Kane Thompson

🚰 Supporting Local Councils: $60 Million Pipeline Brings Long-Term Water Security to Townsville 🌊 Townsville’s newly opened $60 million pipeline is a prime example of how local councils are delivering critical infrastructure for the future. Spanning almost 10 kilometres from Ross River Dam to the Douglas Water Treatment Plant, this project ensures 85% of Townsville’s water supply is secured for decades to come. Jointly funded by the State Government, it highlights the role of councils in providing essential services and infrastructure that communities rely on. At Public Sector People, we’re proud to support Queensland councils in delivering vital projects. From recruiting skilled professionals to providing tailored workforce solutions, we help local councils meet the needs of their communities. The success of this project shows what can be achieved when local government and key stakeholders work together for long-term regional benefits. #LocalCouncils #Queensland #WaterSecurity #Infrastructure #PublicSector #CommunityDevelopment #Sustainability #Townsville

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Master Builders Australia welcomes the lodgement of the Fair Work Commission’s application seeking to place the CFMEU into independent administration. While we are disappointed by the exclusion of the ACT and WA, we commend the strong and positive stance of both Minister Murray Watt and the Federal Government in getting behind the application, and will seek their support for future inclusion of these key jurisdictions. While this is an important first step towards tackling criminality and the poor culture within the sector, far more needs to be done in order to build on the moves to date and ensure that they drive lasting and meaningful change once and for all. This starts with making sure strong and comprehensive protections are in place for people wishing to come forward with evidence, information, or materials to support the various investigations and inquiries underway. These protections must be complemented through stronger powers for regulators to receive information, obtain materials and conduct investigations in a manner that protects everyone from reprisals, payback or future adverse consequences. We are also calling for the Federal Government to establish one central overarching body to coordinate the various inquiries currently underway. Beyond these immediate actions, Government needs to look beyond the usual industrial relations landscape and be open to a more holistic and comprehensive ‘whole of government’ approach. History shows that the only way to comprehensively crack down on criminality and corruption is to tackle a poor culture underpinned by disregard for the rule of law. This poor culture is ingrained in some parts of the industry and it is this culture that allows criminals and organised crime to flourish. It also stifles productivity and increases the cost of construction at the expense of the community, taxpayers, jobs and small business. Fixing this once and for all can only be achieved through a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving permanent changes to create a range of industry specific laws, enforced by one dedicated industry specific regulator with the tools and powers it needs. It’s clear existing regulators and law enforcement units cannot operate in silos and require collective resources and the removal of legislative barriers. To be effective, a dedicated industry regulator must also be home to a permanent cross-jurisdictional police unit dedicated to targeting criminal activity and organised crime linked to the industry. We all, whether as employers, workers or union members, deserve to work in an industry that is lawful, safe and free from corruption, coercion, bullying and intimidation. Everyone in building and construction recognises the important role that unions play in workplaces but it’s clear some within the CFMEU have lost their way.

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Important protections have been secured to help homeowners affected by Typlex 1050 plumbing pipe failures.   🔷 INDUSTRY RESPONSE Participating builders can now access funds through the Industry Response to remedy Typlex 1050 pipes in homes they completed or renovated. The State Government is contributing a capped amount of $30m towards the Industry Response, with the remaining funding provided by the pipe manufacturer (Iplex) and participating builders. The Industry Response provides a practical and proportionate remediation program based on the number of Typlex 1050 plumbing failures at a home: repairs and a ceiling re-pipe for one leak; zone re-pipe for two leaks; and full or partial replacement of all pipes for three or more leaks.   🔷 BUILDING COMPLAINTS Homeowners whose builder is not participating in the Industry Response can pursue a similar remedy by lodging a building service complaint with Building and Energy. The time limit for making a complaint about Typlex 1050 pipes has been extended from six years to 15 years. A Building Commissioner policy is also in place to ensure building remedy orders resulting from Typlex 1050 building complaints will generally align with the Industry Response remediation program. ◼ Commerce Minister’s statement: https://lnkd.in/gjWnR8gD ◼ Iplex's Industry Response website (including registration for free leak detection devices, available to all Typlex 1050 homeowners): https://lnkd.in/g-xAstWQ

