Building News Edition 2-2012 by Master Builders Association of the ACT

EDITION 2-2012

EXPIRED DAS

A VERY COSTLY EXCERCISE

TESTING FOR

IMPAIRMENT

IN WORKPLACES

SAFETY

IN DESIGN

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2 E NG G ELLI TA S S OW

bLOckS prIcEd frOm

Be Your oWn landlord

President – Ross Barrett Treasurer – Simon Butt Commercial Builders Council Chair – Valdis Luks Civil Contractors Council Chair – Andy Crompton

Safety In Design

Taxable Payments Reporting The building and construction industry is a guinea pig in a tax experiment.

Richard Calver looks at the harmonisation of WHS regulations.

Residential Builders Council Chair – Frank Porreca Professional Consultants Council Chair – Hans Sommer Suppliers & Subcontractors Council Chair – Graciete Ferreira MASTER BUILDERS MANAGEMENT TEAM Executive Director – John Miller

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

MASTER BUILDERS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Deputy Executive Director – Jerry Howard Director Industrial Relations – Mike Baldwin Senior Management Accountant – Louise MacCallum

Building the National Arboretum Visitors Centre

Project Coordination are building this amazing public space.

2012 Building Awards

J & J INTERIORS

Recent work by J & J Interiors has been rewarded this year.

46 Franklin Charity House

We feature the big winners at this year’s Master Builders & Boral Excellence in Building Awards.

A true example of the ACT building and construction industry coming together to support the local community.

18 Testing for impairment

26 The ‘Master of Disaster’

For any testing regime to be lawful, the focus should be on impairment, rather than drug use.

Professor Ed Blakely will be guest speaker at this year’s Annual Dinner.

50 Member Survey Results 28 Condensation

Condensation and mould growth - an ever-increasing problem - Why?

Master Builders Annual Dinner Date: Wednesday 17 October Where: Hotel Realm, Barton This year’s Master Builders ACT Annual Dinner is to be held at the Hotel Realm, Barton. Our Guest speaker is Professor Ed Blakely, one of the world’s leading scholars and practitioners of urban policy.

Safety Culture & Leadership Forum Date: Monday 22 October Where: National Convention Centre, Canberra During National Safety Week we have assembled a group of industry experts to

Senior Manager – Marketing & Membership Services – David Leitch MASTER BUILDERS GROUP TRAINING General Manager – Wendy Tengstrom

Master Builders Association of the ACT 1 Iron Knob St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 PO Box 1211, Fyshwick ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 6247 2099 Fax: (02) 6249 8374 Email: canberra@mba.org.au Web: www.mba.org.au Advertising enquires Senior Manager - Marketing & Membership Services – David Leitch Tel: (02) 6175 5970 Mob: 0437 379 391 Email: dleitch@mba.org.au

Thanks to all who responded to the recent online survey. We look at the results.

challenge the current approach to safety. Is the pursuit of a paper-based system the answer? Safety’s more about eyes and ears and yet we spend so much time dealing with pens and paper. We contend that many in the industry are doing the right thing but they are hamstrung by the system.

Master Builders National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards Date: Friday 16 November 2012 Where: Parliament House, Canberra The Master Builders National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards are the culmination of all state MBAs outstanding work for the past twelve months.

Main Cover Image: J & J Interiors were awarded Subcontractor of the Year at this year’s Building Awards. Pictured is their work on the ANU Biosciences Building. 5

President's Message

President of Master Builders Association of the ACT, Ross Barrett OAM

When I sat down to write this article I realised it would be my last as President. Initially I thought I should write about the changes I have seen within our Association and our local industry over my eleven years in the role, but I thought that might be of limited appeal. So, instead I have decided to write a little about the more obscure side of my term. I became President when Steve Pinter resigned from the role to take up an appointment on the Procurement Solutions board in June 2001. Steve’s resignation was a surprise and I was

that he was pleased to have had the opportunity to talk to me over dinner. Why? Because he was finally able to find out from someone who knew the answer to a question he had been pondering “Does Viagra leave an after taste?”

“That was wonderful. Why did you stop?”

Actually the Awards nights leave me with a lot of memories… and a great collection of jokes. I think the one that was best received was:

I don’t want to be entirely frivolous in my final President’s article, so here is a bit of serious stuff.

After 30 years of marriage, a couple were lying in bed one evening, when she felt her husband begin to fondle her in ways he hadn’t done in quite some time.

He said, “I found the remote control”. Now, after more than a decade, my joke collection can be put aside.

The Master Builders ACT is a unique organisation with its five Sector Council structure, its excellent staff and its excellent programs. Many people have contributed to its success over its long

The Master Builders really is an outstanding example of how an industry body can support its members, advocate for the sector and nurture a future workforce. a bit anxious about taking on the responsibility. Soon after my appointment, I had to speak at my first Excellence in Building Awards night in 2001. I was nervous, David Dawes was our CEO and he was at the microphone and he announced me to our 1200 strong audience: “I now invite our new President to the stage, John…er…er…” David was still trying to remember my name as I commenced my speech. This did nothing to calm my nerves. That was a bit embarrassing, but it was nothing compared to my humiliation a year or so later at the same function when I told a joke that involved sex. The joke went over ok, but the Chief Minister later announced during his speech

It almost tickled her as his fingers started at her neck, and then began moving down past her shoulder to the small of her back. He then caressed her shoulders and slowly worked his hand down over her breasts, stopping just over her lower stomach.

history and during my term I have always strived to uphold and where possible to improve our reputation. I think the then Chief Minister Jon Stanhope in 2010 summed up our current position perfectly when he said:

He then proceeded to place his hand on her left inner arm, caressed past the side of her breast again, working down her side, passed gently over her buttock and down her leg to her calf. Then, he proceeded up her inner thigh, stopping just at the uppermost portion of her leg.

“The Master Builders really is an outstanding example of how an industry body can support its members, advocate for the sector and nurture a future workforce. Its counsel to me is always thoughtful and practical, and its services to its own members and to the building sector speak for themselves”.

He then continued in the same manner on her right side, till suddenly he stopped, rolled over and it became silent. She had become quite aroused by this caressing, so she asked in a loving voice,

Simon Butt is our incoming President and he brings a wealth of experience with him, both with the Master Builders and with our wider industry. The Master Builders is in good hands.

2012

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Executive Director's Message

Executive Director of Master Builders Association of the ACT, John Miller

Does anyone really care about apprentices? What’s the big problem if they don’t exist in the future? Let’s face it - this is the ultimate consumer age. We can get anything we want from anywhere we want any time we want. Why worry about anything locally produced? The whole approach to apprentices reminds me of a song a few years ago entitled, “We’re on the Road to Nowhere”. It’s been hard enough to put in place and maintain a system to ensure that young people are attracted to the industry and properly trained. Now, unfettered by a sorrowful unwillingness at a political level to say no, the Unions continue to run amok on

We can make all sorts of comparisons to justify a means to and end but if we are talking about training and education let’s get close to comparing apples with apples and not oranges. A young person leaving school going to University or some other tertiary institution with a modest Government subsidy usually has to supplement their lifestyle by working a casual job, usually late at night. In the case of the University student, they then have to pay the taxpayer back for the privilege through the HECS system. Yes, there’s a productivity factor for trade apprentices but that usually becomes more real later in their learning cycle. Sure, a young

businesses and group training organisations. If it’s difficult to place a first year apprentice now when thier productivity is very modest, how difficult is it going to be with a 33% increase in the wage of that apprentice as being sought by the unions. Just in case the flimsy argument about getting young people into the industry is dependent on higher wages, think again. This is particularly so over the last 10 years when construction trades and trades in general have held up well in proportion to the population in terms of commencements. Completion rates have been the bigger problem but wages haven’t manifested inordinately as the bigger problem.

Union demands to drastically increase wages for apprentices will undoubtedly be the final nail in the coffin for the time-honored apprenticeship system. wage demands. You don’t build anything without foundations yet the cornerstone of our industry is being bulldozed. Union demands to drastically increase wages for apprentices will undoubtedly be the final nail in the coffin for the time-honoured apprenticeship system. In this current environment, when it is hard enough to keep anyone in work, the drive for increased wages is at its strongest. It defies logic and in ten, twenty years time, the Unions will stand back and take no responsibility for their actions. You’ve only got to look at Australia’s manufacturing sector to see that, a real feather in their cap. The stock standard Union answer when arguing for these increases is that business can afford it. The reality is that business can’t and not least of all the smaller businesses where most of the apprenticeship engagement occurs. Worse still, the next generation can’t afford this pursuit of wages growth – the problem is that they just don’t know it yet. This continued irresponsible pursuit of wages growth in a training situation will destroy the system in the longer term. Sure, some will say “naysayer” but if you want to stick your head in the sand and pretend it won’t happen, then by all means. 8

person can go and work at McDonalds, join the Army, go labouring and make more initially. Generally, their longer term earning capacity however is going to be far, far less than someone with a trade qualification, of that you can be assured. The latest NCVER 2012, Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentices and trainees 2011, indicates that for the calendar year trade commencements were down by 5.9% on the previous year. The construction trades commencements dipped by 23.4%, wiping out the gains of a year earlier. This in itself is a clear indication that an industry in decline will turn to the apprenticeship system when considering their first stop for shedding staff (or at least not engaging staff). Nobody could be serious and suggest that a marked increase in apprentice wages is not going to have a detrimental effect on the future skills base of the industry. It’s like trying to defy gravity. It is a recognised fact that unless there are some subsidised arrangements from Government to encourage business to take on apprentices it is just not going to happen. The commencement and completion funding for apprentices has been at a standstill for many years now putting greater pressure on

And this has definitely not been the ACT experience where completions outstrip other parts of the country. Very simply, the apprenticeship system has been a proven way of ensuring the industry is well equipped to deal with the increasing demands to deliver the infrastructure communities need to function properly. Nobody is denying that technology and new products have not changed the industry and thus require adjustments in training. Still, ask most experienced industry practitioners today and they all unequivocally support the retention of an apprenticeship system where the full range of skills is delivered. This is about the foundations of what has served mankind since early Greek and Roman times. It’s about quality, it’s about understanding. Here we find ourselves in the ultimate throwaway society and the Union pursuit is to throw away the very system that is meant to underpin the future. Why? It’s because they lack the vision necessary and fall back to tired old ways to justify a crumbling presence in a modern society. It’s taking a while but smarter workers are on to them as they realize that to travel with them ‘We’re on the Road to Nowhere’.

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Industrial Relations Message

Director Industrial Relations, Master Builders Association of the ACT, Mike Baldwin It has been an interesting few months in industrial relations. As all would now be aware, it is enterprise bargaining time, which erupted a few weeks ago into the first strikes in the construction industry for almost a decade (in the ACT). The cluster of recent fatalities in the construction sector has also given the industry pause to reflect upon its safety practices and has inspired an ACT Government inquiry (which is also the subject of an article by John Miller, Executive Director). The federal Government’s review into the Fair Work Act has also been handed down and while unsurprisingly restrained in its recommendations, it does contain

2009-2010 and remain the highest in the country. Master Builders is committed to safety in the construction industry. There is certainly room for improvement and we intend to make the upcoming Government inquiry a productive one. A further article touching impairment testing on construction sites is provided elsewhere in this edition of the Building News. Industrial action The recent national strikes against Lend Lease, organised by the CFMEU, caused major disruptions to our subcontractor

pickets are generally not considered to be ‘industrial action’ under the Fair Work Act. Broadening the definition of industrial action under the Fair Work Act to include pickets would be a doubleedged sword, for while it would allow Fair Work Australia to order the removal of barricades, such blockades could also be rendered lawful (depending on whether they were covered by a protected action ballot order issued by Fair Work Australia). The strike is now over and an agreement has been reached between Lend Lease and the CFMEU over jobsecurity, using the standard CFMEU clause4. Importantly, job-security

