Hunter construction sites targeted in joint building and safety blitz
17 Mar 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
Building Commission NSW and SafeWork NSW will inspect Hunter construction sites during a three-day campaign from 16–18 March 2026. The visit will also include meetings with councils, community members, industry and students.
The Hunter is the focus of Building Commission NSW’s first major campaign of 2026, with around 700 active construction sites and an estimated workforce of more than 17,000 licence holders operating in the region. NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard and inspectors will visit Singleton and parts of Maitland and Newcastle.
Building Commission NSW inspectors will check apartment buildings and freestanding homes for defective work, signage and insurance. SafeWork NSW inspectors will join the inspections, targeting falls from heights, falling objects and the safe operation of plant, machinery and equipment. They will also check that appropriate high risk work licences are held and discuss psychological health and safety with industry.
A SafeWork NSW construction blitz in the Hunter last year covered 13 sites and resulted in 17 improvement notices, nine prohibition notices and three penalty notices totalling $13,500. Separately, Building Commission NSW inspected 41 Hunter sites during an October blitz, issuing 22 Penalty Infringement Notices, nine Written Direction Notices and 13 Rectification Orders. The commission visited more than 850 regional NSW sites last year.
The March visit includes meetings with Singleton, Upper Hunter Shire and Muswellbrook Shire councils, along with community pop-up events in Maitland and Charlestown. Residents and industry participants will be able to ask Building Commission NSW staff questions about building matters and legislation. The campaign will also help the commission understand local trends and challenges to inform policy and initiatives in the Hunter and across NSW.
Building Commission NSW will speak with local high school and TAFE NSW students. Although the agency has previously toured regional TAFE campuses, this will be its first visit to local high schools. Visits to Hunter Trade College and Rutherford Technology High School will give students opportunities to hear staff experiences and learn about compliance and support for future careers. Staff and the commissioner will also attend an industry event at the University of Newcastle.
Mr Sherrard said the visit would help the commission connect with the community and understand local building concerns. He said expected population growth in the Hunter over the next 20 years made a capable building industry important for both 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 said: “While we are seeing improvements in worksite safety, we are keen to continue ensuring construction workers can stay safe and healthy on the job.” She described the Hunter inspections as part of SafeWork NSW’s regular statewide proactive compliance program, with visits aimed at preventing harm, strengthening compliance and sharing practical safety tools.
SafeWork NSW’s website provides resources for business owners and workers on construction risks, including working at heights, mobile plant safety and psychosocial risks.
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