ANDREW HEGEDUES — Licensed Demolisher (Australian Capital Territory)
Licence Details
| Licence Number | 201493 |
|---|---|
| Licence Class | Class B |
| Status | Expired |
| Expiry Date | 25 February 2017 |
| Source | ACCESS_CANBERRA |
This data is sourced from public government registers and may not reflect real-time changes. Always confirm licence details with Access Canberra directly. Full disclaimer.
What a Demolisher Licence Means in Australian Capital Territory
Demolishers carry out the controlled removal of buildings, structures, and their components across residential, commercial, and industrial sites in Australia. The work ranges from stripping out a single bathroom to bringing down a multi-storey building, and it demands specialist knowledge of structural loading, hazardous materials, and environmental controls. Before any demolition begins, an asbestos survey by a licensed assessor is legally required for buildings constructed before 1990. In most states, demolition work above certain thresholds requires a specific licence class — for example, QBCC licence class "Demolisher" in Queensland and a Demolition Licence from SafeWork NSW in New South Wales. Homeowners most commonly engage a demolisher for house knock-downs prior to rebuilds, internal strip-outs for renovations, removal of garages and sheds, swimming pool demolition and fill, and partial demolition for extensions.
Hiring a licensed demolisher means you are protected by the state's regulatory framework. Licensed tradespersons must comply with industry standards, maintain appropriate insurance, and can be held accountable through the licensing body's complaint and disciplinary processes.
Hiring a Licensed Demolisher in ACT
Before hiring any demolisher in Australian Capital Territory, use this five-point checklist to protect yourself and ensure you're working with a properly licensed and insured professional.
- Confirm they hold the correct demolition licence class for the scope of work — Demolition licensing is tiered by scope. In Queensland, QBCC issues a Demolisher licence for structural demolition. In NSW, SafeWork issues Demolition Licences (Class 1 for unrestricted, Class 2 for up to 4 storeys). Confirm the licence class matches the scale of your project — a licence for low-rise strip-outs does not authorise multi-storey structural demolition.
- Ask to see the asbestos survey report before work starts — Australian WHS regulations require a hazardous materials survey before demolition of any structure built before 1990. The survey must be conducted by a licensed asbestos assessor, not by the demolition contractor themselves. Ask for a copy of the survey report and confirm the demolition methodology addresses any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) identified.
- Check their Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for your project — Demolition is classified as high-risk construction work under the model WHS Act. The demolisher must prepare a site-specific SWMS before work commences. Review the SWMS to confirm it addresses dust suppression, vibration management for neighbouring properties, traffic management, and an emergency response plan.
- Verify public liability insurance with a minimum $20 million cover — Demolition carries significant risk of damage to neighbouring properties from vibration, falling debris, and dust. Industry best practice is public liability insurance of at least $10–$20 million. Ask for a current certificate of currency and confirm the policy period covers your project dates.
- Ask about waste disposal and recycling rates — Responsible demolishers sort and recycle materials — timber, steel, concrete, and brick can all be recycled, reducing landfill levies that would otherwise increase your cost. Ask what percentage of materials they typically divert from landfill and where waste is disposed of. A reputable demolisher should achieve 70–90% recycling on a standard house demolition.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Wants to start demolition without an asbestos survey — Any demolisher who proposes to begin work without a pre-demolition asbestos survey for a building constructed before 1990 is violating WHS regulations. This is not just a procedural issue — disturbing asbestos without proper controls creates a serious health risk for workers and neighbours. Walk away and report the contractor to your state WHS regulator.
- Cannot produce a current demolition licence — Unlicensed demolition is illegal in most Australian jurisdictions above certain thresholds. If the contractor cannot produce a current, verifiable demolition licence for the scope of your project, they are not legally authorised to perform the work — and your insurance may not cover any resulting damage.
- No written SWMS or site safety plan — Demolition is high-risk construction work. If a demolisher cannot provide a site-specific Safe Work Method Statement before work begins, it suggests a lack of safety management systems. This exposes you to liability as the property owner if a worker is injured on your site.
- Offers to dump waste "cheaply" at an unspecified location — Illegal dumping of demolition waste attracts significant fines that can follow the property owner as well as the contractor. If the demolisher is vague about where waste is going, cannot name the licensed waste facility, or quotes a suspiciously low price for waste disposal, they may be planning to dump illegally.
Typical Demolisher Costs in Australian Capital Territory
| Hourly Rate | $75 – $130 |
|---|---|
| Callout Fee | $105 – $215 |
| Internal wall removal (non-structural) | $535 – $2140 |
| Bathroom strip-out | $1070 – $3210 |
| Full house demolition | $10700 – $32100 |
View full demolisher pricing guide for Australian Capital Territory →
Your Rights — Complaints & Disputes in Australian Capital Territory
Access Canberra
How to Lodge a Complaint
- 1 Write to the tradesperson detailing the issues and requesting rectification within a reasonable period
- 2 If unresolved, lodge a complaint with Access Canberra online or by phone
- 3 Access Canberra will assess the complaint and may investigate