In the media
Aussie engineers must better manage risk on retaining
walls
Last November, 15 people were evacuated from their homes
in the Cleveland (south of Brisbane) street of Middle street after
excavators 'dug too deeply' at the site and an excavation
collapsed (15 June 2018).
More...
House price decline 'larger than expected'
The sale of new homes in five of Australia's largest
states tumbled last month, with one of the big four bank's
predicting that weakness in the market will be graver than expected
(07 June 2018).
More...
Housing affordability improves across Australia:
Report
Housing affordability has improved across the country
despite falls in Victoria, South Australia and ACT during the first
quarter of 2018, according to research from the Real Estate
Institute of Australia (06 June 2018).
More...
Update on the Fire Safety and External Wall Cladding
Taskforce
In total, Fire & Rescue NSW has visited, inspected and
assessed over 2280 sites identified through the initial audit. The
Taskforce's work to identify buildings that have been inspected
and assessed and the ACP cladding remains ongoing (04 June 2018).
More...
Australian Bureau of Statistics
12/06/2018
Housing Finance, Australia, April 2018 (cat no. 5609.0).
Practice and courts
ABCC: Minimum wage increase – make sure you are
paying the right rate
On Friday 1 June 2018 the Fair Work Commission announced a
3.5% increase to the minimum wage. The increase applies from the
first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2018 (05 June
2018).
More...
More housing options for NSW: Low Rise Medium Density
Housing Code
The
new Code will allow one and two storey dual occupancies, manor
houses and terraces to be built under fast-track
complying development approval across NSW and also promotes
good design for medium density housing. Low rise medium density
housing as complying development is only allowed where medium
density development is already permitted under a council's
local environmental plan. The Medium Density Housing Code will
commence on 6 July 2018.
Greenfield Housing Code
The changes start on 6 July 2018, the new Code will be
included in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and
Complying Development Codes) 2008. In essence, it is a
simplifying of the development process, and aligning the
requirements for development across greenfield areas. The planning
rules and the code are also presented in plain English for clearer
explanation. Note: There will be a three-year transitional period,
where applicants can choose whether to use the Greenfield Code, or
the new simplified Housing Code or Transitional Code (until 13 July
2019).
More...
BPB: Certification data reporting commences 01
July
To strengthen certification and building regulation in
NSW, accredited certifiers and local councils will soon be required
to report data on building certification to the NSW Government.
This will be mandatory from 1 July 2018. More...
BPB: View Cert Alert issue 3 – 08 June 2018
Read about mandatory data reporting for A1, A2 and A3
certifiers; practice advice; changes to the EP&A Act; unsafe
cladding and more.
More...
Cases
J Evers Pty Ltd t/as The Plumbing and Electrical Doctor
v Rolt [2018] NSWCATAP 150
(3) Appeal dismissed. APPEAL – Residential building
work – Whether error of law – Whether leave to appeal
should be granted - Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act
2013; Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014;
Home Building Act 1989.
Goodfellow v Gilchrist [2018]
NSWCATAP 151
Appeal upheld; (3) he matter is remitted to the Consumer
and Commercial Division for re-hearing of the application made on
24 November 2017 to set aside the decision and orders in HB
17/41814 made on 27 October 2017.
APPEAL – Application to set aside decision – Whether
error of law.
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW); Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Regulation 2013 (NSW); Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW); Home Building Act 1989
(NSW).
Legislation
Statute Law
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 (NSW)
Received assent on 15 June 2018.
Home Building Act 1989 (No. 147 of
1989)
Proposed amendment by:
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018
Government Sector Finance Legislation (Repeal and Amendment) Bill
2018
Home Building Regulation 2014 (No. 811 of
2014)
Proposed amendment by:
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018
Strata Schemes Development Regulation 2016 (No. 659
of 2016)
Proposed amendment by:
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018
Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (No. 50 of
2015)
Proposed amendment by:
Fair Trading Amendment (Short-term Rental Accommodation) Bill
2018
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.