in design with a few handheld two-way radios in operation or more complex with multiple systems and devices working together? Whatever your circumstances, it’s likely your wireless communications systems are subject to the requirements of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

the source of interference to licensed radiocommunications services. Their enquiries may lead to your doorstep.

• Your business could be prosecuted. There are various offences under the Act that could apply to the unlawful operation or possession of a radiocommunications device. The consequences can include a court-imposed penalty of up to $255,000 for a business making a radio emission from a non-standard transmitter. The same penalty might apply to a business found guilty by a court of operating a radiocommunications device without an appropriate licence (sections 46 and 157). Your business’s reputation also could suffer a serious blow if it receives a court-imposed penalty.

• Your hip pocket could be lighter. A device that doesn’t meet Australian technical requirements might not work here or you might be instructed by an ACMA inspector to stop using it. If you buy a dodgy device

from overseas, it’s possible that you won’t get your money back.

Don’t forget to stop, research and question before buying your next radiocommunications product. The laws administered by ACMA seek to ensure that radiocommunications products supplied in Australia operate on the correct frequencies, meet safe electromagnetic energy (EME) emission limits set by ARPANSA and meet the electromagnetic capability (EMC) requirements so that there is no unintentional interference with other devices.

ACMA does not regulate product safety (injury, illness and death caused by unsafe goods). Information on electrical safety matters is available from state and territory energy regulators. More advice on product safety is available from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s product safety website. acma.gov.au @acma_operations

The real deal or a Thinking about buying a cordless phone, two-way radio, wireless modem or other radiocommunications device online or while overseas? These products are all subject to legal requirements to prevent interference. So, STOP, THINK and QUESTION before you buy.

Research the product

Suss out the seller

Can it be legally used in Australia?

Where is the supplier located?

Find reviews from other buyers and make sure it’s not a high-risk item like a mobile repeater, jammer or booster.

Devices made for overseas markets may use the incorrect frequency in Australia and interfere with important services.

Is the deal too good to be true?

If the product is far cheaper than known reputable brands, it may not have been tested to Australian technical standards.

Does it meet Australian regulatory requirements?

Question the seller.

Be wary if they don’t adequately address your concerns.

Does the seller look reputable?

Only buy from websites that you know and trust.

Check recommendations and feedback from other customers.

Know the consequences

Will you disrupt important communications systems?

Operating an illegal device could block reception in an emergency and put lives at risk.

Will you be out of pocket?

If you buy a dodgy device from overseas, it’s possible that you won’t get your money back.

Fancy a fine or jail time?

There’s a range of penalties if you cause interference—the courts could hit you with a hefty fine or you could even go to prison.

get caught out with a dodgy device—check the ACMA website or follow us on Twitter for more info.

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UPDATES building business J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Business Wealth Educators’ director Rueben Taylor provides some tips on...

... HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR SALES CONVERSION RATE IN A FEW SIMPLE STEPS though for most of you it probably is not consistent every time.

You see, by flow charting your sales process, you will be able to see clearly what each step in the process is and where it might need to be improved. Having a step-by-step process – right from sending out a marketing piece to after sales services – will help bring about a critical aspect of selling – consistency. Once you have a flow chart, get everyone in your organisation following it.

Rueben Taylor.

When I speak to most business owners for the first time and ask them what their sales conversion rate is, the most common answer is “I don’t know”. When they have a guess, they almost always say “It’s probably pretty good – maybe 60-70 percent”. Sometimes this is true, although most times it is not and when we start testing and measuring, they realise it is much less, with the average being around 30 percent.

So what that means is that only three out of 10 new leads will purchase from you. Now when you consider the cost to buy a new lead – that is, the cost of the marketing you need to do to get the phone to ring, people to come in or to get hits on your website – three out of 10 is often too low.

There is some good news though. There are 83 strategies you can use to help you improve your conversion rate. And let’s face it, you can’t double 60 percent, but you can double or even triple 30 percent. Now I’m not here to tell you about all 83 ways to increase your conversion rate right now, but here are two that you certainly can start with.

Flow Chart Your Sales Process The first step is to flow chart your sales process. Now you may be thinking, what sales process? Whether you realise it or not, you do have a sales process! For some of you it may be woeful, and for others it may be acceptable,

Script What You Say The second place to start is to work out the sales scripts that need to support each step of the sales process. It’s one thing to have a step-by-step sales process; it’s another thing to know what to say at each step every time an enquiry is made.

The simplest way to do this is to write down what you say when you have a good sales experience and then work on improving this over time. Or if you have several sales people on your team, work out what your best sales person does and says and document that. This includes the initial phone call, the face-to-face enquiry and any other contact you might have in the sales process, even the thank you letter or card after the sale is made.

By flow charting your sales process and writing sales scripts for every step of the process you certainly will bring about consistency, which will help develop confidence and ultimately help you increase you sales conversion rate.

One last thing; remember to keep it simple.

The scripts and process need to be easy to follow and use or they won’t be followed.

For 14 years, Rueben Taylor has helped Perth businesses achieve sustainable growth, strong cash flow and to run smoothly in the business owners’ absence. He is founder of Business Wealth Educators and recipient of a 40 under 40 award and nine global and 16 Asia Pacific franchise awards including the 2014 Business Excellence Award for Best Client Results (Asia Pacific). Visit www.businesswealtheducators.com.au.

advertorial 69

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Nothing Heats Water Like Solargain At Solargain, using the sun to naturally heat water is just the beginning of what has become one of the largest solar hot water businesses in the country.

From supplying water heating systems to thousands of Australian homeowners and businesses, to recognition as a leader in after-sales care and servicing – Solargain is a name that Australians trust.

In an industry overrun with competitors that seem to constantly come and go, Solargain has endured, and continues to go from strength to strength. As a builder, supplier or consultant we understand that you expect the best and so we’ve invested in ourselves to ensure we’ll be here for the long haul.