We recommended that job security clauses be prohibited, on the basis that their real effect was to enable unions to act as ‘gate-keepers’ about who works on a construction site, rather than protect job security. some real wins for employers. A new tax reporting regime has also commenced, which is the subject of a separate article. Safety in the construction industry Any death in the industry is too many. So after four in seven months it is understandable that the ACT Government has convened an inquiry: the public has a right to know whether the construction industry is foolhardy. Statistically speaking, the construction industry does have a high incidence of workplace injuries, although it is less than the rates in the transport, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Within the construction sector, as the most recent statistics from Safe Work Australia indicate, the number of serious workers compensation claims1 per 1 million hours worked has reduced from around 13.5 in 2003-2004 to 9.8 in 2009-2010 – a clear trend of improving safety (at least at the national level)2. However, unfortunately the data about the ACT is less clear, as injury rates in this jurisdiction have been fairly static between 2003-2004 and 10

members. The substance of the dispute centred on a so-called ‘job security’ clause (which was also at the heart of the Qantas/TWU dispute)3 which would compel Lend Lease to ensure that any subcontracted workers performing the same functions as their direct employees receive pay and conditions parity (i.e. be paid according to the union enterprise agreement). During the strikes, the entrances to Lend Lease’s sites were picketed, inhibiting access by subcontractor members. The law in relation to pickets remains a confused patchwork. Where a picket creates a physical barrier, it will usually be a criminal offence and the police rightly intervened to guarantee access through the picket lines during the strike. Blockades will also usually breach so-called ‘industrial torts’ at common law, which allows for injunctions and damages (though usually at a prohibitive cost to applicants). Fair Work Australia has limited jurisdiction to intervene against picketers, as

clauses (which are part-and-parcel of CFMEU agreements) can only bind subcontractors to the terms of an agreement where a subcontractor’s employees do the same work as the principal’s employees. Otherwise, there is no ‘job security’ nexus and the clause will be unenforceable under the Fair Work Act, as it will not relate to the employment relationship between the principal and its employees (enterprise agreements cannot otherwise bind third parties). Attempts by the CFMEU to extend job security clauses more broadly have failed5. Fair Work Act review In Master Builders’ submission to the federal Government’s Fair Work Act review6, we recommended that job security clauses be prohibited, on the basis that their real effect was to enable unions to act as ‘gate-keepers’ about who works on a construction site, rather than protect job security7. While the

panel did not support that submission, it did recommend a range of other changes which, if adopted by the Government, will benefit employers. For example, it recommended that strikes should not be available to force employers to the bargaining table, thereby reversing the controversial JJ Richards decision8. It also recommended that the actual subjective intention of employers be taken into account (rather than their ‘objective’ intention) when determining whether ‘adverse action’ (such as dismissal) has been taken against an employee for a prohibited reason (e.g. for exercising a workplace right, like raising work health and safety concerns) 9. The panel recommended a range of other technical changes, such as the suggestion that annual leave should not accrue where an employee is absent on workers’ compensation10, which would assist lifting the compliance burden on employers. However, the weight of regulation these days mostly derives from modern awards, rather than the Fair Work Act. The Building and Construction General On-Site Award 2010 remains a bewilderingly complex instrument, with antiquated drafting and an array of more than 60 allowances. A review of modern awards is currently underway before Fair Work Australia (until 31 October) which will investigate whether they are living up to their name. Master Builders has made a comprehensive submission requesting that the Building and Construction General On-Site Award 2010 be simplified11. While the outcomes from the modern awards review remain uncertain, it is to be hoped that, like the review into the Fair Work Act, it will generate some real compromises in employers’ favour. Serious claims include all fatalities, all permanent incapacity claims and temporary claims causing one or more weeks of lost time from work. 1

Safe Work Australia, National Data Set for Compensation based statistics, data extracted 14 September 2011. 2

Interestingly, Fair Work Australia recently rejected the inclusion of a job security clause in the Qantas/TWU agreement when it arbitrated the matter, finding that ‘it is not appropriate for this Workplace Determination to directly or indirectly govern the terms and conditions of employment of employees not covered by it’ (i.e. such as subcontractors) as this would have ‘a negative impact on efficiency and productivity’. The Full Bench also held that ‘to interfere with management decisions [on use of labour hire and contractors]... would require clear and strong evidence of unfairness. No such case has been established with respect to current employees or otherwise’ (Transport Workers’ Union of Australia v Qantas Airways Limited; Q Catering Limited [2012] FWAFB 6612). 3

For examples see: Asurco Contracting Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union[2010] FWAFB 6180; AIG v ADJ Contracting Pty Ltd [2011] FWAFB 6684. 4

See: Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] FWA 4051 (although that decision is now on appeal). In that decision, Richards SDP held that a CFMEU job security clause that was not limited to contractors that would perform similar work to that of existing employees (but instead referred to employees under all award classifications) was unenforceable, as it ‘travel[ed] beyond any ascertainable nexus with the relationship between the employer and its employees who will be covered by the agreement’. 5

6Submission to the Fair Work Act Review Panel - The Fair Work Act Review (Master Builders Australia, 9 February 2012; www.deewr.gov.au/WorkplaceRelations/ Policies/FairWorkActReview/Documents/MasterBuildersAustralia.pdf

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It should be noted that where a principal refuses to use a subcontractor because they do not have a union agreement in place this will usually constitute adverse MasterBuilders_Offer_SimonF.indd 1 action under the Fair Work Act, leaving the principal liable for large fines (see: ABCC v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 93). 7

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J.J. Richards & Sons Pty Ltd v Transport Workers’ Union of Australia [2011] FWAFB 3377. 8

Reversing the decision in Barclay v The Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education [2011] FCAFC 14 (which is currently on appeal to the High Court). 9

Annual leave currently does accrue while an employee is on workers compensation in the ACT. 10

Submission to the modern award review by Fair Work Australia in support of an application to vary the Building and Construction General On-Site Award 2010 (Master Builders Australia, 7 March 2012); www.fwa.gov.au/documents/awardmod/review/ AM201248.pdf 11

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Safety in design of structures By Richard Calver, National Director Industrial Relations and Legal Counsel Master Builders Australia Ltd In July 2008, the Council of Australia Governments (COAG) formally committed to the harmonisation of OHS legislation by signing an Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in OHS. The Agreement outlines the commitment of all States and Territories and the Commonwealth to work together to develop and implement model OHS legislation as the most effective way to achieve harmonisation of OHS laws in Australia. The Agreement also provided for the establishment of a new independent body to drive the development and implementation of the model OHS legislation. On 3 April 2009, the Workplace Relations Ministersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Council (WRMC) endorsed the creation of Safe Work Australia and the establishment of the Safe Work Australia Council. A number of jurisdictions have introduced the harmonised law as formulated by, in large part, government stakeholders through Safe Work Australia. The Australian Capital Territory has introduced the new legislation with effect from 1 January 2012. The process of harmonisation is in disarray. Whilst the legislation has been adopted in the ACT, other jurisdictions have not yet committed to adoption or have deferred the starting date for introduction of the new laws. For present purposes that controversy is of only passing interest. The observation should be made, however, that it is not only the harmonised legislation that comprises the new law but also model regulations, codes of practice, standards that are referenced in the codes of practice and various guidance documents. There is a great deal of new law that applies and new obligations that are epitomised by the requirements relating to safe design of structures.

The Work Health and Safety Act, 2011 (ACT) (the WHS Act) was

It imposes a duty on designers. In relation to a structure, the duty is to ensure that a structure that is to be used as, or at, a workplace is designed to be without risks to the health and safety of persons who use the structure, construct the structure or who carry out any reasonably foreseeable activity in relation to the manufacture, assembly or use of the structure for a purpose for which it was designed or the proper demolition or disposal of the structure. In other introduced from 1 January 2012.

words, the designer duty applies to the lifecycle of a structure, not just to the end use of the structure. The full paper that was presented to the Master Builders ACT Professional Sector Council is available on the Master Builders web site www.mba.org.au/publications/industrialrelations and outlines some of the problematic issues raised by the introduction of the new laws about the safe design of structures.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

What happens if your development approval expires? The simple answer is you’re in BIG trouble ! By Jerry Howard, Deputy Executive Director Master Builders Association of the ACT

In the good old days, when you got a DA, it lasted forever. However, the good old days have long gone and you now need to be ultracareful when granted a DA, that, firstly, your DA does not expire before you commence the works. In the current climate when it is difficult to obtain finance, the two-year validity period of your DA can slip by very quickly. We’ve had some recent incidents where DAs have expired and proponents have no option but to lodge a new DA. Unfortunately for them, under the new rules, this can potentially make their development financially unviable. To add to this the proponent gets gouged with additional fees despite the fact that they paid fees for the DA approval in the first instance. And all of this drama and financial loss, not to mention the accompanying stress, is caused because the DA had expired and no notification was provided by the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD). We have certainly lobbied the ESDD to reconsider their refusal to notify when a DA is about to expire, however, to date, without success. The Master Builders strongly believes that this is a service that should be provided in the interests of creating a harmonious relationship with industry and minimising the unfortunate consequences of such an occurrence.

Your DA is effective from the day that your application is approved and the approval will expire if the development, or any stage of the development, is not started within two years after the day the approval takes effect. Therefore, secondly, the development must be completed within two years after the day the development commences, unless the period is extended on application to the ESDD. Remember that an amendment to the original DA does not extend the validity period of the DA.

So my advice to you is, if you have a DA that is running close to the two-year expiry, I would suggest that you at least try to commence the works to avoid being assessed under new planning rules. Commencement of the works will automatically give you two years to complete and you can always seek an extension. Following these simple rules may save you a lot of grief, so ….. reach into the bottom of your drawers and check your DAs NOW, if you haven’t commenced the works.

SAFETY CULTURE

I DARE YOU TO READ THIS and challenge the

systems we are currently working within writes Jerry Howard.

Dr Robert Long approached me over eight years ago with the words “Jerry, we need to change the safety culture within the construction industry.” We both agreed way back then that we were all sick and tired of the bureaucracy and the paperwork and the fact that nothing was changing. In other words, it was the same old same old. Slowly but surely, over the years, we have gained some traction, especially with the key construction industry principals and, to date, the Master Builders have delivered, in partnership with Rob, several successful programs on Safety Conversations and Observations. We have now, in partnership with Rob, embarked on the next stage with a recent presentation to the majority of the key principals in our commercial builders sector. The feedback from that session generated enormous interest and commitment from those who attended, to reinforce the principles of implementing a safety culture within their organisations and communicate this philosophy to other key players in the construction industry. The Master Builders are also in the process of organising a Safety Culture and Leadership forum, which is scheduled to be held on the 22nd October at the Canberra Convention Centre. This forum will involve the participation of key

safety personnel from around Australia and will commence in the morning with an interactive survey of attendees, based on a system of analysing immediate responses of attendees to safety-based questions. This system was developed by Rob Long and Rob has published extensive data on analysis of participants’ responses from a similar session held at the Master Builders previously. We will be providing you with an update on this forum in due course and I urge all of you to attend. It will open your mind to a totally new world and change your thinking and mind-set forever! To ready yourself for the forum, you should purchase a copy of Dr Long’s recent book, Risk Makes Sense. This will be the best $20 you’ve ever spent and the Master Builders has some copies available, which can be purchased from the Master Builders Information Centre at the Master Builders, 1 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick (the building between Bunnings and the DFO). I’ve asked Rob to provide me with a few words that essentially describes culture and his program. I have also included some brief testimonials from those who attended the course. “The program looks at the way perception, motivation, sense-making, mindfulness, language and key elements of organisational culture, influence, hazard and risk identification and response. The program develops understanding in heuristics, cognitive bias, leadership influence, framing and the power of language in managing safety culture. The training comprises three classroom sessions and two one-to-one coaching sessions on site to help generate a new awareness and skill development in observation, listening to cultural discourse and speaking into the work space, head space and group space of workers. Whilst the program is only introductory in nature it has made significant changes in the approach and thinking of participants.”

SAFETY CULTURE & LEADERSHIP FORUM When: Monday October 22 Where: National Convention Centre, Canberra

SUPERANNUATION Comments from participants who attended the Safety Conversations and Observations course delivered by the Master Builders ACT: •

It has opened up a number of new approaches and positive ideas to use in relation to safety in my occupation.

•

Team interaction and group activities.

•

Opened thought processes.

•

Reinforced way of working on culture.

•

The different way to think about approaches to people at work.

•

The relevance of information and material.

•

The site visits and individual stories were invaluable.

•

Very informative and explained in an excellent way.

•

Opened up my mind and changed the way I viewed safety culture.

•

One on one learning to use a different approach in the workplace.

•

Different approach and vision to looking at safety and people.

•

New techniques for site safety.

•

On site adaptation of the course material.

•

Learning how to observe.

•

The course provides a mechanism to help achieve cultural change.

•

Better understanding of approaching situations on site.

Following are some short testimonials from members of the Hindmarsh Group who attended the most recent course at the Master Builders: •

“This course was a revelation in how to manage safety”

•

“ The course gave us refreshing, positive and practical tools to deal with safety culture”

•

“…the course showed us how to milk people’s minds”

•

“…it teaches general communication skills able to be used well beyond safety”

•

“It taught us how we can get others to own their own safety”

•

“It changed my view on how to approach and speak to people”

•

“I’ve even had some decent conversations with my teenage son after applying these techniques at home!”

•

“This is the first time I have seen something which we can use to practically address safety culture”

FUNDS TO INCREASE REPORTING OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED.

