In the media

Commonwealth

ISCA's call to do more good rather than less bad
Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) chairman David Singleton wants infrastructure planners, designers and those who deliver the projects to aim higher in sustainability. Singleton points out that while robustness is often a criteria for projects, it is not the same thing as resilience (12 July 2018). More...

How Australia can build 'healthy, sustainable' high-density cities
With a booming population putting a squeeze on Australia cities, many are building up to help provide for our housing needs, but experts fear we may not be designing our suburbs the right way (20 July 2018). More...

The three things you need to know about the new Modern Slavery legislation
With modern slavery legislation at federal and state levels being introduced in Australia, and regulations and guidelines under development, here are the three most common questions and answers on this topic to help you build smarter supply chains (12 July 2018). More...

Value of Apartment Construction Work Set to Fall 16% in 2019
The value of work in the multi-level residential construction sector is set for a major downturn, as tighter lending conditions and surging construction material costs weigh on the profitability of the sector (09 July 2018). More...

Victoria

Melbourne Airport rail construction set to start by 2022
Construction on a rail link to Melbourne Airport could begin within four years after the State Government agrees to spend $5 billion on the project, but travellers will still need to wait at least a decade before they board a train to get there (22 July 2018). More...

Apple overhauls design for new Melbourne store after public outcry
Controversial plans to build a flagship Apple store at Melbourne's Federation Square are redesigned following criticism that the original draft was ugly and created without public consultation (20 July 2018). More...

'We must get people out of cars': Coalition to extend train line in Melbourne's south-east
Residents in Melbourne's booming outer south-eastern suburbs are promised new train stations by the Victorian Opposition to help ease peak hour traffic, as the Government's plan to expand the congested Monash Freeway to ten lanes is given the go-ahead (11 July 2018). More...

New South Wales

NSW Government confirms no change to bid date for WestConnex
The NSW Government has accepted a recommendation from the WestConnex Equity Sale Steering Committee to proceed with the sale of 51 per cent of the Sydney Motorway Corporation (SMC) as planned, with final bids on Monday 23 July (20 July 2018). More...

Two apartment blocks for sale on Dalgety Road
Property NSW, on behalf of Family and Community Services, has launched the sale of the final two apartment blocks on Dalgety Road as part of the Millers Point sales program (20 July 2018). More...

$50 million for Epping Station Bridge widening
One of Sydney's worst bottlenecks is set for an upgrade after Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, announced an investment of more than $50 million towards the much-anticipated widening of the Epping Station Bridge (17 July 2018). More...

Sydney tops global sustainability ranking
The City of Sydney has received top honours in a global sustainability report, scoring highest in the Asia Pacific region. The CDP organisation ranks more than 570 cities to identify those excelling on climate disclosure. Sydney received top score alongside Cleveland, Durban, Mexico City and Paris (10 July 2018). More...

Queensland

Gold Coast resident says development next door is 'sinking' his dream home
A Gold Coast homeowner's dreams of a quiet beach life has been destroyed by a neighbouring development which he says is wrecking his home (20 July 2018). More...

Developers Address Demand for Larger Apartments on the Gold Coast
A changing tide in the design of residential dwellings is on the horizon as developers, seeing an increase in demand from the owner-occupier and growing downsizer space, respond with development applications for larger home-style apartments on the Gold Coast (17 July 2018). More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

Navigating a changing private rental sector: opportunities and challenges for low-income renters
Sharon Parkinson, Amity James, Edgar Liu; Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute: 19 July 2018
This study investigated how low-income renters navigate the private rental sector (PRS) via three core pathways: the formal, informal and supported pathways. More...

Tracking progress towards inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements
UN HABITAT: 09 July 2018
With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 global targets, and nearly 234 indicators that will be monitored for the period 2015–2030. More...

In practice and courts

Victoria

Building Regulations for Garden Area and Siting Requirements
The Building Amendment (Garden Area and Siting Requirements) Regulations 2018 were made by the Governor in Council on 10 July 2018. The Regulations insert a new regulation 76A into the Building Regulations 2018. Regulation 76A requires the consideration of a minimum garden area for the construction of a single dwelling in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and General Residential Zone. This is a mandatory requirement that cannot be varied by a report and consent (12 July 2018). More...

Waste management and recycling in multi-unit developments
Sustainability Victoria has recently prepared a new Guide to Better Practice of Waste Management and Recycling in Multi-unit Developments. The draft guide for consultation was open for comment through Engage Victoria until 13 July 2018. More...

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Exhibition
Kingston C151 proposes to rezone 179-217 Centre Dandenong Road, Dingley Village, to General Residential Zone 2.

Cases

Flintoff v Stonnington CC [2018] VCAT 1110
Stonnington Planning Scheme – Section 82 Planning and Environment Act 1987 General Residential Zone – Heritage Overlay – alterations to a dwelling on a lot less than 500 square metres – alterations to a building in a heritage overlay.

Hao Yang Australia Pty Ltd v Mornington Penininsula SC [2018] VCAT 1028
Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme – Section 77 Planning and Environment Act 1987– hot springs – landscape character – Green Wedge Zone – Schedule 4, Environmental Significance Overlay – schedule 15, Environmental Significance Overlay – Schedule 23, Bushfire Management Overlay – "the cups" landscape – visual impact – intensity of use – native vegetation removal – road access – car parking – civil works – need for additional approval – cultural heritage management plan.

Legislation

Victoria

Statutory Rules
No 97 Estate Agents (General, Accounts and Audit) Amendment Regulations 2018 10 July 2018.
No 100 Building Amendment (Garden Area and Siting Requirements) Regulations 2018 10 July 2018.

Victorian legislation can be accessed here www.legislation.vic.gov.au.

This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.