Strengthening structural health governance in Queensland multi-storey residential buildings

Purpose This study aims to critically examine the management effectiveness of structural health governance in Queensland multi-storey community title scheme (CTS) residential buildings above three storeys, focusing on the statutory role and competency of Bodies Corporate and their service providers. It seeks to identify systemic weaknesses in current legal frameworks, documentation practices and decision-making processes and to develop evidence-based recommendations for legislative and institutional reforms to strengthen preventative maintenance, regulatory oversight and structural health outcomes. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative methodology using semi-structured online interviews, surveys and a strategic records search to examine structural health management within CTS. Structured responses were analysed verbatim, while open-ended data and records were coded and thematically analysed following grounded theory principles. Data were collected from 270 stakeholders across diverse CTS typologies in Queensland. Cross-analysis of interviews, surveys, records and literature enabled triangulation, identification of convergent themes and validation of findings, supporting an exploratory assessment of stakeholder relationships and maintenance practices. Findings The study finds that structural health governance in Queensland CTS buildings is undermined by under-qualified Bodies Corporate, poor documentation and reactive, delayed defect remediation. Systemic gaps in legislation, mandatory inspections, record-keeping and enforcement allow serious defects to escalate, heightening safety and financial risks. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by its non-legal analytical approach, relying on the author's interpretation of complex regulatory frameworks rather than formal legal analysis. It is further constrained by scarce, fragmented data on structural defects and maintenance performance across Queensland CTS buildings, restricting the ability to generalise findings sector-wide. Practical implications The study urges legislative reforms like mandatory periodic structural inspections, time-bound repair timelines for defects and a centralised SH databank for CTS buildings. Bodies Corporate can enhance governance via technical training, better documentation handover from developers and proactive maintenance planning. Regulators should establish a dedicated Structural Health Division in Queensland building and construction commission (QBCC) for enforcement, inspections and penalties, mitigating risks like those in Mascot Towers and improving safety, accountability and resident confidence in CTS buildings above three storeys. Social implications The study highlights profound social implications from poor structural health governance in Queensland CTS buildings. Unremedied defects like waterproofing failures and concrete degradation cause resident displacement, health risks, psychological distress and economic burdens on vulnerable owners and tenants. Neglect exacerbates inequality, erodes community cohesion, strains public services and risks catastrophic failures akin to Mascot Towers, underscoring the urgent need for reforms to safeguard occupant safety, wellbeing and housing stability. Originality/value The study is the first focused analysis of structural health governance deficiencies in Queensland's multi-storey CTS buildings, benchmarking against Mascot Towers and Champlain Towers failures. It uniquely identifies gaps in Bodies Corporate competency, regulatory frameworks and documentation practices specific to Queensland's coastal context. The novel proposals namely a centralised SH databank, mandatory inspections with timed repairs, a dedicated QBCC Structural Health Division and an advance policy reform discourse lays a foundation for proactive, evidence-based strategies to enhance building safety and resilience.