When it comes to raising a building or building a house in Sydney, there is a lot of paperwork to fill and you’ll also need a permit to carry out construction work in Sydney. The same is true with demolition.
Is it legal to carry out house demolition in Sydney? Yes, it’s legal to demolish houses in Sydney but when it comes to House demolition in Sydney (or house demolition Sydney), certain guidelines should be followed.
The Australian federal government through different branches vested with special powers have imposed a strict, uncompromising set of regulations that should be followed strictly in any demolition work; regardless of how big or small the extent of the work will be or whether it’s a commercial or residential building.
If you would like to learn more about how to legally demolish a house or building in Sydney, then you should keep on reading.
How to Legally Demolish a House in Sydney
It’s great that you have decided to demolish your home with the hopes of having a fresh start; or in other words, beginning a new chapter in your life. However, before you rush right out to get the tools you’ll need, you’ll have to pick up the necessary permits required for demolishing houses in Sydney.
In this section, I’ll be walking you through the necessary things you’ll have to do to ensure that you are legally demolishing a building in Sydney.
Step #1: Submission of Notification for Demolition Work
One of the first and most important things to do when demolishing a building is to notify the concerned authorities about the demolition work to be carried out. Most of the time, you don’t have to do this yourself as this will be carried out by the demolition company handling the job.
A notification is specifically sent when the job involves the use of load-shifting machinery and the use of explosives. A notification is also needed if the structure or building to be demolished is load-bearing.
The notification must be submitted five days before the demolition work commences. To save yourself from a lot of stress, you can carry out the submission electronically—which happens to be the most convenient option.
Step #2: Submission of Safe Work Method Statement
Just like the submission of notification for demolition work, this also is usually the responsibility of the demolition company handling the job in Sydney.
The Safe Work Method Statement, which is also popularly known as SWMS, serves as the blueprint of the work to be carried out. It carries in detail the identification of the specific steps that’ll be followed in pulling the property down.
The SWMS is also required to specify the risks that are associated with the demolition work to be completed and more importantly, the measures that have been taken by the contractor to alleviate or eliminate the hazards or potential risks identified.
The SWMS should be as detailed as possible and should contain steps or procedures that are in accordance with the local and national laws.
Step #3: Work Health and Safety Regulation 2001
This document specifies or details all the important legal requirements that should be paid attention to when carrying out demolition work in Sydney. The document defines what construction work is, as well as the legal guidelines that must be followed in every construction process (including demolition).
One of the most important things detailed in the document is the need to have a safe workplace. Sydney demolition companies are required by law to have state-of-the-art equipment which will be significant in establishing a safe work environment or workplace.
In addition to that, appropriate warning signs should be placed at the demolition site and a competent supervisor should be present on site when the demolition work is being carried out.
Step #4: Getting the required licenses
Different licenses are required for different demolition works. Hence, the right license to obtain usually depends on the nature of the demolition work to be completed.
In general, two types of licenses are usually issued for demolition works. The first licence is the restricted demolition license, which is needed for small-scale jobs while for larger demolition works, a full demolition license is needed. A full demolition license is also needed for demolition jobs that require the use of explosives.
Conclusion
Demolition work is legal in Sydney. However, before you go ahead with demolition of any property, whether it’s a residential or a commercial property, there are a few guidelines and laws you must obey if you must carry out a legal demolition.
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This article has detailed the important steps to carry out when performing legal demolition work in Sydney. While most of the requirements are mostly done or carried out by your contractors, knowing what needs to be done is important because it helps you ensure that your demolition is being backed by the laws of the state and nation.