Planning & Environment 18 November 2009

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What's news in Property, Planning & Environment?

18 November 2009

Latest news

Commonwealth Property Management Guidelines commence
28 October 2009
Minister for Finance and Deregulation has launched the Commonwealth Property Management Guidelines which are designed to improve property management planning, cross-agency coordination and accountability, with a specific focus on the amount of space that each agency occupies More...

Land charges ‘pricing out buyers’
3 November 2009
Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek has warned that state governments and local councils risk pricing first-home buyers out of the market by milking the property industry for too much tax.
UDIA president Stephen Holmes said councils once funded infrastructure provision out of the general rates, but they were now targeting the land development process directly to raise the funding infrastructure, making the cost of producing a serviced block of land prohibitive More...

PM proposes taking over city planning
28 October 2009
In the next 40 years Australia’s population is expected to swell to 35 million and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says it will have enormous implications for major cities. Federal funding may only be forthcoming if the states and territories meet new development conditions More...

Insulation changes: safety, consumer protections and value for money
1 November 2009
The Government has added extra safety precautions, consumer protections and reduced the maximum subsidy for its Home Insulation Program, effective from midnight on Sunday 1 November 2009. The Minister said the requirement of a second quote built on the inclusion of a pricing guide in the program guidelines and was another measure to ensure value for money.

Record fine for Esperance Port’s lead scandal
30 October 2009
Esperance Port has recorded Western Australia’s biggest-ever fine of $525,000 for lead contamination. Magistrate Greg Benn handed down the penalty of $525,000, plus $4771.70 costs, after convicting the port on five charges relating to lead contamination in Esperance and one charge of emitting a nickel odour More...

New home sales slump
29 October 2009
Nationwide homes sales sank 4.5 per cent in September, following an 11.4 per cent jump in August, according to data from the Housing Industry Association. HIA chief economist Harley Dale said there is a very real risk that costly delays in planning approvals and land shortages will combine to blunt the housing recovery, reversing the recent gains in housing affordability More...

New Australian Centre for Renewable Energy
28 October 2009
The Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson has launched the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE), part of the Rudd Government’s $4.5 billion Clean Energy Initiative and draws together more than $560 million of renewable energy investment to help commercialise renewable energy. The Solar Flagships Program details can be found in the factsheet at www.ret.gov.au. More...

Mike Rann seeks court say on Murray River pact
3 November 2009
The Rann government wants a High Court ruling on states’ water rights before final negotiations go ahead on a pact to manage the Murray-Darling Basin. Environment Minister Jay Weatherill yesterday said the government’s proposed legal challenge would be wider than an attack on water trade barriers between the states More...

New Australian Centre for Renewable Energy
28 October 2009
The Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson has launched the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE), part of the Rudd Government’s $4.5 billion Clean Energy Initiative and draws together more than $560 million of renewable energy investment to help commercialise renewable energy. The Solar Flagships Program details can be found in the factsheet at www.ret.gov.au. More...

Multiple native claims over four Pilbara towns dismissed
28 October 2009
Attorney General Christian Porter welcomed the court’s ruling that the Wong-goo-tt-oo people’s claim over areas surrounding the four towns could not be sustained at law. The Federal Court has dismissed overlapping native title claims for parts of the Pilbara region towns of Karratha, Dampier, Wickam, and Point Samson More...

Victoria

Building and retail up but difficult period ahead
4 November 2009
Victoria has recorded a 49.1 per cent increase in building approvals and 7.5 per cent increase in retail spending over the past year according to ABS statistics released today but the Treasurer, John Lenders, warned the Global Financial Crisis would continue to have a large impact on the state budget and economy More...

Geothermal industry could share in $700,000 to ‘Rediscover Victoria’
29 October 2009
Victoria’s potential geothermal industry could be explored with applications now open for up to $700,000 in drilling grants from the Brumby Labor Government.

