Stop Work Notice issued for failure to get safety approvals

A Canberra construction site has received a Stop Work Notice after Access Canberra found the builders had failed to get approval for the works. The development relates to the construction of eight dwellings on a consolidated block of land in the Woden area, according to Access Canberra. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Construction Occupations Registrar Ben Green said the approval process is designed to ensure all proposed construction work meets building standards, including those relating to a property’s fire safety, structural soundness and accessibility.

Green said he was frustrated that parts of the industry are still not getting the message when it comes to ensuring works were undertaken with the correct approvals. “A building approval is not a ‘nice to have’ or negotiable — it is the law,” he said. “Works must not start unless the approval is in place; however, this incident today unfortunately again demonstrates that some builders are not getting the fundamentals right.

“We will continue to investigate this matter, but this acts as a further reminder that we will take action where it is identified that building work has occurred without the required approvals in place.” Green said the Stop Work Notice would remain in place until Access Canberra was satisfied all approvals were in place.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/meryll