Latest news – National
Chair of Clean Energy Regulator Chair
announced
The Government announces the appointment of Ms Chloe Munro as the
Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the new Clean Energy Regulator
to be established from 2 April 2012. The authority will implement
and administer the carbon price mechanism, the National Greenhouse
Energy Reporting Scheme, the Renewable Energy Target, the
Australian National Registry of Emissions Units and the Carbon
Farming Initiative (09 February 2012)
More...
Climate change minister says emissions data will be
reliable
Climate Change Minister says the federal government will fix the
scheme that collects data on corporate carbon emissions before
Labor's carbon tax comes into effect. A released ANAO report
found that the NGERS is a "workable'' greenhouse gas
and energy reporting scheme, but contains "significant
security vulnerabilities'' and too much duplication across
jurisdictions (08 February 2012)
More...
Latest news – Victoria
New Executive Director appointed at Major Projects
Victoria
Minister for Major Projects Denis Napthine welcomed the appointment
of Tim Bamford as the new Executive Director of Major Projects
Victoria (MPV). MPV is part of the Department of Business and
Innovation and provides project delivery services and advice to
Victorian Government departments and other agencies in the delivery
of complex, challenging and unique projects (05 February 2012) http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/media-centre#content
Sustainable Melbourne Fund holds information sessions
for consultants and contractors
The City of Melbourne and Sustainable Melbourne Fund are
hosting information sessions on how consultants and contractors to
the commercial building sector can capture the opportunities
created by environmental upgrade finance under the city's 1200
Buildings Program (07 February 2012)
More...
Supply withdrawal pushes Melbourne CBD office
vacancy
Melbourne's office market vacancy rate decreased in the six
months to January 2012 due to both demand and withdrawal of supply,
according to the Property Council of Australia's latest Office
Market Report (02 February 2012)
More...
Grazing proposal in Victorian Alpine National Park
clearly unacceptable
A proposal by the Victorian Government to reintroduce cattle to the
National Heritage listed Alpine National Park in Victoria has been
determined to be clearly unacceptable under national environmental
law and will not proceed (31 January 2012)
Grazing proposal in Victorian Alpine National Park clearly
unacceptable
Latest news – Queensland
National Energy Efficiency Program Funding calls for
smart energy use
The Gillard Government commences a package of energy
efficiency programs designed to drive smarter energy use in
business, local government, households and communities for a clean
energy future in February (09 February 2012)
More...
Agribusiness actions return to court
Class action cases against select Australians agribusiness firms
that collapsed following the global financial crisis will return to
court this month. Much of what's at issue in each of the cases
is dependent on the individual projects' product disclosure
statements that were issued that people signed up on (01 February
2012) http://www.investordaily.com.au/13397.htm
Commissioner defends inquiry's work to toughen
Brisbane's flood defences
Floods commissioner Cate Holmes has launched a spirited defence of
her inquiry, arguing it would be a tragedy if the public focussed
on forensic details and ignored the inquiry's work to improve
Brisbane's disaster defences (12 February 2012)
More...
Brisbane flooding 'inevitable' says
expert
An independent hydrological expert has reiterated his support for
the actions of Wivenhoe Dam's engineers, telling the
state's flood inquiry that the flooding of Brisbane in January
was "inevitable" (10 February 2012)
More...
Strong demand tightens Brisbane office
market
Strong demand for Brisbane office space has driven vacancy rates in
Brisbane's CBD down from 7.4 percent to 6.2 percent in the six
months to January 2012, according to the Property Council of
Australia's latest Office Market Report (02 February 2012)
More...
Councils demand more time for coastal
plan
Queensland's new coastal plan comes into effect tomorrow. It
replaces the State Coastal Management Plan and regional plans and
provides policy direction on coastal reserves, beaches, esplanades
and tidal areas (02 February 2012)
More...
State Coastal Plan effective from 30 January
2012
The Queensland Coastal Plan, which protects the state's most
vulnerable coastal land from future urban development, was jointly
launched by the State Government and the Local Government
Association of Queensland on April 7, 2011. The plan is effective
from 30 January 2012 (02 February 2012)
More...
Articles – National
No quick fix for Australia's future energy
challenge
Author: Daniel Mullerworth, Tristan Edis, Tony Wood;
Grattan Institute
This report sets out the findings of the technology assessments
and reviews the implications for government policy in terms of
developing and deploying low emissions electricity technology (06
February 2012)
More...
Australian economic indicators 2012
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Primarily a reference document, this publication provides a broad
basis for analysis and research on the Australian economy and
includes statistics that can be applied to both macro-economic and
sectoral analyses (02 February 2012)
Australian economic indicators, Feb 2012
Articles – Victoria
Victorian bushfire recovery three year
report
Department of Planning and Community Development
This report focuses on the progress and achievements made over the
last 12 months including the delivery of programs, funding and
support to communities and individuals affected by the 2009
bushfires (02 February 2012)
Victorian bushfire recovery three year report
Practice notes/directions – National
National Energy Efficiency Program funding
open
A package of energy efficiency programs designed to drive smarter
energy use in business, local government, households and
communities for a clean energy future has commenced, with
guidelines To find out more about the package of energy efficiency
programs visit: www.climatechange.gov.au
Details are on the website at www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au
(09 February 2012)
Advisory Panel for clean energy futures project:
expressions of interest
PIA is calling for 'expressions of interest' from planning
professionals to participate on an advisory panel for a clean
energy futures project. PIA's
Tips and Tricks: Best Practice in Environment Effects
Statements seminar is on 15 March.
