More than 100 construction sites across New South Wales’ Mid North and North Coast regions have been inspected as part of a major compliance campaign aimed at lifting building standards and improving consumer confidence in the residential construction industry.
Building Commission NSW’s ‘Operation Broadwater’ targeted sites between Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads, focusing on licensing compliance, site signage requirements, and specialist plumbing and electrical work.
Inspectors visited sites in locations including Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Lennox Head, Mullumbimby, Woolgoolga and Yamba, issuing 35 fines and 40 Written Direction Notices (WDNs) for a range of compliance breaches.
The majority of penalties related to unlicensed work and contracting, with 23 fines issued for licensing offences. Additional fines were issued for incorrect site signage, non-compliant plumbing work associated with heat pump installations and electrical compliance breaches.
Inspectors also identified issues relating to battery storage systems, including missing Safety Data Sheets, inadequate switch labelling and insufficient system signage.
Building Commission NSW said most builders welcomed inspectors on site and demonstrated strong compliance standards.
Alongside site inspections, the regulator delivered industry seminars in Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads covering licensing requirements, supervision obligations, Home Building Compensation Fund responsibilities and recent regulatory changes.
The campaign forms part of the New South Wales Government’s ongoing efforts to improve construction quality and strengthen compliance across the residential building sector.
New South Wales Building Commissioner, James Sherrard, said unlicensed work and electrical compliance continued to be recurring issues across the state.
“While most tradespeople were doing the right thing, unlicensed work and electrical compliance remain an issue that Building Commission NSW continues to see throughout the state,” Sherrard said.
“I want to re-iterate to the industry, especially on the Mid North and North Coast, that we take a strong regulatory approach to these issues because they can pose serious risks to homeowners.”
Building Commission NSW plans to undertake further inspections and industry engagement activities across regional New South Wales later this year, including visits to Queanbeyan, Dubbo, Bathurst, Port Macquarie, Forster and Albury.
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