State News
New South Wales
New laws set for November start date The NSW Government has finally announced that the new NSW legislation governing the strata industry will commence from 30 November 2016. The Acts commencing on 30 November are the Strata Schemes (Management) Act 2015 and Strata Schemes (Development) Act 2015. The final Regulations are to be published in August. Strata managers, owners and tenants in NSW all need to be aware of the new laws and how they apply. To this end, SCA (NSW) worked with Fair Trading and REINSW on a joint road show on the new legislation which travelled to regional centres and metropolitan areas around NSW to engage with and educate all stakeholders on these important changes.
This prestigious event was well attended by all sectors of the strata industry with 333 attendees celebrating excellence and innovation in strata. To view our glamorous members in their black tie best, please turn to page 40 or visit our website or Facebook page. Below are this years’ winners and highly commended recipients. We congratulate you and are proud to have you as examples of excellence in our industry. Innovation of the Year Wattblock
Strata Owners Community Engagement Strata Plan 31108 located in Enmore and managed by Ace Body Corporate
Professional Commitment to Ethics and Service Bannermans Lawyers (Winner) Havencab Group (Highly Commended)
It is significant to note that in its media release NSW Fair Trading said, “the changes also improve the accountability of strata managers; allow owners and residents to use modern technology to participate and vote in their strata meetings; establish a transparent process for the collective sale and renewal of strata schemes; and introduce a simpler, clearer process for dealing with disputes.” One part of the legislation that will not take effect until 1 July 2017, is the building defects bond scheme. The government is waiting for the Australian Standard for building inspections, which is due in March 2017, to become the standard for the interim and final defect inspection reports prior to the strata legislation commencing. Fair Trading believes this will give builders, developers and the strata community time to prepare for the coming changes that this part of the legislation represents.
Strata Management Business of the Year - Small Strata Sense
Strata Management Business of the Year - Large Strata Choice (Joint winner) Bright & Duggan (Joint winner)
Student of the Year Mercedes Priddy, Strata Choice (Winner) Cathy Avery, BCS Gosford (Highly Commended)
Young Strata Manager of the Year Alex Borzilo, Bright & Duggan (Winner)
The SCA (NSW) Strata Agency Agreement was also amended to ensure compliance with the new strata laws. SCA (NSW) has been working to have it available to members in late August/ early September. On a final note, SCA (NSW) would like to congratulate the winners of the 2016 CHU Strata Community Awards which was held on 15 July at The Star. Thank you to our awards partner CHU and to the awards category sponsors for stepping forward to support the industry. Lastly, we thank the independent judging panel made up this year of Dr Hazel Easthope from City Futures Research, UNSW; Hera Antoniades from UTS and Paul King from NSW Fair Trading. We had a high calibre of award submissions and the judging panel had a tough job selecting this years’ winners.
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INSIDE STRATA
SEPTEMBER 2016
Luke Derwent, Stata Choice (Highly Commended)
Strata Services Business of the Year Havencab Group
Strata Owners Environmental Award Strata Plan 68853 located in Waterloo and managed by Jamesons Strata Management
Thank you also to the wonderful team at SCA (NSW) for the ongoing dedication and hard work. Our members appreciate all that you do. Greg Haywood SCA State President