Recycled water to flow for Melbourne’s west
29 October 2009
Construction has started on a $46 million recycled water project which will provide high quality recycled water to industry, championship golf courses and public parks in Melbourne’s west More...

Desalination plant secures funds; Vic govt off the hook
AquaSure, a group of investors building Australia’s biggest water desalination plant, agreed to a $1.7 billion loan to help fund the project, with National Australia Bank and Westpac allegedly managing the syndication. Suez Environnement, Thiess and Macquarie Group are among members of AquaSure, which won a government contract in July to build the desalination plant in Victoria. More...

Tests reveal inaudible wind farm noise
4 November 2009
An engineer from the University of Ballarat says tests have revealed that the turbines at the Waubra wind farm, west of Ballarat, do generate a low frequency noise More...

Exit ban on husband as $7m sought
3 November 2009
The Family Court has effectively banned a 60-year-old man from leaving the country while his wife tries to find out what he has done with an estimated $7 million he raised from selling their extensive Melbourne property holdings More...

Wynne overrules council on 10/30 Right
28 October 2009
The Victorian State Government has stepped in to overrule a council on environmental planning, with Victorian Local Government Minister Richard Wynne opting to revoke the council’s tree protection local law. Frankston Council was asked to put its community first in a disagreement over the right to fell trees ahead of the bushfire season. It is the first time the minister had used the Local Government Act to revoke a local law More...

Vic coastal properties at risk of climate change
27 October 2009
More than 80,000 buildings along Victoria’s coast could be at risk from rising sea levels.
A report by the Joint Standing Committee on climate change has predicted Western Port will be most at risk. Storm surges, erosion and flooding have been identified as potential risks. The report calls for fewer developments in low-lying coastal areas More...

New South Wales

Barangaroo To Be One Of The World’s First Climate Positive City Precincts
2 November 2009
Barangaroo will be a world leading ecological development, with the NSW Government today announcing the project will enter the Clinton Climate Initiative’s Climate Positive Development Program and will be one of the first CBD districts in the world to be carbon neutral, water positive and generate zero waste More...

NSW announces councils for e-planning pilot
28 October 2009
The NSW State Government has announced a new e-planning pilot to be launched across a number of councils. 12 NSW councils are set to work with Local and State Government authorities to work on an electronic Housing Code pilot project More...

Queensland

Great Keppel Island resort impacts not acceptable
30 October 2009
Environment Minister Peter Garrett has deemed a proposal for a tourist resort and facilities on Great Keppel Island clearly unacceptable under national environment law. A decision that a project is clearly unacceptable is made when it is determined the proposal will have unacceptable impacts on nationally protected matters More...

Queensland on track with building of social housing
5 November 2009
Minister Struthers said the $1.2 billion investment in social housing under the Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan was on top of the Bligh Government’s $500 million building program, with the roll-out of 4,000 new social housing dwellings across Queensland. More than 75% of the new dwellings would be built by December next year, with 525 new homes expected to be completed by June next year More...

Sustainable building under new Amendment Bill
5 November 2009
The Bill contains key components of the government’s climate change strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improvements in the building sector. The Bill proposes to introduces more code relating to matters about sustainable buildings and the other relating to buildings in noise transport corridors More...

Government and Councils team up to address flooding
5 November 2009
Officers from the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning will work with local Council planner officers on the project to focus on helping councils better identify inland flood prone areas of the state More...

Developer ‘code of contact’
3 November 2009
LGAQ president Paul Bell said the draft “code of contact” raised the ethical bar over the existing Local Government Act and would require a voluntary set of rules to avoid the vexed question of interaction between local decision makers and those seeking favourable application outcomes More...

International events expert appointed to review SuperGP
26 October 2009
An independent review by appointed events manager Mr David Williams will analyse the governance and due diligence undertaken by the event organisers ahead of the 2009 event and provide recommendations for the future of the event on the Gold Coast by November 2009 More...

