In the media – National
Standards for Accreditation of Environmental Approvals
under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999
The Australian Government has released Standards for Accreditation
of Environmental Approvals under the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Standards), based on
requirements of Commonwealth law 28 March 2014).
More...
CEFC backs commercial property retrofits
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is providing up to $100
million of debt finance for deep retrofits to commercial properties
that it hopes will help reinvigorate Australia's ageing
building stock and improve its energy productivity (28 March 2014).
More...
Ministerial group to look at Australia's future
water needs
The Minister for Agriculture will chair a new ministerial working
group set up to identify new infrastructure projects that can
deliver Australia's water supply needs in the future, both by
upgrading existing infrastructure or building new infrastructure,
and some of these are already in the pipeline (28 March 2014).
More...
Greater certainty for trade of water
rights
The Australian Government has announced amendments to financial
regulations to allow for the common sense treatment of the trade of
water rights, commonly traded on Australian water markets, so they
are able to be regulated in the same manner as agricultural
commodities (20 March 2014).
More...
Government Inquiry announced for foreign investment in
residential real estate
The House of Representatives Economics Committee has announced an
inquiry into Australia's foreign investment policy as it
applies to residential real estate (19 March 2014).
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Opportunities open in Emissions Reduction Fund for
farmers and landholders
The federal Government is making it easier for farmers and
landholders to be able to participate in the Emissions Reduction
Fund by storing carbon in their soil, improving farm productivity
and contributing to action on climate change (18 March 2014).
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In the media – Victoria
Victoria to remove commercial defects
insurance
The Victorian Government plans to remove the requirement for
commercial property builders to have defects insurance. The change
recognises that commercial property owners can manage their own
building risks (17 March 2014).
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In the media – New South Wales
Interest sought for prime commercial land in Macquarie
Park
Almost four hectares of prime commercial land in Sydney's North
West may soon be up for redevelopment with the NSW Government today
calling for expressions of interest from suitable parties (25 March
2014).
More...
$1 million to help councils bring planning
online
The NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister announces $1 million
in grants for councils to bring planning online. Users will be able
to monitor the progress of their application and to view up-to-date
information on development applications in their neighbourhood on
council ebsites (25 March 2014).
More...
In the media – Queensland
Inskip Peninsula draft plan released for
comment
The Queensland Government is seeking community feedback on the
draft Inskip Peninsula master plan designed to assist the region
reach its full tourism potential. The draft master plan provides a
planning vision covering possible tourism, conservation and
residential evelopment opportunities (28 March 2014).
More...
Resident letting agent and company forced to pay over
$700,000
A resident letting agent and company have been fined $418,716 after
the Office of Fair Trading brought disciplinary proceedings for
keeping expenses from unit owners that they were not authorized to
retain and for failing to disclose conflicts of interest to unit
owners (24 March 2014).
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In practice and courts – New South Wales
GBCA: Green Star - Communities Guide for Local
Government
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and AECOM guide
explains how councils can use the Green Star - Communities national
framework and the Green Star - Communities rating tool to achieve
better economic, social and environmental outcomes across the built
environment (March 2014). More...
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2014
LPI fee increase for copies of plans
From 1 April 2014 Land and Property Information will increase fees
for supplying copies of deposited plans and strata plans to include
royalties payable to surveyors or surveying firms who own copyright
in these plans.
More...
Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Review: Stage
One of the Review
The NSW Government began the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood
Management Review to consider flood planning, flood mitigation and
flood response in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley (March 2014).
More...
In practice and courts – Queensland
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2014
New Public Ruling for transfer duty
The Commissioner has issued Public
Ruling DA145.1.1—Transfer duty exemption for qualifying
vestings of land in the State. This ruling sets out the
Commissioner's practice in applying section 145 of the
Duties Act 2001 where land is vested in the State under
statute law for a qualifying purpose. The ruling is effective 27
March 2013 (28 March 2014).
Brisbane City Centre Master Plan 2014
The master plan aims to deliver six priority projects to revitalise
our city streets and riverfront precincts and better connect
inner-city neighbourhoods. These include: Howard Smith Wharves,
Queens Wharf and William Street precinct, Kangaroo Point Bridge,
Edward Street, Albert Street and Underground Bus and Train link
(BaT) (19 March 2014).
More...
Current consultations
[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
Villa v Emaan Pty Ltd (Retail Tenancies) [2014]
VCAT 274
Retail premises lease; lessee allegation that the lessor repudiated
the lease by unreasonably refusing to consent to assignment of the
lease; lessee's allegation fails; breach of lease by lessee;
calculation of damages including lost rental income The Respondent
must pay the Applicant $29,512.57. More...
Fenridge Pty Ltd v Retirement Care Australia
(Preston) Pty Ltd & Ors (No 3) [2014] VSC
90
LANDLORD AND TENANT – Lessee's covenant to repair and
maintain leased premises during the currency of the lease in good
and substantial repair, order and condition – Covenant
subject to fair wear and tear exception – Further guidance
for special referee – Whether Alcatel Australia Ltd v
Scarcella (1998) 44 NSWLR 349 relevant to content of the covenant,
notwithstanding that there was no fair wear and tear exception in
the covenant at issue in that case. More...
Box v Moreland CC (Including Summary) (Red Dot)
[2014] VCAT 246
Ongoing effect of condition in permit requiring development shown
on endorsed plans not to be altered without consent of responsible
authority; LAW – issue of interpretation or application -
Consideration and application of principles in the case of
Benedetti v Moonee Valley City Council [2005] VSC 434
– ongoing effect of conditions in permits after development
completed and land is subdivided.More...
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