Da Silva v Building Professionals Board
[2019] NSWCATOD 177
At a glance
Source factsCourt
NCAT Occupational
Decision date
2019-05-24
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (8 paragraphs)
REASONS FOR DECISION
- This matter concerns disciplinary action against an accredited certifier, Mr Orlando Da Silva. On 5 December 2018, acting under s 31(4) of the Building Professionals Act 2005 (the Act), the Building Professionals Board (the Board) issued a reprimand to Mr Da Silva (under s 34(1)(a)) and ordered him to pay a fine of $25,000 within 28 days (under s 34(1)(f)). The imposition of the penalty followed a finding that Mr Da Silva was guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct as defined in s 19 of the Act.
- Section 33 of the Act provides that a person in respect of whom the Board has made a disciplinary finding may apply to the Tribunal for an administrative review under the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 of that finding and any action taken by the Board under s 31(4). The Tribunal is to determine, based on the material before it, what is the correct and preferable decision, and may affirm, vary, or set aside the decision and make a substitute decision, or set aside the decision and remit it to the Board.
- The decision to issue a reprimand and impose the fine came after investigation of a complaint against Mr Da Silva in relation to a construction certificate issued by him on 30 July 2014 for a development at St Peters. Section 6.8 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 provides that a construction certificate must not be issued with respect to the plans and specifications for any building work unless the requirements of the regulations have been complied with. The Board found that Mr Da Silva had issued a construction certificate in contravention of cl 145(1)(a) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 which provides that a certifying authority must not issue a construction certificate for building work unless the design and construction of the building (as depicted in the plans and specifications) is not inconsistent with the development consent.
- Mr Da Silva does not agree that the construction certificate issued by him was inconsistent with the development consent. He therefore states he is not guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and no penalty should be imposed upon him.