Home » News » Victorians breaking plumbing rules fined tens of thousands

Victorians breaking plumbing rules fined tens of thousands

Plumbing practitioners breaking the rules and individuals impersonating plumbers have been penalised over $40,000 by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) for work done in Epping, Dallas and Truganina and other suburbs.

The VBA’s recent plumbing inquiry has dealt $44,855.79 worth of penalties to practitioners and amateur tradespeople for various breaches.

The offences included conducting plumbing work without a registration or licence, carrying out gasfitting and mechanical services when not licensed to do so, carrying out drainage work and gasfitting that did not comply with the Building Act and Regulations, failing to book an inspection for sanitary drainage and lodging a Compliance Certificate which contained a misstatement of fact.

The VBA’s executive director of regulatory operations David Brockman said most plumbing work had to be done by a qualified professional.

“Plumbing work is vital and carries with it safety risks if the person does not know what they are doing, that is why it is important to only engage a registered or licenced professional,” Mr Brockman said.

“Anyone found to be working without qualification, or not abiding by the Building Act and Regulations, will face the consequences.”

Details: vba.vic.gov.au/check.

Digital Editions


  • New measles exposure sites

    New measles exposure sites

    The Department of Health has listed four measles exposure sites in the northern suburbs since 28 January. The most recent exposure occurred at Northend Medical…

More News

  • Australian Open smashes attendance records

    Australian Open smashes attendance records

    This year’s Australian Open was officially the most attended on record. More than 1.368 million tennis fans flocked to Melbourne Park for the 2026 tournament, easily surpassing last year’s record…

  • Walk to Work Day coming

    Walk to Work Day coming

    The Pedestrian Council of Australia has announced a new initiative for Walk to Work Day, partnering with the Black Dog Institute to highlight the mental health benefits of walking. The…

  • Aussie icons head west

    Aussie icons head west

    Powerhouse vocalist Casey Donovan will join a star-studded season of entertainment at The Clocktower Centre in a year that will also bring some of our country’s best-loved and most enduring…

  • ‘Too long’: green light for more GPs to tackle ADHD

    ‘Too long’: green light for more GPs to tackle ADHD

    Australians will soon find it much smoother to be diagnosed and treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Victoria has joined a growing list of states to give the green light…

  • Cancer researchers supported

    Cancer researchers supported

    The next generation of cancer research leaders are being supported through a four-year cancer research fellowship program, supported by the state government. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has announced the inaugural…

  • Duffin headed to Abers

    Duffin headed to Abers

    Aberfeldie has boosted its list with another former AFLW player for the Essendon District Football League women’s premier division season. After announcing the signing of former North Melbourne player Tahni…

  • Who are these Australians?

    Who are these Australians?

    The iconic ‘Three Well-Known Australians’ has made its way to Melbourne’s west for a limited time. The work, painted by Martin Shaw in 1982, depicts three figures – a blue,…

  • Support Sweethearts for HeartKids

    Support Sweethearts for HeartKids

    Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), and this February HeartKids is calling on Australians to help support these children and their families…

  • Power bill relief a bonus

    Power bill relief a bonus

    The state government used one of the hottest days in Victoria’s history to urge households to apply for its power saving bonus program before it ends on 31 March. Before…

  • Help for heart kids

    Help for heart kids

    Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), and this February HeartKids is calling on Australians to help support these children and their families…