An update from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning

An update from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning - 1 February 2011

Solar systems are on the house The State Government has welcomed a Sydney-based company’s offer to provide 3500 solar hot water systems to Queensland flood victims, with homeowners paying no costs other than installation charges. In return, Apricus Australia Pty Ltd will receive the state and federal rebates for each unit, as well as 34 Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) per unit. For more information on who is eligible to apply for this rebate, view the hot water system replacement scheme.

Emergency exemptions to allow immediate fire safety system repairs Licensed contractors will be able to repair flood damaged fire safety systems immediately under emergency exemptions included in the Sustainable Planning Act. The work will then be inspected by councils or the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service at a later date. Building owners can email the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service at fireris@dcs.qld.gov.au with a contact name and phone number and a Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officer will make contact and book a time to provide fire safety advice as soon as possible.

Performing minor plumbing and drainage work without a permit and inspection The Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation (SPDR) provides that minor work may be performed without a permit and inspection process by an appropriately licensed person. Details of the work must, however, be provided to Local Government by lodging a Form 4 (Notifiable Minor Work). A list of what work is classed as Notifiable Minor Work is provided in Schedule 3 of the SPDR. When completing a Form 4 - Notifiable Minor Work the person who undertakes the work must fill in the declaration section of the form.

Hot water systems - replacement rules amended The State Government has relaxed rules on replacing water-damaged electric hot water systems to give flood affected residents a helping hand. The Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code has been amended to allow flood-affected homeowners to replace electric systems with like-for-like replacements. The new rule took effect on 21 January 2011 and will apply where a licensed plumber certifies that the electric hot water system needs to be replaced due to damage caused by a natural disaster event.

Free plumbers or drainer's licence renewals due to the floods The department is providing free licence replacements for licences lost or damaged in the floods. The fee to replace a lost, stolen or damaged plumbers or drainer's licence, issued by the Plumbing Industry Council is $21. The department will waive this fee for any licensee who lost or had their licence damaged as a result of the recent floods. To apply for a replacement licence, complete Forms 22 and 27. For more information, please contact the Plumbing Industry Council on 1800 682 021/+6 7 3235 4149 or via email: plumbers@dip.qld.gov.au.

Further information for flood-affected properties now on DIP website Building Codes Queensland has provided a range of information for people looking to repair or re-build homes and other buildings that have been flood damaged. This information includes a fact sheet with tips on how to repair homes to become more flood resilient. It also outlines a number of frequently asked questions relating to buildings, plumbing work and pool fencing damaged by the recent flooding. To view these go to the department’s flood information page.