NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler and Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson on Monday.Credit:Nick Moir
"We're out to shake the game for those people who aren't operating good businesses and who aren't delivering good projects,"Mr Chandler said."Whether you are a builder cutting corners,or a certifier passing work that isn't good enough,expect action from our team of new inspectors."
From Tuesday Mr Chandler will have the power to inspect building sites,prevent the issuing of occupation certificates,call for documents,and order rectification of serious defects and recovery of associated costs.
The commissioner's team will begin the first audits of occupation certificates for building projects over the next month,and he aims to complete 250 of them over the next two years.
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Mr Chandler said he would be confident to exercise his powers to stop an occupation certificate when needed and expose bad building projects."The game is changing. If I was a customer thinking about buying an apartment in NSW right now,I'd be confident to do so,"he said.
With a deep recession biting the economy,the government hopes that the tougher regulations and oversight will help reverse slowing construction activity.
Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson said the new laws would stop the sale of buildings with serious defects and ensure builders and developers had a duty of care for apartment owners.