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Topdeck Scaffolding Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $150,000 after scaffolding collapsed at a residential apartment block and struck the neighbouring building.​ Topdeck were engaged to provide and erect scaffolding at the site to enable workers to undertake window and eave replacement works. Topdeck had removed scaffolding from the southern face of the building but failed to place extra ties on the eastern elevation scaffolding. Gusts of wind between approximately 52km/h and 59km/h were then recorded in the area, causing the scaffolding to collapse. The tenants of the neighbouring apartment were home at the time of the collapse, but no one was injured.​ Topdeck failed to use an adequate number of ties on the scaffold and erect the scaffold per the guidance material. A risk assessment was not completed and Topdeck did not take into account relevant factors such as wind and load on the scaffold.​ Visit our website for a comprehensive collection of safety resources, guides and information designed to keep you and your workers safe: https://lnkd.in/g36rMeh #SafeWorkNSW #Prosecution

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When you chose Ventia, we to chose to support local businesses and local people In our 2023 Sustainability Report  Ventia reported $4.32B social value delivered for local communities through our choices to keep supporting local people and local businesses. 74% of our spend goes to local businesses including $147.5m with Indigenous owned business and Social Enterprises. In 2023 we spent more than $900m with local businesses in NSW alone 87% of our employees are local people. In NSW that meant we employed over 4500 local people and 41% of which are women. At Ventia, we're not just about redefining service excellence; we're about making a lasting positive impact on communities. And with a culture rooted in #Fairness, #Inclusion, and #Respect, we ensure that everyone has the same opportunities to succeed. #Localsupplychain #Localemployment #SocialSustainability #CommunityImpact #NSW #RedefiningServiceExcellence #NationalTOMS #FairGo #SocialValue

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ARE YOU CONSIDERING REMEDIAL BUILDING REPAIRS TO YOUR STRATA UNIT COMPLEX THEN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ID LIKE TO SHARE Design and Building Practitioners Act - Emergency Remedial Work Remedial work involving rectification, corrective actions or upgrading for deteriorating building elements in an aging building, or defect rectification in new buildings is now covered under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (DBP Act) and Design and the Building Practitioners Regulations 2021 (DBP Regulations). This means that Owners Corporations can only engage registered building practitioners listed on the public register to carry out rectification work. Before work can commence, regulated designs and declarations prepared by a registered design practitioner must be lodged with NSW Fair Trading. Regulated designs take time and money to prepare and register so this raises the question - what happens in the case of emergency remedial work? While an Owners Corporation await approved designs, units and occupiers may be seriously affected. This exposes the Owners Corporation to damages claims. Emergency Remedial works: To address the issue of emergency repairs the DBP Act has now been amended to recognize that a building practitioner may carry out work without the required regulated design and declarations. This is only the case if the work is deemed to be ‘emergency remedial work’, and provided that a compliance declaration is lodged with NSW Fair Trading. Work is classified as 'emergency work' if: it is likely to cause damage to the building; part of the building is uninhabitable; there is a risk to health and safety; there is a risk of further damage to the building; or the impacts are serious and the work undertaken will mitigate the likely effects. The building compliance declaration, which must be separately communicated to the Owners Corporation, permits the building practitioner to declare the work is not compliant and that further statutory obligations must be considered. Work not classified as Emergency Work: Remedial building work is not considered to be 'emergency remedial work' if the following conditions apply: the work undertaken is designed to address the fundamental or underlying cause of the issue; immediate action is not necessary to remedy an existing issue; immediate action is not necessary to remedy an existing issue before it causes serious damage or further serious damage or poses a serious impact relating to habitability, health and safety; it is possible for statutory obligations to be met prior to any serious damage or further serious damage being caused to the building; and there is no serious impact relating to habitability, health and safety. Owners Corporation's obligations for subsequent Building Work: If subsequent building work is required, which is related to the emergency remedial building work, the Owners Corporation must comply with the DBP Act.

