17920 BCS Community Lifestyle Jun 2013 · Inside Strata, April 2013 edition. n RECOGNISING A SCAM. NATIONAL NEWS Winter 2013 Community Lifestyle Magazine 5 Changes to the Australian

WINDOW SAFETY AND CHILDREN

SAVING BIG ON ENERGY COSTS

STYLE SECTION GET COSY AT HOME THIS WINTER

RECOGNISING A SCAM

FEATURE STORYDECLUTTERING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

WINTER 2013

Community Lifestyle Magazine Winter 2013 2

IN THIS ISSUECEO and MD Welcome 03

FeaturesSaving big on energy costs 09

Decluttering can change your life 10

National NewsRecognising a scam 04

Window safety and children 05

Cutting the bells and whistles 06

Recycling never looked so good 07

Community health and safety 08

Miscommunications and reptiles 12

SCA’s smart blocks program 13

The high cost of not treating concrete cancer 14

Treating that mouldy problem 15

State News - NSWMajor planning changes coming 16

Lifestyle NewsGet cosy at home this winter 18

Recipe: Fast winter soup 19

Publisher

PICA Group, Level 27

66-68 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Editor

Kris Padukone 02 8216 0482

Contributing Editor

Jennifer Ross 02 8078 6925

Artwork

PDQ Design 02 9956 6660

Advertising enquiries

[email protected]

Feedback and suggestions

[email protected]

The information provided in this magazine is a general guide only and not intended as a substitute for legal advice. The company disclaims all responsibility and all liability for any expenses, losses, damages and costs which might be incurred as a result of the information provided by the company in these articles.

Decluttering can change your life

10

Window safety and children

05

Recycling never looked so good

07

Get cosy at home this winter

18

Recognising a scam

04

Winter 2013 Community Lifestyle Magazine 3

INTRODUCTION

I noticed the other morning as l left home to come to the office that there was a chill in the air, which meant Winter was certainly creeping in. It also reminded me that it was time to write my column for the Winter edition of Community Lifestyle Magazine.

This edition we look at how to declutter, following on from our story on hoarding in the last edition. Our expert, Susanne Thiebe, has kindly shared some insight into the work she does helping people declutter and become more organised. I especially like her approach that you just need to start somewhere.

I’m sure we all have that spare room, garage or cupboard that we can’t bear to look at but with a little bit of motivation I’m sure, once you start, in no time the problem area will be solved. Think how good you’ll feel and remember when getting rid of items do it responsibly. Susanne has given some ideas for who might take your items, so use that reference as a start.

Winter is also the time when we might crank up the heating and blow the household budget on increasingly high electricity bills. Don’t get caught out. There are many ways to reduce your energy bills and with this in mind, we bring you a joint initiative with Carbon Energy Reductions (CER) – a vertically integrated energy management company – that takes advantage of some government incentives.

In NSW CER will replace certain light globes with more energy efficient ones – at no cost to you. This is great news for those who have been shocked at the amount of their last electricity bill.

Also in this edition we update you on the latest news regarding safety for children living in apartments. Sadly there have been a few accidents where children have fallen from windows and been badly injured. The entire strata sector is working together with the medical profession and property developers to ensure buildings are safer and people are educated about some of the dangers for children. We are pleased with the changes to the building code which makes it compulsory for locks to be installed on the windows of all new buildings from 1 May 2013 and are encouraging owners in existing buildings to also retrofit their properties.

And finally, last June we gave you an update from our friends at the Urban Development Industry Association in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria on the planning situation in each state. Things have moved along in the past 12 months and in some cases whole new planning systems are being introduced.

Lastly, please try the Winter soup recipe and let us know if you enjoyed it. n

Stay warm.

Greg HaywoodCEO

CEO’s COLUMNClean up and warm up this Winter


NATIONAL NEWS

Every year individuals and businesses lose large sums of money on what turn out to be scams. Remember if it’s too good to be true then it probably isn’t. Here we bring you a story which first appeared in Inside Strata in April 2013 identifying some things to be wary of so you don’t get caught out and end up giving criminals your hard earned cash.

Rental properties scamsConsumers are being warned to be on the lookout for fake online classified ads for residential and holiday rental properties.

The scammers often quote extremely low prices and may use a fake copy of a genuine property advertisement to attract attention.

If you show interest, you will receive a lengthy email detailing why you cannot inspect the property in person, typically because the owner is out of the country.

Correspondence from the scammer may be poorly written and may attempt to obtain your personal information by using a fake rental application. The scammer may also use false copies of a lease and false identification documents.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ASIC) Scam Watch website is urging people to be particularly careful of elaborate stories that request money to be paid upfront.

The property industry is already on high alert after recent attempts by overseas scammers to fraudulently sell homes in Western Australia. The scams follow similar incidents in 2010 and 2011, which resulted in properties being sold without the knowledge of the lawful owners.

