In the media – National
New design guide for mid-rise timber buildings
released
A new timber design guide for mid-rise buildings aims to help
designers, architects, engineers and other built environment
professionals to act on the recent changes to the National
Construction Code (04 October 2016).
More...
The future for fast rail and property
The plan for fast rail and eight smart cities from Melbourne to
Sydney will be discussed at a forum of property industry leaders in
Sydney. CLARA proposes to build eight inland cities between
Melbourne and Sydney connected by high-speed rail using a value
capture approach to funding (07 October 2016).
More...
Infrastructure Victoria releases draft 30-year
strategy
Infrastructure Victoria has released a draft of Victoria's
first state-wide, cross-sector infrastructure strategy for the next
30 years. The draft strategy looks at every aspect of
infrastructure for the state across nine sectors covering
everything from education to transport, telecommunications, energy
and justice (October 2016).
More...
Gold Coast construction boom brings tradies south from
Brisbane
The procession of workmen heading north to the capital is expected
to reverse somewhat in the coming year as work for the Commonwealth
Games, major shopping centres, high-rises and the second stage of
the light rail gains momentum just as projects in Brisbane are
winding up (01 October 2016).
More...
In the media – Victoria
Work starts on South West Loddon Pipeline
Project
The Labor Government is putting $40 million towards the $80.6
million project which will secure supply to communities, households
and farmers in the South West Loddon region (06 October 2016).
More...
Bendigo building site inspection program a Victorian
Government first
Builders and tradespeople in the Bendigo region will be the first
to come under the scrutiny of a new multi-regulator approach to
ensure they are complying with the law (05 October 2016).
More...
In the media – New South Wales
Funding Relief for local roads in the Central
West
Flood ravaged communities in the state's Central West have been
thrown a life-line with $13 million from the NSW Government to
provide immediate funding relief for councils to fix local roads
destroyed by floodwater (06 October 2016).
More...
New South Wales to take action on building certification
failure
Developers of deemed high-risk projects in NSW could have the
ability to select their own building certifier taken away as part
of sweeping changes to the building certification system designed
to help fix failings on fire safety, health and energy efficiency
(27 September 2016).
More...
New cruise terminal for the Hunter region
A new multi-purpose cruise ship terminal is planned for Newcastle
Harbour, which will increase tourism in the Hunter region. The
3000-square metre facility will significantly expand the cruise
industry in NSW and will be similar to Sydney's White Bay
Terminal (27 September 2016).
More...
In the media – Queensland
Queensland Government invokes special power for
Adani
The Queensland Government has invoked special powers to ensure the
controversial Carmichael coal and rail project starts next year.
The combined mine, rail and associated water infrastructure have
all been declared critical infrastructure – the first time
this has happened in seven years (10 October 2016).
More...
Waterfront Promenade a landmark for
Townsville
The first stage of community infrastructure within the Waterfront
Priority Development Area (PDA) with $28 million for construction
of Stage 1 of the Waterfront Promenade announced (06 October 2016).
More...
$9 million maintenance works for key transmission lines
in the Tropical North
A $9 million investment in Powerlink Queensland's transmission
network in North Queensland is set to maintain network performance
and ensure the safe, reliable and cost effective supply of high
voltage electricity (06 October 2016).
More...
Two Queensland Government-led apartment projects worth a total of $4.9 million are providing support for local Townsville tradies and subcontractors (05 October 2016). More...
Sealing of Cape York's Peninsula Developmental Road
on target
Construction is underway on all four Peninsula Developmental Road
(PDR) sealing projects for this year, with earthmoving works having
now commenced on the Little Laura to Fairview stretch (05 October
2016).
More...
'Prosperity and protection' key themes of
Department of Natural Resources and Mines annual
report
The sustainable management of Queensland's natural resources
has continued to support businesses and attract economic investment
for communities across the state, as highlighted in the Department
of Natural Resources and Mines' annual report tabled in
Parliament today (30 September 2016).
More...
Published
The mining construction boom and regional jobs in
Queensland
Tom Swann, Mark Ogge; The Australia Institute: 29 September
2016
Despite an unprecedented 400 percent increase in mining investment
from 2010 to 2013, by 2015 employment in regional Queensland fell
to below 2010 levels.
Victoria's draft 30-year infrastructure
strategy Infrastructure Victoria: 4 October
2016
Infrastructure Victoria is undertaking the first ever thirty-year
infrastructure strategy for Victoria.
Practice and courts
Infrastructure Australia: Infrastructure Priority
List
The Infrastructure Priority List is a prioritised list of
nationally significant investments. It provides decision makers
with advice and guidance on specific infrastructure investments
that will underpin Australia's continued prosperity. The
October 2016 list is listed here (07 October 2016).
More...
National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF): Round Three
Announcements
On 7 October 2016 the Australian Government announced 67
infrastructure projects to receive $126.5m under Round Three of
NSRF. There will be no further funding rounds under this programme.
The projects are outlined here (07 October 2016).
More...
Announcements, Draft Policies and Plans released 2016
New South Wales
Building Resilience to Climate Change Grants: Round 3 of
the Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) program is open
for funding applications
A joint program of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)
and LGNSW, BRCC aims to address identified climate change risks and
vulnerabilities facing NSW councils. Round 3 closed on 10 October
2016. More...
Queensland
2016 Major Project Series
The department's regional offices are hosting a series of
Regional Major Projects Forums throughout 2016 that focus on
important issues and challenges in specific regions. The full
2016 event schedule Regional Major Projects Forums is now
available for October - December 2016.
Victoria
Panel Reports
Infrastructure Design Manual Advisory Committee Report:
Consideration of issues associated with the potential
implementation of the Infrastructure Design Manual into planning
schemes across regional Victoria.
Cases
Coast
and Country Association of Queensland Inc v Smith & Ors
[2016] QCA 242
ENERGY AND RESOURCES – MINERALS – MINING FOR MINERALS
– ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LEGISLATION – where the
appellant appeals the decision of the primary judge dismissing two
applications for statutory orders of review – where the first
application related to a decision of the Land Court concerning
applications for a mining lease and environmental authority –
where the second application concerned a subsequent decision of the
third respondent to grant an environmental authority for the
proposed mine – where the primary judge concluded that a
finding of the Land Court that the proposed mine would not produce
an impact that would constitute or cause environmental harm was
open on the evidence and did not reveal legal error in the
member's approach – where the appellant submitted that
the primary judge erred by allowing the Land Court when construing
certain sections of the Mineral Resources Act 1989 (Qld)
to give zero weight to the environmental harm caused by emissions
from the transport and burning of coal after it was removed from
the proposed mine – where the second respondent submitted
that the appellant wrongly assumed that emissions in connection
with the mine would cause environmental harm or an adverse
environmental impact – whether under the Mineral
Resources Act 1989 (Qld) the Land Court needed to consider the
impact of activities which would not be carried on under the
authority of the proposed mining lease – whether under the
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) the Land Court was
obliged to give weight to the environmental harm caused by
emissions from the mine – whether there was legal error in
the Land Court's decision.
Enwerd Pty Ltd v Metier 3 Pty Ltd [2016] VSCA
234
CONTRACT – Deed of settlement – Payment obligation
under deed of settlement dependent on practical completion under
construction contract – Certificate issued but validity
challenged – Whether payment under deed of settlement
dependent on valid certificate – Construction contract
providing for date of practical completion by reference to date in
certificate or other date determined in arbitration or litigation
– No other date determined – Whether judge relied on
post-contractual conduct in construing deed of settlement –
Whether trial judge required to determine validity of certificate
– Whether applicants elected to accept validity of
certificate – Leave to appeal refused.
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