Pesky Business Now Requires Notification 5/04/2008 People living within a strata titled property are usually well accustomed to sharing at least some of their space in common, but there are of course limits. Creepy-crawlers and cockroaches are never welcome. And now, due to a change to pesticide regulations, the problem of pest control is one more issue that must be taken on notice.
Such matters are standard fair for a buildings’ owners’ corporation. And they end up being acted upon most often through the delegation of oversight responsibilities to the corporations’ strata management company.
Mr Richard Tooker, director of New South Wales Strata Management, says changes made to regulations early last year now make it compulsory that people be notified well in advance of a time when pesticides are to be used in the common areas of multiple occupancy residential complexes.
“In many respects this is common sense and in keeping with modern concerns that people have appropriate access to information. The spraying of any chemical such as a pesticide may affect some people. This is why proper notification is appropriate. It is a rule that is easy to accommodate and the new rule sets out how this is to be done.”
Most people he says appreciate efforts to keep down pest infestation and the rule change, whilst important is more procedural than substantive.
“Notification will alert residents to what has been planned so that they may choose to reduce their exposure to pesticides if they wish. Small children can be temporarily removed from the area and any person that might have a health condition making them particularly sensitive to any such substance may avoid a common area that has been recently treated.”
Mr Tooker says notice must be given to residents before and during a pesticide application. “Residents are to be given at least five working days notice. A written notice is to be placed on the main notice boards at the residential complex and at the main entrances and exists. The notice will present the full product name of the pesticide to be used, the reason for its use, the location and date of its use, along with contact details of the person or company applying the pesticide”.
Keeping up with changes to such regulations, he notes, is part of the role of the professional strata manager, who makes use of membership in such organisations as the Institute of Strata Title Management to help them keep tabs on prospective changes well in advance of their implementation date.
“Our job is to assist an owners’ corporation to approach their management tasks as a genuine business undertaking. They must, after all, manage the assets of the building for the benefit of all its ‘shareholders’. And we offer our advice and recommendations solely in what we believe to be in the best interest of all the owners.
“Our position can at times fly in the face of what some individuals may consider to be their own interest, but our standing as a non-aligned advisor can be an all important buffer that sees that the larger interests of all are protected.”
This stewardship and oversight, he says is based on accepted industry practices and backed by many years of local experience.
An owners’ corporation seeking professional oversight assistance can contact New South Wales Strata Management direct on 9890 1841 to arrange a consultation.
New South Wales Strata Management (formerly Gilmour Strata Management) commenced business in early 1991, as a member of the highly respected J A Gilmour & Sons group of companies. Licensed solely and specialising only in strata management services, the company has steadily grown to become one of the largest such organisations in New South Wales.
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