David Chandler is retiring as NSW Building Commissioner but that does not mean the role is any less important as the State attempts to ramp up residential development.  The commissioner announced this week he would step down in August after five years in the role. During his tenure as the first NSW Building Commissioner, Chandler has overseen the introduction of pattern books for apartments, rectification orders for major building defects at a series of high-profile developments including Toplace projects , and led the fight for better quality buildings in New South Wales. His message to low-quality builders and developers, even as late as this week, is that it is “if, not when, you will get caught” and his hard-hitting stance has struck fear into the hearts of builders and developers alike, while also supporting those focused on quality. “As we bring new players in, we need to set them up for success, not let them fail at the bottom because that will erode the foundations of all the work we’ve done,” he told The Urban Developer at the time of the launch of pattern books. This is not the first time, of course, that Chandler has stepped down.  He resigned in July, 2022 over the direction that the then fair trade minister  Eleni Petinos was taking the department and, allegedly, issues with her relationship to Coronation Property Group.  Tension with the minister appeared to come to a head after Chandler’s office issued a stop work order on the developer’s 790-apartment Merrylands projects in Western Sydney. After all this speculation, Chandler was tempted back just a month later after Petinos was removed by then-NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, committing to the role for another year.  The industry reacts In his conversation with The Urban Developer as part of the Sydney Residential Development Summit on May 8, Deicorp chairman Fouad Deiri said Chandler had laid down the rules of engagement. “What David Chandler has done is to say, these are the rules, work within these rules, stay in your lane, and we’re here to work with you,” Deiri said.  ▲ David Chandler with the then NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian at the time of his appointment as building commissioner, in August, 2019. “It was a wild west for so long but he has paved the way for others to come into the industry. “Some people won’t agree with me, but he’s created a level playing field.” The Urban Developer Sydney Residential Development Summit panelist and Lords Group founder Jad Maroun said that Chandler’s presence in the industry was a “breath of fresh air”.  “It was required,” he said. “There are a number of cowboys in the industry. He has come on board, established order and a framework that needs to be adopted moving forward.  “It has resulted in higher quality projects being delivered for end users. It is a shame that David is leaving. He ’ s had significant impact and there ’ s been a lot of energy...he is leaving the industry in a strong position. “But there is definitely still a requirement for a similar level of leadership over the construction industry so that it doesn ’ t fall back into old habits.” The future of the role  Maroun said that any incoming commissioner would need to take a similar approach to Chandler.  “He is someone who ’ s prepared to be blunt, who is not afraid to take on the big issues and the big challenges. We need someone who ’ s going to come with the same approach.  ▲ A render of the 790-apartment Merrylands projects in Western Sydney by Coronation Property Group. “The industry has its characters, strong characters, and it needs someone who is not afraid to take on that challenge.” JLL head of residential development valuations Bill Fatouros said it was a difficult role trying to provide some certainty and credibility to the development market.  “They ’ re big shoes to fill. And it ’ ll be a difficult role to fill—you ’ ll need someone with the same sort of acumen and courage to undertake the role—he hasn’t been scared to call things out. And I think that ’ s what we need.  “Yes, it has added an extra layer of potentially red tape, it ’ s added costs to the underlying industry, which we don ’ t really need at this time.”  Questionable building quality historically had meant his role had been, and remained, essential, Fatouros said.  “What he ’ s done is fantastic for the industry. We need [this role to exist] and we need it to be more far reaching. “And perhaps we need this role to be done, not on a state basis, but on a national basis, because I suspect the issues are not specific for New South Wales. “At the end of the day, we need to make sure that the end buyer has confidence in the product that they ’ re getting. And what he ’ s done has provided a higher level of confidence and accountability.”