Practice notes/directions – New South Wales
Current Draft Policies and Plans, Announcements
Bid to unlock paper subdivisions
Feedback is being sought on a proposal to assist the State's
housing supply by allowing potentially thousands of homes to be
built for the first time in century-old 'paper
subdivisions' across the State (10 February 2012) Bid to unlock paper
subdivisions
NSW: Changes to home building laws
The reforms outlined below will apply to the following from 1
February 2012: new residential building work, new home warranty
insurance policies and new residential building contracts
Changes to home building laws
Review of Potential Housing Opportunities on Landowner
Nominated Sites
The government has commenced a review of potential housing
opportunities on sites nominated by landowners. Sites will be
reviewed on the basis of government-endorsed
objectives and matters for consideration. A
question and answer document [PDF] gives further information
about the review process. It is anticipated that the Review will be
completed in the first quarter of 2012 (03 February 2012)
Review of potential housing sites underway
Practice notes/directions – Brisbane
New exit fee calculations for retirement village
contracts commence 1 March 2012
For all retirement village contracts entered on or after 1 March
2012, the exit fee will be calculated daily. The new laws will also
apply to existing retirement village contracts that do not specify
another basis for calculation. A new Retirement Villages Form 1
will apply from 1 March 2012, available
online together with more information regarding the new laws
More...
Legislation - Victoria
City of Melbourne Amendment (Environmental Upgrade
Agreements) Bill
Legislative Assembly 7/2/2012 Introduced and read a first
time
This Bill is for an Act to amend the City of Melbourne Act 2001 to
further provide for environmental upgrade agreements and to make
other miscellaneous amendments and for other purposes.
Cases – Victoria
Summerhill Drafting Services v Moreland CC [2012] VCAT
80
Application under Section 77 of the Planning and Environment Act
1987 (the Act) to review a decision to refuse to grant a permit.
Residential 1 Zone. Clause 55 Two or more dwellings on a lot and
residential buildings. Dwellings (2x2 storey dwellings). State and
Local Planning Policy Framework. Zone Purposes. Neighbourhood
character. Crossovers More...
Re Willmott Forests Ltd [2012] VSC 29
CORPORATIONS – LIQUIDATION – DISCLAIMER OF
ONEROUS PROPERTY – Where the plaintiff is in liquidation
– Where the plaintiff acts as the responsible entity and
manager of registered and unregistered managed investment schemes
operated on freehold land and land leased by the plaintiffs to the
members of the schemes – Liquidator of the plaintiff
wants to sell the freehold unencumbered by the leases –
Whether the liquidators disclaimer of the leases would have the
effect of extinguishing the Growers' leasehold estate or
interest in the subject land – Corporations Act 2001
(Cth) ss 477, 511, 568 More...
Polidoro Developments Pty Ltd v Hayek & Anor [2012]
VSC 20
REAL PROPERTY – Caveat – Application to remove
caveat – Transfer of Land Act s 90(3) – Whether
estate or interest in land More...
Healy & Anor v Glen Eira CC & Anor [2012] VCAT
104
Section 82 Planning and Environment Act 1987 –
re-subdivision - access to Crown Land – Tribunal no
jurisdiction
Section 80 Planning and Environment Act 1987 – access
– easement or section 173 Agreement More...
Pomeroy Pacific Pty Ltd v Stonnington CC [2012] VCAT
94
Section 77 Planning and Environment Act 1987 – Business 2
Zone – Design and Development Overlay Schedule 7
– 8 storey residential development - overall height
– equitable development More...
Mobsby v Yarra Ranges SC [2012] VCAT 101
Sections 80 and 82 of the Planning & Environment Act 1987;
Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme; dwelling density, neighbourhood
character; lot size, increased storm water flows from new
development; concrete or gravel driveway surface; tree protection
More...
Hallfin Pty Ltd v Yarra CC [2012] VCAT 99
Yarra Planning Scheme; Application under Section 77 of the Planning
and Environment Act 1987 against refusal to grant a permit; Mixed
Use Zone; Heritage Overlay; EAO; Part demolition and re-use of
existing buildings for a 104 space commercial carpark; Whether
Strategic Redevelopment Site; Whether an underdevelopment;
Sustainability; Interface with public realm; Heritage &
acoustic considerations More...
Cases – Queensland
Lowther v Brisbane City Council [2011] QPEC
152
Demolition Control Precinct – Pre 1946 house –
City Plan 2000 - Whether Positive Contribution to the Visual
Character of Street More...
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.