The Government has released for public consultation proposals under which superannuation funds will regularly inform members of the contributions – including employer contributions received into a member’s account. Funds will be required to electronically notify active members each quarter whether they have either ‘received’ or ‘not received’ contributions during the quarter; and maintain a web-based portal for members to consult. Alternatively, funds will be able to provide six monthly notices by mail, showing contributions made. Funds will also be required to report to the Australian Tax Office new information which will make it easier for superannuation fund members to trace lost accounts and for the automatic consolidation of different superannuation accounts belonging to the same member, either within a single fund or between funds. Under the new reporting obligations, superannuation funds will be required to provide statements to the ATO for all members who held an interest in the fund at any time during the reporting period, not just those for whom contributions are received. The amendments will allow the ATO, from July 1 2014, to display more comprehensive superannuation information to individuals and facilitate the consolidation of lost and inactive accounts with a balance below $1,000. It will also enable the ATO to assess whether the total value of an individual’s superannuation interest or account is below the $500,000 balance threshold criteria, under which individuals are able to make additional, concessionally taxed contributions.

Taxable Payments Reporting The construction industry is a guinea pig in a tax experiment, under the Australian Taxation Office’s (‘ATO’) new ‘taxable payments reporting – building and construction industry’ regime. The law places additional administrative burdens on industry participants, by establishing an across-the-board reporting regime writes Mike Baldwin. THE REQUIREMENTS From 1 July 2012, businesses in the construction industry need to report to the ATO by 21 July of each year (with the first report due in July 2013) on the total payments made to each contractor for ‘building and construction services’. 1 From 1 July 2012, businesses need to report if they: •

are a business that is primarily in the building and construction industry; and

•

make payments to contractors for building and construction services; and

•

have an Australian business number (ABN). 2

A business is primarily in the building and construction industry if:

There does appear to be a large percentage of contractors involved in tax evasion. Of some 12,724 payments examined by the ATO, approximately 9% were made to contractors who could not be identified due to misuse of ABNs.

•

in the current financial year, 50% or more of the business activity relates to building and construction services, or

•

in the current financial year, 50% or more of the business income is derived from providing building and construction services, or

•

in the financial year immediately before the current financial year, 50% or more the business income was derived from providing building and construction services. 3

A list of activities considered to be ‘building and construction services’ are provided on the ATO’s website, see: http://www.ato.gov.au/taxablepaymentsreporting. Note that no reports are required for payments on building supplies and materials, or for payments to employees (which are reported instead under the PAYG system). A report must contain the following information about the contractor, including their: •

Australian Business Number (ABN) (where an ABN is not provided, the payer must withhold tax under existing PAYG arrangements);

•

name;

•

address;

•

phone number;

•

the gross amount paid; and

•

the GST included in the gross amount paid.

The ATO argues that these details should already be kept by businesses, in order to substantiate claims for tax returns. However, the cost of aggregating this data into a comprehensive report is not part of the existing requirements, as discussed below. THE RATIONALE The Hon Bill Shorten (Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) espoused the new measure as follows: “The reporting regime will help honest contractors and businesses that are currently at a competitive disadvantage, compared to those contractors who fail to pay their fair share of tax. The introduction of a reporting regime will help to level the playing field within the building and construction industry, to the benefit of compliant contractors and businesses.” 4 16

However, there does appear to be a large percentage of contractors involved in tax evasion. Of some 12,724 payments examined by the ATO, approximately 9% were made to contractors who could not be identified due to misuse of ABNs. Of 11,384 contractors identified, some 2,674 (50%) individual contractors and 1,334 (22%) nonindividual contractors (e.g. companies) did not to comply with their income tax obligations (i.e. did not lodge a tax return or did not declare all of the income). TARGETING EVASION The new laws potentially overlay the ATO’s current data matching activities 5, including the ATO’s pilot ‘building industry suppliers’ data-matching project’, which uses supplier data to identify businesses that use cash to avoid tax obligations. This approach has the same impact as the new law but without adding to the administrative burdens of legitimate contractors. Master Builders believes that such targeted campaigns are better compliance mechanisms than the new scheme of tax reporting. ENFORCEMENT Penalties may apply for late lodgement of tax reports, but the ATO would probably initially exercise discretion in allowing more time (though this is not guaranteed). It is incumbent upon businesses to proactively make the ATO aware of their circumstances. If businesses intentionally provide incomplete reports, or do not report, they may be fined up to $2,200 (20 penalty units). In relation to misreporting, the ATO is likely to be less sympathetic and businesses may face a penalties ranging from 20-60 penalty units per offence. 6 CONCLUSION Master Builders does not support those who rip off the tax system. But we do have concerns that taxation measures must be balanced – they should not impose unnecessary cost burdens on legitimate operators. Targeted activity is better than the broad-based new system. The scheme will likely punish legitimate operators by increasing their compliance costs. Master Builders will seek to work with the ATO to assess the cost of reporting against the revenue raised to ensure that this law is operating as intended. Contributions to this editorial were provided by Richard Calver, National Director Industrial Relations and Legal Counsel, Master Builders Australia Ltd .

FOOTNOTES Taxation Administration Amendment Regulation 2012 (No 1) (Cth) (‘Admin Amendment Regulation’) applicable for the purposes of Division 405 of Schedule 1 of Volume 2 the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth). 1

Admin Amendment Regulation, r 65(1).

Admin Amendment Regulation, r 64(6).

Press Release No 85 Consultation on Reporting of Taxable Payments made to Contractors in the Building and construction Industry 30 May 2011 4

5 See http://www.ato.gov.au/corporate/content.aspx?doc=/content/63675.htm for an explanation of the process from the ATO’s perspective (accessed 15 May 2012). 6

As per s4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), a penalty unit equates to $110.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

Master Builders does not support tax cheats. But ‘levelling the playing field’ adds administrative costs to legitimate operators in order to catch frauds. This is where the scheme is flawed. Master Builders supports targeted legislation: policy that catches frauds without financially punishing legitimate operators.

Impairment Impairment Impairment Testing for impairment in the workplace As Fair Work Australia recently commented: ‘the risks posed by drug Types of testing and privacy and alcohol use have long been recognised by the Tribunal’1. A perennial issue for employers is whether they can mitigate those risks The types of testing available differ in their effectiveness and by introducing mandatory drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. intrusiveness. While blood tests are the best measure of current Employers can implement mandatory testing, but impairment, they are obviously too confronting to be a realistic only where employees have been properly option. Urinalysis has a similar capacity to offend consulted and their privacy is respected. and provides little information about current The right to test derives from the impairment, as its window of detection can Work Health and Safety Act 2011 extend to weeks. The best option is (ACT) which obliges employers to saliva or oral fluid testing. While Illness ensure the health and safety of such tests require subsequent lab Fatigue both their employees and any analysis, they are unobtrusive other persons who might be and can be coupled with breath Depression injured by their employees’ tests to measure current activities. alcohol impairment.

Focus on impairment

Drugs & Alcohol

Any test results must be securely stored and not be divulged to third parties (other than a laboratory) as it will be ‘personal information’ covered by the National Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

For any testing regime to be lawful, the focus should be on impairment, rather than drug use. The aim is not to target illicit behaviour, but rather to assess whether an employee is fit for work. An employee may be impaired for a variety of reasons: because their wife just had twins, because they took prescription medicine with soporific sideeffects, or because they celebrated their 21st birthday the night before. Psychologists say that people who haven’t slept for 17-19 hours perform tasks more poorly than punters with a blood alcohol content of 0.05 percent, which is the legal limit in the ACT. Employers with rotating shift-workers should be particularly careful about fatigue.

Genuine consultation With the focus properly on impairment, any mandatory testing should only be adopted after genuine consultation with employees. That means that the kind of policy and testing to be adopted should not be a foregone conclusion. It should only be decided upon after employees have been given a chance to voice their concerns and provide suggestions etc. Any policy should clearly set out the consequences of impairment/intoxication at work and should provide avenues for review. Employers should also consider providing access to drug and alcohol training for employees.

For more information, see the Guidelines to the National Privacy Principles at the Privacy Commissioner’s website: http://www.privacy.gov.au/materials/ types/guidelines/view/6582#npp3.

Disciplinary action Where an employee tests positive, they should be driven home (not allowed to drive!) on paid personal/carer’s leave (if they have any) or, if they elect, paid annual leave. They can be placed on unpaid leave if they do not have any accrued paid leave. While employees may in general be summarily dismissed for intoxication in the workplace, employers must make sure that the employee was actually under the influence while at work and afford them procedural fairness – i.e. an opportunity to provide any relevant excuses before any decision for dismissal is made. Members should contact Master Builders’ Industrial Relations Department on ph 02 6247 2099 where they are considering dismissing an employee who may be intoxicated in the workplace. Master Builders also sells impairment policies as a part of its Human Resources Manual publication. Wagstaff Piling Pty Ltd; Thiess Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2011] FWAFB 6892. That decision was appealed to a Full Court of the Federal Court and was affirmed: Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Wagstaff Piling Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 87. 1

Our clients are our priority – they appreciate the reliable, flexible and responsive approach we bring to our work. We build long-term relationships with every client that engages our services. We provide a permanent solution, offering flexibility by tailoring bookkeeping and administrative services to each client’s individual needs. We become a part of their team! We are all about empowering you to take control of your business. Are you in control?

Your Business AdministrAtion Partner We’d love to hear from you BAS Agent No. 93508009

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CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

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WORKFORCE

WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION Consider the advantages of becoming a Host Employer and the benefits to you. Master Builders Group Training invoices for the actual hours the apprentice, trainee or cadet works on the job. You are not invoiced for Public holidays, annual leave, sick leave, RDO and training days. Master Builders Group Training is responsible for all administration of wages, Workers Compensation, long service leave and superannuation. Master Builders Group Training employs field officers to assist you with hosting the apprentices, trainees or cadets. If you directly employ your own apprentice Master builders can provide the training required. There are benefits for the industry including opportunities for apprentices, trainees and cadets, on site learning opportunities and contributing to skilling the future construction industry.

MBA Group Training Ltd.

1 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609 I PO Box 1211, Fyshwick ACT 2609 Tel: (02) 6280 9119 Fax: (02) 6280 9118 Email: training@mba.org.au Web: www.mba.org.au 19

THE

NATIONAL ARBORETUM

VISITORS CENTRE

Project Coordination is proudly contributing to the Canberra community by donating itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional management fee towards the cost of building the competition winning design of the National Arboretum Visitors Centre.

The Visitors Centre will be the main point of arrival, with information available about forests, education and interpretation of the Arboretum, together with retail outlets and a high quality café. Visitors will approach the centre via a dramatically formed passage through the hill and then enter a main vaulted space where they will be greeted by spectacular views of Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra.

The building incorporates a range of energy and water saving measures, with a low energy envelope and structure. The structure is timber framed using laminated Tasmanian Oak sourced from sustainably managed forests. The complex form requires over 3,000 unique structural members, cut to shape from computer models, test fitted in factories in Tasmania and then erected on site within fine tolerances. There are 10 massive curved beams with differing radii and 73 solid timber struts forming the key structural elements of the dome. The longest beam is 56m in length and 12m high at the top of the arch, forming a radius of 40m, with all beams having unique dimensions, to create the eccentric dome. The complex and bespoke nature of the building has required the production of many prototypes and mock ups, to develop the buildability and refine details.

The heart of the building is a vaulted space, which flexibly accommodates a range of functions, exhibitions, retail, the café and programmed activities. A major component of the project is the National Bonsai and Penjing collection, which will include an “Arboretum in Miniature”, of many of the 100 tree species being planted.

Local contractors have been trained in the use of zinc cladding and will lay more than 2,000m2 of zinc sheeting in the traditional ‘standing seam’ method, which will provide a durable and waterproof roof, interlinking with double glazed roof panels. Rock for the walls was sourced locally.

The architecture develops the long standing tradition of significant garden buildings as transparent enclosures with dramatic internal volumes and a sense of indooroutdoor connection. The exterior is sculptural, reflecting the rolling topography. Low, stone clad wings contrast with a high arching roof clad in weathered zinc, a form which is inspired by the fronds of the adjoining forest of Chilean wine palms. Internally, the innovative timber structure combines low environmental impact with a dramatic forest like form. Slivers of glass define the roof shape towards the entry.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 1 - 2012

The design by nationally prominent architects, Tonkin Zulaika Greer Architects, was part of the winning scheme for the National Arboretum design ideas competition, announced in 2005. The Village Building Company, is donating $1 million towards the cost of the Visitors Centre. The Commonwealth Government is also making a significant contribution to the National Arboretum.

The Visitors Centre is planned for completion in October 2012.

Vale

David Jones 1952 - 2012

The passing in March this year of David Jones has been a

David joined Guideline ACT in 1993, and as a Project

tremendous loss to the building and construction industry

Manager was responsible for delivering many significant

both locally and nationally.

and technically difficult projects. The next year David became a director of Guideline, and in 2000 went on to

As the former Managing Director of Guideline ACT,

become the Managing Director.