Bogus bushfire appeals If you wish to help those affected by the summer bushfires, make sure you are donating to a legitimate charity, cause or appeal.

Scam Watch is warning that scammers are known to take advantage of people’s generosity in the after math of disastrous events, including the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

The website warns that scammers may approach you on the street, at your doorstep, on the phone or via email and claim that they are collecting on behalf of a legitimate cause or charity, or a fictitious one they have created.

Warning signs for potential scammers include a lack of identification, a collector that insists on cash donations or cheques that are made out to them rather than the charity, and a lack of detailed knowledge about the charity they claim to represent.

If you are approached online, you may be directed to a website that looks much like those operated by real charities, with official looking logos and information, but which in fact is subtly different. If you receive an email from an unverified sender, do not click on any links or open attachments, and press ‘delete’.

Anyone considering a donation to a charity should first check the charity’s credentials at the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission(ACNC) website. The ACNC Register contains the names of all 56,000 registered charities in Australia.

This article was originally written by Ollie Hogue and first appeared in Inside Strata, April 2013 edition. n

RECOGNISING A SCAM

NATIONAL NEWS


Changes to the Australian Building Code aimed at making new apartment windows safer for children across Australia took effect from 1 May 2013.

The changes to the Australian Building Code mean that all new apartment buildings constructed across the country are required to fit each opening window above the ground floor with a safety device preventing them from opening more than 12.5 centimetres.

We welcome the change but wants to get the message out to all owners and tenants in existing apartments in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria that they can easily make their windows safe in just a few minutes for just a few dollars.

What you may not know is that for some time we have been working with property developers to ensure before building construction starts that the building plans take into consideration the living needs of the eventual inhabitants. This includes reminding them of the need to install

locks or barriers to ensure the safety of our youngest inhabitants.

For existing buildings there are a number of products on the market which are easy and inexpensive to install and provide a good level of safety regardless of whether the apartment is occupied by owners or tenants.

While individuals are already able to install window locking devices themselves we are encouraging all strata scheme executive committees to take this issue on board and ensure every window above ground floor level is safe by installing devices where it is practical to do so.

On 13 March, the NSW Government also announced a package of reforms aimed at addressing the number of fatalities and injuries suffered as a result of children falling from windows. This is in response to a report prepared by the Westmead Children’s Hospital into this issue.

We welcome the government’s discussion paper seeking views on its proposal to mandate the installation of safety devices on all windows that prevent the risk to children in strata complexes.

The NSW government has indicated that it would phase in this mandatory

requirement over the next five years and will form part of the current legislation as well as its successor legislation.

Submissions to the NSW Government discussion paper closed in May. We’ll keep our eye on this issue follow up when there is a government announcement.

Recommendations by the Westmead Children’s Hospital are that there should be a maximum opening of 12.5 centimetres for all windows above the ground floor.

Other recommendations include:

n All windows have window locks/latches fitted to stop windows opening more than 12.5cm, or guards to protect the opening.

n Where possible, open windows from the top.

n Beds and other furniture are kept away from windows, so that children cannot climb up to windows.

n Parents do not rely on flyscreens to prevent a child from falling out of a window.

n Children are taught to play away from windows.

n Children are always supervised. n

WINDOW SAFETY AND CHILDREN

CUTTING THE BELLS AND WHISTLESPressure from the high cost of insurance in far North Queensland is making bodies corporate rethink spending money on keeping or maintaining some of the ‘extras’ or bells and whistles they have in their buildings.

According to an article in the Townsville Bulletin recently, “unit developers are combating soaring body corporate and insurance costs by removing gyms from common areas and installing cyclone-proof shade sails and barbecues with more sturdy structures [to reduce the risk of insurance claims].”

Removal of facilities can, in certain instances, reduce the amenity of the building and further devalue the property, which is not ideal for those wanting to sell or for investors hoping for good rental returns.

One Strata Manager reported recently that two of their buildings had removed water features to save cost on water and maintenance. They were also finding that intercom systems and electric gate motors are not being replaced/repaired and that garden facelifts were not happening due to the cost.

If your body corporate or owners corporation is considering doing things to cut costs then they must make sure that whatever they do does not impact on the maintenance of the building. Legislation in every state makes it a legal requirement that the building is properly maintained and there are penalties for not doing so. If

lives are put in danger or someone is injured because the building was not properly maintained then the costs could be much greater than any initial savings from the original cost cutting exercise.

Sometimes the bells and whistles are practical and perhaps second thoughts should be given to cutting them, especially if in the long run they can save you money. For example, retrofitting your building to save energy or water is still a very good idea, especially as electricity prices are headed one way only and that’s up. But there is anecdotal evidence that

some of the “green” initiatives are not hitting the mark immediately and in some instances are being removed.

