In the media
Commonwealth
CEFC backs new green home loan as Firstmac lifts focus
on environmentally friendly housing
Australian homeowners will have access to $230 million in
discounted green home loan finance as part of a $750 million green
mortgage-backed securitisation raised by Firstmac and backed by the
CEFC and leading Japanese bank, Norinchukin (25 June 2021).
More...
Creating materials for a greener future
The 2021 edition of the Sustainability Awards -
Australia's longest running and most prestigious awards program
dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating excellence in
sustainable design and architecture - will see the Green Building
Material category return once more (25 June 2021). More...
7 in 10 companies in APAC willing to pay higher rent for
green buildings
A majority of Asia Pacific corporations (70 per cent) are
willing to pay a rental premium to lease sustainability-certified
buildings in the future. This commitment aligns with broader real
estate sustainability developments across Asia Pacific (21 June
2021). More...
Residential property developers shift to boutique,
low-density projects in the wake of COVID
Residential developers have shifted their focus to
lower-risk projects such as smaller apartment blocks, townhouses
and housing estates, while high-density developments continue to
fall out of favour, according to a new Knight Frank report (16 June
2021). More...
Victoria
Mirvac's $708m Harbourside Shopping Centre revamp
approved despite concerns
The Independent Planning Commission approved Mirvac's
proposal to redevelop the shopping centre at Darling Harbour with a
42-storey residential tower (25 June 2021). More...
New national parks and reserves for Victoria
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily
D'Ambrosio announced the national parks together with new
reserves that will protect habitat for rare and threatened species
and ensure the region remains a drawcard for recreation and tourism
(24 June 2021). More...
Vicinity expands Australia's biggest shopping
centre
Shopping mall owner Vicinity Centres is planning to
increase the size of its Chadstone shopping centre in
Melbourne's south-east, pushing ahead with development plans
worth $685 million. "[The project will be an] energy
efficient, state-of-the-art, campus-style office space and
incorporates an outdoor sky garden (24 June 2021). More...
RMIT projects to spark new life in city north
precinct
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney announced
the Government's $44.6 million investment in the CBD North
Precinct Activation Project led by RMIT University. The area will
be transformed into a large open space for the public with a
'green spine' linking the CBD, Carlton, Parkville and the
Queen Victoria Market (22 June 2021). More...
Melbourne officially build-to-rent
'epicentre'
Melbourne's build-to-rent pipeline is nearly double
Sydney's and quadruple Brisbane's but there are fears a new
state tax could derail the sector (17 June 2021). More...
Council backs Marvel Stadium $400m build-to-rent
project
Build-to-rent developer Home has the green light for two
build-to-rent towers next to Marvel Stadium after gaining unanimous
support from the Future Melbourne Committee this week (17 June
2021). More...
Queen Victoria Market apartment tower wins
approval
Plans for a 21-storey tower rising from the shell of a
heritage building in the Queen Victoria Markets Precinct have been
approved by the City of Melbourne Council (16 June 2021). More...
More infrastructure projects to support regional
recovery
Communities across regional and rural Victoria will
benefit from more infrastructure projects as part of the Victorian
Government's investment to ensure our regions continue to
thrive. Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas
announced local councils and eligible organisations could apply for
grants under the second round of the Regional Infrastructure Fund
(16 June 2021). More...
Queensland
New Queensland town to spring up as thousands stream
over the border
The Southern Redland bayside precinct, a stone's
throw from an award-winning winery, will include thousands of
homes, a town centre, a foreshore park and potentially a school (25
June 2021). More...
Brisbane takes a fresh swing at its strategy for
inner-city industry
Brisbane is set to embark on a wholesale revamp of its
industrial strategy, saying inner city industrial precincts need
renewal and that future "urban enterprise areas" should
include a mix of industrial and residential uses (24 June 2021).
More...
Devine unveils $340m golden tower for Gold Coast
Devine Development Group is planning to build a 38-storey
golden tower on a beachfront site in Surfers Paradise after picking
up the site with previously approved plans (17 June 2021). More...
Robina 'ideal location' for Brisbane 2032
Olympics athletes' village if designed for future property
market
Robina was the earmarked location for the Gold Coast
Olympic and Paralympic village, which would home over 2,600
athletes and officials in a new residential development. Real
Estate Institute of Queensland, Gold Coast Zone Chairman, said an
Olympic village at Robina would be a huge success with the right
style dwellings that also accommodates future buyers and
renters.(14 June 2021). More...
In Practice and Courts
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2021
Victoria
EPA: Your business might need an EPA licence or permit
soon
Some waste handling and disposal businesses will need a
licence, a permit or a registration for the first time, when the
new Environment Protection Act starts on 1 July (25 June 2021).
More...
Increase in planning fees
Planning fees set under the Planning and Environment (Fees)
Regulations 2016 are expressed in fee units. The
value of a fee unit for a financial year is determined by the
Treasurer and applied on 1 July of the next financial year. The new
value of a fee unit for the next financial year was published in
the Government Gazette on 20 May 2021 is $15.03 and will be
automatically increased as of 1 July. More...
SRO: State Budget 2021-22 handed down
The Victorian Budget 2021-22 handed down,
includes announcements related to the State Revenue Office. We have
an information table providing an overview of
the announced measures.
Note: New windfall gains tax of up to 50 per cent to be applied to
planning decisions to rezone land from 1 July 2022. The total value
uplift from a rezoning decision will be taxed at 50 per cent for
windfalls above $500,000, with the tax phasing in from
$100,000.
Draft Central Geelong Framework Plan (CGFP) and proposed
planning scheme Amendment C431ggee
The draft CGFP sets a vision and high-level guidance for
land use and development in Central Geelong over the next 30 years.
The draft CGFP is in line with the State
Government's Revitalising Central Geelong Action
Plan 2017. For further information please
visit Engage Victoria. Submissions must be
lodged by 7 July 2021.
Cases
Queensland
JSFNQ 1 Pty Ltd v Townsville City
Council [2021] QPEC
28
PLANNING AND ENVIORNMENT - APPEAL AGAINST REFUSAL OF DEVELOPMENT
APPLICATION - where development application concerned material
change of use permit - where proposed development involved
construction of service station and food and drink outlets - where
proposed in High Density Residential Zone
CONFLICT WITH PLANNING SCHEME - whether proposed development
contrary to existing and intended standard of amenity and character
- whether proposed development an appropriate use - where proposed
development not contemplated by planning scheme
GROUNDS - whether proposed development assists in activation and
enhancement of premises - whether proposed development contrary to
reasonable community expectations - where proposed development did
not meet an existing latent unsatisfied economic and planning
need
Planning Act 2016 Qld s45; Planning and Environment Court Act 2016
Qld ss 43, 45.
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.