With a great range of quality Australian-supported products, Solargain spoils you for choice with a raft of systems to suit any project. From tried and tested flat panel solar hot water units, to more advanced evacuated tube solutions – we tailor our technology to suit individual budgets, lifestyles and buildings. Our range of products also extends to split system and roof mount equipment, all covered by industry-competitive warranties and bulletproof craftsmanship.

Of course, behind every quality hot water system, there should be a qualified team, and this is one area where we excel.

From our supportive office staff, to our on-site technicians, the Solargain team knows solar hot water. And with a company history in water heating stretching well over 20 years, it’s no surprise.

As further proof of our safety and quality promise, Solargain is accredited with both ISO 9001 and AS/NZS 4801 certifications, which back up everything we say about the high-standards of our business.

So whether you’re after full installation, assistance in installation or purely the supply of products, Solargain has got your solar water heating covered. Get in touch and find out why more tradies choose us.

For further information, contact Solargain on 1300 73 93 55, or visit solargain.com.au

Best of all we stock our own brand of solar hot water products, meaning you purchase directly from the manufacturer and get outstanding savings and trade discounts.

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FEATURE hot water systems J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

A REVIEW OF THE BIG 4 HOT WATER TECHNOLOGIES IN AUSTRALIA Water heating is responsible for around 25 per cent of the average Australian household's energy bill, according to the Department of Industry.

So it is no wonder that many people are beginning to think about how they can best heat their water. For many, the ideal system will be cost-effective and kind on the planet.

Builders and plumbers are often seen as trusted advisers for hot water systems, and consumers often look to them for advice on the different options available. It is important you understand the differences in hot water technologies so you can best advise your customers.

Here is a guide to the four biggest hot water technologies: Electric, gas instantaneous, heat pump and solar.

Electric water heater Electric water heaters use the most energy of all four.

While only half of Australian households have these fitted, they are responsible for around 80 per cent of the greenhouse gases produced by water heating, according to Your Home, an Australian government guide to sustainable homes.

While smaller households may choose modest units, it is important to note that storage units under 150 litres are the most expensive to run as they rely on peak electricity.

Larger tanks can utilise the cheaper off-peak tariffs but they must heat the larger capacity, which increases overall energy consumption.

Although relatively cheap up front to purchase and install, an electric storage hot water system running costs can quickly add up. An electric hot water system on peak tariff (based on $0.28c/kWh) will cost between $1,000 and $1,600 per year to run. While an off-peak tarriff (based on $18c/kWh) electric hot water system will cost between $700 and $1,000 per year to run.

Gas instantaneous Water heated by an instantaneous natural gas or LPG heater can provide a virtually unlimited supply of hot water to the home, as water is heated on demand.

Turning the hot tap on triggers the instant water heater, and due to its tank-less design, it is generally cheaper to run than a storage unit, as there is no heat loss to contend with. Instantaneous gas heaters increased in efficiency over the years, however, their running costs still depend solely on the purchase price of gas.

Tip: Reducing the temperature of the water being heated can help reduce ongoing running cost of a gas instantaneous heater.

Similar to an electric storage system, an instantaneous gas system is relatively cheap to purchase and install, but how do the running costs stack up?

A 6-star gas instantaneous running on natural gas (based on 1.75c/MJ) will cost between $240-$400 per year, while its 6-star LPG (based on 4c/MJ) counterpart will cost significantly more at between $550 and $927 per year!

Residents of NSW will be hit with a 17.5% increase in gas prices from 1 July. This is a great example of why households across Australia need to begin factoring in the long-term ongoing costs when selecting a water heater, rather than simply basing their selection on up front affordability.

Hot water heat pump Heat pumps use electricity to extract heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to water stored in a tank.

Rather than directly heating water through an element, the electricity is used to drive a compressor and fan, making its energy usage much more efficient. The technology is much the same as that used in refrigerators and reverse-cycle air conditioners.

Heat pumps can operate in most climates, but are most efficient in hot and humid conditions. When installing a heat pump it is best to position it in the warmest and sunniest location possible to maximize its output. You will also need to be considerate when selecting the installation location as there will be some noise generated from the fan and compressor.

Heat pumps can be run on off-peak tariff over night, but are most commonly used on peak tariff, which allows the system to operate during the warmer periods of the day

hot water systems FEATURE 71 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

and heat more efficiently. A heat pump running on peak tariff (based on 28c/kWh) will cost between $400-$650 per year to run.

Solar hot water systems The most efficient means of heating water is a solar hot water system. Solar hot water systems use the sun's rays, or irradiation, to heat water through a solar collector generally located on the roof of the property.

On average, there are between six to eight hours of sunshine per day in Australia, depending on the state. Due to our abundance of sunshine, a solar hot water system can provide up to 90 per cent of a home's hot water directly from the sun – at no cost, and without creating any greenhouse gas emissions. Any shortfall between supply and demand can be made up using electric or gas boosting, so householders need not worry about running out of hot water during overcast or rainy conditions.

Considerations need to be taken when assessing the suitability of a solar collector to the home – ideally the collector would face as close to north as possible and remain un-shaded throughout the day. However, if a north roof is unavailable there are mounting frames that can be used to bring the collector to its ideal pitch and orientation.

Due to the collectors being exposed to the elements, you also need to take into consideration the wind conditions (is it a cyclone region?) as well as the temperature range it will be operating in (is it a frost region?). Many solar hot water systems rely on frost valves or an antifreeze solution to prevent water freezing and damaging the collectors, the evacuated tube style collectors most commonly have in-built anti freeze through a setting on the solar controller.

Although a solar hot water system is the most efficient of the big four hot water technologies, with the lowest ongoing running costs, a lot of consumers do not weigh up the long term benefits and concentrate on the higher up-front costs of going solar. Utility bills may be affordable now – but will they still be in 5 or 10 years down the track?

