In the media – National
MBA: Tradies payment guarantee proposal needs more
detail
Labor's announcement of a Tradies Payments Guarantee deals
with complex contract law and the details will be crucial if it is
to be effective. Over 98% of all building and construction
businesses, or around 350,000 firms, are small businesses (17 June
2016).
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Councils encouraged to tackle infrastructure backlog
with switch to clean energy
Australian councils should urgently consider tailored debt finance
to improve their energy performance and reduce emissions from old
and poorly maintained assets (16 June 2016).
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Company accused of delaying fatal construction
case
A company being prosecuted over the death of worker Jorge
Castillo-Riffo at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site is accused
of trying to delay the case (16 June 2016).
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Mining success marks turning point for off-grid
renewables
A monumental off-grid
renewable mining project has been successfully completed in
remote Western Australia, demonstrating a confluence between
established and emerging Australian industries (08 June 2016).
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Planning the ticket to good public transport
infrastructure
Transport infrastructure planning expert Diane Legge Kemp says
infrastructure can take decades to deliver, planning needs to begin
many years in advance so that projects are ready to go when the
funding and political will to do them eventually coincide (07 June
2016).
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In the media – Victoria
Melbourne building company fined $300,000 over fatal
wall collapse
A Melbourne building company has been fined $300,000 over a
"foreseeable" wall collapse that killed a father of two
at a Brighton East construction site two years ago (14 June 2016).
More...
Victoria aims for zero greenhouse gas emissions by
2050
The Victorian Government will aim to achieve a target of net zero
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with Environment Victoria calling
for the state to move from coal-fired power to clean energy over
the next couple of years (09 June 2016).
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In the media – New South Wales
Prisons become a new $3.8bn building boom
The big cash splash on jails, to be spent over four years, was
revealed ahead of the forthcoming NSW Budget, with Treasurer Gladys
Berejiklian and Corrections Minister David Elliot saying the spend
will fund "a long-term infrastructure plan to cater for the
rising prisoner population and better manage and rehabilitate
inmates." (16 June 2016).
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New South Wales Budget: Boosting housing supply and
affordability
$262 million from the Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF) would be
committed to projects in southwest and western Sydney, and detailed
planning across the city, to support further growth. This round of
allocations from the HAF will support 58,000 new homes, bringing
the number of dwellings supported by the HAF to more than 200,000
since 2012 (18 June 2016).
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Construction starts on Sydney's new base camp for
the Light Rail fleet
The upcoming New South Wales' Budget will include $135 million
in Government funds for planning and delivery of Sydney and
Parramatta Light Rail projects. Major work has begun on the
facility where Sydney's fleet of new light rail vehicles will
be serviced when the CBD and South East line begins operating in
2019 (16 June 2016).
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More New Homes in the Pipeline
The Renovations Roundup projects that renovation activity will
increase by 2.5 per cent this year with growth of 1.7 per cent
forecast for 2017. HIA projects that activity will grow by 2.8 per
cent in 2018, followed by a 2.0 per cent increase in 2019 bringing
the total volume of renovations activity to $33.30 billion (09 June
2016).
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In the media – Queensland
Long-term road funding provides certainty
A critical transport infrastructure fund has been locked in for
the entire Queensland local government term, giving councils the
certainty they need to accelerate vital road projects. The Local
Government Association of Queensland's analysis of the
Queensland State Budget shows councils will have access to over
$100 million in additional funding over the next financial year (17
June 2016).
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Queensland budget 2016 at a glance
Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has delivered a
"back-to-work budget" that focuses on innovation,
investment and infrastructure (14 June 2016)
Queensland budget 2016 at a glance and click on
'Industry' drop box icon.
Townsville stadium plans boost hope for local
jobs
The Master Builders Association says it hopes local contractors
are given first preference when it comes to the tender process for
Townville's new stadium (14 June 2016).
More...
Insurance protection with the QBCC
Home owners are reminded of the effectiveness of the QBCC's
Home Warranty Scheme, following media coverage about the lack of
effective cover in some states (14 June 2016). More...
Queensland construction and the rise of renewable
energy
Emerging building codes, changing client requirements and tenant
wishes are making renewable and sustainable energy in commercial
construction much more relevant (10 June 2016).
More...
First homebuyers to get extra $5,000 in Queensland
budget
The first home grant in Queensland will be increased to $20,000 in
next Tuesday's state budget, with foreign buyers slugged with a
new tax to help pay for infrastructure (09 June 2016).
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Gold Coast council to explore three cruise terminal
options
The Gold Coast City Council will explore three designs for a
cruise ship terminal offshore from the Southport Spit (07 June
2016).
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Published
Exploring the beliefs of Australian prefabricated house
builders
Dale A Steinhardt, Karen Manley; Construction Economics and
Building, Vol 16, No 2 2016
The housing sector accounts for a majority of newly constructed
buildings. Prefabrication, defined as the factory construction of
houses or significant components, is widely promoted as a means to
improve efficiency.
Lessons learnt from the use of relationship-based
procurement methods in Australia: clients'
perspectives
Farshid Rahmani, Malik M A Khalfan, Tayyab Maqsood; Construction
Economics and Building, Vol 16, No 2 2016. This paper aims to
review the use of various construction procurement systems and
present the development of Relationship-Based Procurement (RBP)
Methods currently in use within the Australian construction
industry.
In practice and courts – National
GBCA: five-point plan puts sustainable buildings,
communities and cities
The GBCA's plan outlines the policies that can drive down
emissions while enhancing productivity, liveability and
sustainability in our cities (01 June 2016).
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In practice and courts – New South Wales
Simplified New South Wales Housing Code on
exhibition
The Department of Planning and Environment is exhibiting draft
changes to the New South Wales Housing Code and inviting council
submissions by Friday 12 August 2016.
More...
In practice and courts – Queensland
2016 Major Project Series launch in
Brisbane
In Brisbane on 12 July for the launch of the Department of State
Development launches the
2016 Major Projects Series. With guest speakers from The Star
Entertainment Group, hear first-hand about how Queensland
businesses can access new markets and opportunities for the $3
billion
Queen's Wharf Brisbane Integrated Resort Development.
Cases
Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems
Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 770
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – Building and Construction
Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 – adjudication
determination – whether determination void – denial of
natural justice – error of law on the face of the record.
Vinson v Neerim Properties Developments Pty Ltd [2016] VSC
321
BUILDING CONTRACT – Payment claim purportedly made under the
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act
2002 (Vic) (the 'Act') – Whether the Act applies
to reason of s 7(2)(b) of the Act – Court not able to
determine this issue on the papers given the issues of fact in
controversy – Whether adjudication application under the Act
is valid – Purported notice under s 18(2)(a) of the Act not
valid – Injunction granted.
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.