David ensured the company was at the forefront of the local industry, whilst also actively working on making

During Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tenure he was known for his forward

the industry better as a member and executive of both

thinking, and was instrumental in developing and

the Master Builders Association and Civil Contractors

implementing systems that have served Guideline ACT

Federation. He was the Master Builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Civil Chair and

well, and continue to do so. David helped to build

the President of the CCF ACT Branch in 2010/11 and

the reputation and strengthen the foundations of the

also served on the National Board of the Civil Contractors

organisation, and left Guideline ACT in a strong position.

Federation. A strong work ethic, integrity and upstanding moral In 1973 David graduated from Swansea University, Wales

principles made David Jones the professional he was, a

with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Civil Engineering.

true Gentleman, not only of the industry but in general. After 37 years in the Civil Construction Industry, of which

In the same year, he married Susan. David commenced

30 were here in Canberra, David retired from Guideline

his working career in South Africa, starting out as a Site

ACT in 2010, after 18 years with the company.

Engineer progressing to Project Manager on various major Civil Engineering projects including the civil works for a

David Jones has made a tremendous contribution to

Uranium Enrichment Plant.

Canberra and the region through the infrastructure he has delivered, the careers and people he has helped shape, the

In 1981 David, together with Sue and their three young

strong and lasting relationships he forged, and in particular

children Rhys, Lenud and Alun, emigrated to Australia

the way he lead Guideline ACT throughout his illustrious

from South Africa. Here, he worked for John Holland

career.

as a Site Manager completing various facilities, including substantial work at the Australian Institute of Sport. After that he worked as a Project Manager responsible for the New Parliament House Access Roads. 22

We salute a wonderful man.

H No urry tru ! St ck ock lic s a en re ce li re mit qu ed ire . d.

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CAMS Construction Apprenticeship Mentoring Scheme The national Construction Apprenticeship Mentoring Scheme (CAMS) is calling for volunteers to help build a support network for young building trade apprentices. Volunteer mentors will support construction trade apprentices and help them to successfully complete their trade training by providing a helping hand with practical and pastoral support. The Scheme offers a comprehensive, nationally coordinated approach to apprenticeship support. It provides online services, involvement of volunteer mentors and access to support materials and programs. Mentors are expected to: •

Motivate and build the confidence of apprentices to reach their full potential in their apprenticeship;

•

Be a point of contact for apprentices when issues arise in relation to their apprenticeship;

•

Encourage apprentices to develop their independence and self-reliance in the workplace;

•

Assist apprentices to access additional resources and further support if required; and,

•

Build relationships with employers/supervisors, particularly those who may be new to supervising apprentices.

CEO of Master Builders Australia, Wilhelm Harnisch said the recruitment and training of volunteers represents the critical next step in the rollout of CAMS. “Mentoring is a valuable service not widely available to Australia’s young building apprentices. The building and construction industry takes on more apprentices than any other sector, but the industry’s retention rate of apprentices is 58 per cent. Close to 16,000 apprentices drop out each year. This is a major loss to the industry. “Importantly, the scheme will offer specific mentoring support for out-of-work apprentices, Indigenous Australians and female apprentices, as well as supporting employers,” Mr Harnisch said.

Volunteer mentors in each state will work with apprentices and help them overcome challenges they have during training. “The program is looking for volunteer mentors to share their knowledge and experiences to support apprentices and motivate them to complete their training. Mentors will include active or retired tradespeople, or others in the building industry with a strong commitment to help nurture tomorrow’s ‘tradies’,” Mr Harnisch said. CAMS is being implemented by Master Builders around Australia, with funding assistance from the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education under the Apprenticeship Mentoring Program. Mr Harnisch welcomed the Government’s commitment to training young Australians. “Investment in training young apprentices is an investment in the future. Today’s apprentices will go on to build family homes, schools, hospitals, roads and other vital pieces economic and social infrastructure that will deliver benefits to the community,” he said. Interested volunteers are encouraged to contact canberra@mba.org.au to register their interest to become involved in the program.

Canberra Toyota have generously agreed to be a part of this initiative by providing an Apprentice Engagement Officer with a Hilux Workmate ute.

Master Builders Cadet Program In 2004 the Master Builders cadet program commenced with a cohort of young men (women later joined the program) who were uniformly bright, energetic, ambitious and looking for roles where they could ‘learn’ a living. None had University backgrounds, all were late teens and early twenties, and as a group they created significant ructions about the program itself – a portent of things to come in terms of generating enquiry and demanding outcomes consistent with promises.

What linked them, although deployed by a range of commercial builders with separate commercial interests, was their quick minds. From this cohort of learners, the ‘original’ cadets as it were, most completed their learning at Diploma level with two cadets going on to complete Advanced Diploma. One of those two cadets was Jared Daly of Manteena. What makes Jared unique in this cohort is that in May 2012 he won the AIB territory award for his project management of the National Library of Australia Treasures and Exhibition Galleries and Main Reading Room Entry. At barely 26 years of age he is an example to others who are young and ambitious about what can be achieved in such a supportive and at the same time demanding working environment such as Manteena. He would be the first to acknowledge the backing he has had from the Manteena Directorate, and yet at the same time he has shown such skill and talent as to be acknowledged by industry captains like John Hailey, former Managing Director of Manteena who refers to him as “a very capable and able young man who will do very well indeed in this industry”. Jared is an unassuming young man who is well liked by his peers and colleague workers. His ambitions beyond having achieved the ‘professional excellence’ class of AIB award are to address the travel bug he is suffering from at present and then look at his career options on his return to Canberra in a few months time. Not long after Jared started work at Manteena, Frank Caridi, also a prize-winner in the ‘professional excellence’ category at the AIB territory awards this year also entered the Master Builders ACT cadet program. Frank’s award was for the Belconnen Skate Park Valley Way inlet. Frank elected to undertake the University pathway beyond achieving his Certificate IV qualification in Contract Administration and he is currently completing his undergraduate degree in Building and Construction Management through the University of Canberra. Another popular and respected member of the Manteena team, Frank actually came into the cadet program as a school-based apprentice graduate who with a taste for construction work wanted to be a part of something bigger in scope than what he thought he might be able to achieve on a residential building site. Frank excelled at everything he did in this program too – he has a reputation for excellence based on his diligence and structured detailed approach to his work. Lou Agnello, Construction Director at Manteena referred to Frank as a

very capable and skilled young man. Frank’s project too has been sent on to the national AIB awards which will be held in Adelaide later this year.

These two young men are great advertisements for the Master Builders cadet program which has its roots in the vocational education programs as pre-cursors to university studies. They are examples of how ambition, drive and intelligence can mature into capability and commercial viability when supported and championed. As a part of their Certificate IV summative assessment task both young men were required to report on ‘commercial viability’ from their own working perspective. Their discussion was centred on how, as cadets, they could demonstrate their own worth to their employers by aggregating the dividend they represented through their training alongside their work-based project outputs. It was an exercise which revealed for this cadet cohort the massive investment in their success made by Master Builders ACT and their host employers. Most of the cadets are still in the industry achieving great things, testimony indeed to a very good program and a service to the local industry. This first group of cadets proved that while a background ‘on the tools’ is desirable it is not always necessary if there is a passion for achievement and a willingness to work hard to achieve outstanding outcomes.

Andrew Barr, MLA presenting Jared Daly and Lou Agnello with their Professional Excellence Awards.

Master Builders Association of the ACT’s

Annual Dinner 2012

Professor Ed Blakely

‘Master of Disaster’

to present at the 2012 Master Builders Annual Dinner The Master Builders Association of the ACT is pleased to announce that Urban Policy and disaster recovery expert Professor Ed Blakely will be joining us for this year’s Annual Dinner on Wednesday 17 October at the Hotel Realm in Barton.

Professor Blakely is professor of Urban Policy at Sydney University and is recognised as a world leader in his field with international experience in urban and regional planning, sustainable development and disaster management. Having spent the past four decades leading disaster recovery teams in the United States and around the world, he has earned the nickname ‘Master of Disaster’. From 2007 – 2009 Professor Blakely was the Executive Director for Recovery Management in New Orleans

Wednesday, October 17

Hotel Realm, Barton

where he directed the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. He was also involved in the reconstruction of San Francisco after the 1989 earthquakes, worked with the City of New York following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and has led multiple recovery efforts in California following the earthquakes, fires and riots. Be sure to join us at the 2012 Master Builders Annual Dinner where Professor Blakely will share his experience on post-disaster recovery and discuss a new economy for Australia.

For more information visit www.mba.org.au or contact Emma Rice, Event Coordinator. T: 02 6175 5968 or erice@mba.org.au

Event Sponsors

Master Builders Australia has called for more nationally consistent ‘security of payment’ laws for the building industry. According to the Master Builders existing laws, which differ between each state and territory, are creating “cash flow bottlenecks” rather than protecting contractors. The existing ‘security of payment legislation’ “causes friction between building contractors and their principals and must be changed,” the Master Builders said. Chief Executive Officer of Master Builders Australia, Wilhelm Harnisch, said out-dated and imbalanced security of payment laws have become a “bug bear” issue for the building and construction industry. “Cash flow plays a major role in underpinning the building and construction industry’s viability. When the sector is caught in the slow lane of a two speed economy, unnecessary and costly time spent in adjudication is inefficient,” he said. In a submission to the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council, Master Builders Australia called for harmonised, open and balanced security of payment legislation. It said Australia’s security of payment laws are based on principles developed more than 16 years ago. The Master Builders commissioned Australian National University Emeritus Professor Jim Davis to develop 10 new best practice principles to improve security of payment law. “These Principles should form the foundation for national action to achieve a greater degree of uniformity in security of payment legislation,” Mr Harnisch said.

LOCALLY OWNED LOCALLY OPERATED - AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICESHIPS CENTRE!

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

Master Builders calls for more uniform national ‘security of payment’ laws.

It is with great pride that RGT announces we have been awarded the Australian Apprenticeships Support Services tender for a further 2 years within the ACT. We are the largest and longest operating Australian Apprenticeships Centre (AAC) in the ACT with 14 years of local experience and knowledge. RGT have a dedicated team of C.A.R.E Business Consultants and Administration staff led by Stephanie Tarlinton –AAC Manager and Lisa Syrek –Business Development Manager and are here to assist you with your every need.

The Master Builders says its submission is “the first step towards achieving national compatibility of State and Territory legislation on security of payment in the building and construction industry.” However it stops short of calling for uniform national laws, noting that “while it is desirable to move to a nationally harmonised legislative model, Master Builders recognises the practical obstacles in doing so. In large part this difficulty arises because some States (WA and NT) have better legislative models which should not be interfered with in the process of recommending increased harmonisation. “ The Master Builders says that “rather than protecting contractors, the laws are creating cash flow bottlenecks which curtail the industry’s viability and lead to project delays through the sidelining of resources. For example, a $1,000 payment claim is governed by the same procedures as for a $10 million claim – which is a practical nonsense. “Since their inception in 1999, the security of payment laws have grown inconsistently and now each state and territory has different laws. “Differing laws have led to issues surrounding the selection process for adjudicators. In particular, most states do not require adjudicators to have formal qualifications or experience, which is not acceptable. “The industry needs balanced and efficient security of payment laws to protect a contractor’s right to get paid and to facilitate a fair and efficient adjudication process,” he said.

