In the media
Infrastructure Planning: Towards Best
Practice
The workshop communiqué, Infrastructure Planning: Towards
best practice, calls for urgent change to improve infrastructure
planning processes in Australia to provide outcomes that are more
effective and efficient and which are delivered with greater
certainty and transparency (11 July 2013).
More...
Switching on a new phase of investment
Exploring opportunities for renewable energy hybrid power plants
is a major focus of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's
three-year Investment Plan, released today by the Resources and
Energy Minister Gary Gray (10 July 2013).
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Master Builders Survey reveals drop in builder
sentiment
The June quarter Master Builders National Survey of Building and
Construction has seen builder sentiment drop back after improving
in the March quarter (10 July 2013).
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Australia's Construction Industry Has Shrunk for the
37th Consecutive Month
The Australian construction industry has shrunk for the 37th
consecutive month, but rate of decline is slowing. The Australian
Industry Group/Housing Industry Association's Performance of
Construction Index improved by 4.2 points to 39.5 in June (05 July
2013).
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ISN and accountants welcome infrastructure
plan
Infrastructure Australia's National Infrastructure Plan has
been welcomed by the Industry Super Network (ISN) and the Institute
of Chartered Accountants (ICAA). The "50-year plan"
recommends the establishment of a single national infrastructure
fund (04 July 2013).
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Australian draft standard for defining smart
grids
Standards Australia has announced that the draft version of
Australia's first smart grid standard is open for public
comment. The draft standard – DR AS-5711 Smart Grids
Vocabulary has been developed following extensive industry and
stakeholder consultation (04 July 2013).
More...
Infrastructure Australia's Updated Priority List
released
Infrastructure Australia's fifth annual report to the Council
of Australian Governments (COAG), sets out the pipeline of projects
and policy reforms it believes will secure Australia's
prosperity in the 21st Century. This report marks the first five
years of Infrastructure Australia and acknowledges the improvements
to infrastructure planning and development that have occurred (02
July 2013).
More...
A National Infrastructure Plan—A 50 Year Plan for
Sense, Not Dollars
In launching the Plan, the Chairman, observed the aim in preparing
this Plan was to provide governments and the community with a clear
set of actions to take advantage of the opportunities offered by
the growth of the Asian economies over the next half century (02
July 2013).
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Australia's biggest solar farm gets go ahead in
ACT
Australia's largest solar farm has been given the go-ahead
with development expected to begin later this year. The 20-megawatt
Royalla solar farm will contribute to a reduction of around 560,000
tonnes of carbon emissions over 20 years, generating the equivalent
amount of energy to power 4400 Canberra homes (03 July 2013).
More...
Construction starts on new University of Sydney
precinct
Construction on the University of Sydney's new $180 million
business school precinct has officially begun after a ground
breaking ceremony was held on the site yesterday. Construction of
the precinct building with a 34,000m2 gross floor area will be
carried out by head contractor John Holland. Earthworks are due to
begin in August, with construction scheduled for completion in
early 2015 (02 July 2013).
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Wood Group Wagners wins GLNG contract
extension
WGW will provide pipeline project management personnel for the 420
kilometre gas transmission pipeline (GTP) development as part of
the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) project in Queensland
(11 July 2013).
More...
Industry guide to assist construction
sector
The Newman Government has released its Building Projects Industry
Guide for 20132014, detailing upcoming capital works worth
around $2.8 billion. Housing and Public Works Minister encouraged
the construction industry to take advantage of the guide and urged
contractors and consultants to ensure they are appropriately
registered with the department for work (12 July 2013).
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Bruce Highway interchange upgrade
Work on the $96.1 million upgrade of the Pumicestone Road
interchange on Queensland's Bruce Highway has commenced. This
section of the highway lies between Caboolture and Caloundra and is
being undertaken by Acciona Infrastructure Australia, and is fully
funded by the federal government (09 July 2013).
More...
Infrastructure charges reform paper
released
The State Government has released a discussion paper outlining
options for the reform of the funding framework for local
government infrastructure which presents a set of reform options
developed from feedback received from key local government and
development industry representatives (03 July 2013).
More...
Wind farm development secures 75 steel
jobs
The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) has welcomed the awarding of
locally manufactured wind towers to support the new wind farm
planned for Taralga in southern NSW to experienced Victorian steel
contractor, Keppel Prince. Under Australian Industry Participation
Plan (AIPP) legislation, all projects above $500m and those
benefiting from CEFC funding are required to submit an AIPP (10
July 2013).
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Kerang Hospital's next stage is set to
go
Kerang residents will soon see plenty of activity at the $36.3
million Kerang District Health redevelopment with the building
contract being awarded to Nicholson Construction of Ballarat. The
new facility is expected to be finished by the end of 2015 (08 July
2013).
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Regional Rail Link on track for 2016
opening
Construction of the Regional Rail Link (RRL), Australia's
largest public transport infrastructure project, is on track to
deliver major benefits to Victoria's regional centres by 2016
(03 July 2013).
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Published – articles, papers, reports
Engineering Construction Activity, Australia March 2013
Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics: released 03 July 2013. More...
