In the media
Improved productivity with modern construction
The construction industry is facing a growing crisis; with an ageing population, more people are leaving than joining. In an industry plagued by inefficiencies, the call to action is clear: we must find ways to become more efficient, not by reducing our workforce, but by leveraging innovation and modern methods of construction (MMC) to do more with the people we have (30 October 2024). Read more here.
Architects and property owners speak up on Dutton's plan to freeze the National Construction Code
Architects, the Property Council of Australia and the former NSW Building Commissioner have all spoken up against opposition leader Peter Dutton's proposed freezing of the building code, while deregulation of building standards has been cited as a primary factor in the Grenfell fire disaster in the UK (1 November 2024). Read more here.
Australian construction industry calls for skilled migration overhaul to ease 'desperate' shortage of tradies
Industry bodies say a chronic shortage of workers across 12 different trades is impacting housing prices and affecting the flow of new homes into the market. Master Builders, the nation's peak building and construction industry association, anticipates at least half a million workers must enter the construction industry by 2029 just to keep up with current construction demands (2 November 2024). Read more here.
Construction insiders fear speaking out against CFMEU without whistleblower protections
Building industry insiders say a lack of legal protections means the CFMEU administration process will only scratch the surface of what has been happening in the sector. The construction branch of the union was forced into administration in August after claims it had been infiltrated by organised crime groups (6 November 2024). Read more here.
It's not just inflation. Contracting practices are also stifling construction
Inflation that outstrips growth in public finances diminishes the government's ability to fund crucial infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, private industry, wary of somewhat unpredictable cost rises, must set higher elevated return thresholds, leading it to shy away from investment (8 November 2024). Read more here.
BRE Chief Calls for Construction Industry Action on Net Zero
Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of Building Research Establishment, says in a blogpost "The built environment is responsible for 40% of carbon emissions globally," and "As an industry, we have a responsibility to lead the charge in reducing these emissions and creating a more sustainable future." Charlesworth highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies and that retrofitting existing buildings is equally crucial in the fight against climate change (8 November 2024) Read more here.
Home building increasing everywhere but Sydney
"We have confidence that new home building activity across most markets will continue to improve as we transition into the new year. However, Sydney remains an outlier and there is still no indication of a near-term rebound in both detached house and multi-residential building." stated HIA Senior Economist, Matt King (13 November 2024). Read more here.
Published – articles, papers, reports
Building Approvals Australia
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released statistics on the number of dwelling units and value of buildings approved for the month of September 2024 across the nation. Approvals for total dwellings and private sector houses increased in most states, in New South Wales it fell by 2.3% and rose by 0.2% respectively in September. The release gives a breakdown of the trends in each state through the years from September 2009 to September 20024 (31 October 2024). Read more here.
Cases
PDS Engineering Division Pty Ltd v North Sydney
Council [2024] NSWLEC 17
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – mixed use development in MU1 and R2
zone – heritage conservation – whether conservation
incentives apply.
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 3.30, 4.16, 8.7,
8.15(3); Heritage Act 1977, ss 57, 59; Land and Environment Court
Act 1979, s 39; Environmental Planning and Assessment (Special
Infrastructure Contribution – St Leonards and Crows Nest)
Determination 2020; Environmental Planning and Assessment (Special
Infrastructure Contribution – St Leonards and Crows Nest)
Direction 2020; Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation
2021, ss 29, 38, 288A; North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2013,
cll 1.7, 2.3, 4.3, 4.4A, 4.6, 5.10, 6.12A, 7.6, Sch 5; Standard
Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Amendment (Land Use Zones)
Order 2021; Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order
2006; State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and
Conservation) 2021, ss 6.6, 6.7; State Environmental Planning
Policy (Housing) 2021, ss 144, 145, 147, 148; Ch 4; Sch 9; State
Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (repealed);
State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021,
s 4.6; State Environmental Planning Policy (Sustainable Buildings)
2022; State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and
Infrastructure) 2021, ss 2.48, 2.119, 2.120, 2.121, 2.122; State
Environmental Planning Policy Amendment (Land Use Zones) (No 3)
2022.
SPS Building Contractors Pty Ltd v Keith Dyer
Plumbing Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 1426
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – judgments and orders –
proceedings dismissed for want of due despatch – no issue of
principle.
Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 61; Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) s
18B; Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 12.7.
Houston v Phillips trading as Arise Building
Services [2024] NSWCATAP 213
APPEAL – errors on questions of law – no evidence to
support finding – wrong principle of law – failure to
give reasons – denial of procedural fairness.
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW); Home Building Act
1989 (NSW).
Black Label Developments Pty Ltd v
McMenemy [2024] NSWDC 516
JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS – STAY – stay of enforcement of
judgment under s.135 Civil Procedure Act 2005 – judgment
obtained under s.26 of the Building and Construction Industry
Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) – Owner occupier
construction contract – residential building work –
deed of variation of contract – owner seeks to have deed set
aside on grounds of duress, undue influence, unconscionable
conduct, misleading or deceptive conduct or pursuant to Contracts
Review Act 1980 – stay granted on condition money paid into
Court.
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999;
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment
Regulation 2019; Building and Construction Security of Payment
Amendment Act 2018; Building and Construction Security of Payment
Regulation 2020; Civil Procedure Act 2005; Contracts Review Act
1980; District Court Act 1973; Home Building Act 1989.
