Author: Liam Kerr

In an extraordinary feat of coordination and craftsmanship, the iconic Dimmeys Clock Tower in Richmond, Melbourne has received a long-awaited facelift. With trams rattling by and curious onlookers below (as only in Melbourne), the team from Express Glass carefully craned in two 2.23-metre diameter clock faces — each weighing 146 kg — breathing new life into the historic structure.

Express Glass project manager led the ambitious operation, orchestrating a multi-skilled team of glaziers, electricians, a horologist, a heritage consultant, a signwriter, a crane operator, and even a specialist glass-cutting team from Hobart. The result? A remarkable restoration that blends modern precision with timeless legacy.

Belinda Elworthy, CEO of Gotcha4life, joined SCA (NSW) director Edwina Feilion and Matt Byrne from Express Glass, who are proud supporters of Gotcha4life and SCA (NSW), to discuss the tools for building emotional muscles, which are essential to helping us cope with life’s ups and downs.

Did you brush your teeth today?

Healthy dental habits are drilled into us from an early age, forming a daily habit. We know the outcomes of this and the repercussions of not doing it.

Belinda spoke about the need for a similar approach to your mental health and normalising building your mental fitness. Strengthening those invisible emotional muscles with some attention and effort, and help us cope with life’s ups and downs.

“50% of us will suffer a significant mental health challenge in our life time”

Belinda focused on the three, evidence-based, protective factors that are effective in building out mental fitness:

1. Don’t worry alone
2. Embrace your village
3. Build your emotional Muscles

Exterior Painting

A well-maintained façade is essential for both a building’s appearance and structural durability. Rope access allows painters to reach all sections of the exterior with care, eliminating the need for cumbersome scaffolding or expensive lifting equipment. This technique reduces setup time, minimises disruption and ensures a professional finish in all the tough to reach places. Whether it’s a complete repaint or minor touch-ups, abseiling provides an efficient and high-quality painting solution.

Routine Building Maintenance

Regular maintenance is key to preventing expensive repairs whilst prolonging a building’s lifespan. Simple procedures such as soft washing or pressure cleaning can remove accumulated contaminants like salt residue and traffic pollution. Additionally, abseilers can easily inspect and repair issues such as cracked surfaces, water leaks, deteriorating sealants, or damaged façade elements. With the bonus of minimal disruptions to residents, rope access experts provide a proactive approach to maintenance, helping strata managers address concerns before they become major problems.

High-Rise Window Cleaning

Keeping windows clean not only enhances a building’s aesthetic appeal but also maximises natural light for residents and tenants. Rope access is one of the safest and most effective methods for high-rise window cleaning, eliminating the need for disruptive machinery or heavy scaffolding. Using specialised equipment and eco-friendly cleaning solutions, abseiling professionals ensure a streak-free, polished look that keeps your building looking fresh all year round.

Anchor Point Testing & Certification

Let’s not forget safety. Ensuring compliance with safety regulations is crucial for any strata building, and annual anchor point certification is legally required in Australia. Rope access technicians can inspect, test and certify anchor points, ensuring all height safety systems meet the necessary standards. Regular certification not only keeps buildings compliant but also guarantees the safety of workers performing maintenance, painting and cleaning tasks at heights.

For strata managers seeking a reliable and efficient way to maintain their buildings, abseiling provides a versatile solution with minimal impact on residents and budgets. Whether it’s painting, maintenance, window cleaning or safety compliance, rope access specialists deliver high-quality results every time.

For more details on how rope access can benefit your strata building, get in touch with Premier Painting today. www.premierpainting.com.au

Disaster Recovery Allowance 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the Australian government is providing one-off Centrelink payments to help people who’ve been severely impacted by the cyclone. These payments are available for adults and children in affected areas, including those who have been injured, lost a loved one or had their home damaged by the cyclone. The payments are: 

• $1,000 for adults 

• $400 for children 

If the cyclone has left you unable to work, you can also apply for the Disaster Recovery Allowance. This provides financial support for up to 13 weeks to help cover your living expenses while you recover. Whether you’ve lost your job or are unable to return to work due to injury or property damage, this payment is designed to help you through the next few months. 

These payments will be available starting 2:00 PM AEDT on Tuesday March 11. To apply, you can visit myGov, where you can check if you’re eligible and submit your application. 

Community Recovery Support Fund 

In addition to individual support, both the state and federal governments have created the $15 million Community Recovery Support Fund to help councils restore important community services. This fund will help repair and reopen community centres, preschools, libraries and other local facilities that were damaged by the cyclone.  

Additional Help 

Along with the Centrelink payments, there are a couple of other ways you can access help: 

• Queensland Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant to help people affected by a disaster to get medical supplies, clothing, food and temporary accommodation. 

