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Commonwealth
$6 billion regional infrastructure fund
9 June 2010
The Australian Government has announced that it will establish a new $6 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund. The Regional Infrastructure Fund will invest in projects with potential partner funding from States, private investors and/or local governments. The Fund comprises $5.6bn of revenue from the Resources Super Profits Tax commencing in 2012-13, as previously announced, and an additional $400 million for the fund between 2010-11 and 2013-14. More...
Australia needs certain project pipeline
3 June 2010
A new report by KPMG, released by Infrastructure Australia, shows Australia’s policy makers need to deliver a transparent national pipeline of projects to drive competition. The report shows that by comparison to other markets like the UK and Canada, Australia brings comparatively few projects forward as PPPs. More...
Governments to reform PPP infrastructure deals
3 June 2010
A Council of Australian Governments working group are working on a plan to overhaul public-private partnerships after a landmark report found bid costs were running into tens of millions of dollars and the relatively small number of projects could deter new local and global infrastructure investors. More...
Victoria
Multi-million dollar desalination contracts for Bendigo
11 June 2010
Two Bendigo businesses have been awarded $13 million worth of contracts to help supply Victoria’s Desalination Plant, which has created 25 new jobs in the region. Ortech Industries was awarded a $7 million contract to manufacture the steel beam system and acoustic ceiling panels that form the desalination plant’s roof. Ausform was awarded a $6 million contract to build concrete water retaining structures to transfer billions of litres of seawater around the plant site. More...
$25 million boost to transform Skilled Stadium
10 June 2010
The Victorian Government will invest $25 million into the third stage of a major redevelopment of Geelong’s Skilled Stadium. Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government would contribute $25 million towards the $75 million project, further building on the recent $6 million contribution for the Premiership Stand. More...
State leads way in retail building
9 June 2010
Commercial property construction in Victoria, particularly retail, is rebounding way ahead of all the other states, new data according to industry researcher BCI Australia in its June sector report confirms. More...
HIA report endorses Victoria’s plans to manage growth
8 June 2010
Planning Minister Justin Madden has welcomed the Housing Industry Association’s Population and Residential Building Hotspots report which identified Melbourne’s growth areas as the top building hotspots in Australia. Melbourne @ 5 Million identified the need for 600,000 more dwellings over the next 20 years, with clear planning strategies to create 284,000 dwellings in growth areas and a further 316,000 in existing areas. More...
Tender advertised for $74.6 million Dingley Arterial
2 June 2010
Construction on the $74.6 million Dingley Arterial, which will provide motorists in Melbourne’s south-east with safer and easier travel, is one step closer this week with the tender for major works now advertised. The successful contractor would further develop the initial plan, taking account of improvements identified in the past year as a result of community feedback and following detailed design investigations. More...
New South Wales
Insurance scheme ridiculed as junk
6 June 2010
An overhaul of the home warranty insurance scheme has been rushed through and the building industry will be crippled if it is not ready by July 1, the opposition says. The government will underwrite the scheme, which has been plagued with problems since the collapse of HIH Insurance in 2001. QBE and Calliden were appointed as brokers. More...
Big insurers gain as NSW state tax axed
10 June 2010
The NSW government plans to abolish the 10-year-old insurance protection tax from July next year. The tax, which was introduced to cover outstanding claims from the collapse of the HIH insurance group, pulled in $69 million for the government, and insurers were barred from passing it on in higher premiums. More...
QBE and Calliden appointed as home warranty insurance agents
3 June 2010
The NSW Government is on track to transition to a new, Government–underwritten home warranty insurance scheme on July 1, with QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited and Calliden Insurance Limited being appointed to act as insurance agents. The announcement follows the introduction of new laws supporting home builders, renovators and the residential construction sector. More...
NSW needs to fund new projects
8 June 2010
The NSW budget shows a welcome return to surplus and maintains a $16.6 billion infrastructure spend but it does too little to begin addressing some of the biggest infrastructure problems in the state. More...