Alta Vale Residential Pty Ltd v The Owners
– Strata Plan No. 95693 [2024] NSWCATAP 212
APPEALS – interlocutory decision – leave to appeal
– refusal of adjournment – leave to appeal
refused.
APPEALS – point of law taken below – whether new point
of law should be allowed on appeal new point of law not
allowed.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – occupation certificate –
whether document purporting to be an interim occupation certificate
authorised use and occupation of the whole of the building –
whether running of limitation period for breach of a statutory
warranty under the Home Building Act contingent on such
authorisation – whether occupation certificate issued in
contravention of s 109H(2) of the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act 1970 (NSW) is an occupation certificate for the
purposes of s 4C of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)
LAND LAW – Strata Titles – action begun by Chairperson
acting for owners corporation without special resolution
authorising proceedings – Ratification by the owners
corporation – expiration of limitation period applicable to
cause of action – Whether owners corporation entitled to
adopt action after expiry of limitation period.
Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld); Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014; Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (as in force 2015-2017)(Repealed); Home
Building Act 1989 (NSW); Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013
(NSW) Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW); Strata Scheme
Management Act 1996 (NSW) (Repealed)
Orell v Clas Concrete & Constructions Pty
Ltd [2024] NSWCATAP 220
APPEALS – appeal on question of law – scope of question
of law
APPEALS – constructive failure to exercise jurisdiction by
not addressing a material issue or by overlooking material
evidence
APPEALS – leave to appeal – principles governing
– leave to appeal granted
APPEALS – procedural fairness – failure to give reasons
– adequacy of reasons
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – residential building work –
statutory warranties under Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) –
claims by owner against builder
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW), s 62, 80, 81, Sch
4, cl 12, Sch 6, cl 11; Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules
2014 (NSW), r 38A; Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), ss 4, 10, 48O, 92,
94; Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW).
Keogh v Samchris Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCATCD
32
Home building – reliance on flawed designs or specifications
– clause 40 contract
Home building – s.18F defence
Home building – major defects – preferred outcome
Home building – variations paid by homeowners –
Homeowners seeking refund – s.48K(3)
Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), 3B, 18B, 18E, 18F, 48A, 48K, 48MA;
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW) 38.
Croll v Form and Colour Pty Ltd; Form and
Colour Pty Ltd v Croll [2024] NSWCATCD 31
CONSUMER LAW – misleading or deceptive conduct –
consumer guarantees – supply of services – guarantee as
to due care and skill
CONTRACTS – termination – repudiation of contract
– uncertainty – severance of void term
Australian Consumer Law; Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW); Home Building
Act 1989 (NSW).
SPS Building Contractors Pty Ltd v Keith Dyer
Plumbing Pty Ltd [2024] NSWSC 1426
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – judgments and orders –
proceedings dismissed for want of due despatch – no issue of
principle.
Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 61; Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) s
18B; Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 12.7.
Syed v Delcon Group Pty Ltd [2024]
NSWCATCD 33
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – application refused for reopening
case after hearing – competing expert evidence as to quantum
to rectify defective residential building work – jurisdiction
under Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) – whether "major
defects" – s 48MA preferred outcome – work order
refused – money order made based on an assessment of the
reasonable costs for rectification of defective work.
Home Building Act 1989 NSW; Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW; Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 NSW; Civil and Administrative
Tribunal Rules 2014 NSW.
Birelli Built Pty Ltd v Secretary, Department
of Customer Services [2024] NSWCATOD 184
Administrative Law – home building – disciplinary
action – whether company failed, without reasonable cause, to
comply with a rectification order – improper conduct –
applicable penalty.
Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013; Administrative
Decisions Review Act 1997; Home Building Act 1989; Design and
Building Practitioners Act 2020.
Legislation
Proclamations commencing Acts
Strata Legislation Amendment Act 2023 No 45 (2024-542) – published LW 1 November 2024
Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011 (WA) – published 1 November 2024
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Community Land Management Amendment (Pets) Regulation 2024 (2024-543) – published LW 1 November 2024
Final Determination [Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016] (2024-544) – published LW 1 November 2024
Surveillance Devices Amendment (Delegation) Regulation 2024 (2024-546) – published LW 1 November 2024
Environmental Planning Instruments
Bellingen Local Environmental Plan 2010 (Map Amendment No 3) (2024-547) – published LW 1 November 2024
Cumberland Local Environmental Plan (Housing) (Map Amendment No 1) (2024-548) – published LW 1 November 2024
Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan 2012 (Amendment No 37) (2024-549) – published LW 1 November 2024
Inner West Local Environmental Plan 2022 (Amendment No 9) (2024-555) – published LW 1 November 2024
Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan 2013 (Map Amendment No 9) (2024-550) – published LW 1 November 2024
Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014 (Map Amendment No 13) (2024-551) – published LW 1 November 2024
State Environmental Planning Policy Amendment (Wagga Wagga) 2024 (2024-552) – published LW 1 November 2024
Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 (Amendment No 104) (2024-553) – published LW 1 November 2024
Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (Amendment No 47) (2024-556) – published LW 1 November 2024
Wollondilly Local Environmental Plan 2011 (Map Amendment No 10) (2024-554) – published LW 1 November 2024
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.