For example, and there are a number of these, one person took the water saving shower head off their own shower as they didn’t like the pressure. The excuse was they live in Cairns and water supply is not really an issue there – perhaps this is true but in more draught prone areas it’s a terrible thing to do.

The final word however must go to another Strata Manager who tells us that a previous chairperson removed every second light globe in the windowless common passageways inside the building to save electricity, rather than going for more energy-efficient lighting. This is extremely dangerous and if anyone had been hurt then it means spending a lot of time at the lawyers. n


NATIONAL NEWS

...some of the “green” initiatives are not hitting the mark immediately and in some instances are being removed.

NATIONAL NEWS


RECYCLING NEVER LOOkED SO GOOD

Many of the products made from recycled materials look well, no longer recycled. And those “green” products, they get the job done and they do it well. Here’s a selection of the latest things we found for your home.

Wall tilesSeeing used items such as aluminium cans and the like being reused for something that can last a lifetime, is pretty exciting. The humble soft drink can suddenly becomes sustainable luxury.

David Umemoto and Joel Dumas were inspired by their travels and by the people who have crossed their paths, and this comes across in their wall tiles which have used different forms and materials.

“Raw materials are our primary source of experimentation and over time we’ve come to appreciate the fresh and organic qualities of cast recycled-aluminium,” David Umemoto says.

“Playing with various textures, depth and reflection, shadows and light, the result is a versatile product that we believe speaks more than the simple

wall tile,” Joel Dumas adds.

All of their products are carefully handmade by artists and skilled craftsmen. This long and meticulous process ensures that each piece has its special character and therefore is uniquely its own. This method allows Dumas Umemoto to meet their clients’ specific requirements and to create exclusive and custom pieces.For more details email [email protected].

Bench topsEco by Cosentino® is composed of 75% recycled materials such as mirrors salvaged from houses and buildings, glass from windows and bottles, as well as porcelain from china, tiles and sinks. The result is a durable, hygienic, high performance surface against straining, scratching and scorching.

The recycled materials are uniquely blended to achieve a stylish colour palette containing 14 unique colour options. The collection can be easily adapted to both commercial and residential projects with either a polished (providing the surface with a brilliant shine) or leather texture (matte finish).

Gary Isherwood, Area Manager of Cosentino Australia says, “We’ve noticed a high demand for environmentally sustainable quartz surfacing in Australia’s kitchens and bathrooms and so we’re confident that Eco by Cosentino® will cause just as much attention as Silestone does.

The collection caters to the design-oriented yet environmentally-conscious architect, designer and consumer.”

Eco by Cosentino® is available in jumbo slabs of 3250 x 1590 and standard tile sizes are available upon request. Like Cosentino’sSilestone® brand, Eco is most popular for kitchen and bathroom installations; however, it is also ideal for a variety of applications including vanity units, tiles and bar.

For more information visit http://www.silestone.com/oceania/quartz/what-is-eco-by-cosentino.asp.

Cleaning productsEnviroCare Earth has a range of cleaning products that are designed to work without costing the earth. They are one of the only environmentally responsible cleaning products on the market that not only work on tough grime and stains but also contain absolutely no harsh fumes or no nasty chemicals. They have no phosphates, no chlorine, no formaldehyde, no petrochemicals and only use plantation derived ingredients.

The range of cleaning products includes an All Purpose Cleaner, Heavy Duty Cleaner for Oven& BBQ, Disinfectant Concentrate, Mould Remover, Bathroom and Toilet Cleaner and Enviro Clean Floor Care that is available for domestic and large 15L commercial use and completely biodegradable with natural, vegetable extracts and ingredients. They are also non caustic, septic and sewerage safe with no animal testing.

EnviroCare Earth is also Australian made and owned and are one of the only products to contain no palm oil which is responsible for so much environmental devastation. EnviroCare products are also highly concentrated, reducing the need for useless fillers and cheap toxic ingredients. For more information on the complete range of products visit www.envirocareearth.com.au n

NATIONAL NEWS


COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY

Make sure your common property is a safe place with our Community Health and Safety solution.

As reported previously in Community Lifestyle, the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 provides an exemption for premises that are used ONLY for residential purposes however the exact meaning of this section is not known at this time and should be viewed cautiously.

However if the strata scheme has commercial or retail lots, an employee, or any short term accommodation, WHS will impact the scheme.

In any case under common law all strata schemes have an obligation to ensure the health and safety of the people using their common property.

This ‘Duty of Care’ is based on the strata legislation and common law.

