Hunter Construction Blitz Targets Safety, Compliance and Community

Building Commission NSW and SafeWork NSW will undertake a three-day compliance and engagement blitz across the Hunter Region from 16–18 March, visiting construction sites and meeting with community, industry and local government to strengthen building standards and work health and safety across regional NSW.

The Hunter has been selected for Building Commission NSW’s first major campaign of 2026 due to its high level of construction activity, with around 700 active construction sites supported by an estimated 17,000 licence holders operating in the area.

NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard and Building Commission NSW inspectors will visit Singleton, as well as parts of Maitland and Newcastle, to review construction quality, identify defective work and verify that appropriate signage and mandatory insurances are in place at both apartment buildings and freestanding homes.

SafeWork NSW inspectors will join the campaign, focusing on critical WHS risks including prevention of falls from heights, control of falling objects, and the safe use of plant, machinery and equipment. Inspectors will also examine whether sites have robust WHS management systems, Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and policies that adequately address high-risk construction activities.

A previous SafeWork NSW compliance blitz in the Hunter last year saw inspectors visit 13 construction sites, issuing 17 improvement notices, nine prohibition notices and three penalty notices totalling $13,500. This upcoming operation aims to further reduce serious incidents by driving compliance and promoting safer work practices.

Inspectors will check that high risk work is only carried out by workers with the correct licences and will engage directly with PCBUs and workers about psychological health and safety, including how to better manage psychosocial hazards on construction sites.

As part of the visit, Building Commission NSW will participate in local government and community meetings, and speak with local high school and TAFE NSW students to improve awareness of building standards, regulatory expectations and WHS responsibilities.

Meetings are scheduled with Singleton, Upper Hunter Shire and Muswellbrook Shire councils, while community pop-up events will be held in Maitland and Charlestown. These events will allow residents, builders and other stakeholders to raise building and legislative queries directly with Building Commission NSW staff, supporting better understanding of compliance requirements across the community.

While Building Commission NSW has previously toured regional TAFE campuses, this campaign will mark the first time the agency has formally engaged with local high schools. Visits to Hunter Trade College and Rutherford Technology High School will give students the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from staff about the importance of compliance, technical knowledge and how the regulator supports safe, high-quality construction careers.

The Building Commissioner and agency staff will also attend an industry event at the University of Newcastle, providing another platform to discuss emerging trends, regulatory expectations and opportunities to strengthen WHS management systems and construction quality across the region.

This campaign will help Building Commission NSW gain a clearer picture of local issues and recurring defects, informing future policy, regulatory priorities and targeted initiatives in the Hunter and across NSW. In 2025, the Commission visited more than 850 sites in regional NSW, including an October blitz in the Hunter where inspectors attended 41 sites and issued 22 Penalty Infringement Notices, nine Written Direction Notices and 13 Rectification Orders.

Construction businesses seeking to improve their compliance frameworks and support safer work practices can benefit from structured WHS management systems and documented policies and procedures. Resources and templates are available from providers such as Bluesafe Online, including WHS management systems and documentation packs at https://www.bluesafeonline.com.au/store/management-systems.

NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard said the Hunter blitz is a key opportunity to connect with the region: “This is a great opportunity for Building Commission NSW to connect with community and better understand building issues those in the Hunter are experiencing, and how we can help. With the Hunter expected to experience considerable population growth over the next 20 years, it’s more important than ever to ensure we have a robust and capable building industry that can support new and established residents. Regional NSW has been a major focus for Building Commission NSW over the past couple of years and that will remain a priority in 2026.”

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer reinforced the importance of ongoing proactive compliance: “While we are seeing improvements in worksite safety, we are keen to continue ensuring construction workers can stay safe and healthy on the job. This week’s site visits in the Hunter Region are part of SafeWork NSW’s regular program of proactive compliance across the state. SafeWork NSW's proactive visits to construction sites play an important role in reducing the number of serious incidents by preventing harm, strengthening compliance and sharing practical safety tools.”

Further guidance on managing the risks of working at heights, mobile plant operations and psychosocial hazards in construction is available on the SafeWork NSW website, along with practical tools to help businesses maintain compliant WHS management systems and effective SWMS on site.