VBA Actions for the week ending 18 October 2019

Prosecutions

There were six matters in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria – two related to plumbing and four related to building.

• Both plumbing matters were heard in the Wodonga Magistrates’ Court. Guilty pleas were entered for both matters, with both of the accused receiving undertakings to be of good behaviour.
• One building matter was finalised ex parte at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court. The accused received a fine without conviction.
• Two matters were scheduled to be heard at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court. One was withdrawn following extensive work to resolve the matter. In the second matter, a guilty plea was entered, resulting in a small fine without conviction and a 12-month undertaking to be of good behaviour.
• The fourth matter was adjourned at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court.

Investigations – Building

• One warning letter was sent to a building practitioner.

Practitioner Discipline

• Two Notices of Decision were issued.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal matters

• One matter was withdrawn (Cameron, Simon v VBA – VCAT Z762/2019).
• One matter was finalised (Mattiske, Simon v VBA – VCAT Ref Z613/2018).

Administrative Appeals Tribunal matters

• One matter was resolved by consent (Ferrantino, Timothy v VBA – AAT 2019/4867).

Proactive Inspections

• 211 inspections across 30 municipalities.

Plumbing Audits

• Audits: 217
• Re-audits: 27
• Inspections: 30
• Re-inspections: 1

Statewide Cladding Audit

• 10 inspections were completed, nine within the City of Melbourne and one in another municipality.
• Nine expert panels were conducted. From these, six buildings were rated high risk, two were rated moderate and one was rated low.
• 19 inspections are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, 21 October 2019.