In the media - National

Lendlease sets new benchmark for liveable cities

Lendlease's Barangaroo South has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star - Communities rating (23 March 2016).  More...

House prices stabilising according to new ABS data

New ABS house price data reveals a combination of increased supply and curbs on investor lending is producing a balanced housing market, according to the Property Council of Australia (22 March 2016).  More...

New ATO data raises new questions about changes to negative gearing

New ATO tax data has brought into question attempts to limit negative gearing. According to the ATO, total losses from investment properties have fallen from $7.9 billion in 2011-12 to $3.7 billion in 2013-14 (18 March 2016).  More...

China, Thai investors join rush to Australian energy renewables

China's State Power Investment Corporation has snapped up another wind farm in Australia, as new entrant Thailand's Wind Energy Holding has bought 50 per cent of project developer CWP Renewables, confirming a surge of overseas interest in the wind and solar sector (15 March 2016).  More...

In the media – New South Wales

NSW's Strata Title Laws Shake-up: What Does It Mean For Developers?

The development industry is set for a major shake-up mid-2016 when NSW introduces sweeping reforms to the strata title laws. The Strata Scheme Management Bill and Strata Scheme Development Bill, contain around 90 changes to the existing laws, on issues including defects, levies and capital work funds, collective sale, renovations, proxy farming, defects and parking (16 March 2016).  More...

In the media - Queensland

People the focus of new housing strategy

The Queensland Government is reaching out to the whole community to help develop a new flagship housing strategy to replace the directions set by the former government (23 March 2016).  More...

Govt lays down integrated resort requirements

Strict government standards have been laid down so that any new major integrated resort developments in Queensland meet international tourist expectations (16 March 2016).  More...

Cases - Victoria

Tan v Russell [2016] VSC 93

PROPERTY – Contract of Sale – Agency – Where the plaintiffs purportedly exercised their statutory rights under s 31 of the Sale of Land Act 1962 – Where plaintiffs sent a notice of termination to the real estate agent by email – Whether plaintiffs validly terminated the Contract of Sale through the real estate agent – Whether the real estate agent had authority to receive the notice – Sale of Land Act 1962 s 31.  More...

Hotel Windsor Holdings Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning (Red Dot) [2016] VCAT 351

NATURE OF CASE - Application for extension of time to complete development
LOCATION OF PASSAGE OF INTEREST - Part 3 – paragraph [49] onwards
REASONS WHY DECISION IS OF INTEREST OR SIGNIFICANCE LAW – issue of interpretation or application - Relevance and application of principles in Kantor v Murrindindi SC and other relevant criteria to a request for an extension of time to complete development, as opposed to starting development
PRACTICE OR PROCEDURE – consideration of individual instance or systemic issues
Adequacy of standard 2 x 2 permit (with two years to start development and two years to complete) for a major central city development; desirability of permit having a reasonable construction timeframe to allow contractual certainty for builders and financiers.
APPLICATION – significant and interesting development - Public interest in decision about Windsor Hotel redevelopment. More...

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