Surveyors Australia is pleased to release a Discussion Paper for the support of Engineering Surveyors across the country. In 2023, the role of Engineering Surveyors on building and infrastructure sites was called into question in Victoria and this highlighted the need for standards and competency across all job sites.
Currently Australia’s largest and nationally significant infrastructure projects (including commercial, industrial, and residential construction projects) have no national regulatory system to ensure the process is consistent and/or undertaken by a suitably qualified and experienced surveyor. The construction industry generates nearly $360 billion in revenue for Australia, so this is a significant concern.
As the peak industry body representing the 16,000 surveyors working in Australia, Surveyors Australia is calling for regulatory change at a national level, through the introduction of a National Standard and Competency Framework for Engineering and/or Construction Surveying in Australia.
This Discussion Paper identifies the significant risks associated with an unregulated industry including harm to the public, businesses, clients, infrastructure, and residential construction.
It outlines our wish to partner and assist in the design, development, and implementation of a National Standard and Competency Framework for Engineering Surveyors, that is mandated and enforced in major construction and infrastructure project contracts and tender documents across Australia.
Surveyors Australia believe this should:
- be recognised by federal, state, territory and local governments, local authorities, private and public asset owners
- provide comfort to project owners that their risks are mitigated through a consistent process for engineering survey work across Australia.
A Standard will help to avoid the risk of deploying Engineering Surveyors who are not suitably qualified and experienced to perform to the level required. This Paper further articulates the benefits of this change for the approximately 10,000 surveyors in Australia who undertake this work.
This Discussion Paper is part of Surveyors Australia’s call to action.
We encourage our members to share this paper with their clients and gauge the level of support for us to continue this important work. We invite stakeholders across industry and government to engage to improve the quality and integrity of the sector.
We look forward to continuing this process to the betterment of both our industry and those involved in Australia’s construction sector.
Feedback your thoughts and comments directly to Michelle Blicavs via the email ceo@consultingsurveyors.com.au
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