The running cost of a solar hot water system depends on the booster you have installed, and how it is configured. Natural gas boosted solar systems can be as little as $115 to $200 per year to run. An LPG Gas boosted system costs between $230 and $440/year. An electric boosted system averages at between $200 and $400 per year to run. The electric booster can also be configured with a timer on peak tariff, and if set up to suit the home hot water usage patterns, can cost less to run than an off-peak booster!

There are two main technologies used for solar hot water collectors: Evacuated tube and Flat Plate collectors.

Flat plate collectors Flat plates are the most widely recognised solar collectors. They consist of an absorber plate, or sheet of copper bonded to a number of copper pipes and contain heat-transfer fluid. These are generally enclosed in an insulated metal frame to reduce heat loss from the back and sides.

Flat plate collectors tend to work very well in the warmer climates and during the summer months of the year, however, performance can be greatly reduced in the winter months or in the colder regions of Australia.

Purchase costs of flat panel collectors are generally lower than evacuated tubes, but installation costs could be higher with an on-roof tank model due to heavy lifting requirements.

Evacuated tube collectors Evacuated tubes have become more and more popular in Australia of late, as they are an extremely efficient means of heating water. Essentially the operation of the system as a whole is the same – but it is how the heat is captured and transferred into the water that makes the evacuated tubes stand out.

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FEATURE hot water systems J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

A vacuum created between the two layers of glass within the tube allows heat energy to be absorbed, and prevents it from escaping. This is an extremely efficient insulator (similar to a thermos flask) that minimises heat loss to the atmosphere making evacuated tubes a great choice for cooler regions of Australia. The in-built frost

protection means that the same evacuated tube collector installed in regions like North Queensland can also be installed in the coldest regions of Tasmania with little, or no changes.

Their curved shape means the sun's rays strike the tubes at a perpendicular angle from early morning right through to late in the afternoon giving greater heat output.

Running Cost Comparisons The below graph, shows a visual representation of the different hot water technologies running costs, and how these costs stack up against each other. Hot water systems are an essential appliance in any home and ongoing running costs must be a major factor to consider in the decision making process. Much like fuel economy is considered when purchasing a new car, Australian families need to find the right balance between upfront and ongoing costs when purchasing a new hot water system.

Source: Running cost data, and electricity and gas unit prices used within this article was used from data published by Sustainability Victoria: www.sustainability. vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energyefficiency/at-home/hot-water-systems/hot-waterrunning-costs Article by Brendan Graetz, Apricus Australia Pty Ltd

GOOd FOr tHE EnvirOnmEnt. GOOd FOr cuStOmErS. Good for buSineSS. Our Equinox range offers unrivalled Solar water heating performance and low running costs.

Fit an Equinox Solar System and your customer can:

- Save over 95% on energy costs in summer* - Take advantage of great Government incentives *Based on an Electric Boosted, 330L tank with 2 collectors installed in Port Hedland (zone 2)

Phone 1300 882 551 or visit www.gewa.com.au

building software FEATURE 73 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

THE BENEFITS OF USING CRM FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES The Australian construction industry is a competitive one - costs are high, margins are often low and winning work is not always a simple task.

For these reasons, it is important for Australian construction companies to remain competitive, and one such tool to aid this road to success is the effective use of a CRM – Customer Relationship Management strategy and software.

The value and benefit of CRM as a strategy is to improve your overall customer service and to increase your business revenue through customer satisfaction and the ability to effectively manage your customer acquisition and retention.

The reasons your construction company should look at implementing a CRM include: • To generate more repeat business • To win more contracts • To increase the value of your company • To reduce the impact of key people leaving your business

What is a CRM CRM enables a business to learn more about customers’ needs and behaviours to develop stronger relationships and understand what it takes for your company to meet those needs consistently, and with integrity.

As a system, Customer Relationship Management software should empower your business to understand, manage and organise your customer data and allow for the effective and systematic recording of contact information and contact interactions.

In the case of a construction company, an effective CRM will usually be built in to your existing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software system. The beauty of an integrated CRM solution is that the information stored

CRM benefits both the customer and the business via improved sales, higher customer confidence and satisfaction and a more effective work environment.

against the contact can become part of a project or job specification and be directly incorporated into your financial software as a single solution without any duplication.

For example, say you have tendered for a project. Every written correspondence with that company, including notes of verbal conversations, should be stored against the company record, in addition to a schedule of actions and follow-up dates that either

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advertorial J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Site collaboration just got a whole lot easier Coordinating your trades and suppliers has improved dramatically with the launch of the new portal for construction - JobFile.

Builders have been making dramatic changes in the amount of emails and other forms of electronic communication they generate to their suppliers and trades. While builders have been putting systems in place to handle this, many suppliers are still left with fighting the ever demanding email inbox and loose bits of paperwork.

According to Erik Withoud, Operations Manager at ClickHome, “the amount of call-ups, scheduling and reschedules that a builder produces has dramatically increased in recent years due to onsite systems such as ClickHome, which makes the life of the supervisor and construction manager much easier. Supervisors can easily schedule, reschedule or generate new call-ups to site, which go out increasingly as emails to the trades and suppliers. These are now starting to include important contract documentation such as plans and addenda. We are hearing from our clients and the industry as a whole that suppliers and trades are having trouble in keeping up with this deluge of information.�

JobFile has been designed as an industry portal to be the holder of supplier task information. It will provide one central database where builders, suppliers and trades can share all of their work requests. It enables the builder to feed information to the supplier from existing systems. The supplier can view and manage that information either within JobFile online or using a mobile app or if required through connections to their existing systems.

JobFile is different from other online portals in that it manages the existing relationships builders have with their suppliers and trades. It is not a bidding, tendering or online directory system that are common in the marketplace. It also is not about managing one construction job and its relevant tasks but pushing out many tasks for many jobs to the relevant suppliers.

