2019-07-09 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                        9 JULY 2019


      b.    Local Governments may opt in or opt out for declaring a stated type of work to be
            Fast-track work. This report recommends that Council opt in for a Class 1a (domestic
            house) & Class 10a (shed) in sewer reticulated area which were previously a 2 Day
            ‘Plumbing Compliance Assessment Notification’ letter, to be a Fast-track 2 Day
            application for ‘Compliance Permit’. This would allow Council to condition all Fast-
            track applications.
      c.    As per the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 Section 83(1)(a), the responsible
            person for plumbing work will now be able to request in writing for Local Government
            to provide an inspection certificate if the plumbing work subject to a permit is
            inspected by the Local Government and deemed to be satisfactory. Council proposes
            to introduce a fee of $69.00 per inspection certificate requested.
            Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 Section 83(1)(a) states:
            The local government must give an inspection certificate for the work to the responsible
            person for the work if –
            (a) the person makes a written request to the local government for an inspection
               certificate for the work.
Previous Council Consideration
The resolution relating to the previous legislation was adopted by Noosa Council in September
2003 and noted that the Plumbing Services Branch acted in accordance with the relevant acts,
being:
    Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002
    Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003
Finance
Pursuant to Section 97 and 98 of the Local Government Act 2009, new cost recovery fees are to
be adopted through resolution, reflected in Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges and also set
at a level equal to or less than cost of providing a particular service.
Building and Plumbing branch propose the introduction of a fee of $69.00 (excluding GST) for
inclusion in the 2019/2020 Schedule of Fees and Charges. This fee will recover the cost, including
both direct and administration cost elements, associated with the production of an inspection
certificate under the new legislation at the request of the responsible person.
Risks & Opportunities
The reduced timeframes and inspection certificate requests of the new legislation create some
additional pressure on Plumbing Approval Officers and Administration officers however staff have
revised processes to seek to mitigate this. The reduced timeframes will benefit applicants providing
for a more streamlined approval process and also allowing greater flexibility for the applicant/owner
to amend an existing permit rather than having to reapply for a new permit.
The new legislation enforces stronger consequences for breaches of the laws and allows the local
government to enforce issues such as unlicensed work, non-compliance and un-authorised use of
plumbing items.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
The Queensland Government Department of Housing and Public Works have been conducting
information roadshows to inform external stakeholders throughout Queensland of the changes that
the new legislation.
Workshops on the proposed new legislation and associated changes have occurred with other
Local Governments have over the past 12 months.
Internal Consultation

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