Even though Botanica Landscapes owner Elliot Rehwinkel isn’t a fan of red tape, he thinks the industry is underregulated. Photo: Botanica Landscapes.
When you hire someone to build, remodel or extend your home, you can expect them to be licensed, insured and required by law to follow strict industry standards – but in the ACT, the same cannot be said of the person reshaping your land, installing expensive hardscaping or even altering drainage.
Unlike most trades in the construction industry, landscaping in the ACT is surprisingly unregulated – just about anyone with a shovel can dig up your yard.
Anecdotally, members of The Landscape Association (TLA) – the peak body representing landscapers in the ACT and NSW – are reporting that with the surge in the collapse of some construction companies, some tradespeople are colouring outside the lines, and it’s impacting consumer safety.
“In NSW, there is licensing for structural landscaping works, and to be a member of our association in NSW, you need to be qualified and hold either that licence or a builder’s licence. There’s no such requirement for licensing in the ACT. It’s the number one issue for our territory members right now,” TLA CEO Jodie Dean says.
“There’s a big difference between someone qualified to do structural landscaping work – which requires a combination of structural landscaping and horticultural skills – and general gardening. Certainly builders can create some elements, but most don’t have the skills and knowledge to complete structural landscaping.
“It’s a huge safety issue for the consumer when you have someone underqualified building hardscapes like retaining walls, decks and pergolas.”
Ms Dean says licensing for the landscape industry would go some of the way towards overcoming the issue.
That’s why the TLA is calling for the ACT Government to include landscaping in a current review of licensing requirements for the construction industry, which looks to expand occupational licensing for select building trades.
This review currently covers waterproofing, painting and decoration, carpentry and concreting, but not landscape construction.
“It is imperative that landscape construction be included in the scope of that review,” she says.
The foundational work of structural landscaping is expensive and critical and should be completed by a qualified structural landscaper. Photo: Botanica Landscapes.
While Botanica Landscapes owner Elliot Rehwinkel isn’t a fan of red tape, he agrees the industry needs more checks and balances.
Though relatively rare, he has been called in to conduct remediation works for clients.
“Today’s landscaping is not just a bit of grass out front and a few trees thrown in. People have awakened to the possibilities and importance of their outdoor spaces, and you can easily spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on it,” he says.
“For the most part, tradies are out there doing the right thing, but you do get a few cowboys. If something goes critically wrong with the foundational work, like your levels or drainage, the cost of rectification can be significant.
“All of a sudden you’re faced with paying someone big bucks to rip up your already expensive landscaping job.
“I think we need to tread carefully and encourage collaboration between government and industry experts to ensure any regulations are practical, and that smaller landscaping firms don’t get the short end of the stick, but I do think something is needed to ensure that when people hand over their hard-earned cash to a landscaper, they can do it with trust and confidence.”
With a lack of regulation, it can be hard to avoid the pitfalls, but there is a minimum of due diligence when choosing your landscaper that Mr Rehwinkle recommends before signing on the dotted line.
The TLA’s list of 12 questions to ask your landscaper is a good jumping-off point. It encourages enquiring after the contractor’s insurance, the costs, timing and processes for handling defects.
To that, Mr Rehwinkel adds a recommendation to find a landscaper with a proven track record of reviews and recent testimonials that you can verify and ample experience.
“If they’ve been in the business a long time, that’s a good indicator they get their work done right. They also should be happy to provide references both recent and long term,” he says.
“I take clients to see past projects so they can see the quality and longevity of my work.”
For more information visit Botanica Landscapes.
