Daniel Barber

By Neziah,

Daniel Barber is Planning Director at Paro Consulting, a Sydney-based town planning practice. He holds a Bachelor of Planning (Hons) and a Master of Property Development, and is a Registered Planner (RP+) with Environmental Impact Assessment accreditation. Daniel regularly advises owners' corporations, strata managers, building consultants and remedial contractors across NSW on the approval pathways for repair and upgrade works to existing buildings, from exempt development and complying development certificates through to development applications and modifications.

Sebastien Klaar

By Neziah,

Sebastien Klaar is Brosnan Australia’s Executive Director, with more than a decade of experience delivering construction and remedial projects across Australia. Trained in Northern European sustainable design and construction, he brings a practical understanding of how building performance, compliance, and remediation intersect. Sebastien has led teams repairing and improving residential, strata, and commercial buildings affected by design, construction, and durability issues, giving him first-hand insight into the challenges faced by owners corporations and building managers.

DA, a CDC, or no approval at all? Check before you start remedial works

By Neziah,

Planning remedial works on your scheme? For many schemes, understanding the approvals required for remedial works can be one of the most confusing and costly parts of a project. Waterproofing, balconies, façades, fire safety, windows, or structural repairs all need the right approval pathway, and choosing the wrong one can mean delays, extra costs, and compliance headaches.

Can I park a motorcycle and a car in my exclusive use bay?

By Neziah,

Our lot has an exclusive use parking bay allocated in the community management statement (CMS). The exclusive use by-law allows parking of operational, roadworthy motor vehicles. It doesn't prohibit motorcycles or limit the bay to one vehicle.

I park my roadworthy motorcycle and car together, wholly within the bay. The motorcycle sits between the car and a concrete wall, and there's no pedestrian walkway or access behind the car.

How do owners get a forensic accountant to review the body corporate books?

By Neziah,

Our complex has three separate community titles schemes: apartments, villas and common area. While reviewing invoices on our portal, we noticed the caretaker appears to be spending money we don't believe the committees have authorised.

We contacted our body corporate, who hasn't really responded. When we pushed, they said they would try to arrange a meeting between the committees and the caretaker. That was a week ago, and we haven't heard anything since. We're concerned the caretaker and the body corporate manager aren't acting in our community's best interests.

Are owners being scared off adjudication by costs orders?

By Neziah,

I'm aware of owners being warned that returning to the tribunal risks a punitive costs order. That pushes them away from the very forum that's meant to resolve these disputes cheaply.

Is that a sign the low-cost dispute pathway isn't actually low-cost or low-risk in practice? And if so, what would fix it?

Does an AGM insurance motion cover spending above the limit?

By Neziah,

Section 162 of the Body Corporate and Community Management (Accommodation Module) Regulation 2020 states:

(1) The committee may only give effect to a proposal involving spending above the relevant limit for committee spending for the community titles scheme if—
(a) the spending is specifically authorised by ordinary resolution of the body corporate;

This is our standard AGM insurance motion:

Can a committee member vote on repairs to their own lot?

By Neziah,

What happens when the owner whose lot caused a defect sits on the committee, sometimes as treasurer or secretary, and votes on the very repairs affecting their own unit?

Should the legislation make it mandatory for any committee member with a direct financial interest in a defect decision to step aside, not just disclose their interest?

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