• NAB Disaster Relief Grants for Customers of NAB who’ve been affected by the cyclone can apply for a $1,000 disaster relief grant to help cover immediate costs and aid recovery. 

If you’ve been impacted by Cyclone Alfred, it’s important to stay informed about the recovery support available to you. Whether through Centrelink payments, local grants or assistance from your bank, there is help to support your recovery. Be sure to apply for the financial aid that’s available and reach out if you need assistance. 

Emergency Contacts

• Life-Threatening Emergencies
  • 000 – Police, Fire, Ambulance (from landlines)

• Emergency Radio
  • ABC North Coast FM 94.5 or AM 720

• Local council assistance
  • Ballina Shire Council
    • 1300 864 444
    • Ballina Emergency Dashboard
  • Byron Shire Council
    • (07) 3403 8888
    • Byron Emergency Dashboard
  • City of Gold Coast
    • 07 5629 5629
    • Gold Coast Emergency Dashobard
  • Kyogle Council
    • 02 6632 1611
  • Lismore City Council
    • 02 6625 0500
    • Lismore Emergency Dashboard
  • Richmond Valley Council
    • 02 6660 0300
    • Richmond Valley Disaster Dashboard
  • Tweed Shire Council
    • 02 6670 2400
    • Tweed Emergency Dashboard

• Storm & Flood Assistance – NSW State Emergency Services
  • 132 500 – For storm, flood, sandbags and emergency assistance
  • Homepage | NSW SES
  • Current self-serve sandbag locations | NSW SES
  • NSW SES recommends residents download the ‘Hazards Near me app’

When disaster strikes, you should familiarise yourself with local emergency numbers, stay connected to your council’s emergency dashboard and download the NSW SES app to receive real-time updates. 

Always follow the guidance of the NSW SES to ensure you’re ready for any emergency that may come your way. 

Stay safe and remember, preparation is key! 

Program Overview 

Key Benefits 

1. Cost-of-living relief 

Apartment residents can save up to $600 each year on their energy bills with the program. Using solar energy helps lower electricity costs, reducing the need for expensive power from the grid and offering long-term savings for residents. 

2. Boost to Sustainability 

Switching to solar energy cuts down on carbon emissions, making apartment buildings more environmentally friendly. This initiative contributes to a cleaner, greener environment and supports efforts to reduce NSW’s reliance on fossil fuels. 

3.Financial Assistance for Installation 

The program covers up to 50% of the installation costs for solar systems, with a maximum of $150,000 per project. This financial support reduces the upfront cost, making solar energy a more affordable option for apartment buildings looking to make the switch. 

Steps to Participate 

1. Check the Program Overview table above to see if your apartment building meets the program’s criteria, including whether it has 3-55 units and whether you have installed solar within the last 10 years. 

2. Work with the owners corporation to evaluate the feasibility of installing shared rooftop solar systems and prepare the necessary documents. 

3. Submit your application through the NSW Government website here. Applications for the Solar for Apartment Residents program are open until December 1 2025 or until funds are fully allocated. Act now to seize this opportunity to improve sustainability and lower energy costs. 

Graham Gorrie was engaged by SCA (NSW) to undertake an independent investigation of Netstrata. That investigation was voluntary by Netstrata and it resulted in a number of recommendations for improvement being made to Netstrata.

Based on this report, SCA has strengthened the Code of Ethics and engaged an independent consultancy group to undertake an ethics and conflicts review at the national level.

Where to from here?

The recommendations of the independent investigation carried out by SCA (NSW) apply to the broader strata industry.

They have been sent to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), who govern our Professional Standards Scheme (PSS).

We have been discussing components of these recommendations with Fair Trading intensively.

SCA members will have access to the recommendations for review, which have been provided to the external firm conducting our ongoing ethics and conflicts review.

SCA (NSW) has approved the engagement of an independent business auditor to support our members in reviewing their current strata management business practices.

The Board will be reviewing the McGrathNicol report recommendations over the coming week.

Please be assured that the SCA (NSW) Board of Directors understands the significance of the ABC reporting and the Fair Trading investigation. While increased accountability and transparency are ultimately positive outcomes, we recognise that the on-the-ground experience of our members is essential in guiding our decisions. We are fully aware of the difficulties members have faced, and we are committed to addressing them. 

The SCA (NSW) Board is committed to upholding the Code of Ethics and its equal application to all members. We appreciate your patience as we complete due diligence as part of the process of improved transparency and communication.

 SCA (NSW) President Robert Anderson stated:

“At the core of successful strata living is trust between the Strata Managing Agent and the Owners Corporation. Misappropriation of funds not only breaches legal and fiduciary obligations but also erodes the trust that owners place in their managing agents.”

