Housing Code Monitor

The Associations are a member of the Complying Development Expert Panel which is responsible for providing technical advice to the Department of Planning on the new codes.

In June 2008 the Associations supported the trial with 11 councils of the first draft of the Exempt Code, the Housing Code, and the Commercial Code. Our submission on these codes can be found at http://www.lgsa.org.au/planningchanges.

The LGSA have made numerous representations to the Minister and the Department in an effort to improve the efficacy of the codes for applicants, private certifiers and local councils alike. We were successful in getting some amendments to the Housing Code but our request for public exhibition or trial of the revised code was unsuccessful.

The initial draft of the Code applied to new single storey houses on lots greater than 600 square metres. But the Code being implemented on 27 February 2009 is much more extensive – it applies to one and two storey houses and alterations and additions to houses on lots greater than 450 square metres.