Episode 4: NCC 2022 Across the States: VIC, ACT & NSW Explained (Part 2)
This episode zooms in on three key jurisdictions, Victoria, ACT, and New South Wales and explores how NCC 2022 is applied at a practical level.
While all aim for similar outcomes (higher performance, lower energy use), the pathways, interpretations, and complexity vary significantly.
Victoria – High Complexity, Especially for Renovations
Victoria has adopted:
7 stars for new homes
Whole-of-Home requirements
7-star average (6-star minimum) for apartments
But where things get complicated is alterations and additions (A&A).
Key challenges:
Multiple compliance pathways
Heavy reliance on Practice Note E04
Significant interpretation required
Two main approaches:
Single dwelling method
Model the house as if it were built new to 7 stars
Then apply dispensations (e.g. Reg 233) to existing parts
Two-house method (less viable now)
Compare existing vs upgraded house
Recent changes (e.g. mandatory ceiling insulation) have made this harder to pass
Practical reality:
Many assessors now favour the performance solution approach
Existing homes often end up with lower actual ratings, despite theoretical modelling
Key takeaway:
Victoria’s system is powerful but complex, interpretation-heavy, and evolving.
Subtle but Important Changes in Victoria
Rainwater tanks removed from energy compliance requirements
Solar hot water absorbed into Whole-of-Home
Introduction of expectations like:
Minimum ceiling insulation (R2.5) in existing homes
Solar PV (e.g. 3kW) in some A&A scenarios
These changes shift the focus toward:
energy performance over prescriptive inclusions
But they also introduce:
Confusion
Inconsistent enforcement
Greater reliance on building surveyors
ACT – Clean and Consistent
Compared to Victoria, the ACT is far simpler:
Fully adopted NCC 2022 with minimal variations
Single climate zone
Straightforward 7-star compliance
Additional requirement:
Assessors must hold a licensed “construction occupations” (COLA) licence
Key takeaway:
ACT represents the cleanest implementation — fewer variations, clearer expectations.
New South Wales – BASIX Changes Everything
NSW operates differently through the BASIX system, which runs parallel to NatHERS.
Major changes with NCC 2022:
Transition to 7-star equivalent performance
Introduction of total load caps (previously only heating/cooling limits)
Increased stringency in compliance
Key challenges during transition:
Short certificate timeframes (e.g. 3 months)
System issues with the BASIX portal
Large jump in required performance (e.g. from ~4.5 stars to 7 stars)
For many projects, this was a significant and sudden shift.
NSW Still Has Major Variations
Despite the move to higher performance:
Some climate zones (e.g. northern NSW)
Still rely primarily on heating/cooling caps
Can result in homes well below 7 stars still complying
BASIX includes broader sustainability measures:
Water usage
Landscaping
Fixtures and fittings
This creates a system that is:
More holistic
But also less directly comparable to NatHERS-only approaches
Compliance Pathways Are Expanding
In NSW, compliance can now be achieved through:
NatHERS
BASIX DIY pathway
Passive House (newly accepted pathway)
This reflects a broader trend toward:
multiple pathways rather than a single standard approach
The Bigger Theme – Interpretation Drives Outcomes
Across all three states, a common issue emerges:
Regulations are performance-based
Documentation is often open to interpretation
Outcomes depend on:
The assessor
The certifier
The chosen pathway
This leads to:
Variability in compliance
Ongoing industry debate
Need for clearer guidance
Final Takeaway
Victoria, ACT, and NSW may all be working toward the same goal — better-performing homes — but they take very different paths to get there.
Victoria: powerful but complex and interpretation-heavy
ACT: simple and consistent
NSW: flexible but system-driven through BASIX
In the end:
There may be a national framework —
but compliance is shaped by local rules, tools, and interpretations.
