How to check three things before anyone cuts into rust-stained concrete in a Wollongong apartment block

Why flats come first

City of Wollongong's character statement for Thirroul says the coastal strip has some medium density townhouses and walk up residential flat buildings: The coastal strip of Thirroul including along Lawrence Hargrave Drive contains a mix of single storey weatherboard and fibro dwellings and new contemporary dwellings and some medium density townhouses and walk up residential flat buildings. It does not mention concrete cancer, but it names the kind of building whose balconies and landings carry a strata scheme's responsibilities.

UNSW's School of Materials Science and Engineering explains concrete cancer from the steel outwards: if there are cracks or pores in the concrete then water may seep in and react with the steel reinforcing to form rust. The visible damage is the late stage, so the checks below come before a quote.

The checks, in order

1. Ask which licence the work is under

   NSW says a contractor licence is needed for building or trade work valued at more than A$5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. NSW has no licence class of its own for concrete cancer repair, so ask which licence the quote is under.

2. Ask who is responsible

   The NSW Government says the owners corporation plans and pays for repairs to common property. Ask the strata manager or secretary if you are unsure, and check the strata plan and by-laws.

3. Ask whether a design is needed

   For class 2 buildings the NSW Government says remedial building work is regulated under the Design and Building Practitioners legislation, and a registered design practitioner must create the design. Ask who is arranging it.

4. Pass on what you were told

   Put the answers in the enquiry. A provider who knows who is responsible and whether a design is coming can quote with fewer assumptions.

What this does not tell you

It says nothing about whether any particular building has concrete cancer, how much repair it needs or what it would cost; no government source sets a price and this site sets none.