This warning is issued by the Commissioner of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to the public under section 20J(1)(i) of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991.

The QBCC is urging consumers, contractors and suppliers to be cautious in their dealings with unlicensed tradesperson Matthew Geoffrey Rixon and his fencing businesses.

Mr Rixon is associated with a number of business names including but not limited to:

• Coral Fencing ACN 35 628 833 741
• Wide Bay Fencing ACN 0 061 285 434
• All About Fences ACN 21 106 417 654
• East Coast Fencing Solutions ACN 35 628 833 741

Mr Rixon has also been known to operate under other aliases, including Matthew Douglas and Matt Douglas, and has at times been known to use similar names to legitimate and reputable companies in an attempt to lure unsuspecting consumers.

Mr Rixon is believed to be currently operating in the Wide Bay–Burnett area, particularly Maryborough, but has also recently been active in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.  Mr Rixon does not currently hold a QBCC licence and is therefore not able to carry out, advertise for, or enter into contracts to carry out, building work in Queensland at a value of more than $3,300. Mr Rixon has also been alleged to have taken deposits in excess of the maximum allowed under the QBCC Act.

The QBCC is aware of several complaints of unlawful conduct by Mr Rixon, and is aware that complaints have also been made to the Office of Fair Trading and the Queensland Police. The QBCC warns all persons dealing with Mr Rixon and his businesses to exercise extreme caution and seek legal advice before making any payments, to protect their interests.

The QBCC strongly encourages consumers to always use the free licence check on the QBCC website to confirm that the person they are dealing with is licensed appropriately.

The QBCC website also offers a free “Find a Local Contractor” search, that allows you to find licensed and skilled tradespersons in your local area.

Further information on licensing requirements can be found at QBCC's website or contact the QBCC on 139 333.

Warning about installation and maintenance of on-site sewage facilities and the failure of such systems.

This warning is issued by the Commissioner of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to the public under section 20J 1(i) of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991.

The QBCC issues this public warning about the installation and maintenance of on-site sewage facilities (OSSFs) due to the public health and safety impacts of failing OSSFs. 

OSSFs are generally installed on residential properties in un-sewered areas to treat the sewage generated from the property. Poorly designed, installed and maintained wastewater treatment systems can endanger the health of users, their neighbours, wildlife, domestic animals, the environment and drinking water sources. Effective treatment of sewage protects public health and safety, and ensures that the environment and community amenity are maintained or enhanced.

Advice provided by local governments in South East Queensland and studies undertaken by universities and other organisations indicate that there is a high failure rate of OSSF across their jurisdictions. A high failure rate of these systems presents a significant risk to public health and safety and the environment.

OSSFs require regular scheduled maintenance by properly licensed entities to ensure the ongoing health and safety of those in the immediate area. Failure can become apparent in different forms, including:

• Hydraulic failure: a visible failure leading to leaks, pooling or boggy soils
• Operational or maintenance failure: mechanical breakdown, damage to the system or its components, or a failure to maintain the system as required; and
• Compliance failure: a facility which has not been designed, installed or maintained in accordance with required codes or standards.

Ensure you engage appropriately licensed contractors with licensed workers to perform installation or maintenance work on OSSFs in Queensland. Further information about when a contractor licence is required for on-site sewage work is available from the QBCC website. If you are concerned about the installation or maintenance of your system, please contact your local government to seek advice.

If you are in doubt about whether the entity you are contracting with holds the correct licence to do the work, you can either:

• conduct a free online licence search
• contact us.