Call us 6241 2969 www.rgt.asn.au | info@rgt.asn.au

SEASON

Condensation and mould growth. An ever-increasing problem - Why? Building Codes in European countries have been addressing this issue for several years, yet it has only come to the fore in Australia and New Zealand in recent times, primarily due to an increased emphasis on designing airtight and well insulated buildings. The current NCC also now provides some guidance as to how condensation should be dealt with. In the good old days when we had poorly designed windows, lots of draughts and air leakage, these problems were not so prevalent. The negative of course being that we lived in buildings with very poor energy efficiency and performance due to air leakage from within the building and from outside the building. In an effort to address condensation problems, I have summarised some of the key issues below that must be considered at the design stage. These issues cannot be solved post-construction:

Any moisture control strategy for the building needs to consider three key issues. 1. How to prevent building assemblies from getting wet from the exterior 2. How to prevent building assemblies from getting wet from the interior 3. If building assemblies get wet, or start out wet, how to allow them to dry Much effort and expense often goes into the first of these, however the other two that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require much expenditure to get right, are more often than not ignored. A generation of new buildings in most other temperate climates of Europe, North America, Japan and New Zealand have been through a cycle of moisture related problems

closely correlated to changes away from more traditional designs, to new construction with higher levels of thermal insulation and air tightness. Although well intentioned, the failure to consider the building envelope holistically created problems by trapping moisture in the structure. A quick search of reports on sick building syndrome, leaky homes, mouldy homes or sick house, reveals an embarrassing history of how the building industry has failed to learn from each others mistakes. Most methods designed to keep the rain and wind out, involve wrapping the building in impermeable materials such as foil, steel, glass or other waterproofing materials. Such materials do a great job of stopping the water from getting in, but they also prevents vapour from getting out safely. In the winter, these materials in the roof space or your wall cavities can get wet due to condensation. As buildings are increasingly being designed to be air tight, the moist air we create inside the building starts to build up and will naturally diffuse through the internal finishing, also finding its way through the openings and gaps behind power points and light fittings and into the roof space and wall cavities. The moisture laden air moves through the insulation and drops in temperature until reaching the cold surfaces within the roof or walls, releasing the moisture as condensate in the same way as condensate forms on the outside of a cold glass of beer. If there is condensation on the inside of the window during the winter then there is a good chance that condensation is also forming unseen on the inside of walls or roof spaces that have been wrapped in foil. Get to know your vapour barriers from your breather membranes. If insulation is not installed correctly in relation to the position of vapour barriers and breather membranes, mistakes can lead to structural damage and health problems for occupants

Condensation droplets forming on the underside of foil sarking



Mould evidence on timber trusses due to moisture from condensation

caused by mould springing up and spreading unnoticed within the roof space and walls, resulting in expensive rectification. To make matters worse there is a danger that moisture can build up in the insulation stopping it from doing the job it was put there to do in the first place. Fortunately if you are aware of the potential problems, they can easily be avoided at the design stage for a fraction of the cost of fixing a problem once the building is occupied. It is common for building to have a layer of foil sarking, perforated foil sarking or reflective bubble foil type sarking installed behind the external wall claddings, brick veneer or under roof tiles. These vapour barriers should instead be used on the warm side of the insulation (inside for cold and temperate climate zones) much in the same way as foil faced insulation blankets are typically installed under a metal roof. If the foil sarking should not be used on the cold outside of insulation then what can be used to wrap the building. The product you will be using goes under the generic name of ‘breathable membranes’. A breathable membrane on the cold side of the insulation does much the same job as conventional sarking such as keeping rain, snow and dust from getting into the roof space and wall cavities, but also lets the moist air escape.

Typically breather membranes are textile products that work much in the same was as Gortex fabric and have a very low vapour resistance of less than 0.3MNs/g. These should not be confused with some perforated foil type products labelled as “breathable”, despite having a vapour resistance more than 10 to 70 times the breathable membrane standard set by the National House Building Council in the UK. To allow condensate to drain safely out of the wall to help wall assemblies dry out, common practice overseas is to have a vented cavity between the external cladding and the breather membrane. This concept is increasingly being adopted by good builders in Australia. Make sure you know who is responsible for moisture control It is the building designers’ responsibility to consider the condensation risk and ensure that the materials specified and installed in your project will perform throughout the year to avoid the problems of condensation. All AS/NZ4200.1:1994 compliant sarking materials have been tested for their vapour resistance so the supplier or manufacturer should be able to provide you with this test data so that the building designer or engineer can conduct a condensation risk analysis.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012



For avoiding roof space condensation there are now roofing grade breathable membranes available in Australia that have a long track record from overseas. If however ventilation is your preferred method to prevent roof space condensation, experience and regulations from overseas point towards a combination of continuous eves and ridge ventilation. With increasingly high levels of insulation required in ACT, insulating and ventilating the roof is becoming more complex. If using a foil faced blanket at the roof line be aware that by adding more insulation beneath this at ceiling level could potentially bring the foil below dew point. As a builder it is best to clarify if you or the architect is responsible for considering condensation risk and rectifying future problems. If this responsibility falls to you seek strong assurances from the supplier or manufacturer that the sarking is breathable enough to prevent condensation when used in combination with the insulation specified. A report from the CSIRO highlighting these exact same concerns was published in 2001 and is available for download from their website. www.dctech.com.au

interior experts J & J Interiors have shown what can be achieved with their recent projects

showcase their skills

J & J Interiors were highly successful entrants at this year’s ACT Master Builders and Boral Excellence in Building Awards. The awards were presented at the National Convention Centre on 29 June. J & J Interiors’ impressive contribution to the Australian National University Colleges of Science – Bioscience Building resulted in the business taking home the three awards for:

2012

Commercial Interior Finish for ANU Colleges of Science Biosciences Building

2012

Commercial Best use of Material for ANU Colleges of Science Biosciences Building; &

Subcontractor of the Year for their unwavering dedication to achieving the highest quality outcomes

Some recent projects by J & J Interiors

J & J Interiors is a family business which has been operating in the Canberra market for 21 years. It has an employee base of about 50 staff, but numbers have fluctuated to around 100 depending on project demands. It has a strong team focus, combined with a dedication to delivering high quality projects. Its impressive portfolio includes the provision of finishes to the Royal Australian Mint, the John Curtin School of Medicine and Chemistry building at the Australian National University and The ApARTments at NewActon. The company has recently commenced work on the Manhattan Apartments in the city, one of Canberra’s most exciting residential developments. Adding to a highly successful night for J & J Interiors at the 2012 Master Builders & Boral Excellence in Building Awards, its sibling company, McGilvray Projects, was the recipient of the award for the Commercial and Retail Fit out, Refurbishment or Alteration Less than $500,000. The winning project, 1/92 Sawmill Circuit in Hume, was built as a showpiece for McGilvray Projects and J & J Interiors and showcased the skills of the companies’ workforce. McGilvray Projects was established in 2009 by J & J directors John, David and Jacqui McGilvray, to branch out from contract work into building and development work. The new venture took the experience gained during many years of running the highly successful J & J Interiors to produce developments built to exceptional standards. After three years of operation, McGilvray Projects has cemented itself as a strong and vibrant development and construction business, which “Designs and builds for today with a vision of tomorrow”. Like J & J Interiors, McGilvray Projects has an impressive portfolio of projects including, 92 Sawmill Circuit Hume, That Bagel Place in Hume and 79 Sturt Avenue Narrabundah. The Lloyd Warramanga, a boutique development of 17 townhouses, is under construction at the present time.

J & J Interiors work on the ANU’s Biosciences Building receievd three awards at the Excellence in Building Awards this year.

Both J & J Interiors and McGilvray Projects boast hard working and skilful teams, a dedication to high quality service and a wealth of experience within the construction industry. They focus on giving their clients high quality service to ensure their projects run on time and budget.The two businesses are well positioned to continue to provide the local market with an impeccable standard of service and workmanship. Recently J&J Interiors have opened a detailed joinery shop in order to expand their portfolio of services. Having accepted the contract at The Bioscience Building ANU to provide dry walls, ceilings, glazing, carpentry, doors, frames and hardware,J & J Interiors’ commitment to excellence provided an outstanding finish for the project The Building took just over two years to fit out and was constructed from a range of materials, some of which are standard in the construction industry such as concrete and steel, but also included manufactured double glazed plastic cellular sheeting used as both a dividing wall and as an aesthetic feature wall. Although primarily a research facility, the use of materials, the design and colour scheme provide a warm and inviting environment to work in. The fit-out is far from standard: Hoop pine plywood finished in a natural stain bringing out its fine features rakes up and down walls and stairs. The three-dimensional chevron walls wrap floor to floor on the western end of the building. The only area that the Hoop Pine wasn’t incorporated into the fit-out was inside the laboratories themselves. In naming J & J Interiors as winners of the Commercial Interior Finish category of the Awards, the judges said they “appreciated the complex set out problems associated with the timber wall linings in the main access walkways and staircases, together with the high degree of accuracy required between the metal and timber components to achieve the very fine detail evident from the architectural drawings. The finished result is most impressive.” As Commercial - Best Use of Material winner the judges said, “Whilst the choice of the material in the building rests with the architect the end result rests on the skill of the contractor in interpreting the architect’s desires and achieving the level of quality expected of the architect, the builder and the client combined. The quality of the workmanship using mainly veneered timbers as wall linings is a credit to the set out and skills of J & J Interior’s site staff and tradesmen.” J&J’s work on the Biology Research Building, which is part of the new ANU Colleges of Sciences, also won Project of the Year for Hindmarsh: J & J Interiors quality workmanship and their awards played a part in Hindmarsh’s win in the most prestigious award of the year.

As Subcontractor of the Year the judges said, “It was through their unwavering dedication to achieving the highest quality outcomes for their clients that gave J & J Interiors the edge in this year’s Subcontractor of the Year award.”

For more information J & J Interiors Phone: 6162 3616 www.jjinteriors.com.au McGilvray Projects Phone: 6162 3618 www.mcgilvrayprojects.com.au

Feature

2012 MASTER BUILDERS & BORAL EXCELLENCE IN BUILDING AWARDS The 2012 Excellence in Building Awards lived up to all expectations with the Master Builders Association of the ACT, together with its event partner Boral Limited, again delivering an exceptional night filled with glitz and glamour. The celebration of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s achievements highlighted the unshakable resilience, determination and strength of the local building and construction industry with high quality, innovation and style featuring in winners and finalists projects. Almost 1,450 guests enjoyed a wonderful Italian themed feast whilst experiencing the unique humour of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Lady of comedy, Julia Morris, who took to the stage to run the official proceedings. Our sincere thanks go to Boral and the many other incredibly generous industry partners who contributed to the success of the awards.

Main Pic: Atomic perform for the guests Right: MC Julia Morris

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

2012 MASTER BUILDERS & BORAL EXCELLENCE IN BUILDING AWARDS This feature showcases the major award winners from the 2012 Master Builders & Boral Excellence in Building Awards. This year, over 1400 guests attended the awards night. Host, comedian Julia Morris entertained the crowd with her special brand of humour, keeping the awards rolling along. Band ‘Atomic’ got the party crowd on their feet and dancing to some fantastic music toward the end of the night.

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Look at this room.

How absolutely devine you all are!

” 33

Feature

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Feature

HOUSE OF THE YEAR CREATIVE BUILDING SERVICES MARCUS GRAHAM ARCHITECT CIA LANDSCAPES AND COLOUR ARCHERTEC INTERIORS Establishing the right team for the project and having their full commitment to achieve a common goal was a significant step for John Katsanevakis and Creative Building Services: “with this project we were

very fortunate to have a full team including the Architect, Interior Designer, Landscaping Consultant and Electrical Consultant who shared the same vision. It was also important that quality tradesman, who also shared this vision were utilised to achieve the result that we have.” The result was outstanding for Creative Building Services; winning the 2012 House of the Year in the Master Builders & Boral Excellence in Building Awards. 36

and all electrical installation within this home, including audio visual systems, irrigation, pool, heating and cooling, security and blind control. The system is also able to be programmed to provide endless lighting and entertainment scenarios to each area of the house. This family home contains intricate features that are not standard in residential construction. Shadow moulds more commonly found in commercial applications were used throughout the house, not only on the ceilings, but also around door jambs and skirtings. Large formatted travertine sheets, retro glass and limestone have been used throughout the house. The limestone floor tiles were ground back to give a seamless finish and recycled timber was used externally as a feature and for sun protection. A home automation system using leading Switch Technology has been installed to manage home operation

John said, “It was an enjoyable project for all involved as the innovative design and intricate detail provided a challenge which generated a high level of enthusiasm in the project.”

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

PROJECT OF THE YEAR HINDMARSH ANU Colleges of Science - Biosciences Building

retirement accommodation, own a collection of efficient parking facilities, and have a Capital division that manages a portfolio of investments in promising technology businesses.

Construction companies can be easily pigeonholed. They can be seen to have strength in one particular market – be it residential building, development, or low cost accommodation – and never considered for projects in any others. The skills at Hindmarsh are deep, wide and varied. With the technical expertise their staff possesses, Hindmarsh are able to do some of the most technically challenging building genres you could ever consider. Hindmarsh’s capabilities are not even limited to construction. They also construct and manage quality

all our construction projects. When people see the Hindmarsh name they see work that exemplifies our aspirations - to be the market leaders, delivering innovative and high quality projects.”

Hindmarsh’s Construction Manager, David Colbertaldo said, “for our work to be recognised at the highest level is testament to our commitment to quality and innovation. Awards like this increase staff engagement and job satisfaction. The awards for the ANU Colleges of Science - Biosciences Building reflects our skill set and culture which are evident across

Feature

PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR STEVEN GAVAGNA

YOUTH PARTICIPATION & TRAINING BRIAN LAWRENCE

We asked what winning the Professional of the Year meant to Steven and Goodman Law. “It brings together my whole life’s journey since I left school in 1980, went to university and studied Construction. I was a builder before I was a lawyer. For Goodman Law, it has already meant new clients within the building industry plus an increase in requests for me to present at seminars”.

One of the most popular awards presented at the Excellence in Building awards was the Youth Participation & Training award to Brian Lawrence.