“Overwhelmingly, strata managers and their businesses serve their strata communities and committees incredibly effectively, and it is exceedingly disappointing to see the actions of that individual.”

SCA (NSW) remains committed to working with NSW Fair Trading and our members to prevent breeches of trust like this from happening. Strata committees and lot owners are encouraged to check the financial statements of their particular scheme regularly.

Both Maree Kylie and the company she was working for at the time of offending and now are not members of SCA (NSW).

For more information or to report any concerns regarding strata management practices, please contact SCA (NSW) at (02) 9492 8200, or lodge a formal complaint here – Complaint Management – Strata Community Association (NSW).

Please see the NSW Fair Trading statement here.

Thankfully, for the past 15 years, SCA (NSW) has been helping those stuck in the strata conundrum vortex with our Who’s Responsible Guide – a guide to common property and who’s responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of items in NSW Strata living.

The free-to-use guide has proven to be a ‘must-have’ resource for anyone working, living or just generally interested in strata, and to kick off 2025, we’ve just launched an updated version of the Guide.

These changes, which impact building owners, strata managers, developers, and the fire safety industry, will now be phased in over the next two years, with key requirements expected to come into effect in 13 February 2026 and February 2027.

The reforms were introduced through the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 and were designed to reduce fire safety risks, minimise property damage, and lower the incidence of fire safety defects in both new and existing buildings. 

What’s Changing?

The new laws will require strata managing agents to provide more detailed information to owners corporations about their services and relationships.

Key Changes to Disclosure Obligations

Here’s a summary of the key changes that you need to know:

1. Before Your Appointment

You will now be required to disclose more information to an owners corporation before you are hired. This includes:

• Disclosing any relationships you have with suppliers you regularly work with, along with details of the relationship.
• If you have advised a building’s developer about strata plans or community land schemes in the last two years, you will need to disclose this.

2. During Your Appointment

Once you are appointed as a strata managing agent, there are additional disclosure requirements, including:

Commissions and Training Services Approval

• If you receive any commissions and/or training services that are not already included in your agency agreement, you will need to submit a motion at an owners corporation’s general meeting.
• You will also need to include a written explanation on why these services are in the best interest of the owners corporation, including commission details.
• If the owners do not approve, you will not be able to receive the commission or training service.

Upfront Disclosures

• As soon as you become aware of any new connections or interests relating to the strata scheme—such as working with new service providers or buying property within the scheme—you must inform the owners corporation in writing.

Disclosures at AGMs

• At AGMs, you will need to provide detailed information about your connections with suppliers or the building’s developers (whether past or current) and disclose any commissions or training services you have received or expect to receive. If not previously approved, these must be approved by the owners corporation before you can accept them.

Insurance Requirements

• You will need to provide clearly itemised insurance quotes, including commissions and broker fees.
• If the owners corporation arranges its own insurance independently, you will no longer be able to receive a commission for this.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with these new disclosure requirements could result in significant penalties:

• Up to $55,000 for corporations

• Up to $11,000 for individuals
• If you fail to comply with the rules of conduct under the Property and Stock Agents Act, fines of up to $110,000 for corporations could be applied.

What Should You Do?

To prepare for the upcoming changes, you should review your current practices to ensure full compliance with the new requirements before they take effect on 3 February 2025.

For further details, visit the NSW Fair Trading website.

For the past 37 years John has been an integral part of Express Glass becoming a respected pillar of the Strata industry known for his integrity, expertise and kindness.

“Over the years, John has been not only a colleague and mentor, but, most importantly, a great mate,” says Mark Jennings, Express Glass Commercial Manager. “He’s left an indelible mark on everyone he’s worked with, not just in terms of his incredible work ethic, but also his ability to be a respected team player who’s been approachable and always willing to help.”

John began his career as a high school history teacher in the 1980s before a chance encounter with Express Glass founder Keith Grocott changed the trajectory of his career. Keith offered John a 12-month sabbatical from teaching to try his hand in the glass industry, leading to a diverse role that saw John doing everything from handling payroll to business development.

John eventually took on the role of General Manager at Express Glass, and it was there that his natural leadership and business acumen began to shine. In the two decades that followed, John focused on business development, a role in which he excelled. His contributions fuelled Express Glass’s growth and cemented its reputation as a trusted industry leader, particularly in the Strata sector, where he built solid business relationships spanning over 30 years.

John’s respect and highly regarded reputation in the industry was recognised in 2004 when he won the prestigious Max Dunn Award, an honour that celebrates friendship and harmony in the Strata industry – an industry where John has been a valued mentor to many over the years.

As well as pioneering and organising the SCA NSW Golf Day for over 20 years, John has dedicated his time to various committees and subcommittees of the association. Whilst his love for history and industry made him the perfect candidate for authoring ‘From the Ground Up” the definitive history fo strata in NSW.