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what’s news in construction & infrastructure?
latest news 9 july 2008
Commonwealth
Builders question relevance of backpackers to labour shortage
1 July 2008
Builders are questioning how effective a new initiative to extend
working visas for tourists will assist alleviating the industry’s labour
shortages. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans today
announced working holiday visa holders who have worked in the construction
industry in regional Australia for at least 3 months will be eligible to apply
for a second working holiday visa. A spokesperson for Master Builders Australia
says they expect the initiative will have a "very minimal impact" on
the sector, with the real shortage in skilled labour as opposed to general
labourers.
more...
Rudd locks in green power plan
2 July 2008
The Rudd Government has set Australia on course for a new era
of greener but more expensive electricity, pressing ahead with a plan to make
20% of our power come from renewable sources within just over a decade. more...
Councils receive $441 million from the Rudd Labor Government
24 June 2008
Councils and shires across Australia have received $441 million
of federal funding for services and infrastructure in local communities, with
around two-thirds of the grants going to rural and regional councils. The $441
million in financial assistance grants to local government is the final quarterly
installment of the $1.8 billion provided to councils in 2007-08. Local government
grants commissions in each state recommend grant allocations to individual
councils. more...
Business wants 'practical' emissions trading from Garnaut:
ACCI
4 July 2008
Following meetings in Canberra
of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ACCI) Economics
and Environment Committees, there is emerging support for an ETS that is efficient,
maximizes participation across all industry sectors, and includes major world
emitters, where possible. Chief Executive Peter Anderson say ACCI is seeking
an ETS model which minimises both compliance costs & the wider economic
implications. more...
Million new homes required in 5 years
30 June 2008
New research from HIA confirms a requirement for almost 1 million
new homes to meet Australia’s growing population. HIA’s Chief Executive
- Policy, Mr Chris Lamont said, the challenge of building almost 1 million
new homes in just 5 years is a daunting one but essential if demand for owner
occupied, rental, community and social housing is to be met. more...
States hail 'historic' Murray-Darling agreement
3 July 2008
State and territory leaders have described today's $3.7 billion
Murray-Darling agreement as an historic breakthrough. The Murray-Darling Basin
Commission now becomes an independent authority, with the Federal Government
also funding water efficiency and infrastructure projects. But there is no
immediate increase in the 4% cap on water that can be traded out of the Basin. more...
Boom in engineering construction set to continue
1 July 2008
Sustained growth in engineering construction means that within
5 years the value of work done could exceed the combined total of residential
and commercial building, according to Master Builders Australia. more...
Rudd Government to deliver $2.2 billion to local councils
- an increase of $202 million
1 July 2008
The Rudd Labor Government is set to deliver more than $2.2 billion
to Australia's 565 local councils and shires in the new financial year. The
Rudd Labor Government is putting local government at the heart of our nation-building
agenda. more...
Victoria
$5 million for innovative water saving projects
25 June 2008
The Brumby Government has announced a new round of grants of
up to $500,000 for innovative water saving projects to help reduce demand on
our drinking water supplies. Water Minister Tim Holding today said up to $5
million is available for businesses, sporting clubs, research centres and other
organisations throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria as part of the Smart
Water Fund.
more...
New $750 million clean coal power station a step closer
1 July 2008
The construction of one of the world’s largest new clean
coal-fired power stations moved a step closer with the signing of a contract
between the Brumby Government and HRL, Energy and Resources Minister Peter
Batchelor announced today. The new power station, to be built in Victoria’s
Latrobe Valley, is expected to be operational by 2012/13. more...
Another fall protection failing sends construction
a message
19 June 2008
An eastern suburbs company and its director have been convicted
and fined a total of $17,000 for failing to provide appropriate fall protection
at a Northcote home renovation project. Maurice McCutcheon, the director of
McCutcheon Builders Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to one charge laid under the Occupational
Health and Safety Act and was fined $2000. His company, McCutcheon Builders
Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to one charge and was convicted and fined $15,000. WorkSafe
says the case shows the risks of falls from height are still not being adequately
addressed by the construction industry. more...
$2 million to help engineers design for climate change
30 June 2008
The Rudd Government will provide $2 million for the first stage
of a major review of the main reference manual for engineering works in Australia
the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Handbook. The handbook is the key source
of technical information in Australia for designing infrastructure to withstand
the impact of extreme rainfall, flooding and storm surge. more...
Builder facing fines over alleged workplace discrimination
25 June 2008
A Melbourne construction giant is facing fines of up to $220,000
for denying a subcontractor access to a building site, allegedly because he
did not have a union workplace agreement. The federal government's building
watchdog claims LU Simon Builders discriminated against Peter Vanderkley after
refusing to let him carry out work on the showpiece Aquavista development,
in Melbourne's Docklands. more...
