The Northern Territory Government is prioritising reforms to building laws to ensure confidence in the local construction industry.
Earlier this year, a consultation paper was released seeking feedback on developing a model to introduce commercial builder registrations in the Northern Territory.
28 submissions were received and considered by the Ministers for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics and Racing, Gaming and Licensing.
This feedback has informed a model now endorsed by both ministers.
Under the model, builders wanting to construct commercial buildings such as warehouses and offices in the Northern Territory will be required to be registered as commercial builders. Renovations or alterations to existing buildings will be excluded if there is no increase in floor area or height, no change to structural elements or no change in building use that impacts compliance or building classification.
Builders constructing residential buildings in the Northern Territory are already required to be registered.
Builders with experience undertaking work on Class 1b and Class 3-9 buildings will be able to be registered through ‘grandfathering’ based on their experience and will not be required to meet qualification standards. There will be a 12 month transition period following changes to building legislation during which time eligible builders will be able to ‘grandfather’ onto the registration scheme.
