This course provides an overview of the legal framework governing construction, land use, and building safety in Papua New Guinea. It explores the regulatory architecture that shapes how buildings are designed, approved, constructed, and maintained, with particular emphasis on the intersection of statutory law, subordinate legislation, and judicial precedent.
Students will develop a systematic understanding of two interconnected regulatory streams: building control law (governed by the Building Act 1971 and Building Regulation 1994) and physical planning law (governed by the Physical Planning Act 1989). The course addresses the distinct but complementary roles of these frameworks, recognizing that planning permission governs land use and zoning while building permits regulate construction safety and technical compliance in the building /construction industry .