In the media
Building Stronger Homes Roundtable generates ideas to
support homes against natural disasters
The Building Stronger Homes Roundtable convened by the
Insurance Council of Australia and Master Builders Australia has
proposed a number of disaster mitigation and resilience initiatives
that will help to strengthen existing homes and communities against
extreme weather events (19 February 2021). More...
Housing construction eclipses records
Construction on new houses will hit a record high this
year, however, there are concerns this boom could be short-lived.
Demographic shifts and HomeBuilder boosted this number however land
constraints will limit new builds according to HIA (18 February
2021). More...
New South Wales
Developers forced to fix defects after commissioner
wields new powers
The New South Wales Building Commissioner has shown he
will not hesitate using one of his strongest powers to clean up the
construction industry, issuing prohibition orders on several
projects (19 February 2021). More...
New South Wales Government starts process to remove
high-risk cladding
The New South Wales Government has announced further
details on the project to facilitate the removal of high-risk
combustible cladding from residential apartment buildings across
the State. Project Remediate would provide interest-free, 10-year
loans, to Owners Corporations to enable and fast-track the safe
removal of high-risk cladding (11 February 2021). More...
Queensland
CSIRO and Queensland Government release 10 step bushfire
resilience building guide
In conjunction with the Queensland Government, the CSIRO
has devised a 10-Step Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for
Queensland Homes. The steps of the new bushfire guidelines
begin with learning the "essentials" about bushfires and
their behaviour and culminate with maintaining bushfire-resilient
properties (18 February 2021). More...
Toowoomba's new regional trade distribution centre
on course for 2021 completion
Construction us underway on the Toowoomba Wellcamp Trade
Distribution Centre at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (16 February
2021). More...
Construction starts on Gold Coast development set to
create 1800 jobs
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has officially turned the
sod on a $400 million development on the Gold Coast (12 February
2021). More...
Major construction boom sees Brisbane city traffic
worsen
With a dozen major construction projects underway in
Brisbane, the city council worries congestion will worsen (10
February 2021). More...
Construction begins on Brisbane Cross River Rail station
site
Construction has begun on another Cross River Rail site -
Brisbane's new Exhibition station at the RNA Showgrounds -
which will enable year-round trains for the busy precinct. The new
station is a part of the Queensland Government's $50 billion
infrastructure pipeline over the next four years (10 February
2021). More...
Victoria
Geelong Future Economy Precinct nears finish line
The Geelong Future Economy Precinct at Waurn Ponds is now
a step closer to completion with the last remaining tender awarded
to Keystone Civil to construct the Epworth Place extension (17
February 2021). More...
Builders baffled by decision to halt regional
construction in Victorian lockdown
Victorian builders say the state's latest five-day
lockdown rules are excessive, especially for regional Victoria
where work has ground to a halt just when it was getting back to
normal (15 February 2021). More...
Multibillion-dollar West Gate Tunnel delayed by two
years as political standoff continues
Melbourne's troubled West Gate Tunnel will not be
completed until at least 2024, two years behind schedule,
Transurban tells shareholders (11 February 2021). More...
Practice and courts
Building Better Regions Fund - Infrastructure Projects
Stream - Round Five
The Infrastructure Projects Stream supports projects that
provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas.
The projects can be either construction of new infrastructure or
the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure. The
Infrastructure Projects Stream only supports investment ready
projects. Close date: 05 March 2021. More...
Cases
Queensland
Karam Group Pty Ltd v Earthmoving
Contractors Pty Ltd & Ors [2021] QSC
10
EQUITY - EQUITABLE REMEDIES - INJUNCTIONS - INTERLOCUTORY
INJUNCTIONS - RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS - where the Applicant applies
for interlocutory injunctive relief restraining enforcement of an
adjudication decision; where the Applicant proposes that an amount
of an adjudication decision be paid into court which includes
amount paid in respect of sub-contractor's charges; where the
Applicant seeks orders for restraint from filing an adjudication
certificate in respect of adjudication decision - whether an
injunction should be granted; whether there is a prima facie case;
whether the applicant is entitled to the final relief sought;
whether the balance of convenience favours the making of the
interim orders. Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payments)
Act 2017 Qld; Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004
Qld.
Meechan v Savco Earth Moving Pty
Ltd [2021] QDC 14
TORTS - NEGLIGENCE - GENERALLY - where plaintiff employed by
sub-contractor of defendant - where plaintiff fell off the back of
a truck after being struck by the boom of an excavator causing
injury to right elbow and shoulder - where excavator was operated
by unlicensed employee of the sub-contractor - where plaintiff
admits to throwing a weighted object at excavator driver - where
allegations by plaintiff include failure to ensure integrity of
excavator on site, failure to ensure excavator was operated
exclusively by experienced and licenced operators and failing to
isolate the keys of the excavator - where quantum in issue -
whether defendant breached its duty of care - whether any breach by
the defendant was causative of the loss suffered by the
plaintiff.
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