To assist its strata scheme, we have designed a low cost solution that provides:

n Guides and ongoing updates

n Health & Safety reporting system

n Tracking of incidents and known hazards

n 24/7 call centre to report hazards and incidents

Here’s how it works, if you’re an executive committee member you need to know your duty of care responsibilities. Community Health and Safety provides this by ensuring committee members are provided with knowledge of the legislation and regulations via regular updates. Committees are also provided with access to a suite of Safety Guides to

assist with minimising risks within the scheme.

Community Health and Safety also keeps a register of identified risks and hazards in the scheme on an ongoing basis as well as a triggering a report system about hazards, risk and incidents and follows up each item. And finally Community Health and Safety maintains records to assist with the compliance process for your scheme.

With this framework in place your strata scheme can be seen to have taken all reasonable steps to identify, reduce and remedy risks in and around the common property, and to fulfil their duty of care obligations in this area.

We encourage all executive committees to be proactive now and speak to their strata managers about subscribing to the Community Health and Safety Service. n

9Winter 2013 Community Lifestyle Magazine

NATIONAL NEWS

SAVING BIG ON ENERGY COSTS

Nightmare electricity costs have prompted a number of initiatives aimed at reducing energy bills and you don’t have to sit in the dark to make real savings.

The PICA Group’s large property base gives it the power to, well, reduce your power spend and take advantage of some government schemes that have been established to help households. So together with Carbon and Energy Reductions (CER) - a vertically integrated energy management company - we are offering a number of programs for both individual lots as well as for common property.

CER’s Deborah Oberon, outlined the programs that are available starting with the light replacement scheme the NSW Government has initiated.

“We are excited to be able to bring this initiative to the PICA Group because we know that we can help strata schemes save a lot of money on their common area electricity bills,” Deborah said.

“Through applying the rebates available under the scheme we can replace fluorescent tubes and metal halide down lights at little or no cost (conditions apply). The LED lights we offer are re-engineered to our own standards and have a 50,000 hour life span and a 5 year warranty.”

CER’s 7 watt LED down lights give up to a 90% reduction in energy consumption producing the same amount of light as the metal halides they replace. The LED tubes last 3 times as long as fluorescent tubes and give the same light output while reducing energy consumption by up to 60%.

CER is also auditing some apartment buildings to map their energy consumption. Deborah said of the first 20 buildings they completed reports for, nearly $250,000.00 worth of energy and maintenance savings will be realised in the first year if they proceed with the scheme.

CER is also able to provide strata schemes with electricity supplies at lower than retail rates.

“Coming soon CER will be able to provide a discount, unconditional offer on electricity for common

areas. There are no locked in contracts and this is a deal that is not available on the open market,” Deborah explained.

The most exciting offer though, involves solar power and does not require strata schemes to lift a finger or spend a cent, which will be magic to the ears of many executive committees.

“The biggest problem with solar power for commercial properties is it’s a huge investment that takes many years to generate a return,”Deborah said.

“As an alternative, CER is proud to announce its Solar Power Purchase Agreements program. This program allows us to sell solar generated electricity to strata schemes. This means having solar panels on the roof of the building but CERowns, installs, insures and maintains them.

“We then sell the energy to the strata scheme for their common area needs at up to 20 percent off their current rate and annual increases will be no more than CPI or 2.1%.”

With electricity prices increasing at around 16 percent each year for the past 6 to 7 years this equates to an impressive saving. The savings over the contract period are impressive and involve absolutely no capital outlay for the strata scheme.

Once the contract is over the solar generation units, which have at least another 5 to 10 years of life,are transferred to the strata scheme to give free electricity for the years that remain.

With these sorts of projected savings and the chance to reduce your energy consumption, why wouldn’t you take up these offers? Talk to your strata manager today to find out more. n


FEATURE

DECLUTTERING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFEIn the Autumn 2013 edition of Community Lifestyle we ran a story on hoarding: when too much stuff becomes too much. It is a tragic story and takes a lot of sensitivity to help people.

But what if you’re not a hoarder instead you have found yourself surrounded by clutter – too many clothes, kids toys, kitchen gadgets? Well there are people who can help you address that problem.

We spoke to Susanne Thiebe of Less Mess, who has also been a member of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO) since 2006, about the process of decluttering.

According to Susanne around three quarters of her clients are residential

with a significant proportion being those who run home offices and perhaps get to the point where they need to organise their offices and separate work from home.

“Often we start by doing the office first. Once people get beyond that we can tackle the rest of the house but it is a process of one step at a time,” Susanne explains.

“It is basically a holistic approach that we take and it doesn’t really matter where you start.”

The issue of clutter is also a fairly modern problem. Apart from the fact that people have far greater spending power and buy a lot of ‘stuff’ we have lost the art of the spring clean.

“The skill of spring cleaning has gotten lost. We just don’t seem to do it anymore. And there is a reluctance to outsource. We need to be smarter and realise that if we don’t have time to do certain things then either we need to adjust our expectations, learn to do them or outsource,” Susanne says.

