In the media
National
Mining business conditions hit 14-year
low
The wind-down of the mining investment boom and slowing growth in
China has seen business conditions in mining fall to a
14-and-a-half-year low (17 October 2013). More...
Construction key to productivity push: PwC Australia would benefit to the tune of $1.252 billion if the construction sector improved its productivity by just one per cent, according to a new PwC report. While the construction sector made a significant contribution to the national economy - $99.5 billion in gross value add in fiscal 2012 - the sector is a serial productivity underperformer (16 October 2013). More...
ABS confirms positive year for new housing in
2012/13
ABS's latest housing data confirms a modest increase for
2012/13 dwelling commencements following two consecutive yearly
declines, said the Housing Industry Association (HIA) (15 October
2013).
More...
GBCA: Australia's under-performing buildings set for
a green makeover
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has launched a
rating tool which will improve the efficiency and environmental
sustainability of Australia's existing buildings after more the
two years of industry engagement (10 October 2013).
More...
New South Wales
NSW Treasurer speaks at Infrastructure & Investment
Conference
NSW Treasurer Mike Baird has renewed his call for reform of state
and federal taxation arrangements to provide further incentives for
the states to push ahead with vital infrastructure, in a keynote
address in Sydney to the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia 2013
(18 October 2013).
More...
Greater access to CSG well information
The NSW Government is continuing to improve public access to data
on coal seam gas wells, with a mapping tool on the Government
's one-stop -shop CSG website - www.csg.nsw.gov.au, providing
a list of exploration, pilot and production wells. This is a
comprehensive listing of the wells drilled in NSW for the purposes
of exploring for or extracting natural gas from coal seams (14
October 2013).
More...
Contract process begins for CBD and south east light
rail
The NSW Government's $1.6 billion CBD and South East Light
Rail project had taken another important step with procurement for
the two major contracts now underway. The major contract will cover
design, construction, services relocations, operation and
maintenance of the 12-kilometre project, as well as the operation
and maintenance of the Inner West Light Rail network, and will be
delivered as a PPP (15 October 2013).
More...
Building for the future: Westconnex M4 widening
consultation begins
NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O'Farrell
and Minister for Roads Duncan Gay today announced the start of
community consultation on the WestConnex M4 Widening. (13 October
2013).
More...
$41.9m investment in resources for regions
projects
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Infrastructure &
Services Andrew Stoner has announced funding for six infrastructure
projects in mining-affected communities through the first round of
the Resources for Regions Program in 2013-14 (10 October 2013).
More...
Sutherland Hospital redevelopment funding
The NSW Government will spend $400,000 planning for a major
redevelopment of Sutherland Hospital (10 October 2013).
More... Save
St George Hospital redevelopment funding
The NSW Government announced $800,000 new funding to plan the next
stage of the St George Hospital redevelopment (10 October 2013).
More...
Queensland
Builders congratulate Newman Government for changes to
workers' comp
Master Builders congratulates the Newman Government for bringing
into law changes to the workers' compensation scheme which will
significantly reduce premiums for Queensland businesses, whilst
ensuring that the scheme remains fully funded and sustainable. The
rising cost of workers' compensation insurance has had a major
negative impact on businesses in Queensland, particularly in the
building and construction industry (18 October 2013).
More...
Queensland Priority Draft Ports Strategy
Released
The Queensland Government has proposed declaring five Priority
Port Development Areas (PPDAs) for the state's leading
long-established ports, where development will be concentrated and
encouraged (17 October 2013).
More...
Productivity to return to Queensland's construction
sites
The Property Council has applauded the State Government's
action to restore productivity to construction sites across
Queensland. The changes announced will ensure safety concerns are
addressed through the most appropriate channels, while still
allowing unions to access sites when they have provided 24
hours' written notice (16 October 2013).
More...
Report: sale of grid is Queensland's only option for
lower prices, better infrastructure
Delivering lower electricity prices, funding new infrastructure
while restoring the AAA credit rating will require the fundamental
restructure and sale of remaining state-owned electricity assets,
according to Powering Queensland - a new report released today by
Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (14 October 2013).
More...
New approvals process for landholders and
miners
Under the new process, companies will now be formally advised
within 90 days of lodgement whether their proposed exploration
works program for a project has been approved or rejected (14
October 2013).
More...
Brisbane Airport Corporation announces start of Parallel
Runway
The Brisbane Airport Corporation has announced that work on the
new Parallel Runway is due to begin within weeks. During the peak
construction phase of the project, the runway is expected to
generate almost 2,700 jobs, not to mention 7,800 brand new
permanent jobs by 2035 (10 October 2013).
More...
Queensland Globe application online to CSG industry
data
The State Government has announced an initiative that will give
rural landholders and regional communities access to the most
comprehensive and accurate water data ever made available by the
coal seam gas (CSG) industry (09 October 2013).
