MAINTENANCE SEMINARS: INTRODUCING OUR FIRST EXPERT LAWYER – Smart Strata | Body Corporate Management
MAINTENANCE SEMINARS: INTRODUCING OUR FIRST EXPERT LAWYER
The Smart Strata Community Education Seminar Series returns this October 2025 across Queensland, and we’re pleased to announce our first expert lawyer panelist: Mario Esera, Partner at HWLE Lawyers. A recognised leader in body corporate law, Mario will help strata stakeholders cut through complexity in this maintenance seminars series on Clarifying Maintenance & Improvement Obligations—covering common property, lot boundaries and exclusive use.
Maintenance Seminars – Why This Matters Now
Questions like “Who is responsible for that repair?”, “Is this an improvement or a repair?”, and “Who pays?” are among the most common—and contentious—in strata communities. Missteps can strain relationships, trigger disputes, and increase costs. This seminar series is designed to equip committees, owners and managers with clear, practical guidance on strata maintenance responsibilities, body corporate repairs, and common property obligations, so decisions are confident, compliant and well-documented.
Meet the Maintenance Seminars 1st Expert: Mario Esera
Mario Esera has practised law since 2004 (across New Zealand, the UK and Australia) and has specialised in body corporate law since 2011. He advises bodies corporate, lot owners, developers, management rights holders and body corporate managers on:
- Management rights disputes.
- Building defects and levy recovery.
- By-law drafting and enforcement.
- Varying or reassigning agreements, scheme termination and compliance.
- Commercial leasing disputes (for tenants and landlords).
Mario is a member of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers and Strata Community Association (Qld) and is a frequent conference presenter and industry contributor. His writing on topical issues has been among Smart Strata’s most-read content.
Where you can hear Mario: He’ll present on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, delivering legal clarity on maintenance vs improvement, cost allocation and compliant decision-making.
What You’ll Take Away from the Maintenance Seminars
This series is built to balance legal context with on-the-ground practicality. Expect guidance you can apply immediately, including:
- Maintenance vs repair vs improvement — the legal distinctions and why they matter for approvals, process and cost.
- Who is responsible? — body corporate or lot owner, with scenarios around boundaries, balconies, courtyards and exclusive use areas.
- Owner requests to improve common property — how to assess, condition and document approvals.
- Who pays (and how much)? — clarifying cost responsibilities and avoiding common pitfalls.
- Transparent, defensible decisions — records, resolutions and communication that reduce disputes.
Where & When: October 2025 Schedule
Choose the venue that suits you and secure your seat early:
- Sunshine Coast — Thu 2nd Oct, Maroochy RSL — Register →
- Gold Coast — Wed 8th Oct, People First Stadium [Red Carpark] — Register →
- Mackay — Wed 15th Oct, Rydges Mackay Suites — Register →
- Brisbane — Wed 22nd Oct, Broncos Leagues Club — Register →
- Cairns — Thu 30th Oct, Pullman Reef Hotel Casino — Register →
Each event combines expert presentations with Q&A and valuable networking among committees, managers and suppliers. You’ll hear real-world examples and practical steps for handling requests, documenting decisions and communicating outcomes—so your scheme can stay compliant and harmonious.
Meet Our Industry Exhibitors
Gold Coast
Brisbane
Cairns
Who should attend
- Committee members seeking clarity to make fair, defensible decisions.
- Lot owners wanting to understand rights and responsibilities before proposing works.
- Body corporate managers looking for consistent, compliant processes across portfolios.
- Suppliers and professionals who support strata schemes and want to align with best practice.
If your role touches repairs, upgrades or improvements, this seminar is for you.
Proud Partners
The series is delivered by Smart Strata, proudly partnered with Archers the Strata Professionals, bringing leading practitioners together to support Queensland’s strata communities with up-to-date insight and practical guidance. You will meet our industry trades and expert exhibitors face to face who can answer your specific maintenance questions and share firsthand insights to resolve your body corporate maintenance problems. View the full list of industry exhibitors here.
Secure Your Seat
Registrations are now open. Choose your location and register today to learn from Mario Esera and our expert industry trades to bring clarity and confidence to your scheme’s maintenance and improvement decisions.
Stay tuned for next week’s update, where we will introduce our next expert panelist!
For more information, contact [email protected].
See you in October!
Article Contributed by the Smart Strata team.