In practice and courts
NSW: Proposed regulatory changes under the Gas Supply Act 1996
The objective of this Regulation is to ensure that Gas Networks are designed, constructed maintained and operated in a safe and reliable manner. The regulation also requires the quality of the gas transported be checked to meet appropriate standards (03 July 2013). More...
NSW: Proposed regulatory changes under the Pipeline Act 1967 - NSW
The objective of this Regulation is to ensure that Licensed Pipeline are designed, constructed maintained and operated, in a safe and reliable manner. The regulation also provides requirements for licences and licence areas (03 July 2013). More...
QLD: Building Projects Industry Guide for 20132014
This guide, together with the Online Project Search tool, will help building industry contractors, trade contractors, suppliers and consultants identify upcoming opportunities with government building projects across the State. The Industry Guide and the Online Project Search tool are available on the department's website. More...
QLD: EDO - New handbook gives clear information on mining, coal seam gas and the law
To help everyone understand the relevant laws, Environmental Defenders Office Qld has prepared A Guide To Mining and Coal Seam Gas Law in Queensland, a plain-English legal guide to mining and coal seam gas law in Queensland (05 July 2013). More...
QLD: Infrastructure charges reform discussion paper
A discussion paper outlining options for the reform of the funding framework for local government infrastructure. The public consultation runs until 9 August. Visit www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/infrastructure-charges to view the discussion paper and find out how to make a submission (03 July 2013). More...
VCAT Factsheet - Building Practitioner Board
Appeals
VCAT has made available Factsheet: Appealing Building Practitioner Board
decisions to VCAT (June 2013), which provides information about
recent changes to VCAT's jurisdiction to hear applications for
review of certain decisions of the Building Practitioners Board.
The factsheet addresses the transfer of some of the Building
Practitioners Board's jurisdiction to VCAT from 1 July
2013.
Cases
Hill as Trustee for the Ashmore Superannuation Benefit
Fund v Halo Architectural Design Services Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC
865
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION - Building and Construction Industry
Security of Payment Act 1999 - adjudication determination - whether
determination void - jurisdictional error
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999; Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); Supreme Court Act 1970. More...
Coral Homes Qld Pty Ltd v Queensland Building Services
Authority [2013] QSC 171
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – JUDICIAL REVIEW – POWERS OF
COURTS UNDER JUDICIAL REVIEW LEGISLATION – DECLARATIONS
– DIRECTIONS TO ACT OR REFRAIN FROM ACTING – where
respondent proposed to send letters to consumers of the applicant
– where proposed letters outlined potential defects in the
consumers' homes and remedies available – where applicant
brought application seeking declaration that the respondent did not
have the power to send out proposed letters – where applicant
also sought declaration that respondent must provide applicant with
reasonable opportunity to make submissions after being provided
with the material upon which its proposed letter is based –
where the applicant also sought an order preventing the respondent
from sending the letters – where applicant brought its
application on the grounds that the respondent had no power to send
the letters, that by sending the letters the respondent would
breach the requirements of natural justice and that the letters
indicated the respondent could not bring an impartial mind to the
exercise of its discretion – where the respondent brought an
application for summary dismissal of the proceedings –
whether the applicant has any prospect of ultimately obtaining the
declarations and orders it seeks – whether the
applicant's grounds provide any basis for obtaining the relief
it seeks. More...
Queensland Building Services Authority v Queensland
Civil and Administrative Tribunal & Anor [2013] QSC
167
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS –
QUEENSLAND CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL – where tribunal
made direction dismissing a matter where there had not been a
hearing on the merits– where tribunal granted an application
to reopen the matter – where respondent to the proceeding
before the tribunal seeks order in the nature of certiorari or
prohibition against the tribunal - whether the tribunal had power
to reopen- dismissed. More...
Gupta & Anor v Xanthakis & Anor (Domestic
Building) [2013] VCAT 1127
House and land contract for sale of a partially completed home,
proceeding by Owners against Vendor under the Fair Trading Act 1999
and against the registered builder under ss8 and 9 of the Domestic
Building Contract Act 1995, pleading and presentation of the case,
s78 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998,
determination of the proceeding in favour of the applicant for
vexatious conduct of the Second Respondent, determination in the
manner most advantageous to the Applicants, discussion of matters
not pleaded which give context to the matters pleaded: sham
contracts, licence lending, risk that domestic building warranty
insurance might be assailable; characterisation of the building
contract between the vendor and builder: whether for less than the
whole project, if for less than the whole project whether for less
than to completion of lock up, matters taken into account including
builder arranging insurance for the whole project and the building
permit being obtained for the whole project; negligence, vicarious
liability, agency, estoppel, value of defective works,
builder's responsibility for materials provided by the vendor,
defence of apportionment under Part IVAA of the Wrongs Act 1958,
strict liability of Vendor to Owners to have the work undertaken
under a building contract with a registered builder, report to the
Director of Consumer Affairs.
The First Respondent and Second Respondents must pay the Applicants $145,373.58 forthwith and are jointly and severally liable to do so.
The Second Respondent must pay the Applicants a further $42,273 forthwith. More...
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