More...
Victoria
East West impact assessment to be
exhibited
The public exhibition period for the impact assessment of the East
West Link will be the next major milestone for the project,
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy said today (19 October 2013).
More...
Leighton transport plans take flight
International contractor Leighton Holdings has won a $370 million
contract to build an integrated transport facility and new airline
terminal as part of a $10 billion capacity upgrade for Melbourne
airport (14 October 2013).
More...
New Victorian desal plant deal struck
The Victorian government has announced a refinancing deal with
AquaSure on the state's desalination plant. The government has
also resolved $1.3 billion in legal claims brought by the owner of
the desalination plant (15 October 2013). More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Australian Infrastructure Statistics Yearbook
2013
Author: Department of Infrastructure and Regional
Development
This is the only comprehensive source of time series statistics
for Australia's major areas of economic infrastructure. The
Yearbook is accompanied by the first Key Australian Infrastructure
Statistics booklet which is a summary of statistics from the
Yearbook (18 October 2013) See: Yearbook 2013—Australian
Infrastructure Statistics [
PDF: 9242 KB] and Key Australian Infrastructure Statistics [
PDF: 3028 KB].
Model Codes of Practice - Excavation work
Author: Safe Work Australia
This model Code of Practice has been developed to provide
practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking
on how to manage the health and safety risks associated with
excavation work. This Code applies to all types of excavation work,
including bulk excavations more than 1.5 metres deep, trenches,
shafts and tunnels (17 October 2013).
More...
Australian suburban house building: industry
organisation, practices and constraints - final
report
Tony Dalton, and others; Australian Housing and Urban Research
Institute
This project was critically reviewed the scant literature on the
volume housing construction industry in Australia and undertook
qualitative research and modelling to explore issues of innovation
and practice (07 October 2013).
More...
Infrastructure for Economic Development
Report
Author: Department of State Development, Infrastructure and
Planning
Outlines the Government's commitment to develop a 10 year
State Infrastructure Plan and for Government agencies to provide
greater transparency in how state assets are managed through Total
Asset Management plans (17 October 2013).
More...
Economic Directions Statement – Queensland
Airports 2013-2023
Author: Queensland Government
The new Economic Directions statement aims to build on 40 of the
state's leading airports which have strategic significance for
economic growth. The amended State Planning Regulation will exclude
infrastructure on airports, and ancillary works from any
development assessment referral under the Vegetation Management Act
(17 October 2013). More...
Building Activity, Australia, Jun 2013
Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics: 11 October 2013
The trend estimate of the value of total building work done rose
0.2% and the seasonally adjusted estimate for the value of total
building work done fell 0.2% to $20,353.0m; the seasonally adjusted
estimate of the value of new residential building work done fell
0.7% to $10,284.6m. The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value
of non-residential building work done in the quarter fell 0.3%.
More...
Construction Activity: Chain Volume Measures, Australia,
Jun 2013
Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics: 11 October 2013.
More...
In practice and courts
GBCA Green Star Performance rating tool
Green Star – Performance is able to rate every type of
building, with the exception of single detached homes. Green Star
– Performance joins the suite of Green Star rating tools for
offices, building interiors, retail and industrial facilities,
healthcare, public and education buildings, and multi-unit
residential dwellings (10 October 2013). More...
Forthcoming Conferences
Major Projects Conference 2013, Brisbane 7 November 2013 This will feature Industry leaders from Queensland and around Australia. Planning for the conference is almost complete and the program is now available. The program will feature two keynote addresses and a range of panel discussions about major projects, facilities and resource industries. More...
East Coast Gas Outlook Conference Sydney, 21-22 October
2013
This outlines opportunities and options to secure gas supply on
the east coast of Australia.
More...
NSW
NSW: Changed conflict of interest provisions for council
certifiers - from 18 October 2013
Changes to the Building Professionals Regulation 2007 came into
effect on 18 October 2013. The changes relate to the
conflict of interest provisions for council accredited
certifiers. An accredited certifier is prohibited from
carrying out certification work if they have a 'conflict of
interest' (as defined in the legislation), except in certain
cases which are specified in the legislation.
More...
NSW: New CSG well information online
The one-stop -shop CSG website - www.csg.nsw.gov.au, providing
a list of exploration, pilot and production wells. This is a
comprehensive listing of the wells drilled in NSW for the purposes
of exploring for or extracting natural gas from coal seams (14
October 2013).
More...
QLD
QLD: Application for exploration approval
permits
Under the new process: companies will now be formally advised
within 90 days of lodgement whether their proposed exploration
works program for a project has been approved or rejected. For
successful applications not subject to native title, , a permit can
be granted after annual rent has been paid (14 October 2013). More...
