This decision follows extensive public consultation, which showed significant support for retaining 13 home building licenses.

This is a fantastic outcome for consumers and our local tradies, because it maintains important protections, while also reducing costs.

We’re keeping all 13 home building licenses because we need skilled and qualified tradies, but we’re also reducing the financial burden on our small businesses.

Renewal fees will drop from up to $605 every three years, to just a $51 processing fee for tradies to update their details every five years, which will give them more money to pay the bills, put food on the table, grow their businesses and save considerable time.

The licenses that will be supported through these changes include decorating, painting, fencing, glazing, kitchen and bathroom bench top installation, splash back installation, paving, shower screen installation, ducting/mechanical ventilation, shade sails and shade systems installation, dry plastering, wet plastering and minor maintenance/cleaning.

This is about making it easier for both tradies and consumers.

Boating season around the corner

As the daily average temperature continues to rise each week, we’ll see more and more anglers, water sports enthusiasts and recreational boaters hitting the waterways and dams in our region.

Warmer weather is synonymous with water and boats, but it comes with important responsibilities regarding safety on the water.

Safety equipment should be carefully inspected; including checks of lifejackets to make sure they are in good working condition and that floatation devices are in working order.

Items such as flares, distress beacons and fire extinguishers should be replaced if they have passed their expiry date.

Boaters should have up-to-date charts and local boating maps on board for every new waterway they explore, and ensure boating navigation lights are working regardless of whether a boat trip is only planned for during the day.