In the media – National

MBA: Tradies payment guarantee proposal needs more detail
Labor's announcement of a Tradies Payments Guarantee deals with complex contract law and the details will be crucial if it is to be effective. Over 98% of all building and construction businesses, or around 350,000 firms, are small businesses (17 June 2016). More...

Councils encouraged to tackle infrastructure backlog with switch to clean energy
Australian councils should urgently consider tailored debt finance to improve their energy performance and reduce emissions from old and poorly maintained assets (16 June 2016). More...

Company accused of delaying fatal construction case
A company being prosecuted over the death of worker Jorge Castillo-Riffo at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site is accused of trying to delay the case (16 June 2016). More...

Mining success marks turning point for off-grid renewables
A monumental off-grid renewable mining project has been successfully completed in remote Western Australia, demonstrating a confluence between established and emerging Australian industries (08 June 2016). More...

Planning the ticket to good public transport infrastructure
Transport infrastructure planning expert Diane Legge Kemp says infrastructure can take decades to deliver, planning needs to begin many years in advance so that projects are ready to go when the funding and political will to do them eventually coincide (07 June 2016). More...

In the media – Victoria

Melbourne building company fined $300,000 over fatal wall collapse
A Melbourne building company has been fined $300,000 over a "foreseeable" wall collapse that killed a father of two at a Brighton East construction site two years ago (14 June 2016). More...

Victoria aims for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
The Victorian Government will aim to achieve a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with Environment Victoria calling for the state to move from coal-fired power to clean energy over the next couple of years (09 June 2016). More...

In the media – New South Wales

Prisons become a new $3.8bn building boom
The big cash splash on jails, to be spent over four years, was revealed ahead of the forthcoming NSW Budget, with Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian and Corrections Minister David Elliot saying the spend will fund "a long-term infrastructure plan to cater for the rising prisoner population and better manage and rehabilitate inmates." (16 June 2016). More...

New South Wales Budget: Boosting housing supply and affordability
$262 million from the Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF) would be committed to projects in southwest and western Sydney, and detailed planning across the city, to support further growth. This round of allocations from the HAF will support 58,000 new homes, bringing the number of dwellings supported by the HAF to more than 200,000 since 2012 (18 June 2016). More...

Construction starts on Sydney's new base camp for the Light Rail fleet
The upcoming New South Wales' Budget will include $135 million in Government funds for planning and delivery of Sydney and Parramatta Light Rail projects. Major work has begun on the facility where Sydney's fleet of new light rail vehicles will be serviced when the CBD and South East line begins operating in 2019 (16 June 2016). More...

More New Homes in the Pipeline
The Renovations Roundup projects that renovation activity will increase by 2.5 per cent this year with growth of 1.7 per cent forecast for 2017. HIA projects that activity will grow by 2.8 per cent in 2018, followed by a 2.0 per cent increase in 2019 bringing the total volume of renovations activity to $33.30 billion (09 June 2016). More...

In the media – Queensland

Long-term road funding provides certainty
A critical transport infrastructure fund has been locked in for the entire Queensland local government term, giving councils the certainty they need to accelerate vital road projects. The Local Government Association of Queensland's analysis of the Queensland State Budget shows councils will have access to over $100 million in additional funding over the next financial year (17 June 2016). More...

Queensland budget 2016 at a glance
Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has delivered a "back-to-work budget" that focuses on innovation, investment and infrastructure (14 June 2016) Queensland budget 2016 at a glance and click on 'Industry' drop box icon.

Townsville stadium plans boost hope for local jobs
The Master Builders Association says it hopes local contractors are given first preference when it comes to the tender process for Townville's new stadium (14 June 2016). More...

Insurance protection with the QBCC
Home owners are reminded of the effectiveness of the QBCC's Home Warranty Scheme, following media coverage about the lack of effective cover in some states (14 June 2016). More...

Queensland construction and the rise of renewable energy
Emerging building codes, changing client requirements and tenant wishes are making renewable and sustainable energy in commercial construction much more relevant (10 June 2016). More...

First homebuyers to get extra $5,000 in Queensland budget
The first home grant in Queensland will be increased to $20,000 in next Tuesday's state budget, with foreign buyers slugged with a new tax to help pay for infrastructure (09 June 2016). More...

Gold Coast council to explore three cruise terminal options
The Gold Coast City Council will explore three designs for a cruise ship terminal offshore from the Southport Spit (07 June 2016). More...

Published

Exploring the beliefs of Australian prefabricated house builders
Dale A Steinhardt, Karen Manley; Construction Economics and Building, Vol 16, No 2 2016
The housing sector accounts for a majority of newly constructed buildings. Prefabrication, defined as the factory construction of houses or significant components, is widely promoted as a means to improve efficiency.

Lessons learnt from the use of relationship-based procurement methods in Australia: clients' perspectives
Farshid Rahmani, Malik M A Khalfan, Tayyab Maqsood; Construction Economics and Building, Vol 16, No 2 2016. This paper aims to review the use of various construction procurement systems and present the development of Relationship-Based Procurement (RBP) Methods currently in use within the Australian construction industry.

In practice and courts – National

GBCA: five-point plan puts sustainable buildings, communities and cities
The GBCA's plan outlines the policies that can drive down emissions while enhancing productivity, liveability and sustainability in our cities (01 June 2016). More...

In practice and courts – New South Wales

Simplified New South Wales Housing Code on exhibition
The Department of Planning and Environment is exhibiting draft changes to the New South Wales Housing Code and inviting council submissions by Friday 12 August 2016. More...

In practice and courts – Queensland

2016 Major Project Series launch in Brisbane
In Brisbane on 12 July for the launch of the Department of State Development launches the 2016 Major Projects Series. With guest speakers from The Star Entertainment Group, hear first-hand about how Queensland businesses can access new markets and opportunities for the $3 billion Queen's Wharf Brisbane Integrated Resort Development.

Cases

Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 770
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 – adjudication determination – whether determination void – denial of natural justice – error of law on the face of the record.

Vinson v Neerim Properties Developments Pty Ltd [2016] VSC 321
BUILDING CONTRACT – Payment claim purportedly made under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic) (the 'Act') – Whether the Act applies to reason of s 7(2)(b) of the Act – Court not able to determine this issue on the papers given the issues of fact in controversy – Whether adjudication application under the Act is valid – Purported notice under s 18(2)(a) of the Act not valid – Injunction granted.

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