Master Builders Support Fast Track Consenting

Media Release
9 September 2010

Registered Master Builders Support Fast Track Consenting

The Registered Master Builders Federation (RMBF) supports the Governments decisions to review the consenting process for the w:st="on"Canterbury region so that building consents can be fast tracked and remedial work can commence sooner rather than later.

RMBF CEO Warwick Quinn says that it is extremely important that quality is not compromised and that homeowners and subsequent purchasers can have confidence that the repair work undertaken meets Building Code requirements. Mr Quinn is confident quality can be maintained as much of the research required to speed up the consenting process was undertaken during the recent Building Act Review.  

“The Government made decisions recently to improve timeframes for the consenting process as this has been a construction sector concern for some time,” Mr Quinn says. “It would be a simple matter to bring those decisions forward and for the consenting authorities in the w:st="on"Canterbury region to adopt them straight away. The Building Act decisions included extending Schedule 1 of the Act, which lists those structures that do not need consent, and fast tracking “simple” consents where they are low risk and of proven design and materials”.

Mr Quinn says that these decisions can be adopted immediately so that work can happen quickly and not at the expense of quality, once w:st="on"Canterbury is ready to begin the reparation process. Supporting criteria may also need to be a consideration such as whether the work is being undertaken by a reputable organisation or a licensed building practitioner.

ENDS