Private Certifier signage (lack of) - one of my bug bears!
One of my frustrations (ok it’s a small thing but it’s important) is that so often on walks around the ‘hood I notice that the certifier details signage is missing from developments.
Part of the requirements of obtaining a construction certificate for a development is that the Certifiers details MUST be displayed at the development site BEFORE construction work on the site can start.
This allows the public to know the first point o contact should they observe any issues with the site or have any concerns.
For example, the certifier must ensure that building work, demolition, delivery of building materials or vegetation removal is only carried out between the approved hours for site work. They must ensure adequate sediment control is in place and that the development is compliant with all building regulations.
Of course, if it’s an emergency such as a pollution issue, the first person to call is Council.
It’s rare these days to have Council act as the certifier on a building development. More often than not, the certifier is engaged by the builder/architect/developer.
This in itself can be problematic and Lane Cove Council and LGNSW (Local Government NSW) have been lobbying for reform around the role of private certifiers for a number of years.
Importantly in 2018 there was a new Bill reviewing private certifiers.
LGNSW made a submission on the Improving Certifier Independence: Options Paper to address widely-held concerns about real and perceived conflicts of interest associated with the lack of independence of private certifiers but unfortunately the key element which local government and Lane Cove had been seeking, greater separation between the builder and the certifier, did not proceed .
In an ideal world the ‘self-selection’ of the Private Certifier would be removed.
One option could be to change the method of selection, whereby respective councils have a pool of Certifiers that residents can utilise, with council retaining overarching control of the process.
Until this happens, we can all keep an eye out for those missing signs, report them to council immediately and contact the Certifier should you have any concerns about a development happening near you.
