In the media
National
Australia's Atlas to suspend mining due to low iron
ore price
Australia's Atlas Iron Ltd said on Friday it will progressively
suspend mining this month due to low iron ore prices, the latest
casualty in a strategy by larger producers to flood the sea-traded
market into China (10 April 2015).
More...
Mining giants to front tax inquiry
Andrew Forrest's iron ore miner Fortescue Metals is among
several mining giants fronting a Senate inquiry examining corporate
tax avoidance. Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and multinational Glencore
will also be quizzed on the amount of tax they pay in Australia (10
April 2015).
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Cooroy to Curra—Section C tender
launched
The Bruce Highway received a major boost today with tenders now
being sought for an early works package as part of the $624 million
Cooroy to Curra—Section C project, south of Gympie. Detailed
design for the remainder of the Cooroy to Curra—Section C
project is currently underway, with major works expected to start
in early 2016 (09 April 2015).
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Abbot Point expansion makes world's most
controversial projects list
The Abbot Point port expansion has been ranked as 2014's third
most controversial project, by the RepRisk Most Controversial
Projects report, which focuses on environmental, social and
corporate governance risks of companies involved in projects such
as mines, ports and factories (08 April 2015).
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Walton Construction: Failed firm continued trading for
over a year despite finance concerns
Failed construction firm Walton Construction continued to trade
and obtain licences from regulators despite serious concerns about
its finances that began at least a year before its collapse (08
April 2015).
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Barriers to Efficient Gas Markets
With recent and prospective increases in gas prices, there have
been calls for the Australian Government to require gas exporters
to reserve some of their production for domestic users. A recent
research report by the Productivity Commission cautions against
this approach, pointing out that a reservation policy may be
ineffective in preventing gas prices from rising in the future (01
April 2015).
More...
Aboriginal heritage test case overturns decision to
deregister Port Hedland site
The Supreme Court has quashed a decision by a West Australian
Government committee to deregister a Port Hedland Aboriginal sacred
site, in a test case that opens the door to a class action by
traditional owners (01 April 2015).
More...
Record-breaking building approvals bolster housing
supply pipeline
The number of new dwellings approved has climbed once again to set
a new record for the third month in a row with total national ABS
Building Approvals reaching 205,796 in seasonally adjusted terms
for the year ending February 2015. There was a 9.8 per cent
increase in dwellings approved nationally, month on month,
seasonally adjusted. All states and territories recorded a positive
upswing in trend terms (01 April 2015). More...
Victoria
Mining industry says 10km buffer zone is
'unrealistic'
The mining industry has dismissed as 'unrealistic' calls
for a larger buffer zone to protect the Hunter's wine and horse
industries, saying it would wipe out much of the region's
mining (10 April 2015).
More...
Victoria to lead the way on Renewable
Energy
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced changes to wind farm planning
laws, opening Victoria back up to investors in renewable energy to
create more jobs. The changes reduce the household veto for a
proposed wind turbine development from two kilometres to one
kilometre from a dwelling (20 March 2015).
More...
New South Wales
Getting Down To Business: Early Work Begins On Sydney
Rapid Transit
NSW Premier and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
announced over coming weeks, geotechnical drilling will occur up to
70 metres below Sydney Harbour to help determine the best location
for the new Sydney Rapid Transit railway tunnels. Geotechnical
drilling will also take place at Sydenham, in the Sydney CBD, North
Sydney, Crows Nest and Artarmon (08 April 2015).
More...
Record breaking Apartment Approvals underpin NSW Housing
Performance
The approval of 3,221 higher density apartments during February is
the highest monthly number ever in NSW, says the Urban Taskforce
(02 April 2015).
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A Fresh Team for Rebuilding NSW
NSW Premier Mike Baird and Deputy Premier Troy Grant have
announced the team that will deliver on the Coalition's mandate
to provide an extra $20 billion for vital infrastructure in cities
and regions (01 April 2015).
More...
New approach needed on infrastructure
levies
NSW needs a new approach to funding urban infrastructure after a
levy totalling over $83,000 per lot was proposed in new release
areas, according to the Property Council of Australia (01 April
2015).
