Non-compliant building work was found throughout the Riverina. Photo: Picasa 2.7/Flickr. File photo only.
The Building Commission NSW has issued 29 rectification orders and 15 penalty notices relating to construction defects after a “compliance blitz” in the Riverina-Murray area this month.
The State Government regulator inspected new builds at 41 sites in Wagga Wagga, Lake Albert, Gobbagombalin, Albury, Thurgoona, Ettamogah, Wirlinga, Corowa, Howlong and Mulwala.
During the blitz, inspectors divided their time between general building inspections, specialist electrical work checks, and ensuring compliance with licensing and signage rules.
“Building Commission NSW is aware of the key issues faced by regional communities, whether that be resourcing constraints for councils or a shortage of trades that can result in unlicensed work,” Building Commission NSW Commissioner James Sherrard said.
“But the results we saw in the Riverina-Murray region leave room for improvement, with a number of rectification orders to be issued as a result of this compliance campaign.
“While Building Commission NSW targets sites of concern as part of these campaigns, I want to remind local builders in the Riverina-Murray region to keep quality at the forefront of their work.”
Before these orders are finalised and made public, Building Commission NSW must consider written representations from the developer or principal contractor, as required by legislation.
The commission issued 15 penalty infringement notices (PINs) valued at $16,490 for issues related to signage, unlicensed contracting, unlicensed work, and non-compliant electrical work.
In addition to the PINs for non-compliant electrical work, inspectors issued 16 written direction notices (WDNs) for specialist electrical work.
Since the start of 2025, Building Commission NSW has visited regional areas across NSW inspecting a range of residential construction sites to ensure they are up to scratch.
So far, compliance blitzes in the Tweed and Mid-North Coast have seen hundreds of inspections carried out on standalone houses and apartment buildings.
As part of this compliance campaign, Building Commission NSW also plans to visit other regional locations to ensure local construction sectors are meeting its requirements.
“Since the establishment of Building Commission NSW as a dedicated regulator in December 2023, we have worked hard to drive out the bad actors and rogue operators in the industry to rebuild confidence in the building sector,” Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said.
“One of the primary focuses for Building Commission NSW is to go where homes are being built, which is why it is paramount we conduct regional inspection blitzes.
“By working within these communities Building Commission NSW can set clear expectations for local industry to ensure they are delivering high quality building work to the people of NSW.
“Inspectors don’t just issue penalties for non-compliance; they will also return to the site in the coming months to ensure appropriate steps have been taken to remedy the work.”
