Peter Rontogiannis is facing cumulative fines totalling $300,000, a statutory maximum disqualification from the industry for 3 years and the cancellation of his building surveyor registration.
A VBA show cause notice issued to Rontogiannis alleges 224 breaches of the Building Act including persistent failures to comply with past disciplinary action, falsifying documents
and a pattern of widespread incompetence as a building surveyor across 73 sites.
This includes the issuing of a large number of swimming pool permits without the appropriate precautions and prescribed inspection notification stages while the pools were under construction.
At one of the pool sites in St Helena, Rontogiannis is alleged to have issued a certificate of final inspection when the pool's safety barrier was non-compliant.
Building surveyors play a vital role in the regulatory system, they are accountable for ensuring the work of building practitioners meets all regulations, codes and standards.
They issue building permits, monitor practitioners work through mandatory inspections and are expected to take appropriate action to ensure safe and compliant buildings.
Rontogiannis has a long history of offences including three multi-site show cause disciplinary processes between 2018 and 2022. The most recent action is the subject of a stayed cancellation by the VBA, pending review by VCAT.
Rontogiannis can appeal the immediate suspension to VCAT within 28 days and can make submissions to the VBA within the same period, before a final disciplinary outcome is determined.
Quotes attributable to VBA Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Anna Cronin
"This is another example of the VBA using its full suite of disciplinary powers to hold rogue practitioners to account and to protect consumers."
"Those who deliberately and blatantly flout building laws and put consumers at risk will pay the price."
Quote attributable to State Building Surveyor Steven Baxas
"Surveyors play a vital role in the building regulation system and must be held accountable when they fail to meet their obligations"
