Home Building Act Review
OCN Executive Director2024-10-23T10:23:50+11:00OCN made yet another submission on the ongoing building law reforms. Read submission:> OCN Submission - Building Reforms September 2024
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Money Magazine Strata Special
OCN Executive Director2024-09-05T17:03:46+10:00OCN contributed to a 2 part Money Magazine September issue look at strata owning. In 9 Strata Myths Busted by Tom Watson, OCN talked about the pros and cons of being on a strata committee. We 'busted' the myths that by-laws are set in stone, and that you have to attend a general meeting in person to vote. And we debunked the myth that tenants have no say, explaining that in [...]
Sydney strata manager appeals 10-year ban for accessing funds without approval
OCN Executive Director2024-08-07T12:27:03+10:00One of Sydney’s highest profile strata managers is appealing against a ruling that saw him banned for 10 years for a multitude of allegations, including failing to act with honesty, fairness and professionalism and accessing apartment buildings’ funds without approval. That same manager – despite having numerous complaints against him with the state government tribunal – had also, by the same body, been given total control over schemes that were in [...]
Sydney strata manager banned for a decade, company stripped of licence by NSW Fair Trading
OCN Executive Director2024-07-30T17:40:19+10:00Sydney strata manager Whitney Wang has been banned from practising for 10 years and his company has been stripped of its licence. Mr Wang was the strata manager at the centre of an explosive meeting at the embattled Vicinity apartment complex in Canterbury in 2021 that became so hostile the police were called. He has also been ousted as strata manager twice in the past two years after owners at separate [...]
Strata law reform on the cards as NSW Fair Trading swamped with complaints
OCN Executive Director2024-07-09T15:58:30+10:00NSW Fair Trading received 965 complaints about strata agents in the five years to 2023, most commonly related to rules of conduct and finances. In the past year, there were 273 complaints against strata agents, compared to 16 against strata executive committees and 43 against strata owners corporations.Owners Corporation Network Executive Director Karen Stiles said many owners were in “a world of pain” thanks to limited regulation over the sector.“We certainly [...]
OCN Executive Director2024-08-22T14:43:24+10:00
OCN welcomed the opportunity to provide input into the discussion paper on the Regulation of e-bikes, e-scooters and other Li-ion battery powered micromobility vehicles. The risk of fire related incidents in one apartment is potentially multiplied over the whole building, as such any risk is a community risk, rather than individual risk as is the case in a standalone home. OCN Submission:> OCN Submission - NSW Regulation of e-mobility Devices August [...]
Regulation of e-bikes, e-scooters and other Li-ion battery powered micromobility vehicles
OCN Executive Director2024-08-22T14:56:24+10:00OCN welcomed the opportunity to provide input into the discussion paper on the Regulation of e-bikes, e-scooters and other Li-ion battery powered micromobility vehicles. The risk of fire related incidents in one apartment is potentially multiplied over the whole building, as such any risk is a community risk. Therefore strata should be treated as a special case. Read submission:> OCN Submission - NSW Regulation of e-mobility Devices August 2024 Related content:> [...]
Design & Building Practitioner & Residential Apartments Act Review 2024
OCN Executive Director2024-07-17T17:31:59+10:00The NSW Public Accountability Committee is currently reviewing the efficacy of the DBP and RAB Acts. OCN took the opportunity to make a distinction between its application for new and existing buildings, and point out the time and cost blowouts for remedial works caused by early confusion and conservatism of the industry. OCN called for clear guidance, to remove unnecessary overspecification of remedial works. Read submission:> OCN Submission - DBP & [...]
NSW Budget 2024-25
OCN Executive Director2024-06-19T16:47:16+10:00MEDIA RELEASE 19 June 2024 The Owners Corporation Network of Australia (OCN) welcomes new budget funding specifically to support delivery of much needed strata reform. Strata is one of the main, if not the main, formats for improved housing supply over the short and medium term. So, it’s a good start. But more will be needed as the scope and scale of the task to improve community confidence and trust in [...]
Fire authorities’ risk to Electric Vehicle charging in Apartment buildings
OCN Executive Director2024-06-25T09:38:19+10:00The decision by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council Limited (AFAC), and by various fire services across the country, to designate electric vehicles as ‘special hazards’, imposes elaborate and expensive fire protection requirements on residential strata buildings. This position appears to have been made without adequate consultation or an analysis of the risk and benefits across the community. OCN joins the Electric Vehicle Council to call on: • AFAC [...]