A unique aspect of Steven’s background is that he is a solicitor with a building degree and experience as a project manager on building sites. Because of his deep interest in this industry, the solicitors at Goodman Law have a strong understanding of the issues currently affecting the building industry. And Steven believes that payment and security are the key issues those in construction are facing. “The Security of Payments Act and the Personal Property Securities Register are challenging issues for builders, suppliers and sub-contractors. I have recently done presentations at the MBA on both these topics and can honestly say that if you are grappling with these issues you are not alone! It is really important that you have some understanding of these topics.” With an ACT Election looming, Steven lists a few areas where our local political leaders could work on improvements for the building and construction industry:

•

The ACT government does not pay within a realistic timeframe. Change would support businesses in the construction industry.

•

Enforcement of workplace safety on building sites to ensure we minimise the tragedies that occur.

•

Consistency in ACTPLA decision making.

•

A sustainable housing and land release policy.

Having spent more than 40 years in the Building & Construction industry, the last eight with Master Builders Group Training, Brian has trained and mentored hundreds of bricklayers. “It was a surprise to win this award, but very nice to be recognised for the long hard road,” Brian said. “I take great pleasure in working with apprentices and helping them become qualified, especially the ones who have to battle hard.”

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR MODERN PLASTER Ross Burke and his team at Modern Plaster have always strived to supply quality products to the building industry at competitive prices and are always looking for the latest products produced with the latest technology. Modern Plaster has supported and assisted plastering training for many years in Canberra, having trained plastering apprentices over the past fifty years. Ross believes training is critical to producing a quality end product and being able to produce a quality product is extremely fulfilling for apprentices. “Winning an Excellence in building award means recognition of the contribution and service Modern Plaster and its staff have made to the building industry” Ross said.

YOUNG COMMERCIAL BUILDER OF THE YEAR ROD BOBELDIJK Rod Bobeldijk and Complete Constructions (Aust) primarily provides constructions services for small to medium sized commercial projects. They rely heavily on and look to strengthen their relationships with past clients and architects to provide work for the future. For Rod completing a quality project brings about a sense of achievement. “Entering into the Master Builders awards, you feel as though your project offers that something special that you hope the judges and the industry will recognise. Winning an award on the night brings about that height of recognition from your peers and rewards all those that are involved with the project including the client, design team, builder and subcontractors.” In finishing Rod said, “Your reputation is everything in Canberra, and people are well networked. The best advertising that we can do for our company is to keep up the good work and let our clients act as referees for our ongoing projects. With the addition of these Master Builder’s Awards formally acknowledging our achievements, we look forward to the future opportunities that these can provide.”

Feature

APPRENTICE & CADET OF THE YEAR JAMIE GIANCHOU TRYSTAN WARN

EXCELLENCE IN WORK HEALTH & SAFETY – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & RESIDENTIAL MATRIX NATIONAL GROUP

Our Apprentice of the Year, Jamie Gianchou (Left), and Cadet of the Year, Trystan Ward (Right) were both very worthy winners.

For Matrix National Group winning their Excellence in Work Health & Safety awards is an acknowledgement of the many late hours and additional work undertaken by the Matrix team to meet client requirements and provide the best possible outcome.

Jamie is an ambassador for both MBA Group Training and the bricklaying industry and he has set a very high standard for other apprentices to follow, and Trystan has the personal and professional presentation and commitment to become a great asset to this industry. Now both have added another significant award further validating their hard work and effort. At the presentation ceremony on 10th August, for 2012 Construction Industry Training Council Awards both received awards in their chosen fields.

Matrix National General Manager, Darren Sterzenbach says, “It comes down to our ability to assess a client’s need, develop systems relevant to their scope of works. Then implement and provide training on the system and provide the audit support for that training.” The team at Matrix are all talented and passionate about delivering services which can be relied on to be fully compliant with all state and federal legislation.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

CUSTOM BUILT HOME $300,000 TO $600,000 TODAY’S HOMES AND LIFESTYLE & MICHAEL PISCONE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

CIVIL SUBCONTRACTOR GREEN CIVIL CON

The judges said this is an exceptionally well constructed home. It needed to be, to win the Custom Built Homes $300,000 to $600,000 category up against 12 other quality finalists, the most of any of 2012 Excellence in Building Awards categories.

As a first time entrant and subsequent award winner Green Civil Con have enjoyed the recognition following the Excellence in Building Awards.

For Peter McCullough from Today’s Homes “It is an honour to win this prestigious MBA award as it is an independent assessment and the recognition of our highly skilled design, administrative and construction teams, and industry partners.” But it’s the smile on his client’s face that is very rewarding. The implemented procedures and quality control methods used by Today’s Homes ensures that they deliver an outstanding client experience and an exceptionally high quality product, time and time again. The ‘hand in hand’ approach by the dedicated Today’s Home team ensures they design the home that the clients require within their budget.

Tiernan Quinn, Managing Director of Green Civil Con has said, “We have had a lot of companies congratulating us on our success. We have been noticed for the hard work and effort we put in to the industry and it shows the level of skill my team is able to deliver.” The Monaro Highway bulk water relocation, the main feed for Canberra’s potable water, is a pipe with a diameter of 1283mm.The work required complex cut-in to the existing main, crossing under Ipswich Street, working around existing live services and in difficult trenching conditions.

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE ACT WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING VALUED SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE 2012 MASTER BUILDERS & BORAL EXCELLENCE IN BUILDING AWARDS. CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE ACT

HUMAN RESOURCES MANUAL The 3rd Edition of the Human Resources Manual incorporates a suite of important changes.

It steps employers through union rights of entry under the new ‘harmonised’ work health and safety regime, a constant source of workplace disputes. The consequences of ‘sham contracting’ and the somewhat blurred line between an independent contractor and an employee are also discussed, along with potential increases to the superannuation rate from 9% to 12%. The skilled immigration content has also been updated to reflect up-to-date government policy. It also explains the impact of changes workplace to equal opportunity laws, which will require companies with more than 100 employees to adopt

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY

new reporting systems on the gender composition of their workforces and boards. Strengthened sexual harassment laws are also considered, which force workplace comedians to consider the ‘possibility’ that another person might feel harassed. As with the previous prints, the 3rd Edition also offers builders with strategies about day-today management, offering tailored guides for record keeping, privacy, confidentiality, performance management as well as and pro forma letters and contracts.

www.mba.org.au/publications/hr-manual canberra@mba.org.au T: 6280 9119 43

AN ALTERNATIVE TO STEEL IN REINFORCED CONCRETE. Reinforced Concrete is a common building material for construction of facilities and structures. While concrete has high compressive strength, it has limited tensile strength. To overcome these tensile limitations, reinforcing bars are used in the tension side of concrete structures. Steel rebar has historically been used as an effective and cost-efficient concrete reinforcement. Where not subjected to chloride ion attack, steel reinforcement can last for decades without exhibiting any visible signs of deterioration. However, it is susceptible to oxidation (rust) when exposed to chlorides. Examples of such exposure include coastal areas, locations where salt contaminated aggregates are used in the concrete mixture, and sites where aggressive chemicals and ground conditions exist. Where corrosion of rebar occurs, the resulting products have a larger volume (2- 5 times) than the metal product from which they originally derived. The concrete cannot sustain the tensile load developed from this volume increase, and eventually cracks and spalls, leading to further deterioration of the steel. The combination of ongoing deterioration and loss of reinforcement properties ultimately requires potentially significant and expensive outlays for repair and maintenance, and possibly the endangerment of the structure itself. History and research data have proven that epoxy coated steel rebar is not an adequate answer to these needs, although it is presently the most commonly used product for such applications. Stainless steel will address corrosion issues, but is expensive.

V-Rod is the registered trademark name for Pultrallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s composite rebar product; a Glass Fibre Reinforce Polymer (GFRP). It has superior tensile properties and is corrosion resistance. It offers a unique and 44

economically feasible reinforcing rebar for such applications. GFRP products offer the following features and benefits when compared to steel rebar:

CORROSION RESISTANCE GFRP will not rust, and is impervious to the action of salt ions, chemicals, and the alkalinity inherent in concrete. This makes them almost perfect in the maritime environments, in other areas of high salinity like mining operations and for infrastructure where ground water is close to the surface. It is impervious to the chloride ingress that AS3600 expects within the coastal zones in Australia. Concrete cover for reinforcement protection is no longer a critical design factor.

LIGHTWEIGHT GFRP weighs approximately one-quarter the weight of an equivalent size steel bar, offering significant savings in both placement and use. It is easy to handle and move. It is easily cut to length. It also offers designers the opportunity to apply lightweight concrete design techniques (with minimum cover).

ELECTROMAGNETIC NEUTRALITY GFRP is non-metallic and therefore will not interfere with the operation of sensitive electronic devices such as medical MRI units or electronic testing and monitoring devices {electron microscopes, magnetic detection equipment and sensitive medical instruments). It does not react to high currents as steel does [heating due to current] when used in power substations or in factory applications like aluminium smelters. V-Rod does not interfere with signals sent through a reinforced concrete element, such as a hearing loop under a

concrete slab or monitoring equipment within a roadway or reinforced earth wall.

THERMAL INSULATOR GFRP is highly efficient in resisting heat transfer, such as from building exteriors to interiors.

MARKET APPLICATIONS GFRP is a cost effective reinforcing bar in the following markets:

1. Structures Built in or Close to Sea water (any saline environment): Quays; retaining wall; piers; jetties; caissons; decks; piles; bulkheads; floating structures; canals; roads and buildings; offshore platforms; hyper-salinity of the mining environments, swimming pools and aquariums.

2. Applications Subjected to Other

Corrosive Agents: Wastewater treatment plants; petrochemical plants; pulp/paper mills; liquid gas plants; pipelines / tanks for fossil fuel; cooling towers; chimneys; mining operations of various types; nuclear power and dump plants.

3. Applications Requiring Low Electric

Conductivity or Electromagnetic Neutrality: Aluminium and copper smelting plants; manholes for electrical and telephone communication equipment; bases for transmission / telecommunication towers; airport control towers; magnetic resonance imaging in hospitals; railroad crossing sites; monitoring and testing equipment that transmits from within the structure; hearing loops, and specialized military structures.

4. Tunnelling / Boring Applications

Requiring Reinforcement of Temporary Concrete Structures: Structures including mining walls; soft-eyes; sacrificial piles; underground rapid transit structures and underground vertical shafts.

construction in areas of poor load bearing soil conditions, remote geographical locations, sensitive environmental areas, or active seismic sites posing special issues that the use of lightweight reinforcement will solve. Highly refined, thin and lightweight precast concrete façades or feature walls and panels.

6. Thermally Sensitive Applications:

Apartment patio decks; thermally insulated concrete housing and basements; thermally heated floors and conditioning rooms.

7. Aesthetic application: facades and facing concrete elements, precast wall panels, where concrete discolouration cannot be tolerated.

8. Continuous slabs: the reinforcing rod

is able to protrude from concrete without significant detriment its life. Therefore applications that require cutting a slab or placing a penetration will not provide an opening for rust.

CONSTRUCTION PROPERTIES The properties of FRP reinforcing bars differ from those of conventional steel rebar in a number of areas. While having in some cases up to three times the tensile strength, FRPs do not strain harden like steel but are elastic until failure. All design must therefore specific to the GFRP used. GFRP is cut with

an angle grinder or alternative blade; it is not cut using bolt cutters. GFRPs are not bent on site and must be designed and specified for delivery on site; this is especially the case for bends, ligatures and cogs. There are however smart design methods that reduce the risk of overly complex specifications.

reinforced concrete member is designed based on its required strength, and then checked for fatigue endurance, creep rupture endurance, and serviceability criteria. In most cases serviceability criteria or fatigue and creep rupture endurance limits will control the design.

DESIGNING WITH COMPOSITE REBAR

Designers must place aside their steel design software and support programs. Designing with GFRP is different. There is however a number of companies that have experience in designing with V-Rod both in Australia and in Canada. Companies such as TTW (Sydney), SP Smith Engineering, AECOM, SMEC, Cardno and others have designed with V-Rod.

The mechanical properties of GFRP reinforcing bars differ from those of conventional steel rebar in a number of areas. As a result, several issues arise in the development of a design methodology for concrete structures reinforced with such bars. The general design recommendations for flexural concrete elements reinforced with GFRP reinforcing bars are presented in CSA S806-02, the world’s first full standard for FRP and ACI 440.1R-01, Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars, as reported by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) committee 440. The GSA S806 and ACI 440 recommendations are based on principles of equilibrium and compatibility, and the constitutive laws of the materials. The new design philosophy adopted for FRP bars used as reinforcement for concrete allows consideration to be given to either GFRP rupture or concrete crushing as the mechanism that controls failure. It is based on limit states design principles. A GFRP

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

5. Weight Sensitive Structures: Concrete

Cure ration of the polymer matrix is a significant consideration of the designer and builder when specifying GFRP. A high cure ratio 98% is mandatory for GFRP to be corrosion resistant. For further information on this see the website below. Before you specify a proprietary product ensure, especially where structural integrity is key, that you have quality assurance demanded of the world’s leading standard, CSA S807.