Victorian Government releases response to Stensholt
review
18 June 2008
The Victorian Government has released its response to the Administrative
review of the OHS Act undertaken by Bob Stensholt MP. The Government said it
supports the majority of the review’s 36 recommendations but considered
some areas to be responsibility of the VWA for internal consideration. The
response called on the VWA to conduct policy analysis and stakeholder engagement
in developing Stensholt’s proposal to amend the duty of designers of
buildings or structures to include the construction phase of the building or
structure. more...
North East region records strong building permit growth
3 July 2008
Victoria's building industry is continuing to record high building
permit activity levels, growing by more than $256.2 million in May 2008 compared
to May 2007. more...
Water industry efficient and price constraints
on track
3 July 2008
Tresurer John Lender today released the Victorian Competition
and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) report. Water ways: Inquiry into Reform of
the Metropolitan Retail Water Sector. Minister for Water, Tim Holding, said
the Government fully or partly supported 20 of the VCEC’s 21 recommendations,
including that all water authorities should be publicly owned statutory corporations
to provide uniformity across the sector and he would therefore introduce legislation
to make retailers statutory corporations under the Water Act. more...
New South Wales
Comberton Grange assessment underway
24 June 2008
A proposed $370 million tourist and residential development
at Comberton Grange has been declared a major project by the State Government.
The Minister for Planning has authorised the lodgement of a concept plan for
the site, which is the first step in the assessment process for the project. more...
East Hills rail upgrade gets green light
30 June 2008
Planning Minister Frank Sartor has approved a $450 million
project to double the number of tracks within the rail corridor of the East
Hills line, between Kingsgrove to Revesby, to ease congestion on the existing
rail line. Approval includes a number of conditions during construction to
address noise, traffic and access during the 32 months of construction. more...
Fair Trading puts sparkies under the spotlight
30 June 2008
Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today announced a blitz
on electricians to check their compliance with electrical safety laws. The
Office of Fair Trading would be issuing formal notices to 100 electricians
randomly selected across NSW, requesting documentation to prove their compliance
with the Consumer Safety Electrical Act, facing maximum fines of $500,000. more...
Victoria leads the way on building approvals
2 July 2008
Victoria recorded $1.61 billion worth of building approvals
for the month of May, according to treasurer John Lenders. With a 11.9% rise
in building approvals, Victoria joined Western Australia as 1 of just 2 states
to record an increase in the total value of building approvals (including non-residential
and public) for May.
more...
Pioneer clean-coal trial 'window-dressing'
4 July 2008
The New South Wales Greens say an Australian-first clean-coal
pilot project on the state's central coast is another example of the State
Government just tinkering around the edges of the climate change challenge. more...
Minister supports education and training for home building
industry
30 June 2008
NSW Fair Trading Minister has announced $160,500 per annum
funding to support education and training projects for the home building industry,
with 6 organisations across NSW will be awarded funds for projects, allocated
under the Office of Fair Trading’s Home Building Grants Program. In 2007,
Fair Trading received 5,406 complaints from consumers relating to home building. more...
Queensland
Airport fears suburb sprawl
2 July 2008
The Brisbane Airport Corporation wants tougher laws to prevent
residential creep and contain building heights that could compromise operations.
The corporation has told Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese that Canberra's
aviation review must continue to refuse local authorities' input into airport
development. This power should remain with the Airports Act that governs operations
and developments at major airports since they were privatised. more...
Bowen alumina refinery 'a long way off'
26 June 2008
The Whitsunday Regional Council says there is still a lot of
negotiating to be done before an alumina refinery can be built near Bowen in
north Queensland. more...
Brisbane's 79-storey skyscraper sparksaircraft fears
27 June 2008
CASA has called on the Federal Government to veto approval
of the Vision building in Mary St, saying it would intrude into the air corridor
and cause a radar shadow at Brisbane Airport. Developer, Austcorp, said construction
would continue and the building's full height had approval from the Brisbane
City Council. more...
Brisbane Northbank project won't be rushed
26 June 2008
The Queensland Government says it does not expect it will have
to pay compensation if Brookfield Multiplex does not get the final Brisbane
Northbank contract. The company is the preferred developer for the Brisbane
project, but after 6 years, its plans have been scrapped in favour of more
modest ideas. more...
Coal-fired power to remain but with a 'different future'
25 June 2008
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says there will still
be place for coal-fired power as the state deals with climate change. New Federal
Government data shows Queensland has the highest per capita greenhouse gas
emissions in the country, mainly due to its reliance on coal-fired power and
road freight. more...