The other revolutionary aspect is that JobFile enables builders to use JobFile to request task confirmations and show notes with other parties, without forcing them to sign up. For more convenience trades and suppliers could sign up for a free or paid account depending upon their requirements.

Aaron Savory, the Business Development Director at JobFile, said that through an extensive period of consultation with builders, suppliers and trades it was becoming evident that there was a need for a system like JobFile. Many builders, suppliers and trades are required to log in to many separate systems to see and update information. This makes it very hard to manage work between multiple clients. JobFile aims to be the industry’s portal of information so all relevant information is contained in the one spot. This eliminates the need for building companies to have their own online supplier portals which are hard to manage in terms of access, training and updating. For suppliers and trades being forced to log on to many different sites will fast become a thing of the past.

For larger companies that wish to utilise their existing systems, JobFile has a proven and tested API to feed data to and from the JobFile system. This makes supplying job and task information back and forward a relatively simple process. ClickHome, used by many residential building companies, have already built a JobFile connector, making the activation process for their clients very simple. The JobFile team can provide documentation, examples and support to help other companies get connected.

JobFile has an ambitious feature development pipeline which will mean that all aspects of the builder to trades and suppliers relationship will become easier. Reducing the burden of administration and paperwork will free time and resources that can be spent on more important activities.

If you are currently sending or receiving call-ups and task information electronically or by fax then you need to investigate what JobFile can do for you.

For more information contact: Phone: 08 6464 8050 Website: www.jobfile.com.au

Missing deadlines onsite?

Emails & documents getting lost?

Wasting time following up trades?

YOUYOU NEED NEED JOBFILE! JOBFILE! JobFile gives your trades, suppliers and contractors an online view of relevant job details, plans, documents & schedules.

Con�rmations, updates and completions can be communicated to you in real time.

Connect existing systems, view online or mobile applications.

go to

Web Address: www.job?le.com.au

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FEATURE building software J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

party has committed to throughout the life of the project and after project completion.

Associated documents should be easily and conveniently attached to the record cards forming a “document history” and finally, when further work opportunities become available, you will have all the activity and project history, company contacts, supplier history and financial detail available at your fingertips.

Generate more repeat business If you ask almost any successful construction company why they do so well, they will tell you it is because of the relationships they have built within the industry. Having strong relationships with customers, head contractors, suppliers and investors can see businesses maintain a steady stream of work through downtimes, win contracts without having to tender, reduce the cost of sales, reduce the likelihood of disputes and much more.

CRM assists companies in building stronger relationships as the system will support the knowledge gap commonly associated with the pressures of high work-load, staff churn and even, set reminder dates to renew subscriptions, licences and wish your customers happy birthday! It is important that the business as a whole is engaged with CRM and remembers that the key to a successful system is data integrity – your system is only as good as the quality of data your feed it!

By gaining insight into the behaviour of customers and indeed the VALUE of those customers (over a lifetime) – the business will maximise revenue by supporting you in advertising the right product to the right people, first time, every time.

Win more contracts CRM assists in the contract-winning process in three ways. Firstly, timely and effective communications with the right people will always assist in winning contracts. A CRM will allow you to document the outcomes of projects generating a history that enables you to have more effective communications in the future. Secondly, by tracking all correspondence with those awarding future contracts, you can better recollect and understand their individual business needs and project requirements; and based on past deliverables and new found knowledge, take that critical information forward to your next

project. Thirdly, by managing relationships successfully and becoming the partner / supplier of choice to your customers, you are more likely to receive referral business.

With the combination of human input (hence the data integrity issue!) and technology, an effective CRM strategy can aid a business to increase revenue by: • Providing services and products that are exactly what customers want • Offer better customer service – improving business relationships • Cross selling products and services more effectively • Help staff to close sales deals in a more timely, cost effective manner where their customers’ need are anticipated and met • Retaining existing customers and discovering new ones based on the learnings of the sales outcomes.

Increase the value of your company In the sale of a business, financial figures, goodwill and future earning potential are paramount. The effective use of a CRM system will allow you to demonstrate a sales pipe line with clarity on indicative sales and visibility on the customer worth (sales won and ongoing cost to the business).

Your CRM, is a database of information on all of your important contacts (customers, suppliers, other stakeholders, subcontractors etc). New owners and employees value a CRM system as it provides the backbone for continued management of key relationships without having to start from scratch. This adds value to your business.

A CRM also puts an organised system around your contacts. This valuable information is filed in a paperless manner which allows for the finding of valuable trends, easy safeguard and back-up, and more simple export into other software systems if needed. CRM makes the takeover of a business simpler, thus reducing the cost of doing so and therefore increasing the value of the business itself.

Reduce the impact of key people leaving your business With all project and company correspondence recorded, follow-up dates noted and project information in the system, the intellectual property of your business remains with your company when an

employee is temporarily incapacitated or indeed moves on. Having the CRM in place will support any employee to more easily pick up the pace where their predecessor left off and more quickly gain your contacts’ trust.

This is particularly important for business development, sales, supplier management and CEO/owner roles.

CRM and construction CRM has not typically been associated with construction. Until recent years, relationship management in typical Australian construction companies has relied on business owners and senior staff to hold all information related to key contacts in their heads. CRM began as a tool used by sales departments and marketing organisations. The value of an effective CRM is now quickly being realised by construction companies.

For more information about CRM use in construction and how it could benefit your company, call LEVESYS on 07 3004 6100 or email info@levesys.com.

steel FEATURE 77

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Building in Steel Steel structures perform in any climate. Not surprisingly, steel is the preferred framing material in the extreme climates of North West WA, where temperatures can vary over 40属C in a single day. Steel adapts perfectly to cyclonic design requirements, and is equally at home in humid or cold climates.