As housing becomes less affordable and apartment living more attractive it makes sense that there is going to be less space for the things we have accumulated. Susanne, who is also an Interior Architect has an eye for volume and can see where people can fit in furniture and where they can’t.

“This then raises the issue of what to do with the things you have to let go? People either think they need to make money from their things or they can’t let go unless they believe the object or piece of furniture is going to a good home.”

Susanne says that there are a lot of things that can be donated through online collectives such as Freecycle.

“There is even a home for used bras called Project Uplift which sends bras to women in poor or isolated communities.

“Suitable women’s clothes also get a new lease of life at Dressed for Success which helps outfit disadvantaged women going for job interviews and


FEATURE

For enquiries:PH: 02 – 9284-2700EM: [email protected]: www.gracelawyers.com.au

Grace Lawyers is the full service provider to the Strata & Community title, Company title & Stratum (BMC) market.

Our experienced team of senior lawyers and support staff can help you through the maze of legal issues quickly and in a way that is easy to understand and deal with.

We have teams in the following areas:• Building and Construction Law• Corporate & Commercial Law• General/Commercial Litigation• Strata/Community Levy Collection• Insolvency • Insurance Law• Planning & Property Law• Company Title and BMC Law• Strata & Community Title Law• Strata & Community Litigation

A service provider with a difference

those small bottles of toiletries are welcomed by St Barnabas which gives them to homeless people who come in for a shower.”

Susanne also knows what charities such as St Vincents can sell and can quickly sort through items to pick out what should go where.

Of course having a stranger going through your ‘stuff’ can be a little confronting but Susanne is quick to point out that as a member of AAPO she adheres to a Code of Ethics and takes great care to establish trust with her clients.

“The key is being non-judgemental as you are being entrusted with peoples life stories. Sometimes you have to be a psychologist and at others almost a mum as you comfort people confronting change.

“One rule we stick to is that we never throw anything out without consent. We try to be strict about what should stay and what should go but never cross the line into bullying.”

There is also a difference between tidy and organised. Susanne says that tidy is more or less things are pushed under the carpet where organised is that everything has a place.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of people are perfectionists and that’s where their problem lies. They leave the clutter because they can’t meet their own standards so part of what we do is to re-educate them and make them realise things like having children means having toys in the lounge room – that’s normal. Decluttering means find a place for those toys in the lounge room.”

Susanne likes getting into doing whole houses and says that it doesn’t matter when just make a start.

“It’s about giving people back time. It’s not about money. We get people who are at that tipping point but they don’t know where to start but realise they need help.”

A great deal of Susanne’s work comes in before Christmas when people

realise the spare room needs to accommodate grandma but they don’t know where to begin.

“It’s just about getting on top of things and giving people a starting point,” Susanne concludes.

If you want to find a professional organiser near you visit the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers at www.aapo.org.au;

If you have items to donate here are the organisations mentioned in the story:

Freecycle www.freecycle.org/group/au/

Project Uplift www.upliftbras.org

Dress for Success www.dressforsuccess.org

St Barnabas www.barneys.org.au

Of course you can also contact Susanne at www.lessmess.com.au n


NATIONAL NEWS

MISCOMMUNICATION AND REPTILESWhen you have a bad experience, when you really dig down, the cause of it often comes from poor or lack of communication. But not all stories are disastrous – this one we had to share with you from one of our strata managers in NSW.

“Some time ago I was conducting an AGM in the car park of a building at North Parramatta. All was going well until one of the owners, who arrived just as the meeting was coming to an end, asked what was I going to do about the snakes. “What snakes?” was the question on everyone’s mind including two elderly residents and myself.

It appears that the tenant in Unit 2 had converted his second bedroom into a snake pit and finding out this information of course brought the meeting to an abrupt end but not before I was directed to get rid of the snakes.

A knock on Unit 2 brought a man in his 20s to the door. I asked him if he was keeping snakes and he confirmed he was. A quick inspection of the second bedroom revealed an above ground swimming pool neatly fitted into the space with about six snakes in it.

Knowing the by-Laws of the complex, as a good strata manager does, I advised the tenant that he had to seek approval to keep any animals upon the premises. He replied by saying that snakes are reptiles, not animals. I then said that under the Act an animal is deemed to be any living thing apart from plants and humans.

I left the premises and reported back to the owners who were in the car park area. The two elderly ladies said that they were not going back into the building until the snakes were removed. Both made other arrangements to stay somewhere else for the night.

The next morning my first job was to contact the real estate letting agent to sort out the problem. I called the agency and asked for the property manager, when I explained the problem about the snakes she screamed and screamed hysterically.

