In the media – National
Positive Outlook as Vacancy Declines in Australia's
Office Markets
Commercial landlords are expected to get a lot tougher as
office vacancy continues to drop in 2018 across Melbourne, Sydney
and Brisbane, according to the 2018 Office Leasing Trends and
Market Outlook, compiled the sentiments of 135 people made up
of a mixture of office tenants and landlords (30 November 2017).
More...
Retirement villages approaching capacity – where
will our seniors live?
Occupancy of retirement villages in Australia is close to
capacity, highlighting the forthcoming shortage of age appropriate
housing for senior Australians in their local communities,
according to new data. The results of the annual PwC/Property
Council Retirement Census show increasing numbers of older
Australians are choosing to live in a retirement village (28
November 2017).
More...
First stage financed for Lincoln Gap Wind Farm
Nexif Energy, an independent power producer in Australia
and Southeast Asia, has reached financial close for the first stage
of the Lincoln Gap Wind Farm — one of Australia's largest
private sector-initiated and -owned grid battery systems not
underwritten by a government contract or funded by government
grants (20 November 2017).
More...
PIA President calls for National Settlement Strategy,
Chief Planner and Urban Design Protocol
Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
President, Brendan Nelson, has called on the Australian Government
to play a more active and engaged role in the future development of
Australian cities and adopt a 'strategic lens' in how it
impacts urban and regional Australia (28 November 2017).
More...
In the media – Victoria
Making Councils More Accountable and Transparent
Minister for Local Government Marlene Kairouz today
launched the latest data for the Know Your Council website, which
provides information on a broad range of performance data –
including planning permits, financial performance, roads,
governance and waste collection – for Victoria's 79 Local
Government Authorities (01 December 2017).
More...
Dangerous cladding banned on buildings above two
levels
Highly flammable polyethelene cladding – used on
thousands of Australian skyscrapers in the past two decades –
will be banned by the Victorian government from use in towers above
two levels. A state building inspector will be appointed to look
specifically at the issue of cladding on buildings (01 December
2017).
More...
Planning decisions and good governance
The industry was rightly stunned last week when the
Victorian Upper House utilised a rarely-used legislative clause to
revoke two lawfully issued planning consents based completely on
political considerations. Both had successfully navigated the
planning process and were approved by the Minister (22 November
2017).
More...
In the media – New South Wales
North West Sydney set for a vibrant future
The NSW Government has announced the rezoning of the
Bella Vista and Kellyville Precincts to create vibrant communities
with new town centres, facilities and green open space, along with
10,400 new jobs for Sydney's north-west (28 November 2017).
More...
Legislative amendments to NSW planning system pass
through Parliament
The Bill to change the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act 1979 and deliver the biggest overhaul of the
NSW planning system since the legislation's inception almost 40
years ago has passed through Parliament, the NSW Government
announced last week (28 November 2017).
More...
How we're planning for a growing Sydney
Sydney is a global city that continues to grow and
mature. Current forecasts suggest more than 1.7 million additional
people will be living in Sydney by 2036, requiring more than
725,000 new homes (24 November 2017).
More...
In the media - Queensland
Brisbane apartment market has Bank of Queensland on
alert
Bank of Queensland says moderating house prices across
Australia's east coast are welcome but the institution is
bracing for any collapse, especially in Brisbane's oversupplied
apartment market (30 November 2017).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Quarterly Compliance Report: National Electricity and
Gas Laws – September 2017
On 1 December 2017 the AER published its
latest Quarterly Compliance Report: National Electricity and
Gas Laws.
More...
In Practice and Courts
HomesVic — a shared equity
scheme
Applications will officially open next February and the
pilot scheme will begin in early 2018 – with an initial
allocation of $50 million over two years. Eligibility will target
applicants with incomes of up to $75,000 for singles, or up to
$95,000 for couples or families. Buyers will need to have a 5 per
cent deposit.
More...
Reminder: Vacant Residential Property Tax (VRPT)
The VRPT will start on 1 January next year and be levied
on dwellings that are vacant for more than six months in a calendar
year. It will only apply to properties in 16 inner Melbourne
councils, and will apply annually at a rate of 1 per cent of the
property's capital improved value.
More...
Fishermans Bend Draft Framework Plan Consultation
Draft Planning Scheme Amendment GC81 to the Melbourne and
Port Phillip Planning Schemes has been prepared to implement the
vision for Fishermans Bend through a suite of permanent controls
and a new Fishermans Bend Framework Plan. Submissions can be made
until December 2017. A Directions Hearing will be held on 20
December 2017. A Public Hearing will be held the week commencing 12
February 2018. More...
Panel
West Gate Tunnel Project EES Inquiry and Advisory
Committee: Construction of a second crossing over the Yarra
River formerly known as the Western Distributor Project.
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2017
Brisbane City Plan
At its meeting on 21 November 2017, Brisbane City Council
adopted major amendments to Brisbane City Plan 2014 to
include amendments to the Pre-1911 building overlay. The amendments
apply city-wide and will commence on 1 December 2017. More...
Settlement Notices to be replaced with Priority Notices
from 1 January 2018
The Registrar of Titles has advised that from 1 January
2018, Settlement Notices can no longer be deposited in the Titles
Registry. The current Queensland Settlement Notice mechanism will
be replaced by a Priority Notice mechanism as part of a move toward
national consistency in a range of titling processes to support
national electronic conveyancing in Australia. There will be no
transitional period.
More...
Cases
Mann
v Glen Eira CC [2017]
VCAT 1838
Section 77 Planning and Environment Act 1987;
Glen Eira Planning Scheme; Neighbourhood Residential Zone; Mice
breeding and cell isolation for medical research; Land use. No
permit.
Henwood
v Solar Station Alpha Pty Ltd (Civil Claims) [2017]
VCAT 1686
Solar power system; misleading and deceptive conduct;
major failure of system; compensation for estimated lack of
financial return; Australian Consumer Law sections 18, 54, 62, 259,
260 and 263; breach of contract; refusal to service solar power
system due to incident with service person.
Valles
v Mornington Peninsula SC [2017]
VCAT 1738
Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme; Application under
s.77 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to refuse a
permit, C1Z; Clause 52.27; Mornington Activity Centre and Structure
Plan; Application for late-night on-premises liquor licence; Tavern
with intended operating characteristics of a wine bar and supper
club; Cumulative impact; Amenity; Policing and enforcement of
conditions. No permit.
Legislation
Commonwealth
Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Tax Integrity) Bill 2017
Introduced with the Foreign Acquisitions and
Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment (Vacancy Fees) Bill 2017,
the bill amends the: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to:
provide that travel expenditure incurred in gaining or producing
assessable income from residential premises is not deductible, and
not recognised in the cost base of the property for capital gains
tax purposes; and limit deductions for plant and equipment assets
used for producing assessable income from residential premises to
when the asset was first used for a taxable purpose; Foreign
Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 to implement an annual
vacancy fee on foreign owners of residential real estate where
residential property is not occupied or genuinely available on the
rental market for at least six months in a 12-month period; and
Taxation Administration Act 1953 to make consequential
amendments. Progress; Assent Act no: 126 Year: 2017 30 November
2017.
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