Designed to comply The National Construction Code (NCC) stipulates the performance requirements for framing systems. Steel framing designed in accordance with the NASH Standard for Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing, Part 1 is a deemed to satisfy solution in both volumes of the NCC. Steel framing fabricators assist building professionals and builders by providing engineering detailing and documentation for certification.

Quality and consistency Steel has consistent material strength and is manufactured to strict quality controls and tolerances, so every component has consistent properties and performance. This means there is no time wasted sorting material to select suitable pieces. Steel is highly dimensionally stable with climatic variation providing consistent, long term structural support. Computer aided design and manufacture permit the building of houses of almost any style and floor plan.

Long spanning Because of its high strength and consistent structural properties, steel is capable of long spans, offering large open spaces without requiring intermediate columns or load bearing walls. This allows increased design flexibility.

Fire resistance Buildings in bushfire prone areas are required to resist ignition.

Steel does not ignite, burn or contribute fuel to a fire, making it ideal for construction in the increasing number of areas designated as bushfire prone. Steel framing is always fully earthed, so the potential for concealed ignition leading to building fires is also reduced.

Not just steel building products... building solutions in steel.

Stramit Building Products works in partnership with builders, developers and designers to deliver innovative, high quality steel building solutions.

Save time and money on your project by using Stramit Condeck HP速 Permanent Formwork and Stramit Exacta速 Purlins to optimise your purlin design.

Talk to your local Stramit representative or download product literature and technical data now from:

www.stramit.com.au (08) 9493 8800 Amtel Pty Limited ABN 79 009 107 733. Trading as Stramit Building Products.

A member of the Fletcher Building Group. 速 Registered trademark. Deckform and Galvaspan are trademarks of BlueScope Steel Limited.

Structural sections Steel formwork Custom products Technical support Interactive software

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Sustainability Good design to achieve more challenging sustainability targets is made easier with the versatility of steel building products. Variations in wall thickness, attachment of thermal and acoustic materials and the wide availability of research data take much of the guesswork out of contemporary energy-efficient design. Durability, long term consistent performance and easy maintainability also contribute to sustainable steel construction.

Awkward sites With its inherent strength and consistency, and the wide range of sections available, steel offers the potential to reduce the number of framing members required. This is particularly useful on awkward sites where stable, slender structures and long spans can greatly simplify foundation design and reduce construction time and cost.

Easy to use Modern steel house frames and steel accessories are easy to use and widely available. Suppliers are making them ever more appealing to builders as they work to improve their systems to meet builders’ needs. Factory assembly also reduces the amount of on-site labour, wastage, and site theft. These are all cost-savers.

Services Frames have pre-punched holes for quick and easy installation of plumbing and electrical services. Electrical and plumbing grommets to isolate wiring and copper piping from the frame are readily available. It is a simple matter to isolate copper piping from the frame to guard against the possibility of bimetallic corrosion.

Cladding, lining and fitout It is easy to fix internal linings and external claddings to steel frames and to fit internal fixtures. Internal plasterboard is screw-fixed and because steel frames are so straight, trades people find there is no need for packing to compensate for non-linear dimensions. Internal lining tradesmen actually prefer steel framing because it is so straight and true. Specialist sub-contractors can install bathrooms and kitchens more easily and quickly and at lower cost for the same reasons. It is thus a simple matter to achieve a high standard of internal finish that will last because steel framing won’t warp, twist, or shrink after installation. Hardened steel nails and screws are available to fix architraves and skirtings.

Durability and longevity The builder and homeowner need never be concerned that the structural frame that can’t be seen is deteriorating due to environmental or biological attack by termites, borers or fungi.

Termite management, as required by the NCC, is therefore greatly simplified. Termites cannot destroy the steel frame, so the builder is less likely to be involved in any disputes resulting from extensive termite damage. Initial and repeated application of chemical treatments to maintain the termite management system are not required where the primary building elements, as defined in the NCC, are constructed from termite resistant materials such as steel.

Householders particularly appreciate the termite-proof nature of steel as these days they are much more aware of termites and the widespread damage they inflict. They also appreciate an immediate environment that is as free of chemicals as possible.

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INDUSTRIAL FENCING

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www.arcreo.com.au or call 131 557

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Steel-frame construction – sustainable, efficient, versatile, fast and strong Structural steel is the essential component of many iconic buildings and structures worldwide and to meet the increased demand for this popular choice in construction Smartsteel is proud to exclusively introduce the ENDUROFRAME® building system to Western Australia.

This is a building system that is lightweight, yet specially suited to the wide range of building applications in the Western Australian market.

Designers and specifiers have long since documented the advantages of steel framed construction and while it is often the first choice based purely on its strength and cost saving potentials, the advantages of steel construction go way beyond these valuable properties to include sustainability and a design versatility that is applicable to all building types and sectors.

Steel-frame construction is also less dependent on favourable site conditions at critical construction stages as it is essentially a dry construction system. The value of this it that in most residential building cases, once footings are in place the entire frame and all associated service trade work can be completed in one sequence. This allows an uninterrupted stage of bricklaying to external completion, and where lightweight external claddings are used, it is possible to weatherproof the building very rapidly.

The construction process is also more controlled and predictable with fast, accurate site assembly of panels and roof trusses that have been manufactured off-site. Smartsteel services include factory fabricated frames or complete knock down packs for onsite manufacture to provide excellent solutions for reduced transport cost to northwest and remote locations.

The Smartsteel wall framing system makes the building process fast and efficient and without compromise to the structural and aesthetic

outcomes. The Smartsteel framing system also provides freedom in floor layout and architectural design for each building.

The Smartsteel system uses steel framing software ENDUROCADD® that meets Australian Building Codes (ABCB) Protocol for Structural Software (ver 2011.1) in both non-cyclonic and cyclonic regions.

