In the media
PM's $86m investment in forestry to secure
nation's timber supply
Mr Morrison will announce $86 million for a cash-grant
scheme to help foresters and farmers in 11 declared regional forest
hubs – including the whole of Tasmania – establish new
softwood and hardwood plantations (21 February 2022).
More...
Home building in for a soft landing as rates rise, HIA
says
Rising borrowing costs are predicted to hit spending power
and confidence, cutting new housing starts and putting further
pressure on a detached house-building sector that will shrink by
almost one-third from the 2021 peak of 141,000. (18 February 2022).
More...
Home builder LP Warren Homes goes into
administration
"Already at a minimum, our frames were costing
$30,000 more, not to mention concrete, plaster, heating and
cooling. All of these things had gone up" stated Melissa
Gardner, General Manager of LP Warren Homes (18 February 2022).
More...
ATO's ticking time bomb of unpaid construction tax
bills – The Australian Financial Review
"We all know one of the first places we're going
to see a return of insolvency activity is in building and
construction," stated John Winter, Chief Executive of the
Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association
(16 February 2022).
More...
NSW drives strong demand for new housing 2022
"Sales of new detached homes recorded an
exceptionally strong quarter, led by Australia's largest
state," stated HIA Economist Tom Devitt (10 February 2022).
More...
Multi-million-dollar expansion for Timberlink, but
builders say it won't make a difference to backlog
"If it's two months until they [Timberlink] start
churning out [additional timber] I wouldn't think the ripple
effect will hit here for another six or eight months" stated
Shane Dycer, Mount Gambier builder and developer (10 February
2022).
More...
Construction costs rising at the fastest annual pace
since 2005
CoreLogic's Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) for
Q4 2021 showed that despite an easing in the quarterly rate of
growth, national construction costs increased 7.3 per cent over the
2021 calendar year, the highest annual growth rate since March 2005
(9 February 2022).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Australian Building and Construction Commission Industry
Update - February 2022 edition
It's essential union officials and site occupiers
understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to right
of entry which is why the February edition of Industry Update
highlights this important issue, court summaries and more (17
February 2022). Read more
here.
Uniclass: A class above the rest
It [Uniclass] is used as a way of identifying and managing
the vast amount of information that's involved in a
construction project. Uniclass is also a requirement for BIM
projects, as set by the BS EN ISO19650 series of standards (17
February 2022). Read more
here.
Hawkesbury-Nepean River March 2021 flood review
released
The Review details the causes, nature and impacts of the
March 2021 flood, which was the largest flood in the
Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley in 30 years (16 February 2022). Read more
here.
Practice and Courts
Advice for plumbing practitioners on the new lead
requirements
The 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC)
will introduce a new limit for the allowable level of lead in
plumbing products used for drinking water. This requirement will
come into effect on 1 September 2025 (14 February 2022). Read more
here.
Cases
Salakis v Silvabuilt Pty Ltd; Silvabuilt Pty Ltd v Salakis
[2022] NSWCATAP 40
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – contract – termination
– repudiation – whether dispute resolution clause
excluded possibility of acceptance of repudiation if requirements
not complied with
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – contract – damages –
damages for loss of profits assessed by reference to contractual
clause governing payment in the event of reduction in the scope of
work – whether party seeking damages had led sufficient
evidence to establish loss of profits – whether such evidence
is necessary where damages are assessed on the basis of a
contractual clause.
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW); Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW); Home Building Act 1989
(NSW).
Shivanbodhiselvan v
Norwest Gateway Pty Ltd [2022] NSWCATAP 27
BULIDING AND CONSTRUCTION – failure to provide procedural
fairness – Anshun estoppel – non question of principle
- leave to appeal – decision not fair and equitable –
decision against the weight of the evidence – no question of
principle.
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) – s
80(2)(b)); Home Building Act 1989 (NSW).
Legislation
Environmental Planning Instruments
Environmental
Planning and Assessment Amendment (Moree Activation Precinct)
Regulation 2022
Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Regulation 2022
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Water
Management (Application of Act to Certain Water Sources)
Proclamation 2022
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.