Update

At a Council meeting on the 22 April 2024, Georges River Council endorsed the draft Principal Certifier Complaints Policy 2024, for public exhibition for a minimum period of 60 days.

The purpose of the Draft Policy is to define the roles of the Principal Certifier, the owner of the development site, Georges River Council and Building Commission NSW in relation to complaints received regarding development sites, as well as to provide clear advice on Georges River Council’s process of handling complaints relating to the management of development sites.

The Draft Policy contains definitive scenarios in which the Georges River Council will respond to specific complaints when a Private Certifier has been appointed as the Principal Certifier. The draft scenarios exceed Local Government legislative obligations and are above and beyond the standard scenarios endorsed by Local Councils across NSW.

Certification Campaign

Georges River Council acknowledges the lack of regulation and accountability within the Private Certification Industry. In August 2022, Georges River Council resolved to commence a lobbying campaign on the NSW Government for increased accountability to Private Certifiers, focusing on greater co-regulation and enforcement powers for Local Councils within the Private Certification industry. The resolution was adopted because of longstanding community concerns relating to Private Certifiers approving Complying Development Certificates and issuing Occupation Certificates for non-compliant work, as well as mismanagement over the physical development site and dismissal of community concerns.

To commence the lobbying campaign, Georges River Council facilitated Community Consultation from November 2022 until January 2023. A prevalent finding from the consultation period was community frustration and confusion surrounding the limitations of Local Councils when a Private Certifier has been appointed the Principal Certifier of a development.

Georges River Council raised community sentiment in a meeting with senior staff of Southern Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) and David Chandler (NSW Building Commissioner) in March 2023 and offered to draft a policy document that outlines the role of Council in dealing with sites managed by Private Certifiers – the draft Principal Certifier Complaints Policy 2024.

This draft policy serves as a foundation to Georges River Council’s Certification Campaign.

Information and updates on Georges River Certification Campaign can be found at Certification Campaign.

How to be involved

The draft Principal Certifier Complaints Policy 2024 will be on public exhibition from 23 April 2024 to 23 June 2024.

If you would like to provide feedback or comments on the Policy, we encourage you to:

	Complete our online feedback form.
	Return a hard copy submission.

If you are returning a hard copy submission, please quote SF24/2972 - Draft Principal Certifier Complaints Policy 2024 at the beginning of your submission and return:

	In person to Georges River Council Civic Centre or Libraries
	Via email: mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
	Via post: PO Box 205, Hurstville BC NSW 1481

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