The ENDUROCADD® software remains the only residential steel framing software program that has been independently assessed to comply with this Protocol.

clean, steel wall frames are easy to stand without any mess, clean up labour time and waste disposal costs. As steel is one of the most recycled materials on earth, Smartsteel frames deliver a range of immediate and long term environmental benefits.

The design versatility and flexibility of steel framing buildings means they can be built with minimal site impact, for example on sloping and difficult sites it can be used in conjunction with suspended flooring systems to reduce the need to cut into the site.

As Smartsteel steel frames are fabricated offsite to exact specifications, there is minimal cutting and wastage onsite which makes a much cleaner building environment.

There is also no need for wall chasing, drilling or cutting for plumbing and electrical services, Smartsteel wall frames come with prepunched service holes saving many hours of unnecessary labour cost.

Steel-frame construction provides reliable high quality construction and minimises callbacks due to building movement.In order to resist wind speeds in excess of 300km per hour, cutting edge testing was carried out to develop high strength connections and tie downs, as well as adding 1.2mm thick sections to the range of manufacturing options.

As part of this development is a patented wall frame tie down bracket which provides excellent wind uplift resistance and eliminates the need for costly, time consuming brackets or tie down rods.

The Smartsteel framing system is designed, engineered and manufactured using a combination of 90mm ribbed C-sections providing up to 20 percent additional strength and 90mm U-sections. All of the Smartsteel frame sections are rolled in in the Smartsteel plant using the latest high precision roll forming machine.

Smartsteel only uses quality BlueScope Steel TRUECORE® that meets Australian standards and carries a 50 year warranty*.

Straight and true Smartsteel frames are precision engineered to be dimensionally accurate, resulting in a frame that is perfectly square with dead flat wall surfaces.Quick and

Smartsteel frames are 100 percent termite and borer proof, which eliminates the need for toxic chemical treatments to protect them from pest attack. This is not only better for the environment but a health benefit to the building’s occupants. Because it requires no additional chemical treatments, steel framing is recognised globally as a healthy home alternative for people suffering from asthma.

Building constructed with Smartsteel frames are designed to stand the test of time. The inherent strength and durability of TRUECORE® steel provides structural integrity in all types of environments and conditions - from Western Australia’s cyclone-prone regions, to fire-prone bushland, and harsh coastal environments.

Smartsteel frames are also non-combustible which significantly reduces the amount of flammable material in a building.

Make the smart choice by selecting Smartsteel and take advantage of the many benefits and cost savings of Smartsteel cyclonic and non-cyclonic wall framing and roof trusses for strong, fast and efficient construction. * Conditions apply, see TRUECORE® warranty page for more information: www.truecore.com.au.

For further information contact: Website: www.smartsteelframes.com.au

Providing the best steel framing solution engineered to the highest standard for CYCLONIC and NON-CYCLONIC regions.

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Take control of construction time and wastage.

Use SMARTSTEEL FRAMING Key advantages of smartsteel frame and roof trusses: Quick cost effective construction – save on labour and build time Straight and True | No chemical termite treatment | 50 year Bluescope warranty Our understanding of each client’s requirement combined with individual and personal care makes smartsteel the clever choice for the perfect engineered building solution. smartsteel framing system provides Architects, Engineers, Designers and Builders access to many efficient cost and time saving advantages.

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Residential Buildings Apartments

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Showrooms Shopping Centres

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Office Buildings Schools and Public Buildings

It is a common perception that Steel Wall Frames and Roof Trusses are more expensive. smartsteel frames are in fact very competitive in comparison with Brick and Timber.

Smartsteel Frames Pty Ltd 19 Excellence Drive, Wangara WA P 61 8 9468 2888 E sales@smartsteelgroup.com.au

www.smartsteelframes.com.au

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Environmentally friendly Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment. They need to be able to make informed decisions about the impact of their activities. The policy of the National Association of Steel Framed Housing is to support informed public debate on the issues and to provide factual information to enable specifiers, designers, householders and others to make sensible decisions.

Healthy homes Steel frames have proven ideal for the “healthy home� concept. The incidence of asthma and sensitivity to chemicals is a concern to many homeowners and steel frames have been used to achieve allergen-free and dust-free interiors. This requires techniques such as special sealing around windows, moisture barrier systems in the walls, extensive insulation, and whole house ventilation systems. Steel frames retain their original dimensions, which is a major factor in maintaining effective longterm sealing.

Design professionals, and particularly architects, strive to specify materials that minimise harm to the environment. They are among the leaders in the drive for buildings that are as friendly towards the environment as possible. Independent bodies (and some steel producers) around the world have performed life-cycle analyses on the environmental impacts of using steel.

Based on the results, well-informed architects freely specify steel products in their various forms for projects of all sizes, including single and multiple dwellings.

Article by National Association of Steel-Framed Housing Inc (NASH), for more information on suppliers and up to date information on residential and low-rise steel framed construction visit www.nash.asn.au.

Steel is 100% recyclable, easily accommodates energy efficient design concepts, enables minimal site disturbance and produces little site waste.

Goodwill Engineering’s manufacturing facility is able to provide a wide range of building hardware that services both housing and commercial construction. Our range of products can also be made from stainless steel to satisfy the requirement of withstanding a higher corrosion environment.

We also supply Hoop Iron (roof tie down straps) that meets the BCA & WA Building Commissions requirements. Galvanised Z600 coating and marine grade 316 stainless steel; both are available in 1.8m, 3m or rolls in varying lengths.

Our manufacturing capabilities allow us to provide a wide range of light engineering processes that can service both commercial construction and the mining industry.

Our head office is located at:

337 Victoria Rd (cnr Camboon Rd) Malaga WA 6090

Telephone: (08) 9249 3444

E-Mail: gwe@goodwillengineering.com.au

Facsimile (08) 9249 3573

www.goodwillengineering.com.au

outdoor living FEATURE 83 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

A summary of permeable interlocking concrete pavements, its benefits and where and where not to use them.

