Construction is one of the largest industries in Australia, generating US$112 billion a year and driving almost 10% of GDP. Take a drive through any street in the city or suburbs, and you can see the fruits of Australia’s investment in the building and construction industry - from highways and tunnels to tower blocks and shopping centres to apartments and family homes. Even right here in New South Wales, we have the highest percentage of the population currently employed in construction. Not surprising, considering the sheer size of Sydney and the scope of our major projects like WestConnex and Sydney Metro.
For many people, the grandeur of these large-scale projects and their economic benefits on the community are the most visible aspects of the construction and building industry. But there’s another side to construction that can’t be overlooked: legal requirements and regulations.
First of all, all businesses in this industry are required to abide by the standards set by the National Construction Code. The New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment also oversees planning and strategies. You’ll need to seek a development application from your local council, and if there are heritage-listed buildings involved, the Heritage Council of NSW as well.
There’s a lot to remember, and it can feel like hard work. Where do you even start? A building and construction liaison officer can make the process easier for you, obtaining the documents and permits you need so you can get on with building a project that will improve the lives of millions of people in Sydney.
Licenses, approvals, standards, guidelines, permits and plans: there’s a lot to consider when you undertake any kind of large-scale project. A liaison officer is your point of contact between you and the authorities you need to seek these clearances from. A building and construction liaison officer deals specifically with organisations that relate to this industry, such as the National Construction Code and your local council. With their eagle-eyed focus on safety and first-class legal knowledge, building and construction liaison officers can help with necessary requirements like WHS site management plans and construction incident response emergency action plans.
This kind of liaison officer can facilitate effective communication between parties and allow questions and concerns to be addressed in a swifter manner. Legal compliance is assured along with the safety of your staff and the general population. You can get on with what you need to do, secure in the knowledge that your plans are ticking all the right boxes.
A building and construction liaison officer can fulfil a number of roles in your business and complete several tasks, including:
According to Safe Work NSW, you have to establish and implement a safety management system that includes a safety policy, safety objectives and the procedures to achieve them. In the building and construction industry, this includes everything from working with cranes and powerlines to asbestos and COVID-19 procedures. A WHS management plan deals with how risks and accidents are to be managed on your construction site. A building and construction liaison officer can make sure that WHS site management plans meet all legal and regulatory requirements.
On a construction site, everyone works very hard to prevent accidents from occurring. Yet, in the worst-case scenario, it’s necessary to have a plan in place to manage emergencies. A construction incident response plan is a document that contains information on how to respond to an incident. It can include information such as evacuation procedures, emergency contacts and the locations of safety equipment. A building and construction liaison officer will put a plan in place for you that leaves no area of safety neglected.
Construction liaison officers handle communication duties between you and regulatory bodies to save you time, to ensure you follow the rules and to make sure you get all the support you need. If dealing with government agencies isn’t your area of expertise, you might not even know what to ask, let alone put together a checklist of requirements you can tick off. Having somebody so well-versed in the rules can streamline your processes, ensure your applications are accepted more readily and keep potential miscommunications at bay.
If any conflicts arise during the course of the construction process, building and construction liaison officers can play the role of mediators. We can work together for an ethical solution that pleases both parties.
From government bodies to local councils, employees to shareholders, there are so many people who have a stake in construction projects. Construction liaison officers are masters of the resolution, providing solutions that balance the interests of different parties and individuals while also ensuring everything is safe, legal and above board.
Liaison officers convey information in a straightforward and helpful way, focusing on the needs of each party involved. They also consider the impact on (and consult with) the local community and manage public relations. In an industry in which people have different priorities that need to be addressed, construction liaison officers are focused on the solutions that work best for everyone as a project moves forward.
Put your concerns to rest and know that the safety of your team is in good hands when you hire one of SSTC’s building and construction liaison officers.
Our building and construction officers can help you with plans and permits, such as WHS site management plans and construction incident response plans, as well as effectively managing stakeholder communication and ensuring all parties are on the same page.
When you’re working in a public space, plans and permits from an RMS-registered business are essential. SSTC can provide you with necessary means of support like traffic control plans, construction traffic management plans, permit applications, work zone applications, swept path diagrams, risk assessments, safe work method statements and anything else you need.
In addition to having a foolproof emergency plan, having an emergency response team onsite can greatly enhance workplace safety. That’s why SSTC provides highly trained and professional emergency response teams that can effectively respond to emergencies such as fires, floods and toxic hazards. We can also assist with safety concerns at heights and in confined spaces.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the SSTC approach, contact us for a free quote.