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In these newsletters, we cover the latest building industry news, trends, and tips. In this particular issue, we talk about fee changes, which building projects no longer require a building consent, along with our fourth instalment on how to pass a building inspection.
Building trends
This year has seen a significant contrast in building consent activity between the first eight months of the financial year (1 July to 28 February) and the last four months of the financial year. For the first eight months through to the end of February, consent numbers were down approximately 25% from the previous three years. Since the start of March, consents numbers have increased significantly with May 2021 seeing the second highest number of consents received in a month on record.
Inspections are also back at pre-COVID levels with 1550 inspections undertaken last month. This activity is predominately residential, with Wānaka particularly busy across a number of sub-divisions.
To help staff with this level of activity and to continue to process consents and undertake inspections in a timely manner, we have had to increase our external contractor numbers. We have also recruited two new Building Control Officers who are beginning their training.
Fees and charges increase
Our fees have increased from 1 July 2021. Fees will only be increasing by a maximum of 10%. These new fees and charges have been updated on our website. Please refer to the AF CALC document to see the changes.
The Building Consent Authority Accreditation Levy has also been introduced from 1 July 2021. The accreditation levy is set by Council to cover the cost of meeting criteria under the Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006.
The levy is currently set at $0.20 per $1,000 value of building work valued at more than $20,000.
MBIE Build It tool
MBIE has recently released a tool to assist homeowners with determining whether or not a building consent is required for building work they are looking at doing.
Build It works by getting homeowners to answer a series of short questions to help them work out whether the building work fits within the criteria of an exemption. These include the type of building work proposed and then more specific questions to work out whether the work falls within all criteria of the exemption available.
This tool highlights to homeowners that if you don’t meet all of the criteria of an exemption a building consent will be required. The tool also enables homeowners to alter their answers to look at what work can be done within the exemption if their original plan required a building consent as it was outside the scope of an exemption.
Build It provides further guidance to the written document already available on the MBIE website found here: https://www.building.govt.nz/projects-and-consents/planning-a-successful-build/scope-and-design/check-if-you-need-consents/building-work-that-doesnt-need-a-building-consent/
Check out the tool here: https://buildit.govt.nz/
Form updates
QLDC has updated a large portion of the most commonly used forms and checksheets. These new forms have been implemented from 1 July 2021.
The form content is generally still the same, we’ve just made it easier for you to fill in. Please note that we will still be accepting the old form revision.
Prefabrication off-site and remote inspections
Single consent
Typically in the past applicants have been required to seek two building consents for what becomes one building. Typically above ground structure has been consented, constructed, inspected and code compliance certification (CCC) issued in another region before being moved to its final location in QLDC where a second consent has been obtained for foundations and site work. New legalisation is proposed to support prefabrication however until this is in place we will consider requests for a single consent where inspections will be undertaken remotely or by another building control authority. Please contact jill.ryan@qldc.govt.nz if you would like to discuss a single consent option
Remote inspections
We are trialling remote inspections for some simple residential inspections such as post line pre stop and wet area membranes (others on a case by case basis) in areas with good cell phone coverage.
The advantages of remote inspections include:
- Specific time for inspection, and
- Reduced time charged for inspection.
If you are interested in using this service or would like to know more please email Anthea.Holler@qldc.govt.nz.
Other approvals
At the time of building you may need to consider other legislation and seek other approvals.
Connection to Council services
An application for Connecting to Council Services is required for temporary or permanent connections to the QLDC network. This includes connections for water, wastewater and storm water. The application should also be used if proposing a driveway that will cross Council property to connect with a road. Completed applications should be sent to engineeringapprovals@qldc.govt.nz. Further details can be found at https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/water-services/connection-to-water-wastewater-and-stormwater.
Engineering Acceptance
Engineering Acceptance is QLDC’s process for review and acceptance of detailed design of earthworks, roading, 3 waters, landscape and lighting to ensure compliance with QLDC’s Land Development & Subdivision Code of Practice and Resource Consent conditions. Check out the Engineering Acceptance Form and further information at https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/resource-consents/engineering-acceptance.
Building over or near a Council pipe or drain
An application to build over or near a Council pipe or drain is required if you want to build over or relocate Council infrastructure services within your land. Details of existing QLDC infrastructure can be viewed at Maps - QLDC - Queenstown Lades District Council and details of easements for public infrastructure are registered on the Certificate of Title. You also need approval for construction of foundations in the zone of influence. At QLDC, the zone of influence is a line starting 150mm below the bottom of the pipe extending at 45 degrees upwards. If there are drains owned by the Council within or adjacent to your property that may be affected, please check this out at the pre-design stage so your project is not delayed.
Working in the road corridor
The road corridor is the extent of area between properties on either side of the road. The corridor includes the carriageway (the road itself), along with the kerb, berm and footpath.
All work or activity carried out within the road corridor is required to be in accordance with the terms and conditions as set out in the following legislation:
- National Code of Practice for Utility Operators Access to Transport Corridors
- Health & Safety Act at Work 2015
- NZTA Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM)
The purpose of the legislation is to ensure:
- activities carried out within the road corridor maximise the benefit to the public
- utility operators and contractors are treated fairly
- all work and activity is conducted in a safe manner
- the safety for both the contractor and general public
All work activity that is proposed to be carried out within, or will affect the safe operation of a road corridor, must be notified to the Road Corridor Engineer prior to commencing operations. This notification can be made via a CAR (Corridor Access Request) application. CAR applications are submitted via websites at beforeudig or submitica.
Further information can be found at https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/transport-and-parking/corridor-access-requests#process
How to pass a building inspection
This is the fourth instalment of a series of five articles that explain how builders and building owners can ensure a successful outcome in the building inspection process.
Part Four – Making changes on-site from consented building plans
The NZ Building Act 2004 requires that building work is carried out in accordance with the approved building consent documents. This means any changes to the stamped approved plans will in the case of significant change require a building consent Formal Amendment, with a less significant change required to be recorded by a Minor variation. In either case the variation should be submitted to and approved by the Building Control Authority (BCA) before the changed building work is carried out.
In the case of very minor changes, an On-Site Minor Variation can be evaluated and recorded by the building inspector on site.
Inspection
- If the client/builder is intending to make changes to the consented building work this should be discussed with the BCA as soon as possible and the BCA’s advice followed, or if you are confident on
the variation process, submit the appropriate application. Unless the changes are of a very minor nature (that can be dealt with on site), do not wait for the building inspector due to inspect those works to be informed of or discover the changes.
- Records are checked before taking a booking/undertaking an inspection to check if there are any minor variations applications received, on hold or approved. In some cases, inspections may not be undertaken or will be failed until the minor variation has been approved.
- If works are discovered on site that do not align with the consented documents, the building inspector will need to fail the inspection until they can be reinspected against approved plans.
- Once the changed works have been approved the updated plans must be on site and shown to the building inspector, allowing the inspector to inspect the changed works against the amended plans.
- REMEMBER - if in doubt, contact the QLDC enquiries line or a building inspector and ask. We will be happy to advise you how to proceed.
To view previous issues, please visit: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/services/building-services/additional-information/brace-yourself-building-services-newsletter
If there is a topic that you would like to see covered, please let us know by emailing: chris.english@qldc.govt.nz