Articles

National

Premises occupancy models for franchised retail businesses in Australia: Factors for consideration
Authors: Jenny Buchan, Jennifer, Butcher, Bill
Source
: Australian Property Law Journal, (2009) 17(2), pp143–178

The prior certificate of title and wrong description of land exceptions to indefeasibility: Resolving the overlap
Authors: Penny Carruthers, Penny, Skead, Natalie
Source
: Australian Property Law Journal, (2009) 17(2), pp240-258

Second biennial assessment of progress in implementation of the National Water Initiative: Australian water reform 2009
Author: Australia. National Water Commission, 2009, pp288
Subjects: Water resources; National Water Initiative; Natural resource management; Water conservation; Water supply; Resource allocation; Water policy; Water rights; Interstate comparisons.

Practice notes/directions

Victoria

Approved World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan
The Minister for Planning has approved the World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens to protect and manage the World Heritage values of the site. The approved plan can be viewed on the Heritage Victoria website.

New South Wales

NSW: Refund of Insurance Duty
27 October 2009
As a result of a recent NSW Court case, insurance policyholders may be entitled to a refund of duty. The refund will apply to duty paid on general insurance effected in NSW prior to 20 June 2006 with an insurer that was not registered or authorised under the Insurance Act 1973 More...

Planning for Entertainment
23 October 2009
The NSW Government has introduced a simpler and fairer approval system for live entertainment. The red tape for live entertainment in venues has been cut – pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafés and other venues no longer need a special licence More...

Queensland

QLD: Free training - building laws sustainability changes
4 November 2009
Upcoming free training sessions on proposed sustainability changes will be held across Queensland. The sessions will cover: mandatory sustainability declarations when property is marketed for sale, ‘Ban the banners’ to prevent covenants and specific provisions from restricting the use of certain sustainable features, provisions for building in transport noise corridors and other miscellaneous building matters More...

Rebated purchase prices – Form 1 Transfer and Form 24 Property Information (Transfer)
Following concerns raised by members and discussions with the Titles Registry, the State Valuations Service and the Office of State Revenue, an agreed method for reporting a conveyancing transaction with a rebate, discount or cash-back on settlement on the Form 1 and Form 24 has been settled. A practice note with a worked example has been produced for the benefit of members.

Legislation

Commonwealth

Trade Practices Amendment (Infrastructure Access) Bill 2009
A Bill for an Act to amend the Trade Practices Act 1974, and for related purposes – changes to binding time limits and limited merits review for councils. Note: The consideration period is a period of 180 days (the expected period), starting at the start of the day the application is received, unless the consideration period is extended under subsection (7) (30/10/09) More...

Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009
A Bill for an Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009, to amend that Act, and for related purposes (26/10/2009) More...

Native Title Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009
A Bill for an Act to amend the Native Title Act 1993, and for related purposes (26/10/2009) More...

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2009 [No. 2]
A Bill for an Act about CPRS fuel credits, and for related purposes (26/10/2009) More...

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2]
A Bill for an Act to reduce pollution caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and for other purposes (26/10/2009) More...

Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009 [No.2]
A Bill for an Act to establish the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority, and for other purposes (26/10/2009) More...

Acts

Electricity Industry Amendment (Premium Solar Feed-in Tariff) Act No 41 of 2009

Assent: 5/08/2009 SG (No. 264) 5/8/2009 p. 1 Commencement: 01/11/2009: GG 29/10/2009 p. 2729

Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act No 56 of 2009

Assent: 29/09/2009 SG (No. 338) 29/9/2009 p. 1 Commencement: 01/11/2009: GG 29/10/2009 p. 2729

Liquor Control Reform Amendment (Licensing) Act No 59 of 2009

Assent: 21/10/2009 SG (No. 366) 21/10/2009 p. 1 Commencement: Ss 1, 2, 31 on 21/10/2009: 2(1)

Ss 3, 27, 29 on 29/10/2009: GG 29/10/2009 p. 2729 Ss 4-26, 28, 30, 32-35 on 01/01/2010: GG 29/10/2009