Eventually the owner of the business picked up the phone and accused me of some dire deed with his property

manager. I protested my innocence and after a few minutes he calmed down and I explained the reason for the call was the snakes in Unit 2. He immediately burst into laughter.

He then explained that his property manager had a dreadful fear of snakes and would go off even at the word “snake”.

An hour later I received a call from the real estate owner saying that he had personally evicted the tenant and his pet snakes. The premises were now empty.

I called both of the elderly ladies saying that it was now safe to return to the building as the snakes had been evicted after their short stay of nearly six months. For me this was just another interesting day in the life of a strata manager.”

It does raise interesting points though which are that the letting agent should have made sure the tenant was aware of the by-laws, the tenant should have advised he had pets and the owners corporation should have befriended the tenant (obviously someone had) and they may have found out sooner about the six other inhabitants of the unit.

Good communications can work wonders. n

Winter 2013 Community Lifestyle Magazine

NATIONAL NEWS

SCA’S SMART BLOCkS PROGRAM

Like a proud parent, Strata Community Australia is very busy showing off its brand new offspring to the world of strata, our Smart Blocks program.

Smart Blocks is in many ways a ground breaking program that is designed to empower strata owner residents to make changes in their buildings.

The concept came out of the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Information Grants program which was aimed at helping community groups and small businesses to reduce their energy costs. The first challenge of course was to ensure that owners corporations were eligible for the program as they have tended to fall between the cracks of these types of government programs in the past. The fact that they were even recognised as an eligible target audience was a breakthrough in itself.

We put together a group of like-minded individuals from the Cities of Melbourne and Sydney as well as representatives from the Owners Corporation Network and the Green Strata consumer groups, backed by much wider range of stakeholders ranging from SCA sponsor Ausgrid to a number of academic specialists.

The bid was successful and work began in earnest late in 2012 on building an energy efficiency toolkit aimed at helping owners corporation to reduce their power bills. Early on in the design phase it became clear that we needed more than a guide to things you can do in your building.

There’s plenty of that knowledge available but what has been missing until now is a guide and roadmap to navigating the strata system and building the case and plan for change.

The end product is an online toolkit that starts off by helping people understand the specific issues in their building and options for making improvements and then walks them through the process of making change.

First unveiled to the industry at our national convention in Perth, Smart Blocks has kept on rolling out through media launches in Sydney and Melbourne with a program of 40 consumer workshops to follow in all major Australian cities over 2013 and 2014. There are also activity streams aimed at familiarising strata managers with the toolkit and recruiting trainers to continue to use and develop the program.

Perhaps even more importantly, we also have a template that can be readily adapted to helping buildings navigate almost any other kind of change from fire upgrades to major rectifications. And that really is going to make a difference. n

Mark Lever CEO Strata Community Australia

13


BUILDING MAINTENANCE

THE HIGH COST OF NOT TREATING CONCRETE CANCER

Concrete cancer is a tough agenda item for any executive committee to address, but it’s the decision not to act on the problem that concerns most in the industry.

If concrete cancer is not attended to first time around it will only lead to further repair costs as the problem spreads. The risk of injury to people from falling concrete pieces also increases the longer the problem is left unresolved.

While some lot owners choose to ignore concrete damage in their building, if the executive committee fail to act on the issue it compromises their principal role of ensuring the building is properly maintained.

Director Neil Trenwith of concrete cancer experts Magnatex Industries has experienced numerous cases in which early reporting and proper repair would have resulted in major long term cost savings for lot owners and committees.

“In one case the committee was reluctant to acknowledge the damage being caused from increased moisture getting in to the concrete through old window frames. Early intervention would have resulted in minimal expenditure rather than the significant sum when the problem was serious,” Neil said.

Concrete cancer is known as concrete spalling by experts and the main symptom is concrete flaking accompanied by nearby staining. The causes vary but when concrete is contaminated it causes the steel reinforcement bar in the concrete to rust. When steel rusts expands it causes the concrete to swell, crack or flake.

“In another case the swelling of concrete floors had been evident for many years however the owner delayed any action and the executive committee was not assertive. Had the problem been addressed in the beginning it would certainly have saved everyone a lot of time and expense,” Neil said.

“The cause was the magnesite topping used on the kitchen and bathroomfloors. The product is made of magnesium chloride and when it gets wet it releases chlorides into the concrete, which in turn attack the reinforcing steel and lead to spalling,” he said.

Magnesite was a popular levelling topping for concrete floors of apartments built in the 1960s and 1970s.

President of the Australasian Concrete Repair Association, Andrew Dickinson said a common issue was a lack of understanding by owners of the long term impacts that concrete spalling could have on a building.

“I can understand that financing repair work when it adds no capital value can feel hard to justify for some lot owners and committees. But it’s just not enough to render over the concrete and hide the rusting steel, as the rusting process will continue underneath, causing further displacement,” Andrew said.

