WA Gvt responds to sharp building approvals drop
The WA State Government is responding quickly to bad news in the building industry, with new legislation changes to be put into place from this weekend onwards, announced commerce minister Simon O’Brien.
After the Building Act was introduced in April this year, building approvals and applications fell by almost half, a fact of which the Government is aware, said Mr O’Brien.
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The 46.7 per cent drop over April, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, has ensured that a series of measures will now be brought in to assist the industry towards an upturn of building approvals, and to immediately relieve some of the pressure being felt in the construction industry.
The Ministerial Order will allow builders to start work pending approvals for applications lodged after January 1 2012 and prior to June 30 2012.
Commerce Minister Simon O’Brien today announced a series of measures to assist the building industry and local governments to work with recent legislation changes.
“This temporary measure will assist builders in avoiding protracted delays before starting construction, but will not remove the industry’s obligation to meet all necessary standards,” Mr O’Brien said.
The approvals process is also set to become easier and more consistent, with redesigned standards forms aimed at reducing confusion and interpretation difficulties.