QLD: Coal Seam Gas Globe application and
feedback
Coal Seam Gas Globe is an easy to use Google Earth application
that provides access to a vast range of online spatial data that is
relevant to landholders, industry and the community (October 2013).
More...
VIC
VIC: ARB Homes in administration – alert,/br> Building company Australia's Residential Builder Pty Ltd, trading as ARB Homes, has recently gone into administration. Affected home buyers should contact ASIC)for information on the appointed administrators (15 October 2013). More...
VIC: Important information about partial and full
demolition work
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is providing advice to help
improve awareness about the requirements and responsibilities for
people wishing to do demolition work. Demolition work can only be
done by registered builders and owner-builders (October 2013). More...
Cases
Proactive Building Solutions v Mackenzie Keck [2013]
NSWSC 1500
Application for permanent stay dismissed with costs. BUILDING
& CONSTRUCTION - construction contracts - conflict of laws -
where contracts said to be governed by the laws of a foreign
jurisdiction - where contracts said to require disputes to be
determined by foreign courts - whether amounts to contracting out
of provisions of Building and Construction Industry Security of
Payment Act 1999 (NSW). More...
Kanatlarovski v Vasilkov [2013] NSWDC 185
Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $30,838.75.
BREACH OF CONTRACT - s 32AA Home Building Act 1989 - whether
contract made in contravention is void and unenforceable -
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth); Fair Trading Act 1987;
Home Building Act 1989; Home Building (Amendment) Act 2004. More...
Attard and Ors v Transport for New South Wales [2013]
NSWLEC 176
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - eight proceedings relating to compulsory
acquisition of land for construction of the North West Rail Link -
applicants seek for seven proceedings to be heard together and an
eighth proceeding to be heard immediately after the seven
proceedings - whether just, quick and cheap resolution of the seven
proceedings assisted by hearing those seven together -
consideration of relevant principles for hearing multiple
proceedings together - substantial saving of time and cost if the
seven proceedings are heard together - orders and directions made
to this effect and regarding case management of the proceedings -
costs to be costs in the cause - Land Acquisition (Just Terms
Compensation) Act 1991 s 61. More...
Patterson Building Group Pty Ltd v Holroyd City Council
[2013] NSWSC 1484
CONTRACT - permits the principal to call on a guarantee when it
has an arguable claim to entitlement to moneys - recourse to
security before final determination of the claim does not interfere
with the operation of the Building and Construction Industry
Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) or a prior adjudicator's
determination - Building and Construction Industry Security of
Payment Act 1999 (NSW). More...
Jotham Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Cooperative Builders
Pty Ltd & Ors [2013] VSC 552
BUILDING CONTRACTS - Building and Construction Industry Security
of Payment Act 2002 (Vic) - Application for judicial review of a
determination of an adjudicator – Application for writ of
certiorari to quash a decision of an adjudicator –
Jurisdictional error – Whether a payment claim can be served
multiple times - Application of s 14(8) and s 14(9) of the Building
and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic) -
Whether "single" or "one off" payment claim
– Application of s 14(5) and s 9(2)(c) of the Building and
Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic) –
Whether payment claim made in time s 18 of the Building and
Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic). More...
Limin James Chen & Anor v Kevin McNamara & Son Pty Ltd & Anor [2013] VSC 539,/br> PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Non-compliance with time limit for filing and serving an originating motion applying for leave to appeal – Non-compliance with time limit for filing affidavit in support and summons associated with appeal – Length of delays – Whether reasonable or acceptable explanation for delays – Prejudice to other party – Prospects of success – Contravention of the overarching obligations of the Civil Procedure Act 2010 (Vic) – Kuek v Devflan Pty Ltd [2012] VSC 571 – Peter Schwartz (Overseas) Pty Ltd v Morton [2003] VSC 144. ARBITRATION – Domestic arbitral award – Leave to appeal an arbitral award - Manifest error of law - Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 (Vic), s 38 – Yesodei Hatorah College Inc v The Trustees of the Elwood Talmud Torah Congregation [2011] VSC 622 – Mediterranean Olives Financial Pty Ltd v Lederberger [2011] VSC 301 dispute with respect to the construction of an underground water tank, a tennis court and associated landscaping works. More...
Shahzad v Watpac Construction (Vic) Pty Ltd (Domestic
Building) [2013] VCAT 1734
Sale of land "off the plan", proceeding between owner
and owners corporation, space in car park not as promised by
developer, s46 of the Owners Corporation Act 2006, "minor
alterations" to the plan of subdivision, loss of head height,
inability to install a wall mounted storage cage, alleged leak from
pipe which is the property of the owners corporation, alleged
damage to applicant's car caused by repairing plumber, plumber
not engaged by owners corporation, alleged loss of rent. More...
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