In the media – National
Commercial property market buoyed by record industrial
sales volume in 2014
Australia's commercial property market rose to new heights in
2014, with the industrial market a key driver underpinning the
$26.8 billion in property sales that changed hands during the year,
according to CBRE Research (12 January 2014).
More...
PCA: Record Residential Approvals Building for a
Resilient 2015
Strong ABS Building Approvals numbers recorded for November 2014,
support ongoing activity in the pipeline for new homes to provide a
much needed boost for housing supply and construction jobs, as we
move into 2015 (09 January 2015).
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Review of the Water Act 2007 report
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/birmingham/2014/mr20141219.html">
Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the
Environment, welcomed the report from the expert panel, which sets
out their findings and recommendations. The Government will
immediately implement recommendations 11 and 18 which call for
further work to streamline various Water Charge Rules and water
information reporting requirements (19 December 2014). More...
Farmers in major payout from Australian insurance
first
The first payout under Australia's first private multi-peril
crop insurance (MPCI), underwritten by Allianz, is set to be
received by a Queensland farmer after a failed season. Agricultural
insurer Latevo International partnered with Allianz last year to
offer the Australia-first program (15 January 2015).
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Warnings Australia in rural financial crisis as farmers
look to take on ANZ
There is growing concern Australia is in the grip of a rural
financial crisis as banks foreclose on hundreds of properties and
force farmers off the land (31 December 2014).
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In the media – New South Wales
Scaremongering on Apartment Defects
Irresponsible
Claims by the Owners Corporation Network and the state opposition
that the recent changes to the Home Building Act will lessen
consumer protection for defective work on apartment buildings are
not correct says the Urban Taskforce (15 January 2015).
More...
As NSW Housing Numbers Drop the State Election must
focus on Growth
The latest monthly housing approvals from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics indicate that NSW supply is dropping particularly with
apartments says the Urban Taskforce (08 January 2015).
More...
EPA release eight year waste strategy
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) today released the
Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy for 2014-2021 that will
underpin waste and recycling improvements and developments across
NSW over the next seven years (30 December 2014). More...
Latest Population Growth Statistics put pressure on Plan
for Growing Sydney
The latest population growth statistics from the Australian Bureau
of Statistics show Sydney growing 10% more than anticipated in the
strategic plan (19 December 2014).
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NSW Government releases its Plan for Growing
Sydney
The NSW President of the Planning Institute of Australia, David
Ryan, has welcomed the release by the NSW government of its new
Metropolitan Strategy, "A Plan for Growing Sydney" (15
December 2014).
More...
In the media – Queensland
Final EPBC Koala Guidelines released
The Federal Department of Environment has released the EPBC
referral guidelines for the vulnerable koala. The guidelines, which
have been in development since the initial listing of the koala as
vulnerable in 2012, were finalised on 22 December 2014 (15 January
2015).
More...
QLD Energy Minister Mark McArdle announces the new
Agricultural Energy Council
Farm lobby groups hope the Queensland Government's
announcement of an Agricultural Energy Council (AEC) will
deliver power price relief to the State's primary producers,
with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) and AgForce to form the
new body (17 December 2014).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports - National
Review of the Water Act 2007 report
The Australian Government tabled the report on the Review of the
Water Act 2007 on 19 December 2014. The report presents 23
recommendations, including:
- simplifying the processes for amending and accrediting state water resource plans;
- providing the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder with greater flexibility in using the proceeds of water trade to deliver environmental outcomes; and
- the next scheduled review of the Water Act to occur in 2024 and for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to be reviewed in 2026. More...
Published – articles, papers, reports – New South Wales
Environment Protection Authority EPA: Waste and Resource
Recovery Strategy for 2014-2021
This Strategy document provides an important overarching blueprint
for waste management and improvement in NSW and will help to shape
our direction over the next seven years (30 December 2014). More...
In Practice and Courts - National
New Franchising Code of Conduct
From 1 January 2015, the current Franchising Code of Conduct will
be repealed and replaced with a new Code. REIA strongly encourages
members to review their agreements. More... More...
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