In the media

National

Trade Union Royal Commission called for extortion charge against CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar
The royal commission into trade unions pushed Queensland authorities to bring criminal charges against union boss Michael Ravbar nine months ago but they are yet to act (24 September 2015).  More...

Unionised construction workplaces may be safer: report
Unionised workplaces within the construction sector appear to deliver better outcomes with regard to safety compared with workplaces where unions are not present or do not have a strong presence, an overseas study suggests (Canada's Institute for Work & Health (IWH)) (23 September 2015).  More...

Urban taskforce: Cities and built environment Federal Minister can drive funds to urban infrastructure
The appointment by the Prime Minister of Jaime Briggs as Minister for Cities and the Built Environment should lead to a greater focus on funding urban infrastructure (21 September 2015).   More...

Victoria

Tender awarded for Mount Victoria Village Safety Upgrade
A $32.1 million package of road safety works at Mount Victoria Village will begin soon, with Ward Civil and Environmental Engineering Pty Ltd being awarded the contract for the upgrade. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development said the works are a key component of the Great Western Highway upgrade (25 September 2015).  More...

Pool, spas and safety barriers must meet Australian Standards
 As summer approaches, the VBA is reminding building practitioners of their obligations when building, installing or renovating a swimming pool, spa or safety barriers.  In Victoria, construction and installation of swimming pools, spas and safety barriers are subject to strict requirements under  the Building Regulations 2006 (25 September 2015).  More...

New solar manufacturing plant for Victoria
Solar technology company Raygen Resources has secured a sales agreement to export its solar photovoltaic technology to China that is expected to create 200 jobs with a new manufacturing plant established in Blackburn, Melbourne (22 September 2015).  More...

Call for Tenders to transform Portarlington Harbour
The Andrews Labor Government is calling for tenders to deliver a major component of the $15 million Portarlington Safe Harbour development, including the construction of two rock breakwaters, a new finger jetty, pier improvements (18 September 2015).  More...

New South Wales

EPA seeks comment on draft Industrial Noise Guideline
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has reviewed the NSW Industrial Noise Policy and is now inviting members from the community, industry and government to provide feedback on its draft Industrial Noise Guideline (22 September 2015).  More...

Major road project underway to improve links between Newcastle and Port Stephens
A major road project is getting underway today that aims to improve the link between Newcastle and the city's airport and Port Stephens (21 September 2015).  More...

Cadia East gold mine extraction increase approved
An application to increase gold ore processing rates at the Cadia mine south-west of Orange has been approved by the Department of Planning and Environment, subject to strict conditions (17 September 2015).  More...

Queensland

QBCC takes repeat offender to the Supreme Court
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has again used its new Supreme Court injunction powers against an unlicensed individual who repeatedly flouted the State's building laws (24 September 2015).   More...

Public warning about unlawful building activities
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has issued public warnings about two people in relation to unlicensed and unlawful building work activity in Brisbane. The QBCC has urged consumers, contractors and suppliers to be cautious in their dealings (22 September 2015).  More...

Hutchinson Builders to build Queensland's first co-located emergency hub at Alpha
Hutchinson Builders has been named as the successful tender to build Queensland's first co-located hospital, ambulance, police, fire and emergency services facility at Alpha in the Central West (21 September 2015).   More...

Catalytic infrastructure program launched
Local governments, service providers and private proponents will be required to co-invest between 10 and 50 per cent of the cost of a project in order to receive funding on an interest-free basis, to be repaid over time. Critically, projects must be ready to commence construction within 12 months, and must generate, facilitate or accelerate economic benefit.  More...

Design progressing on Gateway Upgrade North project
Work on designing the $1.162 billion Gateway Upgrade North project between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge has progressed to its final stage (18 September 2015).  More...

New infrastructure priority list to plan for Queensland's future
Major public transport projects and key motorway upgrades top the Palaszczuk Government's 2015 Infrastructure Australia (IA) submission. The 12 infrastructure projects in Queensland's IA submission include major public transport and road projects through the state that will underpin our economic growth and jobs into the future (17 September 2015).  More...

Contract awarded for $16 million D'Aguilar Highway upgrade
A construction contract has been awarded for works on the D'Aguilar Highway. Works, which will begin in October, will deliver safety improvements along the road at high-risk locations between Caboolture and Kilcoy (14 September 2015).  More...

New infrastructure fund to kick-start development and boost jobs
The Palaszczuk Government will deliver more than $59 million in new funding to invest in catalytic infrastructure to unlock development opportunities, create jobs and drive economic growth (16 September 2015).   More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

How to fix the holes in Australia's Building Codes: Part 2
Sean Maxwell; 23 September 2015.  More...

Practice and courts

New South Wales Office of Fair Trading:   Security of Payment Laws survey
Our survey seeks input from the building and construction industry on Security of payment laws, ahead of a full review of the laws later this year.  The survey closes on 25 September 2015.   More...

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