Statutory Rules

Liquor Control Reform Regulations No 134 of 2009
Date of Making: 4/11/2009 Commencement: Regs 1-26, 28, 29(1), 29(2)(a), 30(1), 30(2), 30(4), 31-59 on 01/01/2010: reg. 2(1)

Alpine Resorts (Management) Regulations No 136 of 2009
Date of Making: 4/11/2009 Commencement: 06/11/2009: reg. 3

Queensland

Bills

Commissions of Inquiry (Corruption, Cronyism and Unethical Behaviour)

Amendment Bill 2009

Integrated Planning Amendment Bill 2009

Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009

Acts

43 Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2009

46 South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) and

Natural Resources Provisions Act 2009

Cases

National

Chalice Gold Mines Limited ACN 116 648 956, In the matter of Chalice Gold Mines Limited ACN 116 648 956 [2009] FCA 1236
Corporations law – application for order under s 1322(4)(a) and (d) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) extending the time for the company to give notice of share placement in accordance with s 708A(5) and (6) – whether failure to issue notice due to inadvertence – whether substantial injustice to any party More...

Victoria

Zampichelli v Zampichelli [2009] VSC 489
Caveat – Application to remove caveat – Service of application – Transfer of Land Act 1958 ss 89(4), 90(3). More... Statutory interpretation – Purposive approach – Construction of Subdivision Act 1988, ss 18(1), 18(1A) – Overall scheme for the treatment of subdivisions - Interaction between Planning and Environment Act 1987, Subdivision Act 1988 and Maroondah Planning Scheme - Subdivision Act 1988, ss 18, 19, 20, 21. More...

Gleeson v Commissioner of State Revenue [2009] VSC 464
Taxation – whether transfer of property exempt from duty under s.34 or s.36 of the Duties Act 2000 (Vic) – whether company held property on trust for the “real purchasers” and whether the transfer was made to the “real purchasers” within the meaning of s.34 – whether property was subject to a “fixed trust” and whether the transfer was made to a beneficiary (in that capacity) within the meaning of s.36. More...

Kalenik v Apostolidis & Ors (No 3) [2009] VSC 475
Costs – Application for an adjustment order under Part IX of the Property Law Act 1958 (Vic) - Plaintiff successful in obtaining an adjustment order - Misconduct by both parties in relation to the proceeding - Plaintiff’s evidence concerning significant factual issues rejected - Whether plaintiff’s costs should be reduced to reflect misconduct and lack of success on significant issues - Plaintiff’s costs of and incidental to the trial reduced by 25 per cent - discretion to order costs in proceedings under Part IX of the Property Law Act should reflect the relevant circumstances of each case. More...

Chapman v Plenty Views Pty Ltd, Di Carlo and Di Carlo [2009] VCC 1271
Nuisance caused by golf balls struck from golf driving range – relief sought as injunction and damages. More...
Stockland Developments Pty Ltd v Stonnington CC [2009] VCAT 2179
Stonnington Planning Scheme; Application pursuant to Section 77 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987; Business 2 Zone; Design and Development Overlay (DDO8); Principal Activity Centre; Forest Hill precinct; Planning policy; Height; Scale; Traffic; Parking; Television reception - Demolition of existing buildings and construction of a 35 storey mixed use building comprising two retail spaces on the ground floor, an office on podium level 2, 359 car spaces and 151 bicycle spaces within the lower six levels (ground to podium level 6) and 377 dwellings above the podium level within the two tower elements – refused permit More...

Re Franklin [2009] VSC 496
Real property – Adverse possession against co-proprietor – Effect of death of joint tenant in whose favour limitation period runs – Application to Registrar of Titles for vesting order – Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic) ss 8, 14(1), (4), 18, 23 – Transfer of Land Act 1958 (Vic) s 60, 62. More...

Grigoriu v Petran (Real Property) [2009] VCAT 2272
Partition proceedings - property sold – dispute as to division of proceeds of sale – contributions made by respective parties – evidence - Property Law Act 1958 s.233 – compensation and accounting – relevant matters More...