“Compromising on a lesser job or doing nothing at all is only going to cause you more problems in the future.” n

By Ollie Hogue


BUILDING MAINTENANCE

TREATING THAT MOULDY PROBLEM

Winter can create a number of challenges for those living in strata but very few could be as damaging to your health as mould growth.

Living in a property affected by mould can trigger coughs, congestion, skin irritations, headaches, respiratory infections, fatigue and worsen asthma and allergic conditions.

Properties suffer from damp and mould growth during the winter months due to increased condensation. Mould will grow in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, storage areas and basements.

Mould specialist Hoss Nouri from Pure Protect, said “Mould usually occurs because of condensation or high humidity.It appears as tiny black spots, usually on the side surfaces of external walls, in corners and in poorly

ventilated spaces, such as behind cupboards and wardrobes. Water leaks will also increase the incidence of mould.”

“Moulds spores are microscopic and are naturally found in the air we breathe. They can grow in and on many materials such as furniture, carpets, walls, timber and plumbing. When large amounts of spores grow, your health may be compromised,” Hoss said.

The common home response for tackling a mould problem is with bleach but this is unlikely to resolve the problem in the long term. In fact, treating the problem with bleach may actually increase mould growth.

“Mould can be killed, but if it is not removed properly it can remain in the area just cleaned and the harmful spores can be released into the air. Normal cleaning products are usually only a short term solution,” Hoss said.

“Bleach will treat the visible signs of the mould but is unlikely to address

the underlying mould infection. Mould may also feed on any surface that had mould killed by bleach, so treating it with bleach may actually promote more growth.”

If mould is a problem, Hoss says the best thing to do is call an in expert to get an opinion. But there also a number of general rules you should follow.

“Combating mould requires a combination of sufficient heating, ventilation and insulation to reduce condensation and air moisture in the home,” Hoss said.

“The cheapest and easiest way of reducing moisture and humidity levels is by ventilating a room by opening a window or door.

“The most effective methods for reducing moisture is to use exhaust fans in areas where water vapour is created and to provide a continuous low level of dry heat in the home.” n

By Ollie Hogue


NSW NEWS

MAJOR PLANNING CHANGES COMINGLast year, Community Lifestyle Magazine, brought you updates on what was happening with planning laws in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. This followed a comprehensive review of planning laws in Victoria and announcements by the new Queensland and New South Wales governments that they would be also reviewing their planning laws.

We spoke to Stephen Albin, CEO, at the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) in New South Wales to find out what has been happening in that state and what the future might hold.

Like NSW Fair Trading with the proposed new strata laws, the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure is undertaking a massive program of consultation as it undergoes the process of reviewing the planning system in NSW.

“Without a fair and equitable infrastructure funding model, there’ll be no affordable housing.”On 16 April the Department released a White Paper – A new planning system for NSW for public feedback. Since then the UDIA NSW has been spending every waking moment undertaking its own consultation with members in order to put together a comprehensive submission together in response to the State Government’s White Paper.

On the whole, Stephen Albin said that the UDIA NSW welcomed the bold planning within the State Government’s White Paper, but said the real benefits of changing the planning structure will not be seen unless infrastructure funding is addressed.

“It is encouraging the NSW Government has committed to reviewing infrastructure funding through an infrastructure taskforce – this can’t come soon enough,’ Stephen said.

“The State Government’s projections show NSW will need to cater to an additional 1.3 million people by 2031.

“These people need homes, homes that are supported by vital infrastructure such as roads, bridges, recreational areas, and sewerage and water services.

“Under the current funding model new home buyers are being charged up to $65,000 per home in levies and taxes to fund infrastructure – this system doesn’t work.

“Without a fair and equitable infrastructure funding model, there’ll be no affordable housing.”

The UDIA NSW said even though it welcomed the initiative, the industry still considered the white paper a work in progress.

Stephen said that details on the Public Participation Charter and infrastructure funding were still vague and the Government has committed to establishing advisory groups to firm up details.

“Infrastructure funding is the area that has the least detail and certainty in the White Paper.

Without an affordable, equitable and transparent means to paying for infrastructure many of the benefits of the planning system reform may be illusory.

“The model proposed in the Green Paper is essentially retained in the White Paper.”


NSW NEWS

According to the UDIA NSW, the Government will apply a three tiered model, limiting items that can be included in local infrastructure charges and introducing a new regional growth fund for acquiring regional open space and drainage.

“Rather than adopt simple revenue raising models as proposed by UDIA NSW, the Government appears to rest its faith in contestability as a means of reducing infrastructure charges,” Stephen explained in a briefing to members.

“There are some common-sense measures included relating to the timing of local infrastructure charges that will help with project cash flows.