Regional roads and hospitals get budget funds
8 June 2010
The New South Wales Government has announced record spending on health and roads infrastructure in rural and regional areas in this year’s budget. More...
Stamp duty cuts set to boost supply
9 June 2010
The housing and construction industries are to receive a significant boost from the budget. One of the measures taken by the government to increase housing supply is cutting to zero stamp duty for those buying dwellings off the plan. More...
Gas pipeline duplication boosts energy reliability
8 June 2010
The NSW Government has approved the duplication of a key section of gas pipeline between Young and Wagga Wagga. Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the $38 million duplication will help secure the State’s energy supplies as demand increases. More...
Infrastructure projects for NSW
7 June 2010
Residents and businesses in communities across New South Wales will now benefit from the roll out of six innovative infrastructure projects that deliver improved water security. Funding has been provided under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and National Urban Water and Desalination Plan programs. More...
$17 million for water security
8 June 2010
Four councils in New South Wales will receive new infrastructure to deliver improved water security, Federal Minister for Water, Senator Penny Wong, has announced. Four councils and two water corporations will implement water saving projects worth $17 million. More...
More help for homeowners and renovators
8 June 2010
A $6.5 million investment that expands the use of complying development codes, will allow homeowners to get 10-day planning approvals if they meet set planning standards. Additional funding will also support the continued operation of the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) and Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs), which to date have delivered efficient and transparent decisions on major projects. More...
Housing Affordability Fund to deliver 10 urban renewal projects in NSW
7 June 2010
Federal Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek and NSW Minister for Housing Frank Terenzini today announced a new partnership that will invest $43 million in urban renewal and affordable housing projects across Sydney and Lake Macquarie. More...
Banned Macquarie Hills builder nailed
2 June 2010
A Macquarie Hills man who continued to pick up work as a builder despite having his contractor’s licence permanently disqualified in the 1980s, was fined a total of $6000 and ordered to pay costs in excess of $1000. The owner complained to NSW Fair Trading because the work was defective and the owner had to pay another contractor $4345 to fix it. More...
Mayor says levy cap will force rates up
4 June 2010
Development costs for new homes have been capped at $20,000 in an effort to improve housing affordability. But Mayor Peter Dimbrowsky says putting a limit on the development levy will force councils to push up rates.
Significant reform to local council infrastructure charges
4 June 2010
The NSW Government has announced major sweeping changes to local council charges on new housing development. The $44 million Comprehensive Housing Supply Strategy changes will lower the cost of new housing construction, and provide certainty, transparency and fairness to councils, landowners, developers and the community. More...
Queensland
Insulation bosses get bail over death
4 June 2010
Two men being prosecuted over a death linked to the federal government’s botched home insulation program have been granted bail, and their employer, QHI Installations Pty Ltd, has been charged with failing to conduct its business in a way that was electrically safe. More...
Titans’ Centre of Excellence may collapse
5 June 2010
The Titans’ troubled Centre of Excellence project is on the brink of collapse with a key private financier refusing to release more than $1 million in funds to finish the job. In a move that threatens to sink the $22 million project, investment baron Philip Ward has allegedly frozen $1.4m in funding to new builders Reed Constructions until the Titans obtain certification documents giving the club access to the building. More...
Mount Isa reeling after Xstrata projects dropped
4 June 2010
Businesses in Mount Isa are fearing the flow-on effects of Xstrata’s decision to suspend almost $600 million worth of expenditure in Queensland. More...
New focus for Department of Infrastructure and Planning
4 June 2010
The Department of Infrastructure and Planning’s ability to keep the state sustainable has been enhanced by an influential new cross-government growth management body, Growth Management Queensland (GMQ) The establishment of GMQ would bring new tasks for the department, including better links between land use planning, infrastructure delivery, economic development and environmental asset issues. More...
Bidders for Queensland Motorways
10 June 2010
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he was “grappling” with funding future transport projects after the Northern Link toll tunnel, linking the Western Freeway and the Inner City Bypass, is finished in 2012 and the BCC is interested in bidding, as a partner, for Queensland Motorways. The Bligh Government will float the toll-road network before the end of 2011. More...
