NSW Fair Trading issued a stop work order to the developer of a Forster apartment building complex last Friday, following their visit to more than 70 building sites on the mid-north coast in October.
Construction at 29-33 Wallis Street, Forster was ordered to cease as of 5pm, Friday 3 November 2023. The developer is 'The Trustee for Wallis Street Unit Trust'.
The order was issued because the development has been built beyond the current construction certificate and because no builder on site is licensed to undertake building work in relation to the development. The stop work order can be found here: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1209417/stop-work-order-29-33-wallis-street-forster.pdf
Inspectors visited sites in Forster, Red Head, Old Bar, Harrington, Taree and Wingham, during a four-day compliance operation last month. They checked tradespeople were appropriately licensed, that builder and certifier signage was visible, contractors had the appropriate Home Building Compensation Fund insurance, and that work was being done to the appropriate standards.
Inspectors found a reasonable level of compliance however found there are still traders out there that do not hold the appropriate licences for the work being undertaken. In addition to the $11,000 worth of fines issued, seven matters are under investigation, including this stop work order.
Increased proactive compliance of specialist building practitioners is one of NSW Fair Trading's regulatory priorities for 2023, with a focus on certifiers, electricians, engineers, and plumbers.
Quotes to be attributed to NSW Fair Trading Assistant Building Commissioner Matthew Whitton
"There has been significant knockdown and rebuild activity on the north coast and in regional NSW.
"Developers and builders need to ensure they have the appropriate approvals and construction certificates to undertake the work. If they don't, and just continue to build, the work will be stopped.
"These inspections are part of the Construct NSW transformation strategy to restore confidence in our residential building market. Just like this stop work order, if we find issues with the quality of the work or builders not having the appropriate licences or insurances, we will act.
"We've visited sites in Sydney, Albury, the Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong and now the mid-north coast this year and are taking a proactive approach to ensure building projects are appropriately licensed and complying with the right standards."