Tzimas v Monash University (Retail Tenancies) [2009] VCAT 2273
Retail tenancy, proposed redevelopment, demolition, quia timet injunction. breach of quiet enjoyment, equitable principles, s.55.56 & 91 Retail Leases Act, s.123 VCAT Act. More...

Savrez Pty Ltd v Stonnington CC & Ors (includes Summary) (Red Dot) [2009] VCAT 2230
Failure to serve witness reports – amending plans by way of witness reports.

Queensland

Quagliata v Cassowary Coast Regional Council [2009] QPEC 105
Planning – planning and environment – reconfiguration of a lot – non compliance with codes – insufficient grounds More...

May & Anor v Redland Shire Council [2009] QPEC 106
Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) s 3.5.5(2)(d), s 3.5.30, s 4.1.52(2) – developer’s site in environmentally sensitive location – part designated Special Protection Area – development application made under transitional planning scheme with which it was compliant, subject to issues under Council Policies regarding parks and recreation contributions – Council refusal based on proposal cutting across new planning arrangements, in particular a draft structure plan for the area – relevance of an existing approval for a golf driving range on the site which had been implemented, so that site was totally cleared, and afforded little by way of environmental value – developer offered a comprehensive Greenspace Management Plan with large areas subject to covenants to be registered – whether preferable to have covenant areas privately owned or dedicated – court concerned at loss of lot yield consequent upon dedication More...

CVC Private Equity Limited v Suncorp-Metway Limited & Anor; Drapac Management Limited v Glennington Pty Ltd & Anor [2009] QSC 342
Conveyancing – removal of caveat – application for – mortgages – redemption – sale under power – Where property subject to mortgages - Where mortgagees also lent money to entity related to property owner – Where property owner provided guarantee & indemnity for loan to related entity - Where property owner entered contract to sell property to third party – Where related entity defaulted on mortgage repayments – Where first mortgagee refused to release mortgage on basis that contract price was below market value – Where completion of contract did not occur but contract remains on foot - Where first mortgagee obtained possession of property and sought to exercise power of sale to a separate party for a higher price – Where property owner lodged a caveat over property – Where second mortgagee lodged a caveat over property - Where second contract of sale due for completion - Where first mortgagee brought urgent application for removal of caveat – Where second prospective purchaser brought urgent application for removal of caveat – Where dispute about the validity and extent of an ‘all moneys’ guarantee given by property owner – Where first mortgagee contends that the property owner’s guarantee extends to debt’s beyond those of the property - Where property owner claims representations of first mortgagee give rise to an estoppel – Where property owner alleges first mortgagee refused to accept offer of tender to redeem mortgage – Whether the property owner’s guarantee to the first mortgagee extended to the debts of the related entity – Whether the mortgagee’s representations give rise to an estoppel – Whether there was an offer to redeem – Whether the first mortgagee refused a tender - Whether there are serious questions to be tried – Whether the balance of convenience favours the removal of the caveats More...

The Chief Executive, Office of Fair Trading, Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation v Filippini and Penney also known as Fillipini [2009] CCT PD001-09
Disciplinary proceedings – Real Estate Agent- Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, Sections 26, 128, 160, 496(1)(b) – Acting as a real estate agent without a licence- acts amounting to- Continuation of interest and involvement in real estate business by disqualified person- Meaning of “not a suitable person to hold a licence” in s496(1)(g)(ii) and section 26 More...

Chesterton v Body Corporate for Kiwi Courts CTS 12925 [2009] CCT KL009-09
Body Corporate and Community Management – Applicant successful on application for adjustment of contribution schedule and interest schedule – costs More...

Holland v Body Corporate for Ellenmac CTS 16423 [2009] CCT KL002-09
Administrative Law- Body Corporate and Community Management- Adjustment of Contribution Lot Entitlement- Principles- Sufficiency of Evidence- Absence of Expert Report More...