A Victorian builder has been immediately suspended by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and faces a potential penalty of $20,000 and a disqualification of three years, pending the outcome of a show cause process.
The VBA used its immediate suspension powers to prevent Luper Noah (DB-U 38222) from continuing building work, pending the show cause process which features allegations relating to falsified insurance certificates and occupancy permits.
Mr Noah is the sole director of Arkville Homes Pty Ltd through which he conducted his business. While Mr Noah is suspended, Arkville cannot do building work. Mr Noah has been suspended and issued with a show cause notice in response to allegations of unprofessional conduct relating to numerous building sites.
The VBA’s Executive Director, Regulatory Operations, David Brockman said that the regulator took immediate action to protect Victorians.
“We have taken this decisive action to protect the wider community,” he said.
“The immediate suspension tool was introduced in 2018 to protect consumers and is used for the most serious matters.”
Mr Brockman said that any conduct which undermines the integrity of building insurance and permit documentation leaves consumers exposed.
“Consumers put trust in practitioners to follow the rules and where this does not happen, consumers can be left without the protection of building insurance and with a building which has not been subject to the necessary inspections and approvals.” Under the Building Act 1993, the VBA can immediately suspend a practitioner if it considers it to be in the public interest, while it works through the formal disciplinary process.
Mr Noah can appeal his immediate suspension to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Victorians wanting to check if their builder or plumber is registered visit vba.vic.gov.au/find
The VBA has an online consumer resource portal with information for anyone who is experiencing issues with builders or plumbers.
