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Developed
nations should invest in sustainable building in developing
world
13 September 2010
The Chairman of the World Green Building Council has called on
developed nations to invest in sustainable buildings in
developing countries using voluntary means, such as the United
Nation’s Clean Development Mechanism. Mr Arnel said buildings in urban areas of the
developing world are the single largest source of global
greenhouse emissions
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REA house
price growth in the June quarter 2010
15 September 2010
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has released the
Mortgage Choice Real Estate Market Facts report for the June
quarter 2010, with figures recording a better performance from
the Australian residential property market than the previous
quarter
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Burke and
Crean take on future planning
14 September 2010
Councils and developers have welcomed the appointment of SimonCrean and Tony Burke to the
two portfolios critical for planning Australia’s future
communities
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Planners
Support Green Star Communities: MOU
14 September 2010
The Green Building Council of Australia and Planning Institute
of Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding which
will see both organisations work together on the development and
delivery of the Green Star Communities rating tool
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Victoria
Double bonus
lifts state’s finances
16 September 2010
The Brumby government has declared Victoria “the economic engine
room of the nation”. This is due to the federal government’s
stimulus packages and a booming property market that have helped
the government significantly increase its surplus to $644
million from its May budget estimates
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Massive cost
for desal plant revealed
17 September 2010
A Department of Sustainability and Environment report tabled in
the Victoria parliament this week suggests taxpayers would fund
the Aquasure Consortium to
the tune of at least $15.8 billion to run and maintain the
Wonthaggi desal plant, the largest
in the southern hemisphere, from the end of 2011
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Job
opportunities grow from desalination green roof
16 September 2010
Victoria’s new desalination plant will feature a living ‘green
roof’ larger than the MCG and the biggest in the southern
hemisphere. Mr Brumby said construction of the desalination
plant green roof would be among the largest coastal revegetation
projects in Victoria’s history and would deliver major
environmental benefits to communities in the region
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Planning and
developing prosperous communities
16 September 2010
Planning for Victoria’s population growth and helping create
prosperous and sustainable communities were the focus of the
Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) as
outlined in the 2009-10 Annual Report released today
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Conditional
use permit issued for King David School
16 September 2010
Armadale’s King David School will able to use its new education
centre with restricted opening hours and student numbers and
limited parking under a mediated decision announced today by
Planning Minister Justin Madden. The Victorian Government had
called the hearing in from VCAT to ensure swift resolution to
concerns over the use of the building which is nearly ready for
use
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Regional jobs
boost under string local content rules
16 September 2010
A policy helping local manufacturers secure contracts on major
Government projects created a record 2300 jobs in regional
Victoria last financial year, a new report has found. Industry
and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan today welcomed a report showing
that 2009/10 had been the Government’s most successful year yet
for creating new jobs in regional Victoria through its Victorian
Industry Participation Policy (VIPP)
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Land justice
achieved for traditional owners
15 September 2010
Landmark legislation that achieves land justice for traditional
owners was passed by Parliament, paving the way for the first
native title settlement under the new framework. Elements of
this legislation – Aboriginal title, land use activity
agreements and opportunities for joint management of some
national parks
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Victoria’s
Mining Laws modernised
14 September 2010
The Brumby Labor Government
has modernised Victoria’s mining laws to ensure that Regional
Victoria benefits from more jobs and extra investment with
changes to licensing and land owner and mining private
compensation. Further amendments to the MRSDA are proposed for
2011 and 2012 after consultation with industry, experts and
other government agencies
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New rules
against false affiliations
13 September 2010
Students living away from home are set to benefit from tighter
regulation of accommodation affiliated with a university or
educational institution according to Consumer Affairs Victoria
Director, Dr Claire Noone
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Feds look to
Victoria as regional development model
13 September 2010
The Federal Government will look to Victoria as a model for
regional development in recognition of the State’s strong
leadership in building stronger regional economies and
communities. Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta
Allan welcomed Simon Crean’s
appointment as Federal Minister for Regional Australia and said
Mr Crean had signalled he would look
to Victoria as a model for implementing the Gillard Labor Government’s regional policies
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Common sense
prevails on helicopter ban
13 September 2010
The Brumby Government has buckled to pressure from Victorian
farmers and the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition, agreeing
to amend regulations preventing helicopters from landing more
than once in a farming zone without a permit. Shadow Minister
for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh
said the changes, which will come into effect on Monday
(September 13), represented an important win for farmers
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Illegal
brothel busted and owner ordered to pay $14000
9 September 2010
A Doncaster man has been convicted and ordered to pay more than
$14,000 for operating an illegal brothel in Melbourne’s eastern
suburbs, following a joint operation between Consumer Affairs
Victoria and the City of Whitehorse
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New port plan
could be good for Williamstown and Newport
7 September 2010
Freight giant Asciano, which
owns National Rail and Patrick Stevedores, has put forward a
bold plan to move Melbourne’s port operations from Swanson Dock
to expanded ports at Geelong and Hastings by 2040. The Victorian
Government is keen to get a third stevedore into Melbourne to
increase competition. The Port of Melbourne Corporation is
seeking submissions from industry before presenting its final
plan to the Victorian Government, possibly early next year. The
deadline for submissions, which are confidential, closes
September 30
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No go for
Woolworths on Geelong golf course site
7 September 2010
Planning Minister Justin Madden rejected the combined planning
permit application and rezoning of land for the proposed
Woolworths hardware store on the corner of Thompson Road and
Ballarat Road, North Geelong. Mr Madden said his decision to
reject the permit application and rezoning request was based on
the recommendations of an independent Advisory Committee. The
Advisory Committee report is available from
www.dpcd.vic.gov/planning.