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There are more multi-generational households in the country than ever before. According to PropTrack and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the proportion of 20-24-year-olds living with their parents has grown from one-third of the age group in 1981 to just under half (47.3%) in 2021. There are similar trends of increases for the 25-29 age group (up from 9.7% to 18.4%) and 30-34-year-olds (up from 3.8% to 7.8%). This increase is likely due to affordability constraints, with homeownership becoming more challenging for younger people. As a result, there is much more need for homes that are suitable for this household structure. Houses specifically designed for multi-generational occupants, like Aldrich Home’s Multi-Generational Living houses, offer a cost-effective way to live under one roof, while still maintaining a sense of independence. #turnkeybuilder #melbourneproperty #melbournerealestate

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📢 Toowoomba Region set to benefit from new Health Workforce Development Plan 🎉 Congratulations to Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise for receiving Grow Your Own (GYO) Round 3 funding! The health care sector is the region's largest employer, supporting approximately 17,500 jobs and contributing $1.37 billion to the local economy, making the demand for skilled workers significant. The Workforce Development Plan will address the workforce challenges, opportunities, and strategies within the health care industry in the Toowoomba Local Government Area. The project will foster a collaborative approach between private hospitals and Toowoomba Hospital, to shape the future of the health workforce, ensuring the sustainability of care for the region’s growing and ageing population. Find out more about GYO Round 3: https://ow.ly/Q2iQ50TBQKU GYO is funded by Jobs Queensland and powered by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032. #JobsQueensland #GYO #QldWorkforceStrategy

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How do you spot an unlicensed contractor? As per QBCC, one telltale sign of an unlicensed contractor is the lack of detail provided in their advertising. They may also promote a low price for their services to help disguise this fact. All licensed contractors in Queensland are required by law to provide specific details in any advertising for their services, including: -contractor’s name -the QBCC licence number If you are after general maintenance work under $3,300, the contractor must state in their ad that they can only do work up to this value. So, if you see an ad without these details, there’s a chance they may be unlicensed. Learn more tips on how to spot unlicensed work by talking to our fire protection experts at SAFE - 1300 50 7233.

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The Construction Visa Subsidy Program: Building WA’s Skilled Workforce Western Australia’s construction industry is experiencing a surge in demand for skilled workers. While local training programs aim to prepare the workforce of tomorrow, immediate workforce gaps need urgent attention. The Construction Visa Subsidy Program (CVSP) is a targeted initiative addressing these challenges by supporting businesses in attracting skilled migrants and filling critical roles. What is the Construction Visa Subsidy Program? The CVSP provides grant payments of up to $10,000 to help WA construction businesses offset the costs of employing skilled migrant workers. This financial support can be applied to: Migration Agent Fees: Ensuring expert guidance through complex visa processes. Visa Application Fees: Assisting with government charges. Relocation Costs: Covering flights, accommodation, and settlement expenses. Why Does WA Need the CVSP? With major infrastructure and development projects underway, skilled labor shortages threaten to delay progress. Local training programs are critical but require time to yield results. The CVSP bridges the gap by: Filling Immediate Workforce Needs: Attracting experienced workers to critical roles. Boosting Industry Productivity: Supporting timely project completion. Strengthening the Economy: Encouraging skilled migration to WA. Eligibility and Application The CVSP is available to construction businesses that: Operate in Western Australia. Demonstrate a need for skilled workers. Comply with state eligibility criteria. Applications require documentation of incurred or planned migration expenses. Businesses can maximize the program’s benefits by partnering with migration professionals to streamline the process. How Tolic Lawyers Can Help Tolic Lawyers specializes in migration and employment law, offering: Visa application assistance. Advice on compliance with sponsorship regulations. Strategies to utilize the CVSP effectively. For more information or support, contact us today. Together, we can strengthen WA’s construction workforce and build a brighter future. www.toliclawyers.com.au #immigration #australia #482 #494 #186 #perth #westernaustralia

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More and more people are choosing to live in Victoria, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest population data shows that Victoria’s population grew by 2.7% in the 12 months to March 2024, the second-highest of all the states. This percentage translated to an increase of 184,000 people, which was the largest absolute increase in population across all states. The largest component of this increase was the state’s net overseas migration, which made up 84% of growth. This is good news for investors as more people are moving into Victoria, which means more people are looking for places to live. And it is unlikely to slow down, as forecasts indicate Victoria’s population will grow by 0.7-1.5% annually for the next 50 years, more than any other state. #Melbourneproperty #propertyinvesting #turnkeybuilder