In urban catchments, road surfaces can account for up to 20-25% of impermeable surfaces. For example, roads are a major generator of runoff. In Australia, the control of this runoff is the prime objective in Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). One way to achieve this is to use Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP). PICP was first developed in Europe more than two decades ago and has been used in Australia since 1997. Because water infiltration is actively encouraged, a wide range of environmental and cost benefits can be achieved.

Concepts of Permeable Paving Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICP) cover a wide range of applications ranging through landscaping, domestic paving and driveways, public spaces, residential roads and streets and heavy duty industrial pavements including container areas. They both carry traffic and act as a drainage facility which can reduce or eliminate runoff, trap pollutants and harvest water for future reuse. They combine these multiple roles with a reduction in overall project cost by eliminating much of the drainage infrastructure, such as gulleys, sub-surface drains and sumps, that is needed in conventional pavements.

Permeable pavements reduce runoff by infiltrating rainfall, provided infiltration is fast enough that runoff can be minimised or eliminated. To keep infiltration high, the entire system must be designed to have high permeability. This is of particular importance in Australia where rainfall is often more intense than in those countries where permeable paving was originally pioneered.

Early research in Australia therefore examined whether PICP could adequately accept heavy Australia rainfall. This work has shown that rainfall intensities up to about 200 mm/hr can be accepted even after the pavements have been in service for many years.

Once water has entered the pavement sub-structure it can be drained to the subgrade. Where this is a highly permeable granular material such as gravelly soil, the rainfall from a typical storm can be directed to the water table. Where the subgrade is a relatively impermeable soil such as clay, this is not possible. The function of the pavement is then, temporarily to store ie detain the water and to allow it to flow to the storm water sewers at a rate that will not overload them. Here the only sub-surface drainage infrastructure required is an outlet connecting to the storm sewer. In this case the pavement also acts as a retention basin.

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Permeable Paving Components The essential components of a permeable pavement are shown in Figure 1. The elements of the pavement comprise: 1. A surfacing of permeable pavers designed to permit the rapid infiltration of rainfall.

Typically, the pavers will range in thickness between 60 and 80 mm.

2. The joints between the pavers must not be left empty but should be completely filled with a uniform aggregate. Sand must not be used instead of aggregate as it slows water ingress.

3. Depending on the degree of infiltration that can be achieved for a particular design storm, it may be necessary to provide drainage at the perimeter of the paving to manage overflows. This can be achieved by using conventional gulley inlets to existing storm sewers or by constructing swales or bioretention areas adjacent to the pavement.

4. The permeable pavers are laid on a 20-40 mm bedding course of uniform aggregate typically 2-5 mm in size. Sand is not suitable as a bedding course and should not be used in permeable pavements because it does not allow water to infiltrate rapidly enough to cope with Australian rainfall.

5. Beneath the bedding layer a permeable geotextile may be installed. This is optional and is only used when it is desired to mobilise biological controls of hydrocarbons etc.

6. A permeable basecourse normally consisting of compacted unbound granular materials provides the main load-bearing layer. The thickness of this layer must be sufficient both to resist traffic loads and to provide adequate water storage.

7. On cohesive subgrades, a filter fabric must be provided under the basecourse to prevent clay migrating into the pavement. This is not needed where the subgrade is granular ie a sandy or gravelly material.

8. Where the subgrade is contaminated, saline or expansive, an impermeable membrane must be provided under the basecourse to prevent water entering or leaving the pavement. This membrane will normally be run up the sides of the pavements as shown in Figure 1.

9. For some pavements, a drainage pipe is installed to remove water from the pavement.

10. The in-situ soil at the pavement site is known as the subgrade. The type of subgrade determines what type of

permeable pavement cross-section is feasible and how thick the pavement will need to be to resist traffic and to control stormwater. The subgrade must always be compacted to a depth of at least 100 mm.

Benefits Of Permeable Paving The benefits of permeable paving include: 1. Reducing the amount of rainfall runoff from pavement surfaces and, thereby, eliminating or minimising the extent of the stormwater drainage system needed.

This can lead to substantial savings in the overall project costs.

2. Reducing the size or need for rainwater retention facilities in roadworks by using the pavement itself for retention. This improves land use.

3. Reducing or avoiding downstream flooding.

4. Recharging and maintaining aquifers and the natural groundwater.

5. Trapping and treating pollutants that would otherwise contaminate groundwater or drainage systems.

6. Assisting in the biological decomposition of hydrocarbon contaminants.

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outdoor living FEATURE 85 J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

By infiltrating water, permeable pavements reduce or avoid surface runoff and standing water and puddles on the surface are virtually eliminated. Importantly, PICPs reduce the peak flows directed to storm sewers. This means that new developments, for example, due to urban consolidation, rather than requiring new and expensive storm drainage to be installed, can usually utilise the existing drainage infrastructure without overloading it. A further benefit of infiltrating water is that surface gradients can often be minimised or eliminated ie pavements can be laid level where this improves the amenity of the surface such as in car parks or for container stacking in port areas.

Permeable pavements also provide interception storage whereby water is absorbed into the pavement and thereafter evaporates only once the rain has stopped. The consequence of this is that, under Australian conditions, runoff during a storm does not occur until after the first 5 mm of rainfall.

An important function of permeable pavements is that they improve water quality by removing and treating the pollutants that are commonly found on road surfaces or which get washed on to roads from the roofs of adjoining properties. These pollutants are either trapped by the pavement, acting as a filter or by sedimentation within the pavement. Pollutants are also broken down by biological and chemical action. This means that PICP treat pollution “at source�, an important concept in water sensitive urban design. By contrast, conventional pavements rapidly direct polluted rainfall into watercourses where it is difficult and expensive to remediate.

Permeable pavements can harvest water for later re-use; an important function in the Australian context where water is often scarce and expensive. The harvested water is filtered largely free of debris and sediments and can be used for watering parks and gardens and similar non-potable purposes.