For more information visit www.vrodaustralia.com.au

Master Builders Australia

National Conference to be held in CANBERRA in 2013 Celebrating the Centenary of our Nation’s Capital Save the dates 14 – 16 November 2013

The Master Builders National Conference, Building Australia is the premier leading industry event that attracts Master Builders and their partners from around Australia delivering a comprehensive program of keynote speakers on topics relevant to today’s building and construction industry, a building exhibition and an exciting social and partners program. The conference will be held at the newly refurbished Rydges Lakeside Hotel Canberra and take in iconic venues such the Australian War Memorial, for an offsite evening dinner and Parliament House, Great Hall for the National Awards Dinner. www.masterbuilders.com.au Images: Australian Capital Tourism, Master Builders Australia 2011 National Conference.

PLATINUM SPONSOR

The

Franklin

Charity House Built for hopes and dreams Five local charities that provide services to Canberraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homeless and disadvantaged are set to benefit from the auction of the Franklin Charity House in early 2013.

(AUST)

@AUCTION March 2012

The construction of the Franklin Charity House has been led by Classic Constructions, a business that is recognised as one of Canberra’s leading construction companies and renowned for its quality and service. Some recent contributors to the project are below. Designs by Mahony Guy Mahony established Designs by Mahony in 1989 after beginning his career in the building industry as an award winning carpenter. Guy was able to see his design concepts come to light when he applied his construction knowledge as a building designer. Guy has designed numerous award winning homes with the most significant being the Master Builders 2010 House of the Year & 2010 Display Home of the Year. It was paramount for the Franklin Charity House design to be two storeys which incorporated design elements for an adaptable family home that could accommodate the disabled. The home’s accessibility and ease-of-use is achieved through the use of wider doorways, absence of steps on the lower level and locating the living areas and main bedroom on this same level. The house is built on a prominent corner in Franklin with two street frontages so the home’s streetscape had to be visually pleasing from both angles; no easy task. Guy’s final design has excellent northern orientation with plenty of natural light to help reduce the home’s carbon footprint and with an emphasis on a flowing internal/external floor plan. The open plan living area allows for ease of movement and acts as a hub for the busy family with a break-out area upstairs to cater for kids and their friends. The home has plenty of useful storage both within the home and in the oversized double garage. The footprint of the home uses the full width and length of the block which allowed Guy to achieve a floor plan with a strong visual link from the heart of the home to the outdoor living area and onto a possible location for a future pool.

Hardies Scyon cladding was used on the upper level to give a contrast to the face brickwork used on the lower level with the use of accent feature panels of cedar cladding to give visual warmth to this adaptable family home. Capital Gas Works Capital Gas Works was established around eight years ago by some of Canberra’s finest and most experienced gasfitters. The company is now owned and managed by Michael Hagstrom, who is the embodiment of the company’s strong sense of professionalism and workmanship. Capital Gas Works specialises in commercial and residential gasfitting and has undertaken countless projects, ranging from new homes to installations and maintenance for existing residential sites. As a small company, Capital Gas Works is able to offer high level customer service tailored to the needs of the individual client and this is highlighted by the strong working relationship the company has developed with renowned local construction company Classic Constructions. The partnership between Classic Constructions and Capital Gas Works began close to five years ago and has only been strengthened by the mutual goal of providing high quality service and expertise. This rapport meant that Capital Gas Works was the first choice of gasfitter for Classic Constructions when it was selecting its team of sub-contractors to work on the Charity House. Michael and his team were delighted by the opportunity to work on the Charity House and contribute to the community in such a meaningful way. Capital Gas Works was supported by its suppliers Reece (Braddon) and Metalflex. Palmers TV Palmers TV have installed the Hills Home Hub for the Franklin Charity House. The Hills Home Hub delivers and distributes data, phone, video, audio and TV signals using the latest in data and TV cables from a centrally located enclosure to specially configured wall outlets in any room of your choice.

Structured cabling using the Hills Home Hub is preferably planned at the same time as your electrical wiring. The central enclosure is home to the devices that enable the delivery and distribution of these signals. It also houses the security system central controller. An ideal location for the central enclosure is a garage or utility room. Future planning to which rooms you would like to access data, phone, video ect should be considered, as the use of a room could change over time from a nursery to a study. Urban Contractors Urban Contractors are highly regarded and recommended by their clients because of their prompt service, attention to detail, and care, both during and after the project. Their experience and skills, coupled with a unique management approach give Urban Contractors a unique identity within the industry. Their award winning work, people focussed customer service approach and their ‘can do’ attitude always leave their customers richer for the Urban Contractors experience. Their commitment to the protection of the environment is also reflected in their finished works and their conservative techniques used during the project.

In the areas of the Civil and Landscape Construction Urban Contractors offers the following services to their clients: Earthworks, Roadworks, Underground Services, Hard landscaping, Soft Landscaping, Structural Landscape Works and Maintenance Services. Mick Burges, who is renowned for his support for community initiatives, was more than happy to help with the landscaping of this project. The

expertise his team will bring to the Franklin Charity House will give the buyers of this home a unique place to relax and enjoy their new purchase. Cre8ive CRE8IVE is a Canberra-based branding agency that first opened its doors over a decade ago, with the aim of offering clients a complete inhouse communications solution, encompassing new media with traditional ideals. As an organisation, they recognise the importance of developing and maintaining strong relationships with the people they work with, and it was through an existing relationship with the Master Builder’s Association (MBA) and the Land Development Agency (LDA), that CRE8IVE was presented with the opportunity to be a part of the Franklin Charity House project. The CRE8IVE team is absolutely thrilled to partner with the MBA on the Franklin Charity House project, working together to develop a communications strategy and designing the necessary collateral to ensure that the project receives the attention it deserves.

“Franklin Charity House is just such wonderful idea and a fantastic way for businesses in Canberra to come together and utilise our skills to assist our local community. I commend the principal partners, the MBA, LDA and Classic Constructions and everyone else who has contributed towards building this house. It is a project that we, as an agency take great pride in being involved with.” – James Willson, Managing Director, CRE8IVE

CRE8IVE has extensive experience of the property sector in Canberra, having worked closely with developers and agents, across a variety of projects for many years. The agency has led brand and visual identity development, applied new brands across a number of executions, such as designing sales brochures, developing the look and feel of sales suites, press advertisements, signage and through to a range of marketing material. CRE8IVE understands the nature of the property sector in Canberra and their expertise in this is evident to the quality of work produced by the agency. The CRE8IVE team of dedicated professionals include designers, web developers and account mangers, who work together to provide services ranging from an initial brand consultancy, which includes name generation and graphic design, through to a total advertising strategy, including creative executions and video production.

To get in touch with CRE8IVE, please contact: James Willson Managing Director james.willson@cre8ive.com.au www.cre8ive.com.au 02 6162 1888 Level 9, 221 London Circuit, Canberra City ACT 2601

Join us for Fresh Seafood, Southern Highlands Angus Beef complimented by our extensive wine list.

➢ 2009, 2010 & 2011 ACT/Sthn NSW Awards for Excellence Best Seafood Restaurant

➢ 2010, 2012 Lifestyle Food Awards Favourite Seafood Restaurant

➢ 2009 Lifestyle Food Awards Best Fish and Chips

6162 0122 Sky Plaza Apartments (Next to Southern Cross Club)

98 Corinna St, Phillip www.pepperedprawn.com.au

Dinner: Mon-Sat 5.30 to late Lunch: Tue-Fri 12-2.30pm Closed Sundays

canberra menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre

Supporting Partners

Media Partners

Benefitting Charities

Principal Partners

(AUST)

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

Thank you to the following companies and organisations for their ongoing support of this important initiative.

A Murray and Sons

Designs by Mahony

Rent a Fence

AC Blue Pty Ltd

Easycare HydroTurf

Rivoland Tiles

ACT Recycling

Easycare Landscapes

Rovera Scaffolding (ACT) Pty Ltd

ACT Waterproofing

Eclipse Carpentry

Regency Screens

Adbri Masonry

Enviropest

Rent a Fence

Amey Bros Artistic Concrete

Ern Smith Euro Bricklaying

Rovera Scaffolding (ACT) Scaffad Australia

Austral Bricks

Evatt Cleaning

Scinergy

Barresi Painters Bluescope Steel

Fast Reo Greenlines Gardenware

Screencraft Simeco Electrical Contractors

Borg / Polytec

Gainsborough

Sky Fencing

Branco Boilers & Engineering

GWA Door & Access Systems

South Coast Stairs

Burning Log Megastore

Herzog Steel

Southern Innovations

Canberra Sand & Gravel

Hewatt Earthworks

Stoddart Canberra

Capital Balustrading

Independent Property Group

Stone Henge

Capital Cranes

James Hardie

Southern Innovations

Caeserstone Classic Tiling

Jason Marble & Granite Leader Security

Stoddart Group Stonehenge

Classic Excavations Capital Gas Works

Lincoln Sentry Luminous Photography

Tankworks Thirlston Floor Coverings

Capital Insulation

Marfel Transport

TransACT

Coates Hire

M & S Kitchens

Trend Windows & Doors Pty Limited

Complete Fixset Plaster

M & S Surveyors

Urban Contractors

Cool Green Horticulture Pty Ltd

Master Builders Fidelity Fund

WR Engineering

Corinthian

Melinda Boag Design

Water Land

Corkhill Brothers

Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers

Watson Blinds & Awnings

CRT Building Products

Monaro Mix Specified Concrete

Wattyl Paint

Cube Furniture

Palmers TV

Dawe Constructions

Regency

If you would like to be a part of this important local project, please contact: David Leitch t 02 6175 5970 e dleitch@mba.org.au w franklincharityhouse.org.au

Master Builders ACT member SURVEYRESULTS

65%

We recently surveyed our members regarding the service and information provided by the Master Builders Association of the ACT. Below are some of the results.

Of members think the service the Master Builders provides is better than our competitors.

90%

of members said that the Master Builders website was ‘very easy’ or ‘moderately easy’ to navigate.

75%

Preferred first instance method members would like the Master Builders to communicate with them.

91%

by email

Of members said that the Master Builders was ‘very helpful’ or ‘extremely helpful’.

by telephone

by SMS

by post / mail

85%

84%

Of members think the information we provide is ‘relevant’ or ‘very relevant’.

Of members think the Master Builders answers members questions ‘extremely well’ or ‘very well’.

86% Of members think the amount of contact with the Master Builders is ‘about right’

87% Of members are very satisifed with the Master Builders ACT Industrial Relations service provided.

SpecialstConstructionProducts 77%

Of members think the Master Builders is more effective than our competitors as a representative of the building industry.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

W E L C O M E T O YO U R B U PA H E A LT H P L A N There are lots of good reasons for having health insurance. That’s why we’d like to introduce you to your Master Builders Association corporate health plan. As a member, you’ll also get access to special benefits including: p to 90% back on most extras services at Members First Providers. ° u That means less out of your pocket for general dental, selected optical, physiotherapy and chiropractic services.^ °

one month’s cover free when you take out both hospital and extras cover.* Call us on 134 135 Email corporatecallback@bupa.com.au Drop by your local Civic, Woden and Belconnen Bupa centres

^Get up to 90% back depends on level of cover. Annual limits and waiting periods apply.*Only for new customers on new hospital and extras cover policies issued by Bupa Australia Pty Ltd ABN 81 000 057 590, paying by direct debit before 31/12/2012. Second month free after initial payment. Not with other offers. 10779-03-12P

LIQ2758 - Bupa MBA Half Page Press 211x145.indd 1

15/03/12 4:08 PM

Specialist Construction Products

Specialist Suppliers to the Construction & Building Industries Since 1973

C.E. INDUSTRIES PTY LTD n n n n

BASF The Chemical Company

n n n n n n n

www.ceind.com.au

Acids Acoustic Products Adhesives Bearings & Slip Joints Cements Concrete Admixtures Concrete Repair Concrete Tools Concrete Oxides Concrete Waterproofing Curing Compounds

n n n n n n n n n n n

Drainage Epoxies Erosion Control Fire-rated Sealants Formwork Accessories Floor Levellers Floor Coatings Floor Toppings Grouts Insulation Joint Fillers

n n n n

n n n n n n

Joint Sealants Lasers Patterned Concrete Polythene Film (Plastic) Polystyrene Roof Coatings Safety Flooring Surface Retarders Tactile Indicators Waterproofing

6280 6010

30 Geelong St, Fyshwick Fax 6280 7220 51

Convention

Responsible Infrastructure Kochi, India I 6th to 9th January 2013

Twenty one years have elapsed since the IFAWPCA Convention was last held in India. On behalf of the Builders’ Association of India, I have great pleasure in welcoming the 40th Convention to Kochi, India. This year’s theme, “Responsible Infrastructure”, is the need of the hour. As participants in the next wave of economic growth, we, the Asian countries, have a greater responsibility to hinge our construction activities on inclusive, sustainable, and socially Responsible Infrastructure. Our mandate should be to adhere to creating “Responsible Infrastructure” which meets these objectives while at the same time delivering the greatest benefit to the maximum number of people. As ever before, the Convention will be a meeting ground for closer cooperation, exchange of ideas, sharing of experiences and construction technology among our member nations. I am sure that you will take this excellent opportunity to network, forge new relationships and further strengthen ties with builders and contractors in the neighbouring region. Looking forward to your active participation to make the 40th Convention a grand success. Wishing you all a wonderful and enjoyable trip to Kochi. Cherian Varkey President, Builders’ Association of India

A fine balance must be struck between development activities and the need to remain socially and ecologically responsible.