2010 Budget is building a better Queensland
8 June 2010
This year’s budget will fund $486 million in capital spending for the next twelve months to continue an ambitious infrastructure and planning program that creates jobs, including more than $82 million to acquire and develop land for future industrial use. More...
QLD delivers Australia’s infrastructure investment
8 June 2010
The Queensland Government has maintained its record infrastructure spend while delivering a fiscally responsible budget. More...
$10 million towards overpass to open up industrial land
7 June 2010
The budget has $10 million allocated to start the work on an overpass to open up access to the Gracemere-Stanwell industrial precinct, with the Premier to investigate declaring this precinct a state development area. More...
Rail infrastructure fast-tracked for growth
7 June 2010
The 2010-11 State Budget includes $104 million to complete the new rail line from Darra to Richlands and $25 million to complete the third track from Corinda to Darra. More...
Unlicensed builders quote for jobs under $3300
Unlicensed builders are using a legal loophole to do jobs priced up to $3300 without any requirement to be qualified or monitored by the state building association. The Building Services Authority changed the minimum threshold required for a building licence from $1100 to $3300 last December. More...
Other
New law to help victims of collapsed building firms in NT
8 June 2010
A bill has been introduced into the NT Parliament that aims to stop people being left unable to certify their houses if the property builder has collapsed. More...
Publications/Conferences
Population and Residential Building Hotspots report
08 June 2010
Victoria is the nation’s biggest building hotspot, according to a new report from the Housing Industry Association. The report provides a snapshot of Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan and regional areas in the 2008/09 financial year. More...
Queensland: Budget highlights 2010
The 2010-11 budget announced on 8 June 2010 allocates funding for major infrastructure projects, planning, and sustainable, transparent and accountable local government. More...
NSW: Budget highlights 2010
Zero stamp duty for senior’s buying new homes under $600k and up to $22,490 in savings for downsizing over-65s. Surplus of $733m bolstered by property and payroll taxes. More...
Access to Premises Standards Awareness Seminars 2010
8 June 2010
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the ABCB will collaborate to deliver half-day seminars throughout August and September 2010, on the Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards (Premises Standards). The Premises Standards will take effect on 1 May 2011 and will lead to significant improvements in the level of access required in new buildings and existing buildings undergoing renovation. More...
BCA 2011 Draft Proposals Available for Comment
2 June 2010
The draft changes for the 2011 edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA 2011) have been placed on the ABCB website for public comment and to give BCA users advance notice of proposals that may take effect on 1 May 2011. More...
BCA 2010 Volumes One and Two: Trial Lighting Calculator
1 June 2010
The trial Lighting Calculator for BCA Volume One and Two has been developed to assist users of the lighting provisions in J6.2 and 3.12.5.5. More...
VIC: Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary introduced into Parliament
The Minister for Planning has approved and is now seeking parliamentary ratification of Amendment VC67. More...
VIC: Approved Plans
Melbourne C122: Introduces a ‘no permit required’ clause for subdivision and various exemptions for a range of minor buildings and works. More...
QLD: Courses for non-accredited solar and heat pump hot water system
A plumber or provisional plumber can apply to PIC for a SHP installation endorsement on the plumber’s licence to install, replace, test, repair and maintain SHPs. To obtain the SHP endorsement, a licensee must have successfully completed a course approved by PIC. Plumbers and provisional plumbers have until 31 December 2010 to obtain the endorsement. More...
NSW: Comprehensive Housing Supply Strategy announced
4 June 2010
Part of a Comprehensive Housing Supply Strategy, includes a $20,000 cap on local contributions, replacing the previous threshold review process. The strategy also allows local councils to seek to fund infrastructure which cannot be accommodated under the new contributions system by applying to IPART. More...
