Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1.

Prepare for building approval processes.

1.1.

Service agreements or council policy statement on service provision relating to the assessment of building approval application are discussed and agreed with clients and scope of service is confirmed.

1.2.

Nature and scope of building approval application are reviewed and delegated to appropriately qualified staff where necessary.

1.3.

Proposed development site is inspected, where necessary, to assist in understanding the nature of the development and potential impact on surrounding environment and structures.

1.4.

Staff are guided where necessary to ensure relevant legislation, codes and regulations are accessed and researched for compliance requirements  relevant to proposed building application.

2.

Monitor adherence of building application to administrative requirements.

2.1.

Building application documentation  is reviewed for accuracy, currency and completeness according to legislative and regulatory requirements.

2.2.

Documentation is assessed for compliance, and requests for additional information are managed in a timely manner.

2.3.

Objections to building works from affected stakeholders are handled professionally and ethically according to workplace procedures and as required.

2.4.

Work undertaken by support staff is monitored for accuracy and completion within required timeframes according to statutory and workplace requirements.

3.

Collate and analyse building approval application documentation.

3.1.

Original planning permit is obtained and assessed for relevant planning conditions  and validity.

3.2.

Documentation is assessed for compliance with building codes and legislation, and areas of non-compliance are documented for further investigation.

3.3.

Compliance requirements for BCA class and type of building  are identified, researched and recorded.

3.4.

Specialist consultants  are liaised with where necessary to provide expert advice on compliance across relevant areas of technical expertise.

3.5.

Reports provided by specialist consultants, including proposed alternative solutions to address areas of non-compliance, are reviewed.

3.6.

Service authorities  are consulted where necessary to obtain relevant consent to undertake proposed works.

3.7.

Court orders are obtained, where necessary, providing permission to build.

4.

Manage areas of non-compliance

4.1.

Areas of non-compliance are reported to client and alternative solutions are provided to ensure building application is compliant and meets client requirements.

4.2.

Applications for report and consent dispensations are completed and managed on behalf of client where necessary.

5.

Manage stakeholder communications.

5.1.

Liaison with other relevant building surveyors is established and the potential impact of any building permit decisions are shared and communicated with relevant building surveyors where necessary.

5.2.

Objections to proposed variations received from client or other stakeholders are managed according to workplace procedures.

5.3.

Client sign-off against proposed building approval and any conditions is obtained and filed for audit purposes.

6.

Manage finalisation of the building approval application.

6.1.

Final review and cross-check of all documentation and consents received are conducted to ensure accuracy of building approval.

6.2.

Building permit conditions  are written and reviewed to ensure clarity and compliance with relevant planning schemes, regulations, legislation and the BCA.

6.3.

Building permit is lodged with relevant statutory authorities and is monitored to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

6.4.

Documentation in support of the building permit application and final building permit is stored and filed according to workplace procedures, and copy is sent to client.

This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria.

Skill 

Performance feature 

Learning skills to:

• draw on past experience of assessing and managing building approval applications to assist in different and more complex building applications
• maintain currency of knowledge in processes required to manage building approval applications across a range of jurisdictions through, for example, email alerts, conferences, or subscriptions to relevant journals.

Numeracy skills to:

• extract and analyse a range of mathematical information contained in building design drawings analysed as part of the building approval process.

Oral communication skills to:

• select and use appropriate vocabulary when giving instructions to clients, providing explanations or seeking additional information to support the planning approval process
• use effective strategies to confirm, clarify or repair understanding of others when delegating work.

Reading skills to:

• understand specialised vocabulary and acronyms specific to technical documentation used in building projects and building application documentation
• use different reading strategies to locate specific compliance requirements in a range of resources, including the BCA.

Writing skills to:

• use accurately-spelled specialised vocabulary in the documentation supporting building approval applications, including when clearly stating any approval conditions.

This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below.

Compliance requirements  must include:

• current Australian standards applicable to the building design
• federal, state or territory and local authority legislation and regulations applicable to the building design
• National Construction Code (NCC).

Building application documentation  must include:

• building approval application form
• concept and architectural plans and drawings to scale, with relevant calculations, levels, notes and specifications
• proof of builder’s registration
• proof of building site ownership.

Planning conditions  must include:

• approved concept plans
• expiry date of permit
• use of property.

Type of building  must include:

• Type A buildings as defined in the BCA, including buildings that are:

• 3 storeys or more in classes 2, 3 and 9
• 4 storeys or more in classes 5, 6, 7 and 8

• Type B buildings as defined in the BCA
• Type C buildings as defined in the BCA.

Consultants  must include at least one of the following:

• access consultants
• energy efficiency assessors
• fire services engineers
• geotechnical engineers
• heritage consultants
• hydraulic engineers
• mechanical engineers
• structural engineers
• waterproofing specialists.

Service authorities  must include:

• drainage authority
• electricity supply authority
• gas supply authority
• relevant municipal council
• sewerage authority
• water supply authority.

Building permit  conditions must include:

• time validity of building permit
• whether the permit applies to whole or a stage of the proposed building work.