 |
Gold Coast Body Corporate Seminar |
![]() |
| Posted by editor (editor) on May 29 2009 |
| 2009 >> |
Gold Coast Body Corporate Seminar
29 May 2009
Quality Hotel, Mermaid Waters
______________________________
Acknowledgments Thank you to the Commissioner for inviting me here today. Today’s seminar has a focus on individual rights and responsibilities. When someone buys a unit in a community titles scheme, they do a number of things. They buy a home. Or they might buy an investment property. If an owner investor and their unit is part of a letting pool – they are effectively joining a business. In buying a unit – the purchaser automatically becomes either an elector – or possibly an office bearer – in Australia’s fourth level of government as a member of the body corporate. This is not something many people think about in making their purchase. But they should. And not everyone is suited to that choice! Whether you buy into a big or small scheme – shared or community living arrangements mean that you enter into a new social and political contract. I will return to this theme in a moment. Community living in a community titles scheme is becoming a lifestyle of choice for many Australians, young and old, men and women. For some, it is the only affordable option. But, community titles schemes are also political organisations, and residents need to be informed about their rights and responsibilities. While there are a number of competencies involved in owning or living in a community titles scheme – there are many benefits to community living. However, the extent to which you benefit will depend to a degree on the exercise of those competencies and the degree to which you understand and exercise your rights and meet those responsibilities. The many benefits include: · the opportunity – in large cities – to reside at a reasonable cost close to the CBD and all the amenities such proximity provides… · access to – and shared use of – costly amenities such as swimming pools and sports facilities through the amortisation of costs… · shared maintenance arrangements; and · a safe and secure environment if you reside in a well maintained and managed scheme… Queensland has around 35,000 Community Titles Schemes with 338,000 lots. Their capital value exceeds 100 billion dollars. Upwards of 1 million people live or stay in a Queensland unit in any one year. The construction of new – and the redevelopment of old schemes – underpins Queensland’s development sector and therefore a significant segment of the Queensland economy. Units and serviced apartments are the mainstay of our tourism industry as well as an accessible and affordable accommodation option. The Queensland Government ‘gets’ the importance of the strata industry, · for home owners, · for investors, · for developers, · for the service industries and for the tens of thousands of everyday workers whose jobs rely on confidence in the industry as both an accommodation and investment option. Here on the Gold Coast many of you will also know that – while many schemes provide the many benefits associated with community living – there are some ‘troubled schemes’ as well. Thankfully, troubled schemes are in the minority but, when trouble starts, the lives and well-being of many people are affected. The Body Corporate and Community Management Act provides for a dispute resolution service and for the position of Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management. This is a vital function and role. Each jurisdiction will probably say that they have Australia’s best strata legislation. But most authoritative commentators recognise Queensland’s Body Corporate and Community Management Act as Australia’s best and most comprehensive legislation. There is always a tension around a prescriptive or a light touch in establishing and maintaining a regulatory framework. Queensland has chosen a prescriptive model – because the sector is complex and critical to the wellbeing of tens of thousands of Queenslanders – as it is to the Queensland economy. The Queensland Government has made a significant investment in the Commissioner’s Office – including the introduction of a new conciliation service in 2007. This has had outstanding success in reducing the overall number of disputes. Disputes in community titles schemes are neither unusual nor particular to that accommodation choice. It is also a fact of life that, sometimes, there will be mutually competing interests. It is about finding a balanced solution. In 2007, significant funding was also provided for enhanced information services including the delivery of seminars such as today’s… Other seminars will be held on the Sunshine Coast, in Cairns and Townsville and in Brisbane. In opening today’s seminar and the seminar series across the State, I also want to touch briefly on the issue of lot entitlements – which I know has caused considerable distress to many people including some here today. The application by parties to have their lot entitlements adjusted and recent decisions by the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal is a sensitive and vexed issue, particularly for those on fixed incomes. The issues are under consideration, and I anticipate having a report on my desk shortly. Until I see the report, it would be inappropriate to comment further but I can assure you here today that the Government is listening and has heard the message. In conclusion, I thank the Commissioner for inviting me to open today’s seminar with its focus on rights and responsibilities. I trust that what you hear today will enhance your enjoyment of a wonderful accommodation and lifestyle choice. It is often said you get the government you deserve. This is absolutely true if you live in a community titles scheme. Earlier I said that in buying a unit, you have also engaged in a new political and social contract. The secret to successful living in a community titles scheme is to be informed and to be engaged. In attending today’s seminar, you are doing both and I commend everyone who has attended today for doing so. You are being responsible citizens. You are honouring that political and social contract. There are many, many issues across the community titles sector. I look forward in my role as Minister for Fair Trading to a deeper engagement over the life of the government on these and other issues. If you are not already engaged in the management of your scheme, I hope today’s seminar encourages you to become involved in the management of your body corporate and I wish you every success in that important endeavour. Thank you. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 12:49 PM
Back
|
|