Fresh ideas for North Bank
25 June 2008
The North Bank enquiry-by-design has produced 7 fresh concepts
to revitalise the neglected stretch of the river, making it safer and more
accessible to the people of Brisbane. A summary of the workshop’s designs
will be available on the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website.
The community will have 4 weeks to provide feedback starting in mid July, after
a draft report on the designs is provided to the State Government. more...
First purified recycled water to Tarong
28 June 2008
The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project achieved a significant
milestone with the release of purified recycled water into the storage lake
at Tarong Power Station. Close to 320 km of pipe or nearly 71% of the 450km
South East Queensland Water Grid is now in the ground. The release of the Australian
Guidelines for Water Recycling, the new Water Supply (Safety and Reliability)
Act 2008 passed through Parliament in May and the establishment of the Office
of the Water Supply Regulator from the start of next month have allowed the
finalisation of guidelines for the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project. more...
Queensland construction workers strike over deaths
23 June 2008
Thousands of construction workers in south-east Queensland
have walked off their jobs in protest at what they say are slipping safety
standards following the deaths of 2 men. Queensland Employment and Industrial
Relations Minister John Mickel said inspectors would investigate allegations
that Queensland was the only state in Australia where it was not mandatory
to have workers anchored to a building. Construction, Forestry, Mining and
Energy Union (CFMEU) Queensland secretary said safety standards had dropped
at many sites since workplace safety protections were removed by the Howard
government's Work Choices legislation. more...
Queensland drags building approvals down in May
1 July 2008
Building approvals fell in May, the third fall in the 5 months
worth of updates for 2008, with total building approvals fell by 6.5%, more
than reversing a 5.4% rise the previous month. HIA Chief Economist, Harley
Dale, said that it was time State and Federal governments got serious about
reducing the fees, taxes, charges, and planning delays that are adding unnecessarily
to the cost of new homes. more...
Qld gets more than $500m in Murray-Darling deal
4 July 2008
Premier Anna Bligh says Qld will get more than $500m as part
of a national deal on the Murray-Darling Basin and will be used to buy back
water licences and improve water efficiency. more...
legislation
New South Wales
Bills introduced
Contaminated Land Management Amendment Bill 2008
Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament
Clean Coal Administration Bill 2008
Marine Safety Amendment Bill 2008
Threatened
Species Conservation Amendment (Special Provisions) Bill 2008
Acts assented to
Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2008
State Environmental Planning Policies
State Environmental Planning Policy No 65 - Design Quality of Residential
Flat Development (Amendment No 2)
Victoria
Regulations
EastLink Project Regulations 2008
Queensland
Regulations
Environmental Protection Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 2008
Integrated
Planning Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2008
Public Works Legislation Amendment
Regulation (No. 1) 2008
State Development and Public Works Organisation Amendment
Regulation (No. 4) 2008
Workplace Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment
Regulation (No. 1) 2008
Commonwealth
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008
These Regulations provide the necessary details that allow compliance with,
and administration of, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
(the Act). The Act establishes a national framework for reporting greenhouse
gas emissions, greenhouse gas projects (abatement actions) and energy consumption
and production by Australian corporations. more...
Energy Efficiency Opportunities Amendment Regulations
2008 (No. 1)
These Regulations amend the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Regulations
2006 (the Prinicipal Regulations) to streamline the energy data reporting requirements
of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program with the National Greenhouse
and Energy Reporting System, which commences on 1 July 2008 under the National
Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. The Amendment Regulations also make
minor administrative amendments to the Principal Regulations. more...
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management
Amendment Regulations 2008 (No. 1)
136.These Regulations amend the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse
Gas Management Regulations 1995 to make minor administrative amendments to
existing regulatory arrangements for methyl bromide supply, the refrigeration
and air conditioning, and fire protection sectors. more...
publications/conferences
Infrastructure: what is needed and how do we
pay for it?
Paper presented to the New Agenda for Prosperity: 2008 Economic and Social
Outlook conference, Melbourne. Author: Kating, Michael Source: Speech,
27 March 2008: pp13Subjects: Government expenditure; Infrastructure;
Conferences; Market forces; Railways, Urban
Releasing the infrastructure handbrake:
Address to New Agenda for Prosperity: 2008 Economic and Social Outlook conference,
Melbourne. Author: Sims, Rod Source: Speech, 28 March 2008: pp7Subjects: Economic
impact; Infrastructure; Conferences; Electricity generation; Urban transport;
Water supply
Feedback invited on renewable energy target design paper
2 July 2008
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has
invited feedback from business and the community on issues relating to the
design of an expanded national renewable energy target. A copy of the paper
and information about making a submission are available on the Department of
Climate Change website. more...
