Plumber fined over Margaret River breaches

The Plumbers Licensing Board has fined a South West plumber $7,500 for multiple breaches of plumbing regulations at three properties in the Margaret River region.

Between late 2020 and early 2022, the Board found that James Robert Philbrick, operating under license PL9139, had carried out non-compliant work and failed to provide the mandatory paperwork required by Western Australian law.

Mr Philbrick worked on newly built homes in Prevelly, Cowaramup, and Margaret River but the work did not meet the standards required.

The Board’s thorough investigation into Mr Philbrick, a subcontractor at the time, revealed he had committed four breaches of the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 at each property, including high-risk problems in two homes.

Additionally, Mr Philbrick failed to submit essential paperwork such as notices of intention, compliance certificates, and drainage plumbing diagrams.

The Board noted Mr Philbrick had no prior history of plumbing breaches and had complied with rectification orders at two properties.

Rather than pursuing an order, the Prevelly homeowners opted to demolish two bathrooms and engage a different plumber to redo the work.

“Plumbing contractors have legal obligations and a duty to our community to provide high-quality services and maintain proper records to ensure effective monitoring of their work,” a spokesperson for the Board said.