There is no magic pudding with respect to infrastructure funding and UDIA NSW will work with Government within the existing framework to identify how savings can be made.

“All in all, it is obvious the journey down the reform path hasn’t ended yet and there is still a great deal of work to be done.”

Stephen said infrastructure funding aside, the White Paper included a number of positive and long-awaited changes to the planning scheme including:

n Up front community engagement to ensure more transparency and early community involvement in development projects.

n Quicker development application decisions through a reduction in red tape.

n A more strategic planning framework.

n Private sector involvement in infrastructure planning, delivery and operation.

n Quicker priority infrastructure planning and approvals.

“The good news is that companion legislation has been drafted and the Government is firming on its policy reforms,” Stephen noted.

“The companion legislation is good in that it outlines the intentions of the government and should leave little to judicial interpretation.

“It is important that the regulations are made available because the devil will be in the detail.”

Community and stakeholder consultation on the White Paper continues with submissions closing on 28 June 2013.

It is expected that new legislation will be tabled in Parliament during the Spring 2013 sitting program. n


STYLE

Here are five things you can do to keep warm and enjoy this season:

1 Consider rearranging your furniture to make an open room a bit more snug. You could group seating closer around a fire or heat source so that you and your family can be warm together. In Summer we like open cool places but in Winter grouping close together generates warmth. So snuggle up with someone you like.

2 Get out the blankets and if you have left overs why not give them away? Each Winter the charities can always do with a few extra blankets or warm clothes in good condition so those less fortunate can also get some warmth. Helping others also makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

3 Eat well but stay away from the fried, fatty and highly processed food. Porridge is great for breakfast and winter vegetables like potatoes, pumpkin and squash are just crying out to be made in to soups, casseroles and stews. You don’t have to be a great gourmet cook either. There are a number of kitchen appliances on the market that pretty much make the soup or stew for you. Simple.

4 To keep the heat in make use of your curtains and blinds because around 40 percent of heat is lost through windows. Cover the windows and keep the heat in. Using draught excluders will also help you retain heat. Hardware stores can help you find the excluder right for your door and are pretty simple to install. Even simpler – especially if you’re a tenant – are the long “sausages” that are made of material and filled with sand or dried beans. They might look daggy

but they can save you money on your heating bills by keeping the cold out.

5 Keeping warm may also mean getting out. Yes exercise is a great way of staying warm as it boosts your circulation, boosts your mood and also heats your skin. Make sure you wear warm clothing that breathes and you’ll reap the benefits come summer from being fitter.

A word of warning: Winter is the season where house fires can occur with tragic consequences. Never leave a heater on unattended and always turn off your heater or heaters before you go to bed. Beware also of old electric blanket as the wiring can fray and spark. If you’ve owned your heater or electric blanket for some time get them checked out by a qualified electrician. It may pay you to do so.

So stay warm and stay safe this winter and it will be over before you know it. n

GET COSY AT HOME THIS WINTERWhile Autumn in Eastern Australian was somewhat mild, Winter may not be quite as pleasant and so with that in mind Community Lifestyle has some tips for keeping your home cosy and inviting this season. The key is creating an atmosphere that is both warm and inviting while at the same time trying to keep the energy consumption down – unless it’s the coldest day of the year in which case crank up that heat.


RECIPE

WINTER WARMERYou’ve had a hectic day, its cold and you’re hungry. Most of these ingredients are staples that you can keep in the pantry or fridge. Whip them out and in no time you have a hearty soup. Just add crusty bread and maybe a glass of something Australian and red.

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the onion, chilli, celery and carrot and cook for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add cumin and coriander and cook, stirring, for a further minute.

3. Add the red lentils and chicken or vegetable stock, bring to boil and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until lentils are tender.

4. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls with a dollop of yoghurt.

Source: Taste.com.au from Delicious. June 2004

Ingredients

1 tbs olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 long red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 cup red lentils, rinsed, drained

1L (4 cups) chicken or vegetable stock

Low-fat natural yoghurt, to serve

Fast Winter Soup

FruitBananas Chestnuts Custard apples Fuji apples Grapefruit Kiwifruit Lemons Limes Mandarins Nashi Navel oranges Pears

Persimmons Pink lady apples Quinces Red delicious apples Rhubarb Ruby red grapefruit

VegetablesBeetroot Broccoli Brown onions Brussels sprouts Cabbage

Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chinese greens Fennel Garlic Ginger Kumara or sweet potatoes Leeks Parsnips Potatoes Pumpkin Spinach

In season now...

Documents

17920 BCS Community Lifestyle Jun 2013 · Inside Strata, April 2013 edition. n RECOGNISING A SCAM. NATIONAL NEWS Winter 2013 Community Lifestyle Magazine 5 Changes to the Australian