NSW: Inner West and Sydney City subregional strategies
on exhibition
2 July 2008
With the population of Sydney set to increase by
1.1 million in the next 25 years, the NSW Government is planning now for Sydney's
future through the Metropolitan Strategy. more...
Reminder: Public comment drafts of BCA 2009
The public comment drafts of BCA 2009 (scheduled to come into operation
on 1 May 2009) are now available on the ABCB website and can be accessed via
the "What's new" section on the home page. more...
VIC: Final days to have a say on East West travel proposals
The Victorian government encourages interested people in the community to
voice their views on the future solutions for transport between Melbourne’s
eastern and western suburbs, and will formally respond to the East-West report
later in the year. They will consider all public comments and the state's other
transport priorities when making that decision - to deliver the best transport
system for Victoria.” Public submissions are open on the East West report
until 15 July, 2008. more...
VIC: Proposed amendments to the Building Act
On 26 June, the second reading of proposed amendments to the Building Act
1993 took place. The proposed amendments are expected to be finalised in the
spring 2008 legislative program.
more... more...
QLD: Pre-1992 paper occupational licences no longer
valid
1 July 2008 New regulations to streamline licensing and training of Queensland
workers who operate plant or perform high risk duties take effect from 1 July
2008. This includes scaffolders, plant operators, boiler/machine operators,
crane operators, hoist drivers, doggers and riggers, engine/engineer drivers
and engineers certificate holders. more... more...
QLD: Peer review guideline for energy-efficiency assessments
of new housing
20 June 2008
The peer review guideline to support the proposed introduction
of 5-star energy equivalence for new housing in Queensland from 1 January 2009,
is available for viewing at www.dip.qld.gov.au/ guidelines/index.php .
This guideline outlines how the peer review process is intended to be used
to confirm compliance for new houses (Class 1 buildings) where innovative designs
are used.
more...
cases
BHP Coal Pty Ltd and Ors v O & K Orenstein & Koppel
AG and Ors [2008] QSC
Tort - essentials of action for negligence - damage
- Causation - Whether the collapse of the Bucketwheel Excavator was caused by
modification of original design - whether the collapse of the Bucketwheel
Excavator was caused by use outside the operating parameters for which it
was designed - whether the collapse of the Bucketwheel Excavator was caused
by the failure of the inspector to examine the entire machine. Tort - essentials
of action for negligence - duty of care - special relationships and duties
- professional persons - engineer - duty of skill and care implied into professional
services contract - separate duty of care in tort - whether these duties
are coextensive - Whether engineer was in breach of duty of care in failing
to inspect the entirety of the machine. Contract - building, engineering
and related contracts - contract for the inspection of a Bucketwheel Excavator – Interpretation.
Damages
- general principles - general and special damages
- where claims for general, special and “hybrid” damages made - where
those damages are claimed for loss of use of a profit-earning chattel whose
contribution to profit cannot be specifically quantified. Damages - measure
and remoteness of damages in actions for tort - damage to chattels
- damages for loss of use of a profit-earning chattel whose contribution to profit
cannot be specifically quantified - whether measured on the cost of repair
or replacement - whether replacement in these circumstances constitutes a
betterment. more...
QLD: WHSQ sounds alert on swingstage scaffolding
24 June 2008
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has issued a
safety alert on the use of swingstage scaffolding in the construction industry,
asking the industry to adhere to national standards when using the equipment
after 2 workers fell to their deaths on the Gold Coast.
more...
Administrative Law - rules of Natural Justice and
Breach thereof - whether finding against witness a breach of natural justice
- appeal from Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal - residential building
dispute - whether errors of law by Tribunal - Contracts - construction and
Interpretation of Contracts - Building Contract - whether builder waived rights
under contract - whether owners in breach of contract when terminated contract
for poor workmanship - interest - recovery of Interest under Common Law - whether
interest payable on monies expended for rectification of works.
Torts - Personal injury - Breach of statutory duty
- Negligence - Construction Safety Act 1912 - Construction Safety Regulations
1950, Regs 73 and 74 - Painting contractor engaged to measure and quote - whether “construction
work” - whether construction work carried out by owner - whether owner
in charge of construction work - contractor falls from roof - whether owner
negligent.
Ancon Trading Pty Ltd v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd [2008]
VSC 225
Contracts - sub-contracts relating to pipeline project
- horizontal directional drilling of pipeline under river - defects in protective
coating of pipe - whether sub-contractor liable for damages for breach of sub-contract
where head contractor had failed to carry out required test immediately after
installation of pipeline under river.
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