Because permeable pavements combine the functions of managing runoff, water quality and water harvesting within a single construction unit, they make very efficient use of land because they do not require additional land to be dedicated for detention or retention ponds or for water treatment. This means that land take for new developments can be minimised.

Circumstances for Choosing or Rejecting PICP Permeable paving is of particular benefit when: 1. There is a need to maintain existing or green site runoff conditions when developing a site. In many cases runoff can be totally eliminated using PICP but, where this is not possible, it is usually feasible to control the volume of runoff to be similar to that flowing from a green-field (unimproved) site.

2. The stormwater sewer system is at or near capacity. This situation will often be the case in older well-established urban areas.

Urban consolidation generally increases the extent of impermeable areas and runoff will increase. This will then overload the existing storm sewers. PICP provides a cost effective means to circumvent this problem.

3. There are limitations on the extent of Impermeable Cover that councils will allow for new developments. Based on the maximum capacity of local storm drainage and to avoid flooding, councils may regulate runoff by restricting the amount of impervious cover.

4. There is insufficient land for both pavements and detention ponds. The use of PICP minimises the extent of land needed for pavements and drainage works.

5. Where municipalities wish to control the pollution of local streams, wetlands and water supplies. The amount of impervious cover influences the amount of pollutants

washed off a site. PICPs both reduce the impervious cover and also remove or remediate pollutants.

6. Where there is a need to conserve and reuse water. Permeable pavements provide a cost and space efficient way to harvest and store filtered water for later non-potable reuse.

7. There is a need or requirement to recharge local aquifers. Depletion of aquifers is a widespread problem that needs to be addressed.

PICP should not be used when: 1. The site or paving requires slopes steeper than about 5%.

2. The Water Table is closer to the surface than about 0.5 m.

3. The stormwater sewer is less than about 1 m below the surface.

4. There is shallow bedrock.

5. There is a risk of spillage of fuel, oil, detergents, pesticides or other hazardous liquids.

6. There is the likelihood of a high sediment input (eg silt) being washed onto the paving and, thereby, causing clogging.

7. The pavement is subject to tidal Influence.

For more information please refer to CMAA Technical Manual PE01 Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements - Design and Construction Guide Visit www.cmaa.com.au.

Timeless appeal, beautifully reinvented.

Introducing Ashlar pavers.

Inspired by the boulevards and classic piazzas of Europe, Midland Brick introduce Ashlar. This unique paving range captures the essence of style for today’s contemporary home design. To find out more about the Ashlar colour range and textures call Midland Brick on 13 15 40 or visit us online at www.midlandbrick.com.au

Colours and textures are indicative only due to limitations in photographic and printing processes.

The new Ashlar Pattern.

Eight colours – two textures.

MBC8625

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Ashlar - timeless appeal beautifully reinvented!

The Ashlar paving pattern can be traced back to 14th century Europe when stonemasons refined the art of paving. Now some 700 years later we can still see classic examples of their skills where Ashlar paved courtyards, piazzas and winding alleyways add to the essence and character of Europe.

Ashlar Telethon

Today, and closer to home, the art of Ashlar paving has been cleverly simplified and modernised by Midland Brick with the introduction of the new Ashlar range.

The unique pattern is created using a variety of shapes and sizes to form 1000x1100mm layers. These pre-formed layers enable anybody with a little paving experience to lay an Ashlar pattern.

At first glance the pattern itself may seem challenging, but all the basic paving principles are at play. The easiest method is to lay the pre-formed pattern of each layer as it appears on the pallet and simply follow this identical pattern throughout.

Breaking the pattern can leave you with odd sizes and ultimately more cutting, but if you have the time and experience; imagination is the only limit in creating your own unique look.

The true appeal of Midland Brick’s Ashlar is its ability to complement so many architectural styles; from classic courtyards to sleek contemporary driveways. And the design options using the four blended colours and random Ashlar pattern are almost limitless.

The launch of Midland’s Ashlar range was in the 2013 Telethon Home where Steel Grey was featured on the driveway and outdoor entertaining areas. The unique colour combination and random pattern created a stunning paving statement unlike anything else.

Pre-planning and the choice of laying patterns will influence the overall look and the ease of laying. Here are two classic patterns:

Staggered Bond The easiest way to lay with a true random pattern is by ‘staggering’ each layer. You can do this by fitting the next full layer of pavers from the pallet into the previous layer’s 200x200mm indent.

Staggered Bond

Stack Bond Pattern

Stack Bond

Ashlar paving comes in eight colours and two textures. Talk to your Midland Brick representative for more information.

When working in narrow or confined areas, such as pathways, it may be easier to lay the pattern in a Stack Bond – laying each new layer directly above the preceding layer on the ground. This may reduce the amount of cutting that is required.

For more information contact: Phone: 13 15 40 Website: www.midlandbrick.com.au

Midland Brick has been supplying innovative and game-changing products to WA builders for over 65 years and the new Ashlar range is no exception.

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ESTIMATION The Estimation module of BEAMS with CAD Image, provides all the necessary tools to complete and produce accurate, cost-effective and personalized estimates for your clients before contract.

CONTRACTS Including all the features of the Estimates module, plus create variations and purchase orders. Time Line Scheduling allows you to track all onsite activities. With BEAMS Mobile for your Supervisor, the office and site is connected and you’ll never suffer scheduling nightmares again.

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Beams Prospects - Focuses on presales where the relationship between a company and the customer is managed. This includes capturing leads from the website, emails and other correspondence and tracking them.

Beams Administration - Once a lead is won, the administration work begins on that lead and it is tracked as the job progresses to contract or conversion.

The software allows you to customise as many processes as necessary to cover all your different business requirements.

Beams Customer Portal - All communication between your customer and your company is managed. Customers are given a username and password so that they can check their job status and request more information.

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