The Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Bill was passed in Queensland Parliament on 15 February 2012, heralding the biggest changes in plumbing legislation in over a decade.

The Bill amends the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 (PDA) to create a new category of plumbing and drainage work called ‘notifiable work’. This is due to come into effect from 1 November 2012 or earlier by proclamation.

Notifiable work will extend the amount of work a plumber or drainer can perform without a local government permit or requirement for mandatory inspections. This will reduce red tape, delays and costs for licensees, local governments and consumers. Notifiable work is expected to apply to the vast majority of work undertaken in existing buildings.

The new laws require licensees to notify the Plumbing Industry Council within 10 days of completing the work via a Form 4, which will be able to be lodged electronically through Smart eDA. Plumbers and drainers will be required to give a copy of Form 4 or a ‘receipt of work’ to their customers. To help ensure that health and safety standards remain high, the Plumbing Industry Council and local governments will work together to audit licensees and plumbing work respectively to ensure that plumbers and drainers are complying with their obligations.

The new legislation also simplifies various categories of ‘regulated work’. Work that needs a permit will include all work associated with new buildings when they are first connected to water or sewer infrastructure and will be known as ‘compliant assessable work’. The current category of ‘other minor work’ will be renamed and expanded as ‘minor work’ and needs to be undertaken by a licensed person but not notified to the Plumbing Industry Council.

The Honourable Paul Lucas MP, Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State released a media statement on Wednesday15 Febuary 2012 to announce the passing of the legislation.