Regional Rail
Link reduces land acquisition
7 September 2010
Delivery of the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link project has
moved to the next stage with the Department of Transport lodging
documentation for an environmental effects referral to the
Department of Planning and Community Development. The
Environment Effects referral and maps showing the proposed
project area are available on the Regional Rail Link website
www.transport.vic.gov.au/rrl
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Australian
families spared a rate rise
7 September 2010
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave official
interest rates on hold is good news for Australian families,
said Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) President, Mr
David Airey. This decision is
timely with the release of the REIA Deposit Power Housing
Affordability Report for the June quarter on 8 September
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New South Wales
Clarity for
councils and developers on contributions
16 September 2010
Planning for more than 6,000 housing lots is expected to resume
following the NSW Government’s decision to outline which
councils across NSW are eligible to apply infrastructure levies
of up to $30,000 per lot. Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly,
said following the announcement of the revised contributions
arrangements on August 31, 30 councils nominated areas to be
considered under the new system, 24 were successful Clarity for
councils and developers on contributions.
$5.4 million
announced for community water and energy upgrades
13 September 2010
The Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Frank Sartor opened a new round of the NSW
Government’s Climate Change Fund Community Savers and encouraged
not-for-profit organisations across the state to apply
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Promise of a
‘metropolitan parking policy’ a concern for older people and
families
13 September 2010
The Urban Taskforce’s chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, said such a policy was foreshadowed
in the state government’s draft City of Sydney Subregional
Strategy, but will deny many families and older people the
chance to live in the City of Sydney. The intention of the
Metropolitan Parking Policy is to prevent newly built housing,
workplaces and retail outlets from having adequate access to car
parking
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Business
cautious on CBD transport MoU
13 September 2010
The Sydney Business Chamber said business would be cautious
about changes to CBD transport as a result of a Memorandum of
Understanding between the NSW Government and Sydney City Council
but said a partnership between the two tiers of governments on
CBD transport was long overdue
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Transport
strategy a welcome step - now for consultation and
implementation
13 September 2010
The Property Council of Australia said it hopes the new
agreement signed between the State Government and City of Sydney
reduces congestion in the CBD. It is essential the State
Government and City of Sydney have a clear, collaborative and
deliverable agreement to manage the flow of transport, cars and
people around the CBD, NSW Executive Director Glenn Byres said
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SMSF stamp
duty costs slashed
9 September 2010
SMSF trustees now only have to pay a flat $50 stamp duty fee
when transferring business real property under new NSW State
regulation, according to chartered accountancy firm Nexia Court
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Busy time for
leasing agents
8 September 2010
Leasing deals are being worked on across the Sydney central
business district as long-term contracts near expiry and agents
are appointed to garner the best deals for tenants
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Queensland
New template
agreements to help landholders protect legal rights
16 September 2010
Template legal agreements to help landholders in compensation
and land access negotiations with resource companies were
released by the Queensland Government. Minister for Natural
Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said his
department has prepared two template agreements to assist
landholders: a Standard Conduct and Compensation Agreement and a
Standard Deferral Agreement
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Queensland
Pools made safer
15 September 2010
The Queensland Parliament has passed the final stage of the
Bligh Government’s toughest swimming pool safety laws, according
to the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling
Hinchliffe. Stage two of the new laws would see mandatory pool
safety inspections and compliance certificates required for all
privately owned Queensland pools. The new laws will also see
Queensland’s 11 pool safety standards, with different
regulations for pools built at different times, replaced with a
single uniform approach
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Brisbane
residents sign up on Energy reduction program
14 September 2010
About 30,000 Brisbane residents have signed up to the EzyGreen energy reduction program,
only eight weeks into its launch date. Launched in July this
year, the program offers residents a range of energy saving
options, as well as sustainable energy options such as GreenPower and discounted solar hot water
and power systems
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Cross River
Rail’s new Yeerongpilly entrance will resume 66 properties in
Brisbane’s south
15 September 2010
The new $8.2 billion Cross River Rail project will resume 66
properties to make way for the southern entrance in
Yeerongpilly, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced,
compared to the 197 properties (376 land owners) that would have
been required if the tunnel was to surface in Fairfield
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Two more
Government assets set for sale
14 September 2010
The Queensland Government says three of the state’s five public
assets up for sale will have be sold off by the end of the year.
The government also plans to lease the Abbot Point Coal Terminal
and Queensland Motorways’ tolling rights
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Australian
families spared a rate rise
7 September 201
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave official
interest rates on hold is good news for Australian families,
said Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) President, Mr
David Airey. This decision is
timely with the release of the REIA Deposit Power Housing
Affordability Report for the June quarter on 8 September
More...