In the media – National
PCA: Infrastructure Australia Priority List shows more
planning and investment needed to support growing cities
The Infrastructure Australia Priority List published
today provides the investment roadmap to support a growing nation,
but also evidence all levels of government need to do more to drive
the momentum to deliver these important projects (27 March 2018).
More...
GBCA: A future focus for Green Star
The last revision to Green Star presented four
easy-to-use rating tools that address the majority of
Australia's built environment. At the start of 2014, we had 646
Green Star certified projects. Today, we've just cracked 1,750.
That's more than 1,000 buildings, fitouts and communities.
Thirty-seven per cent of Australia's office space is Green
Star-rated and more than 725,000 Australians work in Green Star
offices (28 March 2018).
More...
Marketing a property's sustainability boosts value,
study finds
Houses marketed with sustainability features such as
solar panels and water tanks sell for at least 10 per cent more
than properties that do not market sustainability, and sell on
average 13 days more quickly. These are the findings from a
three-year study led by PRD Nationwide's national research
manager Dr Asti Mardiasmo, which has culminated in a 37-question
online scorecard (27 March 2018).
More...
55 sustainable investment options for a brave new
world
Produced by the UN Global Compact, a new report is based
on a survey and consultation with more than 17,000 business leaders
across five continents. This addresses four of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals most likely to be missed – Goal 10: Reduced
Inequalities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal
13: Climate Action and Goal 14: Life below Water (22 March 2018).
More... More...
In the media – Victoria
Desalinated Water To Boost Supply And Protect
Victorians
The Andrews Labor Government will order 15GL of water for
the 2018/19 financial year from the Desalination Plant to boost
storages and protect against drought. This is the second year that
the Labor Government has ordered water as part of a three-year
trial of 15 GL minimum orders to deliver water security (29 March
2018).
More...
More Public Housing, Better Local Communities
The Andrews Labor Government's plan to deliver more
housing and revitalise inner-city communities by redeveloping
rundown public housing estates has reached a new milestone. The
Government has guaranteed all residents can return to their estates
after construction is complete. This will be enshrined in updated
tenancy agreements with the Director of Housing (29 March 2018).
More...
Queen Victoria Market revamp jeopardised by heritage
rejection
The City of Melbourne says it has been blindsided by
Heritage Victoria's decision to reject a key part of the
proposed $250 million redevelopment of Queen Victoria Market (28
March 2018).
More...
Statement on Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal Program - Statement from Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood (27 March 2018).
Working with local government to plan for record rates
of growth
The Property Council has offered support for boosting the
resources available to local councils, as industry and all levels
of government plan and adapt to Melbourne's unprecedented
population growth (23 March 2018).
More...
In the media – New South Wales
Planning changes to provide more parking spaces for
boarding houses
The NSW Government will mandate the provision of more
parking spaces for people living in boarding houses, with proposed
changes to planning rules to reduce the demand and impact on street
parking (29 March 2018).
More...
Northern Beaches real estate agents fined after Fair
Trading inspections
Real estate agents on Sydney's Northern Beaches have
been fined more than $25,000 after a Fair Trading compliance blitz,
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said. Mr Kean said Fair
Trading officers had inspected 17 real estate agents, of which 12
were issued fines for non-compliance with real estate laws,
including seven notices for breaching underquoting provisions (26
March 2018).
More...
In the media – Queensland
New Farm real estate agent fined for misleading
behaviour
A New Farm real estate agent and agency have been fined a
total of $12,960 by the Office of Fair Trading
(OFT) for making false and misleading
representations (29 March 2018).
More...
Next stage of Bundaberg 10-year Action Plan to get
underway
Community information sessions begin today to update the
Bundaberg region on concept designs and preliminary technical
investigations for the four projects in the Bundaberg 10-year
Action Plan. The Bundaberg 10-year Action Plan is a roadmap to
reducing the flood risk to the people of Bundaberg (27 March 2018).
More...
Queenslanders to be fined for not bringing in wheelie
bins
Queenslanders who don't bring their kerbside rubbish
bins in after a day could soon be fined. The fine, up to $2,500,
has always been in the state legislation, but not widely enforced.
Now, the government will allow councils to enforce the laws and
while some have ignored it, at least 20 councils have indicated
they plan to implement it (26 March 2018).
More...
Brisbane's Eagle Street to be transformed under
'city-shaping' proposal
Development company Dexus proposes to resume parts of
Eagle Street in order to build a new waterfront hub, with two new
towers and about 1.5 hectares of public space (23 March 2018).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Infrastructure priority list: Project and initiative
summaries
The Infrastructure Priority List is updated regularly to
reflect emerging infrastructure priorities across Australia. It
provides independent, evidence-based advice to governments and
industry on the projects that will most benefit our growing
communities. More...
In Practice and Courts
Queensland
Land valuations online
The new land valuation data for 2018 can be accessed
online here.
Queensland Globe also gives landowners access to detailed
valuation information allowing users to search for a property or
pan the map to areas of interest and zoom down to individual
property level. Landowners can access the Queensland Globe year
round via the Land Valuations website.
Hard copies of the valuation list can be viewed at
Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy business centres
and local government offices during normal business hours until
close of business on 5 June 2018.
Cases
Victoria
Shadda
Abercrombie v Salter Architects & Anor [2018] VSCA
74
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT – Application for leave to
appeal on questions of law from a decision of the Trial Division
upon an appeal from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
– Whether Design and Development Overlay imposes a mandatory
height limit – Schedule imposes discretionary height
requirement – Power to vary height of roof structure or
chimney does not 'specify otherwise' – Whether
imposition of a condition directed to height of building by
Tribunal was unreasonable – Leave granted in part –
Appeal dismissed. WORDS AND PHRASES – 'should',
'specify otherwise'.
In
Re F Vitale & Sons Pty Ltd & Ors [2018] VSC
111
CORPORATIONS – Dispute between brothers in relation
to numerous companies and trusts – Claims and cross-claims
alleging oppression – Remedies sought under s 233 of
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) – Directions and orders including
valuations made.
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Four properties co-owned by brothers (directly and indirectly) – Whether four proceedings commenced by one brother in VCAT under Part IV of Property Law Act 1958 (Vic) are complex and should be heard by the Supreme Court which has jurisdiction in cases of complexity.
Shout Rocks Cafes Pty Ltd & Anor v City of Port
Philip & Ors [2018] VSC 120
CIVIL PROCEDURE – Application for reinstatement of
proceedings – Consent orders – Interpretation of
consent orders – Whether regard can be had to surrounding
circumstances – Whether consent orders provided for
reinstatement was unlimited in effect - Application dismissed.
Legislation
Victoria
Statutory Rules made – 27 March 2018
No 35
Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Regulations
2018
No 38
Building Regulations 2018
No 41
Greenhouse Gas Geological Sequestration (Exemption) Regulations
2018
The Victorian Commencement Book is available on the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel website.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.