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

This year’s

theme

RESPONSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Asian economies will see a new spurt of growth resulting in unprecedented levels of construction, both in infrastructure development and in the area of housing. A fine balance must be struck between development activities and the need to remain socially and ecologically responsible. Development has paved the way for far reaching environmental changes that are already irreversible. Imagine what further development could do to the environment !

responsible infrastructure development. The theme of the 40th convention will be on harnessing emerging technologies to ensure ‘Responsible Infrastructure’ in an inclusive, socially responsible and ecofriendly manner, be it public transport systems, buildings or housing complexes. The 2013 IFAWPCA Convention brings together 1000+ delegates from 16 member countries.

As responsible co-creators of a new world order, we should, together, strive to create a culture of responsibility by focusing on inclusive, green and socially

www.ifawpca.in

Workers who may encounter asbestos in their work must be trained. WorkSafe ACT Guidance Note WSACT GN 0098

Who does this guidance note apply to? This guidance note deals with PCBUs of workers for whom there is a real prospect that they may come into contact with asbestos as part of their work. These workers include: •

construction industry workers, including licensed and unlicensed tradespeople, painters, window installers, cabinet makers, fencers, labourers

•

workers who enter ceiling cavities for any purpose, including pest spray operators, insulation installers, airconditioning installers, maintenance and repair workers, persons making recommendations on or improving solar capacity for a property

•

workers who disturb, remove or repair internal and external walls or fibro sheeting

•

some agricultural industry workers, including some farmers and landscapers

•

workers who are involved in the removal, maintenance or repair of any products or infrastructure that is likely to contain asbestos, for example, brake pads, backyard ponds, swimming pools, sheds, letter boxes, insulation, lagging, cement, sheeting, roofing and flooring (refer to Builders and Tradespeople for more detailed information)

What is the Law? Section 19 (3) (f ) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 provides that a PCBU [a person conducting a business or undertaking, e.g. an employer] must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that they provide any information, training, instruction or supervision that is necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from their work. 54

Who does this guidance note NOT apply to? This guidance note does not deal with PCBUs whose workers: •

assess, or make recommendations on the condition of asbestos

•

remove, handle or use asbestos in any way

•

transport or dispose of asbestos

Other mandated licensing and/or training provisions are required for these workers.

Canberra building newsNEWS edition 3 - 2011 CANBERRA BUILDING EDITION 2 - 2012 1

What is WorkSafe ACTs requirement? In order to meet their safety duties, PCBUs are expected to have evidence to show that relevant workers have received adequate information and training to enable them: •

to understand the dangers of asbestos,

•

be aware of its likely presence and locations,

•

identify asbestos, and

•

most importantly know what to do when its presence is likely or confirmed.

How can the requirement be satisfied? The ACT’s Construction Industry Training Council has worked with local training organisations to develop an asbestos awareness course that fulfils this requirement. The course, with a duration of 4 hours, provides workers with an understanding of the issues associated with encountering asbestos on a worksite.

This training course is currently available through Master Builders Group Training. This course is focused on awareness and is not designed to provide workers with the skills required to ‘work with’ asbestos.

Multi-purpose training & Meeting facilities, tailored for you… and near you!

While not mandatory, WorkSafe ACT recognises this training course as satisfying the mandatory requirements set out in section 19 (3) (f ) for those workers outlined in this guidance note.

Further information For more information on asbestos and training requirements please visit www.asbestos.act.gov.au WorkSafe ACT can also be contact on 6207 3000 To register for an Asbestos Awareness course please contact MBA Group Training on 6280 9119

When you need room for a business meeting or a training program, there is always a professional solution in the Master Builders ACT training facility located next to the DFO in Fyshwick. We offer rooms of various sizes, from comfortable one-on-one interview rooms, training and meeting rooms accommodating up to 60 people, or for that very special meeting the Master Builders ACT Boardroom is also available for hire. Your guests will not have to find or pay for parking as our site has 120 free car parking spaces. With flexible room lay-outs and seating arrangements, choose classroom, theatre or boardroom style.

Note:

This guidance material has been prepared using the best information available to WorkSafe ACT. Any information about legislative obligations or responsibilities included in this material is only applicable to the circumstances described in the material. You should always check the legislation referred to in this material and make your own judgement about what action you may need to take to ensure you have complied with the law. Accordingly, WorkSafe ACT extends no warranties as to the suitability of the information for your specific situation.

The dedicated Master Builders staff are trained to ensure your event is a success.

For further information contact, Master Builders Group Training - (02) 6280 9119

BUILD IN ACCORDANCE

WITH YOUR PLANS OR SUFFER THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES. SEVERE IMPLICATIONS FOR BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS NOT BUILDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED PLANS WRITES JERRY HOWARD A recent ACAT decision reaffirmed a long-held belief that building works must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans. To provide some background as to how this decision was arrived at, the following is a summary of the circumstances of this particular scenario of events: On 26th March 2007, the title of the subject land was transferred to a developer. The subject land had a Development Approval to construct multiunits. The Development Approval was originally granted in July 2006. The development was approved by ACTPLA on the condition that the redevelopment be carried out in accordance with plans already considered by the AAT. In 2007, the developer contracted with a building company to carry out the construction works, namely, a unit development. Both the development company and the building company were controlled by one individual entity. In September 2007, a building certifier was appointed and a Building Approval and Building Commencement Notice were issued to the builder.

In April 2009, the building certifier issued the builder with a Certificate of Completion for the building works and also in April 2009, the Construction Occupations Registrar issued a Certificate of Occupancy for use based on the Certificate of Completion provided by the building certifier. The unit holders, having occupied the unit development for some time, identified a number of defects and reported these through the Body Corporate. These defects were attended to by the builder. However, two major items were still in dispute and these items related to the faรงade of the building not being constructed in accordance with the approved plans and translucent glass balustrade inserts not in place as per the approved plans. The builder/ developer had decided, during the construction phase, that the aluminium faรงade cladding would be replaced with a fibre-cement board or rendered, painted finish.

The nature of the non-compliance is said to be that the faรงade was not built in accordance with the approved plans and therefore this leads to non-conformance with the ACT Building Act. As a consequence of increasing maintenance costs, creates the likelihood of deterioration and having a reduced value effect on the apartments. The Tribunal concluded that, notwithstanding that the external finishes are not structural defects, but more in the nature of cosmetic defects. Nonetheless, they meet the test of being described as substantial for the reasons set out by the respondents in the orders made by them. They are, in the opinion of the Tribunal, so substantial so as to justify the orders being made to require the builder/ developer to rectify the noncomplying elements, which included the cladding and the balustrade. The builder/ developer will have to bear these additional costs, which are likely to be in the region of $500,000. The above decision of course can be appealed, however, what are the lessons that can be learned from this? Firstly, as builders and developers, you must endeavour to build in accordance with the approved plans, especially if units are sold off the plan to potential purchasers, where clearly a quality of finish is described in documents or on approved plans. Secondly, if you are considering changing finishes, then you must seek to amend the original approved plans prior to advertising or promoting and prior to commencing any works. There are always likely to be minor changes, however, if the changes are deemed to be significant, as is the case above, then you seriously run the risk of being challenged by future owners, especially when it is perceived that a lower quality finish has been delivered.

peace of mind

for building industry

professionals Austbrokers Canberra offer exceptional products and services in all areas of insurance, particularly specialising in: Construction and building industry insurance Trade package insurance Public and Products Liability Professional Indemnity Workers Compensation Business Package Insurance

CANBERRA BUILDING NEWS EDITION 2 - 2012

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Income Protection Life Insurance and superannuation: these products are provided by the related entity Austbrokers Financial Solutions (SYD) Pty Ltd a Corporate Authorised Representative of Millennium3 Financial Services Pty Ltd ABN 61 094 529 987 AFS Licence 244252

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Direct +61 2 6280 5477 | Fax +61 2 6280 7561 Cnr Lyell & Newcastle Streets Fyshwick ACT 2609 PO Box 727, FYSHWICK ACT 2609 Email christine.miliano@abcbr.com.au | paul.lawton@abcbr.com.au | www.abcbr.com.au Austbrokers Canberra Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Austbrokers Sydney Pty Ltd AFS Licence 244244

The Master Builders Fidelity Fund was established in 2002 to protect the interests of both consumers and builders in the ACT. For Builders, the Master Builders Fidelity Fund provides financial certainty as money held by the Fund remains in the ACT. It is securely invested and used for the betterment of the ACT builders and consumers and is therefore not subjected to the vagaries of international markets and events. The Fidelity Fund issues Fidelity Certificates which provide consumer protection for owners of new homes and those making significant changes to homes. The Certificates protect the owner during construction and for up to six years from the date of practical completion. Master Builders members receive reduced premium rates and we also offer special discounts for volume users of the Fidelity Fund. For more information contact the Master Builders Fidelity Fund.

Master Builders Fidelity Fund 1 Iron Knob St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 | PO Box 1211, Fyshwick ACT 2609 Tel: (02) 6175 5995 Fax: (02) 6257 8349 Email: mbff@mba.org.au Web: www.mba.org.au

Tuesday 13 March Sponsored by Colliers International

Ross Barrett OAM President, Master Builders Association of the ACT Katy Gallagher MLA ACT Chief Minister

Tuesday 27 March Sponsored by Hewatt Earthworks and Fulton Hogan

Ross Barrett OAM Harry Spray Tony Gill Geoff Hewatt

President, Master Builders Association of the ACT Fulton Hogan Director, Roads ACT Hewatt Earthworks

Tuesday 17 April Sponsored by Independent Property Group

Ross Barrett OAM David Dawes John Runko

President, Master Builders Association of the ACT Director-General, Economic Development Directorate Independent Property Group

Tuesday 29 May Sponsored by St George Bank and Colliers International

Ross Barrett OAM

President, Master Builders Association of the ACT

Simon Corbell MLA Minister for Planning Adam Connelly

St George Bank

Paul Powderly

State Chief Executive, Colliers International

Tueday 19 June Sponsored by Austbrokers Canberra

Tuesday 26 June Sponsored by Colliers International

Canberra

Ross Barrett OAM President, Master Builders Association of the ACT Michael Costello AO Chief Executive Officer, ActewAGL Christine Miliano Austbrokers Canberra Thursday 28 June Sponsored by Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Harris

Ross Barrett OAM Andrew Barr MLA John Harris

President, Master Builders Association of the ACT ACT Treasurer Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Harris Tuesday 10 July Sponsored by Waldren Constructions

Stan Waldren John MacKay AM, BA FAIM Ross Barrett OAM 58

Waldren Constructions Chair, National Arboretum / Chancellor of the University of Canberra / Chairman of ACTEW President, Master Builders Association of the ACT

Ross Barrett OAM Zed Seselja MLA Paul Powderly

President, Master Builders Association of the ACT Canberra Liberals Leader State Chief Executive, Colliers International Monday 26 July Sponsored by Meyer Vandenberg

Archie Tsirimokos Partner, Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers Dr Chris Bourke MLA Minister for Education and Training Ross Barrett OAM President, Master Builders Association of the ACT Thursday 9 August Sponsored by CIC Australia

Ross Barrett OAM President, Master Builders Association of the ACT The Hon Dr Mike Kelly Federal Member for Eden-Monaro AM, MP Col Alexander OAM CIC Australia

MEMBERS DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T PAY FULL PRICE

As a member of Master Builders Association of the ACT you are entitled to a range of trade discounts associated with some of our Corporate Partners. These discounts can save your business a fortune, adding even more value to your membership.

Canberra

Commercial Vehicles

Your Membership Card is now available.

Your voucher booklet is also ready! Take advantage of the discounts on offer when you use both your membership card and voucher booklet at selected locations. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great food, a weekend away or a round of golf there is something for everyone. There are also some incredible savings to be made from our selected corporate partners. For more information go to the Master Builders ACT website.

www.mba.org.au/memberbenefits

Call (02) 6280 9119

R e s ta u rant s I Acco mo dat io n I G o l f I Fl eet Dis co u nts I I ns u rance I C l o thin g