Artboard 1Icon/UI/CalendarIcons/Ionic/Social/social-pinterestIcon/UI/Video-outline

What's News in Construction & Infrastructure? – 30 January 2018

30 January 2018

6 min read

#Construction, Infrastructure & Projects

What's News in Construction & Infrastructure? – 30 January 2018

In the media – National

Soft landing for house builders according to national survey
December quarter 2017 National Survey points to soft landing for residential building market (25 January 2018). More...

Firefighters Union concerned about unresolved flammable cladding issue
The United Firefighters Union has expressed concern about the Federal Government’s inaction on regulating the dangerous use of flammable cladding in the building industry (25 January 2018). More...

Design Futures Council gets Australian chapter
A think tank formed to help navigate global trends, challenges and opportunities for innovation in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors has launched an Australian chapter (23 January 2018). More...

Household debt 'extremely elevated' and tipped to grow
Australia's household debt to income ratio hits nearly 200 per cent, a level UBS analysts call "extremely elevated" and "one of the highest in the world" (18 January 2018). More...

In the media – Victoria

Wind power and battery hub agreement secured
AusNet Services has secured an agreement with leading French renewable energy producer, Neoen, to develop the transmission connection for the 204MW ‘Bulgana Green Power Hub’ located near Stawell in the Wimmera region of central western Victoria (16 January 2018). More...

In the media – New South Wales

Grocon, Aqualand and Scentre Group awarded Central Barangaroo Precinct
A consortium led by Grocon in partnership with Aqualand and Scentre Group has been selected by the Barangaroo Delivery Authority to deliver Central Barangaroo. This will complete the transformation of the Barangaroo precinct. The consortium will be responsible for the design, development and delivery of Central Barangaroo which will be returned to the public as a dynamic and diverse precinct on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour (18 January 2018). More...

Two important milestones as Western Sydney Airport site is cleared for construction
In another milestone towards delivery of Western Sydney Airport, the last remaining building was cleared from the site and the official commencement of work to relocate 3.2 kilometres of an aboveground high-voltage power line by TransGrid with delivery on track for 2026 (24 January 2018). More...

Premier Berejiklian must maintain momentum to fix housing affordability
One year in to Premier Berejiklian’s time as Premier, the New South Wales Government must continue to embrace progress and implement reforms to improve housing affordability in the State, according to the Property Council of Australia (23 January 2018). More...

In the media – Queensland

$400 million Works for Queensland program supports 8,442 regional jobs
The Palaszczuk Government’s $400 million Works for Queensland program is proving itself a jobs-generating powerhouse throughout Queensland, supporting 8,442 local jobs to November 2017, in a huge boost for regional economies (23 January 2018). More...

Far North Queensland companies called to tender for construction works
The Palaszczuk Government is calling on Far North Queensland construction companies to tender for construction of nurses’ quarters and the relocation of demountable buildings in Kowanyama under the Queensland Government’s new procurement strategy (18 January 2018). More...

Published

Australian Bureau of Statistics
17/01/2018 – Building Activity, Australia, Sep 2017 (cat no. 8752.0
17/01/2018 – Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Sep 2017 (cat no. 8762.0)
17/01/2018 – Construction Activity: Chain Volume Measures, Australia, Sep 2017 (cat no. 8782.0.65.001)
17/01/2018 - Housing Finance, Australia, November 2017 (cat no. 5609.0)

ACI Construction Briefs
A fortnightly communication highlighting key updates related to Australia's construction industry.
ACI Construction Brief: Forecasting the outcome of the next Federal Election (22 January 2018)

Practice and courts

ABCB: Preview of NCC 2016 Volume One Amendment 1
The Amendment preview and Evidence of Suitability handbook are now available. Accompanying the preview is a summary of changes, the Consolidated Performance Requirements preview and a new Evidence of Suitability Handbook (19 January 2018). More...

Registration is now open for the 2018 NCC Information Seminars
In February and March 2018, a representative from the ABCB will be coming to a capital city near you. Don't miss out on your opportunity to hear about the following BCA initiatives: NCC 2016 Volume One amendment addressing fire safety; NCC 2019 public comment draft; The improved CodeMark scheme; and The practical development and assessment of Performance Solutions. More...

ABCC
Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016
The Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016 applies to companies who wish to undertake Commonwealth-funded building work. Building industry participants covered by agreements made prior 2 December 2016 have until 29 November 2018 to ensure their agreements are Code compliant.

Victoria

VBA: Message from the CEO -– Victorian Cladding Audit
From 1 January 2018, the VBA will lead a state-wide audit of: apartment complexes, motels and hotels (three storeys and above); buildings where Victorians gather as a large group, such as sporting arenas; and schools, private hospitals or aged-care facilities (two storeys and above). More...

New South Wales

New South Wales Tender: Supply and delivery of materials
Hunter Water (NSW) is seeking tenders for the supply and delivery of road base and construction pipe bedding materials on an as required basis. The contract is three years, with the option to extend to four or five years. Submissions to tender close 8 February 2018.

Proposed Reforms for Buildings with Combustible Cladding
The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) has released a package of proposed reforms requiring owners to register their building/s with the NSW Government and engage an expert to do a fire risk assessment of the cladding. Councils and Fire and Rescue NSW will have powers to direct owners to register their buildings within a set timeframe if they have not already done so. The package is on exhibition until 16 February 2018. More...

Queensland

QBCC: When to lodge your Form 4
As all of the work covered by the single transaction becomes operational prior to an invoice for the work being issued, a Form 4/4A must be submitted to the QBCC within 10 business days of the fifth day (18 January 2018). More...

Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Bill 2017
The State Parliament has passed the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Bill 2017, a two-stage adoption process will see the requirement for mandatory PBAs rolled-out across Queensland. An initial stage, beginning on 1 January 2018, will see the requirement applied to government building and construction projects. A second stage, to begin 1 January 2019, will expand the application of the mandatory PBA to all building and construction projects over $1 million. 

Cases

Milankov Designs & Projects Management Pty Ltd -v- Di Latte [2018] WASC 1
4
Copyright - Infringement - Innocent infringement – Damages - Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
Plaintiff entitled to award of damages against both defendants. Damages assessed at $157,825. Plaintiff entitled to be reimbursed by the first defendants amount paid by plaintiff to contractor.


Contacts:


Brisbane

Troy Lewis, Partner & National Head of Construction and Infrastructure 
T: +61 7 3135 0614 
E: troy.lewis@holdingredlich.com

Stephen Burton, Partner 
T: +61 7 3135 0604 
E: stephen.burton@holdingredlich.com

Suzy Cairney, Partner 
T: +61 7 3135 0684 
E: suzy.cairney@holdingredlich.com

Melbourne

Stephen Natoli, Partner 
T: +61 3 9321 9796 
E: stephen.natoli@holdingredlich.com

Kyle Siebel, Partner 
T: +61 3 9321 9877 
E: kyle.siebel@holdingredlich.com

Sydney

Scott Alden, Partner 
T: +61 2 8083 0419 
E: scott.alden@holdingredlich.com

Christine Jones, Partner 
T: +61 2 8083 0477 
E: christine.jones@holdingredlich.com

Helena Golovanoff, Partner 
T: +61 2 8083 0443 
E: helena.golovanoff@holdingredlich.com

Disclaimer
The information in this publication is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, we do not guarantee that the information in this publication is accurate at the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. We are not responsible for the information of any source to which a link is provided or reference is made and exclude all liability in connection with use of these sources. 

Share this