Building Construction Authority, a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anything related to construction – Aaron Farrugia

The Building Construction Authority will serve as a one-stop-shop that people can use for anything they need to know in relation to the construction industry including construction site procedures, their rights in this regard and much more.

This was part of Planning Minister Aaron Farrugia’s winding down address for the second reading of the bill for the creation of this Authority in parliament on Wednesday. The bill has now passed to committee stage.

“When I said I would change the narrative of this industry (the construction industry), I was sure of what I said. Today I am even more convinced about what I said. When I say I’m not comfortable with the narrative we have today in construction or planning, because of the negative connotations they have, I did not say I am going to change it using magic. Or with some expensive PR exercise, or smart PR. But by making reforms,” Farrugia started off saying.

Judge Quintano report not a blueprint but good basis for discussion

He explained that this reform will be carried out in collaboration with the industry and its stakeholders without underhand dealings or shocks to industry. This is a long-term reform, he said, referring to the 35-page report that judge Lawrence Quintano issued following the inquiry that Prime Minister Robert Abela opened following the death of Miriam Pace last year which caused major red flags in the industry to resurface.

However, Farrugia noted that there are still things that need to be addressed in the immediate to mid-term as well.

He also stated that this report is not a blueprint for the government, but rather a good basis for discussion with the main stakeholders and eventually with the Authority’s chairman and board of directors to implement what they believe should be implemented within the agreed timeframe. “The report places the new Authority as the fulcrum of the necessary reforms.”

One-stop-shop for anything related to construction

The Authority will bring the prominent construction and planning authorities under one roof and under one leadership: Building Construction Agency, Building Regulations Board, Building Regulations Office, and Masons Board.

The Minister alongside Parliamentary Secretary for Construction Chris Agius have already started to work on the third reading of this bill and decide on who will make up this authority and called for the opposition’s help and support in this process.

Farrugia said that the authority will be made up of varying professionals and officials in the field who will carry out the scrutiny and compliance of the industry which the public rightfully wants to see done.

Farrugia added that the Authority will also lead education campaigns which will empower the public with the information they have a right to, as the Safer Neighbourhood Scheme is doing and will be made mandatory on a national level.

A National Building Code focusing on the three most crucial sectors of construction and planning – Demolition, Excavation, and Structures – will also be procured.

The Authority will also be in charge of addressing the skills gap that exists in these industries. Farrugia said that the closure of trade schools was a grievous mistake as it led to lack of regulations, licensing and registration as well as trained workers.

“We are already discussing the use of skills cards that have already started to be operated by BICC and now we need to move to what is called VINFL - Validation of Informal and Non-Formal Learning. This is basically an assessment on existing operators of what they know and do not know which is crucial and should be done in the immediately.”

“We are seeing this as a one-stop-shop to have one place for everything related to construction sites, rights, energy performance criteria, and many others,” he added, noting that new technologies will be introduced like the CRM tool which will be used by the Planning Authority, and the Holistic GIM system.

On a concluding note, Farrugia said that these reforms will affect families, consumers, first time, developers, architects, engineers, workers as well as contractors alike as well as the green economy as there is need to move towards modern and least damaging practices to our environment and the surrounding environment, thereby then also having an industry that continues to be a pillar to the Maltese economy.