The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is taking enforcement action against 12 people found to be illegally carrying out plumbing work on building sites across Gippsland.

The action comes after a week-long blitz that included targeted and random inspections across the region and saw more than 40 plumbers questioned. Two other plumbers were issued warning letters.

The VBA will now prepare charges against the 12 unregistered and unlicensed persons, who were found working illegally on building sites in and around Sale and Bairnsdale.

They will be issued with a summons to appear in the Magistrates’ Court for breaching the Building Act at a later date.

“VBA investigators identified a significant number of people carrying out regulated plumbing work who were neither registered nor licensed with the VBA,” VBA plumbing investigations team leader Phil Locke says.

“Victorians rightly expect that plumbers who carry out this work are not only registered but have undertaken the necessary training.

“Plumbing work carried out by an unregistered or unlicensed person has the potential to pose significant safety risk.”

Phil says that the blitz uncovered a number of compliance issues, including several below-ground drains.

“This can be difficult, but in the end, faulty or non-compliant plumbing work reflects badly on the plumber, the industry and the VBA,” he says.

Any further non-compliance may result in the plumber receiving an official warning or appearing before a VBA Plumbing Inquiry.

In recent weeks, VBA investigators have conducted a series of inspections, targeting building sites in central and north-eastern Victoria to reinforce the importance of registration and licensing in the industry.

“These inspections promote the VBA as an active regulator and show that we are here to help plumbers, not hinder them,” VBA director of compliance and enforcement Rosemary Martin says.

“We urge every Victorian to check their plumber is registered or licensed with the VBA before getting them to start any work on their property.”