Legislation
Commonwealth
Regulations
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety Levies) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1)
Offshore Petroleum (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1)
New South Wales
Bills
Anzac Memorial (Building) Amendment Bill 2010
Mining and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Land Access) Bill 2010
NSW Self Insurance Corporation Amendment (Home Warranty Insurance) Bill 2010
Queensland
Bills
Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Bill 2010
Regulations
State Development and Public Works Organisation Regulation 2010 No.1
Victoria
Acts
Environment Protection Amendment (Landfill Levies) Act 2010
Planning and Environment Amendment (Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution) Act 2010
Cases
Stuart v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2010] FCAFC 65
Industrial law - sentencing appeal - union organiser took action to procure a stoppage of work on a building site - whether trial judge took into account incorrect or irrelevant considerations - re-exercise of sentencing discretion - declarations of contravention sought by parties by consent lacking certainty and precision - principles governing Crown appeals against sentence. Pecuniary penalties - sentencing appeal - whether manifestly inadequate - determination of appropriate penalties. More...
Randwick City Council v Link Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 86
Civil enforcement - breach of s 76A Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 - carrying out building work in breach of conditions of consent - continuous course of conduct in breach of the conditions of consent - respondent knowingly breached conditions of consent - respondent restrained from carrying out work in breach of conditions of consent. More...
Chand v Lifestyle Homes NSW Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 135
Appeal - civil - right to appeal from decision of District Court on an appeal from the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal. Administrative law - judicial review - whether necessary to supplement statutory appeal - bifurcated jurisdiction. Procedure - civil - transfer of proceedings to Court of Appeal - avoidance of cost and delay - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 1.21(1) - dispute - residential building contract. More...
Beechwood Homes (NSW) Pty Ltd v Camenzuli [2010] NSWSC 521
Practice and procedure - plaintiff sought interlocutory injunction to restrain defendant from continuing to publish on his website material adverse to the plaintiff - Fair Trading Act 1987 s 42 - injurious falsehood - whether defendant’s conduct in trade or commerce - malice whether serious question to be tried - whether plaintiff is likely to suffer injury for which damages are inadequate remedy - balance of convenience - order defendant be restrained until final hearing - alleged favourable comments on the Beechwood Homes website were by clients of the old Beechwood Homes, that is that Beechwood Homes used to be a reputable builder but under its current ownership and management it has become a disreputable builder. More...
Builders’ Registration Board of WA v Keller Constructions (WA) Pty Ltd [2010] WASC 119
Criminal law and procedure - Respondent acquitted of charge that as an unregistered builder it entered into an engagement to construct a building - Meaning of ‘construct any building’ - Meaning of ‘building of a permanent nature’ - Requirement that total fee or charge exceeds $20,000. Appeal allowed - set aside the decision of her Honour the magistrate and enter judgment of conviction. More...
Thiess Pty Ltd and John Holland Pty Ltd v Civil Works Australia Pty Ltd & Ors [2010] QSC 187
Administrative Law - Judicial Review - Grounds of review - Procedural fairness - Hearing - Nature of hearing - Opportunity to present case - where decision made by adjudicator under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 - where the first respondent wrote a letter to the adjudicator outside the relevant timeframe - where the applicant also wrote a letter contending that the adjudicator was precluded from considering the first respondents letter because it was provided outside the relevant timeframe - where the applicant claims that it should have been given an opportunity to respond to the letter - where the adjudicator expressly disregarded the first respondents letter - whether this constituted a failure on the part of adjudicator to afford the applicant natural justice. Administrative Law - Judicial review - Grounds of review - Relevant considerations - where decision made by adjudicator under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 - where the applicant referred to a number of clauses in the contract in its adjudication response - where these clauses of the contract were not referred to in the payment schedule - whether the adjudicator should have considered these clauses and their effect in making his decision. More...
A J Lucas Drilling Pty Ltd v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] VSCA 128
Practice and Procedure - Offer of compromise - Uncertainty of offer - Uncertain GST clause in offer of compromise - Whether judgment on the claim not more favourable to the Plaintiff than the terms of the offer - Uncertainty of issues - Whether Court should otherwise order - Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005, r 26.08(3). More...