Building Commission NSW to visit Riverina region and connect with local tradies
Tradespeople in the Riverina region will have the chance to connect and learn from building industry experts when Building Commission NSW visits the area for a free seminar next week.
This seminar on August 25 will give local tradespeople a chance to familiarise themselves with new regulations, discuss industry trends and ask questions to specialists in their field.
The session also allows Building Commission NSW to speak directly with tradespeople, gaining insight into regional challenges and strengthening support for the local building and construction industry.
The seminar will be held at the Mercure Hotel (1 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga in the Premier Room).
The seminar will focus on all aspects of the construction industry, including building, plumbing and electrical, and will be held at the Mercure Hotel (1 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga in the Premier Room).
Topics discussed will include:
- licensing requirements
- supervision of apprentices
- amendments to legislation
- building and product related issues
- updates on recent disciplinary decisions.
Building Commission NSW is delivering a renewed focus on practical trade seminars for regional tradespeople, with events already hosted in Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Queanbeyan, Dubbo and Port Macquarie, with the team set to visit Bathurst next month.
For more information or to RSVP to these events, please visit the regional trade seminars page.
While in the region, Building Commission inspectors will also conduct compliance inspections at worksites, ensuring building standards are upheld and addressing any defective work.
These inspections follow those conducted in October last year, where inspectors visited 90 sites.
During the compliance campaign, 25 fines were issued, primarily for non-compliant electrical installations and non-compliant site signage, while fines were also issued for unlicensed work.
Inspectors noted several instances where solar batteries were not installed correctly, primarily relating to non-upgraded Residual Current Devices (RCD).
When installing a new solar battery system, it is a requirement to upgrade the switchboard’s RCD, commonly known as a safety switch, to ensure compatibility with the new technology.
Since Building Commission was established as the dedicated regulator in 2023, it has prioritised raising standards, undertaking strong enforcement action and rebuilding confidence in the sector.
More information on last year's Riverina inspection blitz can be found on the Building Commission website.
Quotes attributable to NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard:
"Tradespeople in the regions are the backbone of their local areas and it’s vital they have direct access to the latest information and expert guidance.”
“These seminars are a great chance for tradespeople in the Riverina region to hear firsthand from some of the most knowledgeable minds in the business, ask questions and stay up to date with what’s happening in the industry.”
“We’re encouraging all tradespeople in the region to come along, get informed, and be part of
raising the bar across the industry.”