Landscaping Victoria Advocates for Industry at Building & Plumbing Commission Launch

Landscaping Victoria CEO Ritchie Hinton attended the inaugural Building & Plumbing Commission Conference, marking a new era for Victoria’s construction regulation. Learn how LV is collaborating with the BPC to strengthen industry standards, training, and consumer confidence. Read on to learn more.

Lauren Bianchi | 17 Oct 2025 | 3 min read

Landscaping Victoria has long championed the interests of our members and the broader landscaping profession, ensuring that the voices of those working on the ground help shape the policies that guide our industry.

Our advocacy efforts are all about creating real, practical outcomes: clearer regulations, stronger consumer confidence, and better pathways for businesses and workers alike.

The arrival of the new Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC) brings a fresh opportunity for collaboration, and LV is already working to ensure landscapers are well represented as this new chapter in Victoria’s building and construction landscape begins.

New Era for Building and Construction Regulation

Landscaping Victoria CEO, Ritchie Hinton, recently attended the inaugural Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC) Conference at Marvel Stadium, marking a significant new chapter for Victoria’s building and construction sector.

The BPC officially replaces the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), uniting regulation, dispute resolution, and domestic building insurance under one agency.

Key Priorities and National Goals

BPC CEO Anna Cronin opened the event with a candid assessment of areas for improvement, joined by speakers including Minister Harriet Shing, Skye Bowie (QBCC), and Jerome Weimar (Department of Transport & Planning).

Discussions focused on aligning with national policy priorities, such as the National Housing Accord goal to build 1.2 million new homes and Australia’s Net Zero 2050 target, with the landscaping industry recognised as playing an essential role in both.

Landscaping Victoria’s Advocacy Focus

Landscaping Victoria has developed a strong, positive relationship with the new regulator, ensuring the voice of landscapers is heard through regular advocacy meetings.

Key Areas of Focus

Multi-category registration: Streamlining and simplifying processes for both existing and emerging practitioners.
Training and education: Encouraging workforce growth through innovative, fast-tracked, and subsidised training pathways.
Domestic Building Insurance: Addressing the ongoing issue of softscaping and green works being factored into premiums despite not being insurable.
Building surveyor approvals: Clarifying the surveyor’s role in projects requiring building permits that include landscaping works.
Consumer confidence: Exploring opportunities for the BPC to recommend LV Members as trusted landscaping professionals in public communications.

Lessons from Queensland

Insights from Queensland’s experience under a similar regulatory framework highlight the importance of:

Resolving issues early to avoid inflated recovery costs.
Maintaining strong communication and clear documentation from the start.
Using LV’s suite of legal contracts, carefully designed for projects large and small — available by contacting the LV office.

Looking Ahead

Landscaping Victoria warmly welcomes the establishment of the Building & Plumbing Commission and looks forward to continuing close collaboration to strengthen professionalism, sustainability, and consumer confidence across the landscaping industry.

If you have advocacy suggestions or areas you’d like LV to pursue with the BPC, please get in touch with the LV office.