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Queensland
A massive pipeline of infrastructure projects to
reignite property market
Research put out by market analyst and Propertyology managing
director Simon Pressley found 37 major infrastructure projects
worth "a staggering" $123 billion had been put on the
table in Queensland (11 April 2015).
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Construction begins at Carrara Commonwealth Games
venue
Construction at the $122 million Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth
Games Carrara Sports Precinct is officially underway (09 April
2015).
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Published – articles, papers, reports
Examining Barriers to More Efficient Gas
Markets
Productivity Commission research paper. This paper was released on
31 March 2015 and it examines issues relating to different stages
of the gas supply chain in the eastern Australian gas market,
against the backdrop of integration with the Asia-Pacific market.
More...
The great Australian lockout: inequality in the housing
market
The Australia Institute: Molly Johnson, David Baker. Home
ownership rates in Australia are falling across all age groups,
most significantly for people in their 50's (30 March 2015).
More...
ABS: Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Dec
2014
The trend estimate for the value of total engineering construction
work done fell 2.8% and the seasonally adjusted estimate for the
value of total engineering construction work done fell 0.6% in the
December quarter to $27,854.1m. The trend estimate for the value of
work done for the private sector fell 2.8% and the seasonally
adjusted estimate for the value of work done for the private sector
fell 1.9%. The seasonally adjusted estimate for the value of work
done for the public sector rose 4.3% to $6,308.5m (01 April 2015).
More...
ABS: Building Approvals, Australia, Feb
2015
ABS Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved
rose 1.6 per cent in February 2015, in trend terms. Dwelling
approvals increased in February in NSW (5.4 per cent), Queensland
(2.1 per cent) and Victoria (1.3 per cent) but decreased in ACT
(16.2 per cent), NT (2.7 per cent), WA (2.5 per cent), SA (2.4 per
cent) and Tasmania (0.7 per cent) in trend terms (01 April 2015).
More...
December 2014 Notifiable Fatalities Monthly Report:
SafeWork Australia
There were 24 work-related notifiable fatalities during December
2013 — 19 male workers and 1 female worker and 2 male and 2
female bystanders. Of these fatalities, 11 workers and 4 bystanders
died as a result of incidents in the air or on public roads (31
March 2015).
More...
Practice and courts
Four Emissions Reduction Fund methods released for
public consultation
Draft methods on High efficiency commercial appliances, Commercial
and public lighting, Oil and gas fugitives and Refrigeration and
ventilation fan upgrades released for public consultation.
More...
Reminder: ABCB Building Code of Australia
online
From 1 May 2015, the ABCB (Australian Building Codes Board) will
only be providing a PDF version of the Building Code Australia.
Construction Standards April 2015 - DR AS
1668.1:2015
The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings - Fire
and smoke control in buildings Standards Australia.
More...
NSW: The Building and Construction Industry Security of
Payment Amendment (Retention Money Trust Account) Regulation 2015
(NSW)
This introduces new requirements for head contractors to hold
retention money under subcontracts in a trust account. The
Regulation commences on 1 May 2015.
More...
Cases
Reitsma Constructions Pty Ltd v Davies Engineering
Pty Ltd t/as In City Steel [2015] NSWSC 343
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION - Validity of payment claim - Whether two
payment claims served in respect of one reference date - Whether
parties agreed to service of second payment claim in substitution
of the first ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Judicial review - Adjudication
determination - Jurisdictional error - Existence of jurisdictional
fact.
More...
The Owners – Strata Plan SP 73014 v Bowcon Pty
Ltd [2015] NSWSC 351
BUILDING AND ENGINEERING CONTRACTS – Remedies – Claim
for breach of statutory warranties – Whether claim in time
– Home Building Act, 1989 ss 18B, 18E PRACTICE
– Adjournment – Discretionary considerations –
Extended failure to comply with directions to file evidence - No
proper or adequate explanation – Adjournment to file evidence
refused.
More...
Legislation
Victoria
Statutory Rules
No 21: Building Amendment Regulations
2015
Date of Making: 31/03/2015 Commencement: 01/05/2015: reg. 3. Not
yet in operation: Regs 1-5: on 01/05/2015: reg. 3 Sunset Date:
31/03/2025. The objective of these Regulations is to amend the
Building Regulations 2006— (a) to reflect changes to the BCA
which come into operation on 1 May 2015. More...
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