For the second year in a row, the Powerhouse Museum in Darling Harbour Sydney played host to the Plumbing Supply Forum. Industry professionals including manufacturers, engineers, regulators, politicians and of course plumbers gathered to demonstrate support for their peers and in doing so debate and discuss the issues that most affect the industry.

The Forum addresses issues that are fundamental to the plumbing industry’s future. It provides a networking environment that encourages attendees to meet, discuss and learn from peers within the industry by creating an event that fosters co-operation and communication.

Topics for the day included the effect of the GFC on building and construction, the National Construction Code (NCC), the Federal Opposition’s response to current government regulatory issues and failures, a hot water sector update, regulatory planning, how dry drains affect business, point of sale offences for non-compliant product and related penalties, urine diversion technology, the role of the Plumbing Products Industry Group (PPI) and plumbing in the United States of America.

Seats were difficult to come by, as the industry turned out in spades to listen to what the guest speakers had to say. When Connection Magazines publisher Jeff Patchell opened proceedings, he reminded those in attendance of the importance of coming together for events like this to create unity within the industry.

Following Jeff was the first speaker of the day, Ben Philips the former chief economist for the Housing Industry Association (HIA). Ben began the presentations with a discussion about the effect of the global financial crisis on new housing and renovations. He gave an overview of unemployment rates, which he says have peaked at 5.4%, well down on last year’s forecasts, explained the reliance of Australia’s economy to China, the effect of interest rate hikes on housing affordability (which will worsen in the near future), tax reforms, the tapering off of new home lending since the withdrawal of the first home buyers grant and why housing recovery depends on upgrade buyers and investors.

In a nutshell Ben made the point that Australia is not building enough houses to meet demand, nor is there new stock in the rental market and therefore prices will remain high. As such, renovation activity is sustained and has been buoyed by strong house price growth and positive news on the outlook of the labour market.

David Sharp, speaking as chair of the National Construction Code Working Group, was next at the lectern. His job is to galvanise the industry to accept that the NCC is the best move forward as a nationally consistent approach to on-site building and plumbing regulation.

The objectives of the project are to deliver a National Construction Code for plumbing and resolve the future administration of the WaterMark Certification Scheme.

The Working Group consists of a partnership between the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and the National Plumbing Regulators Forum (NPRF). It is the ABCB’s job to provide administration and technical support.

The NCC is well represented across the industry and includes Lance Glare of Building Codes Qld, Jeff Clark of SA Water, Graeme Hunt and Alan Humphreys of Building Standards Tasmania, Phil Payne from the WA Plumbers Licensing Board, Charlie Gauci from NSW Fair Trading and Shayne La Combre or the Plumbing Industry Commission Victoria among others.

It is hoped that the launch of the new Code for referencing will occur by 1 May 2011, comprising consolidated BCA provisions. A new IGA, governance and funding arrangements have been slated for June 2011 and complete legislative amendments and all related transitional arrangements to be completed by June 2012.