In the media – National
Native title and mining leases co-exist
The High Court of Australia has made a landmark ruling in favour
of traditional owners following a long-running native title dispute
in Western Australia's Pilbara region. On Wednesday the High
Court dismissed the appeal and determined that native title rights
were not extinguished by 50-year-old mining leases (13 March 2014).
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NRAS Should Be Improved, Not Scrapped
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) is calling on
the Government to make changes to improve the operation of NRAS and
ensure that the program, which is fundamentally sound, isn't
unnecessarily abandoned (14 March 2014).
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Chinese buyers to invest $44b in Australian real estate:
analysts
Global investment bank Credit Suisse expects Chinese nationals to
sink around $44 billion into Australian residential real estate
over the next seven years (05 March 2014).
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CEFC finance to lift green retrofits for commercial
property
Commercial property owners now have access to significant
additional Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) finance through
agreement by Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), National
Australia Bank (NAB) and Eureka Funds Management (EFM) (13 March
2014).
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NBN provisioning and rebate rules up for
review
The Federal Government is currently examining the cost efficiency
of the previous Government's National Broadband Network
commitments and roll-out plan. Any changes to these commitments
will have an impact on NBN roll-out to new residential developments
and could include provisioning and contract arrangements and rebate
payments (06 March 2014).
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In the media - Victoria
Land supply to boost Victoria's
economy
Victoria's Minister for Planning Matthew Guy announces a
50,000 lot land supply target for Melbourne in 2014 to boost
confidence in the Victorian construction industry (06 March 2014).
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Coalition delivers further fire services levy
reforms
The Victorian Coalition Government has introduced legislation
which will reduce the Fire Services Levy on over 60,000 residential
rental properties and over 860 outdoor sports grounds across
Victoria from 1 July 2014 (05 March 2014).
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In the media – Queensland
Queensland's planning landscape set for positive
change
The Planning for Queensland's Development Bill will
significantly simplify Queensland's planning and development
system and will replace the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (13 March
2014).
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New valuations reflect softening rural
values
A summary of Queensland's property market released recently,
ahead of the March 12 issue of the 2014 annual statutory land
valuations, reflects the softening of rural values and evidence of
increasing values in some urban areas across Queensland's
property market (10 February 2014).
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The largest area of Queensland ever drought
declared
Emergency aid and funding will be made available to another 15
shires after 79 per cent of Queensland was declared in drought, the
largest area ever recorded (07 March 2014).
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Nineteen bidders vie for integrated
resorts
A total of 19 national and international developers have
registered their interest in delivering up to three new world-class
Integrated Resort Developments in Queensland. Proponents now have
until 31 March to make a formal Expression of Interest (05 March
2014).
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Published - articles, papers, reports - National
Public infrastructure: draft report
Author: Productivity Commission
Finding an abundance of flaws, mythologies and forgone
opportunities in infrastructure financing, funding and procurement,
this draft report argues for a comprehensive overhaul of Australian
public infrastructure processes (13 March 2014). More...
Continued strength in dwelling approvals for
January
Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics
ABS Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved
rose 1.3 per cent in January 2014, in trend terms, and has risen
for 15 months. NSW increased by 1.5 per cent, Victoria increased by
1.4 per cent, Queensland increased by 2.6 per cent (04 March 2014).
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In practice and courts – Victoria
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2014
Reformed Zones Standing Advisory
Committee
The Reformed Zones Standing Advisory Committee has been
established by the Minister for Planning (27 February 2014).
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In practice and courts – Queensland
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2014
2014 statutory land valuations
The Valuer-General has released valuation notices to approximately
one million landowners in 41 of Queensland's 62 rateable local
governments in accordance with the Land Valuation Act 2010 (12
March 2014).
More...
Consultation: Proposed QDC: commissioning and
maintenance of fire safety installation and
equipment
The Department of Housing and Public Works has released proposed
amendments to the
Queensland Development Code (QDC), Mandatory Part 6.1 (MP
6.1)-Commissioning and maintenance of fire safety installations
. It is intended the proposed amendments to MP 6.1 will help
achieve a reduction in red tape and provide savings for the fire
safety maintenance industry and property owners, while still
protecting the safety of building occupants. Consultation closes on
11 April 2014.
Current consultations
Department of State Development, Infrastructure and
Planning
Draft Cape York
Regional Plan – 25 March 2014
Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Areas:
Consultation
Public consultation has opened on the development scheme for the
Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area (PDA). The
proposed development scheme is open for consultation until March 17
2014. More...
[Draft] Logan Planning Scheme 2014:
consultation
In accordance with the changes in local government boundaries, the
draft scheme replaces three existing planning schemes; the
Beaudesert Shire Planning Scheme 2007, Gold Coast Planning Scheme
2003 and Logan Planning Scheme 2006. The planning scheme is open
for comment until 30 April 2014. More...
Cases – Victoria
Portbury Development Co Pty Ltd v Ottedin Investments
Pty Ltd & Ors [2014] VSC 57
REAL PROPERTY – Issue estoppel – Anshun estoppel
– Privies – Whether nominee and guarantors are privies
– Effect of rescission notices – Sale of Land Act 1962
(Vic) ss 29A(1) and 29O(2) – General conditions 25, 26 and
28.4(c)(ii) – Mitigation of damages – Implied term to
resell property in a reasonable manner – Effect of Global
Financial Crisis on market for englobo land – Valuation
– Vendor acted in a reasonable manner on resale – Loss
due to deficiency in price on resale – Award of damages. More...
M&J Developments Pty Ltd v Brimbank CC [2014] VCAT
183
The application under s 185AA of the Local Government Act 1989 is
dismissed. The Bunting Road special charge scheme is not invalid by
reference to any of the grounds advanced by the applicant in this
proceeding. More...
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