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Master Builders Australia strongly supports today’s announcement by Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers to re-establish the National Productivity Fund aimed at certain pressure points in building and construction.   The $900 million fund is expected to offer incentives for state and territory governments to streamline building approvals, commercial planning and zoning, and removing barriers to the uptake of modern construction methods.   CEO Denita Wawn said Master Builders has consistently called for incentives to support reform and lift productivity in the building and construction industry.   “Productivity in building and construction has been in decline for too long, with labour productivity down 18 per cent over the last decade. “Productivity is more than a buzzword. When productivity is down, prices go up and our ability to build the homes and surrounding infrastructure communities need is slowed down. "We thank the Treasurer for putting productivity back on the national agenda and listening to our concerns around barriers to building," Ms Wawn said. Lsat week Master Builders released analysis of latest build times which found that 15 years ago, it took on average 9 months to build a stand-a-alone house from approval to completion. Fast forward to today and it now takes 12.7 months – an increase of over 40 per cent.   Ms Wawn added: “A focus on planning and incentives to support modern methods of construction or modular housing are some of the areas that could improve the outlook for housing.   “A number of governments around the country are looking to utilise modern methods of construction through the use of prefabricated or modular building products.   “This Fund will add to housing initiatives already on the table to support a faster roll out of housing across state and territories.”   With Parliament set to resume next week, Master Builders is urging the Opposition and crossbench to pass other housing policies that are currently being held up.   “Parliament also needs to pass bills scheduled for debate later this month to support the delivery of more housing for renteres and help first home buyers get into the housing market.” Ms Wawn said.   “Build to Rent housing is seen as a growing asset class that could accelerate capacity for middle market home purchasers and supercharge rental housing supply but it requires the right tax settings for this to happen and this is what Build to Rent reforms in Parliament provide.”

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Under NZS 3910:2023, the role of the Independent Certifier is designed to be impartial and independent. The Independent Certifier can be any qualified professional who is not directly affiliated with either the Principal or the Contractor. What is your experience of NZS 3910:2023 and the role of the Independent Certifier? Has it made life easier? Life worse? Added confusion? Would be great to see if this change is for the better.... Stratum Group

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The only thing tougher than keeping up with our team? Our steel 😉 But don’t worry, we’re not hard to catch—visit us at www.frphub.au #FRPHub #SteelStrength #ConstructionSupplies #QualityMaterials #BuildingBetter #ConstructionSolutions #ConstructionLife #ConstructionProductivity

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Tired of tight project timelines and endless delays? 🏗️ GPS technology is the key to unlocking the full potential of your construction projects, offering precise measurements to minimise rework and delays so you can execute your projects on time and in budget. Learn more about forecasted trends for GPS technology in construction here 🔗 https://loom.ly/Pw2ps7Q #GPS #GNSS #construction #technology

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As part of the preparations for the 2024 Royal Adelaide Show, SafeWork SA safety inspectors have monitored the compliance of every attraction to ensure fun days out for all. 🎡 Regular audits are crucial, not just for compliance but for peace of mind. Inspections help identify potential hazards before they become incidents, safeguarding both operators and visitors. Read up on how SafeWork SA is prioritizing safety here https://zurl.co/wowe #riskmanagement #whs #assetmanagement #audit

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Confirmation from the #AustralianTaxOffice (#ATO) that Latrobe Magnesium Ltd (ASX:LMG, OTC:LTRBF)’s #researchanddevelopment tax rebate of $12.5 million has been approved is set to improve the company’s balance sheet significantly. The rebate for the year ending June 30, 2023 will be used to repay LMG’s debt liabilities. LMG also estimates its research and development tax rebate for the year ending June 30, 2024 to be in the vicinity of $16 million.  The funds are expected to allow the company to clear all remaining debt upon receipt of the 2024 rebate. LMG’s demonstration plant received two advance rulings from #AusIndustry, confirming eligibility for a research and development tax rebate.  The second advance ruling, for LMG’s #acidhydrometsystem, expired in 2022. The first was for LMG’s #alkali approach.  More at #Proactive #ProactiveInvestors #mangnesium #ASX #LMG http://ow.ly/xPCn105tmAT

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