Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1032158
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 SEPTEMBER 2018 6 NEWS ANALYSIS DAVID HUDSON DUST, noise, irregular working hours, lack of safety procedures, second-rate craftsmanship – all these complaints will no longer be bounced between the four main construction regulators if a single building authority is to take over their duties and as- sume responsibility. That is what Transport Min- ister Ian Borg unveiled with the White Paper publication yesterday, proposing the crea- tion of a new authority that will oversee the entire building in- dustry of the country. Borg said that the legislation governing this sector was "anti- quated and no longer compat- ible with the construction in- dustry and is in need of urgent revision." The proposed Building and Construction Authority will be a "port of call" for all stakehold- ers, including citizens – one single entity through which anyone could lodge complaints and monitor construction op- erations. It will absorb the pow- ers of the Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC), the Building Regulation Office (BRO), the Building Regulation Board (BRB) and the Masons Board. Former Lands Authority CEO, Carlo Mifsud, will oversee the functions of this new authority. At the public consultation yesterday, he presented the main challenges within the construction industry and fol- lowed up with the new entity's aims and objectives to address these challenges. Current underlined challeng- es in the development industry include: • Lack of enforcement on construction sites • Lack of enforcement post-development stage • Lack of skills and training • Outdated legislation dat- ing back to 1960 which do not cater for technologi- cal improvements • Weak regulation in terms of health and safety and environment manage- ment Mifsud quoted statistics per- tinent to construction, how at the end of last year, the con- struction industry had generat- ed €356.4 million, contributing to 3.2% of the GDP, with 13,076 people being employed within the industry. For this reason, he said, the proposed authority has the fol- lowing aims to aspire to: • Act as an advisor to gov- ernment on policies • Service the building in- dustry • Conduct training to en- hance skills and trades re- lated to construction • Become the national focal point for the sector, both in terms of operation and research • Bring together stakehold- ers • Consult industry stake- holders and the general public • Devise quality assurance frameworks • Raise industry-related standards • Provide accountability through an independent and transparent discipli- nary process • Spearhead any changes to legislation which could impact the industry • Conduct research in the industry for innovation The Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects also implemented Malta Developers Associa- tion's proposal for a register of practitioners within the building industry in its White Paper draft. This register would host all practitioners within the build- ing industry who hold a licence and skills cards, providing due recognition to high quality con- struction workers and develop- ers. Processing applications will also go through a department that will issue reports on adja- cent properties prior to com- mencement of works, conduct geological surveys, and issue Energy Performance Certifi- cates, documents that rate the energy efficiency of buildings according to EU regulation. The powers of the new au- thority will also extend to be- ing the prime consultant within the Planning Authority's struc- tures. The authority is proposed to take over the role of plan- ning consultant currently car- ried out by the Civil Protection Department, the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, the Department of Environmental Health, and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority. The Kamra tal-Periti (KTP) issued a statement after the un- veiling, welcoming the White Paper issued for consultation by the Transport Ministry. It said that, "the consolida- tion of the various fragmented pieces of legislation, bodies and departments regulating the in- dustry under one legislative and administrative umbrella is a positive development towards ensuring higher standards in the building and construction industry, to bring it in line with modern practice and standards, and to ensure the protection and sustainability of the sig- nificant investment made when properties are bought or rented out." The Kamra tal-Periti (KTP) issued a statement after the un- veiling, welcoming the White Paper issued for consultation by the Transport Ministry. It said that, "the consolida- tion of the various fragmented pieces of legislation, bodies and departments regulating the in- dustry under one legislative and administrative umbrella is a positive development towards ensuring higher standards in the building and construction industry, to bring it in line with modern practice and standards, and to ensure the protection and sustainability of the sig- nificant investment made when properties are bought or rented out." One authority to rule them all The new Building and Construction Authority proposed in a White Paper for public consultation will absorb the powers of existing building entities and function as the only construction industry regulator in the country