The NSW Government has released a new discussion paper: Building Stronger Foundations. This is the first step in implementing our response to Professor Peter Shergold AC and Ms. Bronwyn Weir’s 'Building Confidence' report. 

Your input is essential to developing these reforms and delivering a stronger building and construction sector in NSW. We are seeking your feedback on the scope of the reforms outlined in the response and how they can be integrated into building regulation and the NSW planning and approvals system. 

Key reforms include: 
1. Requiring building practitioners who are registered as ‘building designers’ to declare plans and performance solutions that are compliant with the Building Code of Australia, and that builders declare that they are built according to these declared plans.

2. Introducing a new registration scheme for ‘building designers’.

3. Ensuring an industry-wide duty of care is owed to subsequent home owners.

4. Appointing a Building Commissioner to act as the consolidated regulator for building in NSW. 
 
The comments received during this round of consultation will be used to shape the design and scope of the reforms. Stakeholder feedback will also be used to work through the technical and practical issues raised by these reforms. More information is available on our website.  

Have your say by Wednesday 24 July 2019.  

If you are an occupant or lot owner and you feel a tingle or shock when touching anything electrical in your home, report it to your strata managing agent, strata committee or landlord straight away – it could indicate a potentially fatal voltage problem.  

Strata managers, property agents, landlords and the strata committee have an obligation to act on these reports immediately.

Incident alert
A tenant recently reported intermittent electric shocks to their property manager, to which they did not receive a response. The tenant then engaged a contactor who alerted the electrical network operator, and a voltage of 232 volts on rainwater down pipes plus front and rear awning supports was discovered. In this instance, it was a network issue and was fixed by the operator. Had the problem not been resolved, a fatal incident could have occurred. 

Advice to occupants
No matter how minor the tingle, report it immediately and insist that it be investigated.

If you don’t receive a prompt response, contact the electrical network operator directly. All operators will investigate reported public shocks at no cost:

Ausgrid: 13 13 88 
Essential Energy: 132 080 
Endeavour Energy: 131 003 

If your operator does not respond in a timely manner, contact Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) for a free dispute resolution service.  

Advice to property managers, strata managing agents, strata committees and landlords
To avoid a potential fatality, every reported electric shock or tingle must be promptly investigated. Never ignore it. 

If you live or work in strata, it would be beneficial for you to know about the Australian Energy Regulator’s recent revision to its guidelines, which now require your energy supplier to become a member of Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON). 

What is EWON?
EWON is the government approved dispute resolution scheme for New South Wales electricity and gas customers, and some water customers. 

What is the benefit of your energy supplier being a member of EWON?
EWON will help your supplier reduce and manage complaints more effectively. 

Members receive a complaint handling policy template and training opportunities to help them improve their internal dispute resolution processes. 

For more information, read these fact sheets: 

• It’s time to become a member 
• What does being a member of EWON mean? 

If you would like to find out more about how EWON can help you resolve disputes with your energy supplier, visit our website.  

If you live, own or work in a strata building and you’d like to increase your understanding of the different laws that apply to you, consider attending a Strata Skills 101 workshop held by the City of Sydney. 

What to expect
The workshops are presented by industry professionals who will share their expertise, guide you through group activities, help you find practical solutions to various tricky strata issues, and answer any questions you have.  

Further information
For further details and registration, go to the City of Sydney website. If you’ve missed out this time, you can sign up for email alerts so you will be notified when new sessions are added to the calendar.  

If you have any questions, please contact Martin Warren, policy and program development officer: mwarren@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Winter is here, and that means products designed to keep you warm (like heaters, electric blankets, hot water bottles and heat packs) are coming out of storage or being purchased. Remember that these products don’t just pose a safety risk if used or stored incorrectly; they can also become unsafe when used together, or with other products.  

Each year, more than 50 people across Australia die from house fires and many more are injured.  

To help prevent a tragedy, we recommend you take a few minutes to read the ACCC’s winter safety tips: www.productsafety.gov.au/wellwinter