FAQ
Operations
Funding
Complaints and Dispute Resolution
Operations
Where is the Building Commission going to be located?
The Building Commission main office will be located in the new City West building at 31 Troode St, WEST PERTH WA 6005.
Will there be regional locations?
The Building Commission will work with other divisions of the Department of Commerce to provide services in regional areas at a later stage. Regional locations are yet to be considered.
When will the new building be open to the public?
The Building Commission will operate its business from the new premises in CityWest when the fit out of the new Troode St premises is completed in August 2009. The participating entities (BRB, PRB, PLB and BID) will then physically relocate from their existing locations to the new Troode St premises. When dates start firming the exact details of this relocation will be communicated by each of the offices.
Will customers have easy access to parking when visiting the Building Commission?
The CityWest precinct has extensive visitor parking, generally with a two-hour maximum. Special permits can be obtained from the Centre Manager for longer stay visitor parking at the City West Precinct if required. There is also excellent public transport access.
How many staff will the Commission employ?
Stage 1 will bring together the Builders' and Painters' Registration Boards, the Plumbers Licensing Board and Building Industry Development. Initially there will be 120 to 130 staff, made up of the existing staff of these agencies. This number could change if other agencies join the Building Commission at a later date, or as a result of the national licensing system.
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Funding
How will the administering of the levies for BRB and PLB change with the Building Commission?
The administration of the PLB levy will remain unchanged. The BCWA Levy is yet to be set, but it will replace the current BRB levy.
How will the Building Commission fund its operations?
The Building Commission will primarily be funded from a levy on building work requiring a building permit, plumbing approval fees and from registration or licence fees. Levies on building work and plumbing work are already in place, and registered or licensed practitioners already pay fees. These fees and levies will be reviewed to ensure a stable funding base for the Building Commission and to remove duplication or multiple payment points.
Did the Government provide some funding for the Commission?
Yes, the State Government allocated $2.186 million dollars in the 2008/2009 budget for the Building Commission. Further funding will be provided in 2009/2010 to support the Building Commission until full levy funding is available.
Is it expected that local government will be used to collect this levy upon licence applications?
Yes, in a similar way to the current collection of the BRB and BCITF levies.
What is the expected fee structure?
The fee structure for registration and licensing will not change initially. Fees will be reviewed to reflect efficiencies through consolidation and the move to national licensing.
Will the local government fee structure reflect the true percentage between the role local government plays in protecting life, property etc. and the proposed Building Commission, which will deal primarily with contractual issues between the client and contractor?
Separate legislation (a new Building Act) will reform the building approval process. A separate fee payable to local governments for the issue of a building permit will cover the cost of local governments in enforcing compliance.
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Complaints and Dispute Resolution
How will the Building Commission impact on the current operations of the Building Disputes Tribunal?
The Building Commission will provide an enhanced dispute resolution service with a strong emphasis on conciliation to avoid legal processes. Where issues remain intractable the State Administrative Tribunal will provide tribunal services in place of the current Building Disputes Tribunal.
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