Tasmania

Congratulations! Tasmania has agreed to implement the new National Construction Code!

Tasmania has agreed to implement the new National Construction Code, with the Livable Housing Design Standards coming into effect on 1 October 2024.

The Tasmanian Government has put in place both a staged implementation and exemptions.

The proposed exemptions include:

  • Small buildings less than or equal to 60 square metres that are built offsite, and worker and tourist accommodation.
  • Allotments having a frontage of less than or equal to 10 metres, or irregular allotments with an area of less than 300 square metres.
  • The requirement to install a toilet on the entry level where there are no habitable rooms located on that level.

 

The proposed implementation dates are:

From 1 October 2024 compliance will be required with provisions relating to:

  • Reinforcement of bathroom and toilet walls;
  • Step-free shower access;
  • Front door width

 

From 1 October 2025 compliance will be required with provisions relating to:

  • Internal doors and corridor width;
  • Toilets to have circulation

 

From 1 October 2026 compliance will be required with provisions relating to:

  • Step-free, level entry

 

The Building Better Homes campaign is seeking information about how exemptions and phased implementation will be monitored and reported in Tasmania.

What to do next

You can email the Minister for Building and Construction and let them know:

  • you support the government’s enactment of the Livable Housing Design standards to make sure there are more accessible houses in Tasmania
  • accessible housing must be developed without any exemptions or concessions monitoring is needed to make sure houses are being built to the Standards

    TO: [email protected]

    SUBJECT: Thank You for Your Support

    ——————————————————————————-

    Dear Minister, I am writing to thank you for championing the inclusion of mandatory minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code (NCC), and to congratulate you for the successful outcome at the Building Minister’s Meeting on 30 April 2021. The position taken by the majority of Building Ministers at that meeting to include the Livable Housing Design Guidelines Silver Standard in the NCC for the very first time represents a very important milestone in the quest for inclusion and access for all. This is a fantastic outcome for people with disability, seniors, families and indeed all Australians. It will change the lives of millions of Australians and future proof Australian housing for generations to come. Opportunities for major, structural reform such as this are rare, and hard won. Without your advocacy on this issue this outcome would not have been possible. I will continue to campaign to ensure that those states that did not support the inclusion of these standards commit to a timely implementation of the new NCC. Only a nationally consistent approach will ensure we have a National Construction Code for ALL Australians. Once again, thank you for your support. Yours Sincerely,