In the media
RICS: Ensuring construction site safety and project
continuity during COVID-19
Construction projects across the world have been
significantly affected by COVID-19. As management of the pandemic
continues to evolve, many project leaders are no longer focused on
potentially closing sites, but rather the measures required to
allow sites to remain open and continue work (01 May 2020).
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Australian engineers develop solar panel windows
Engineers in Australia have developed a solar cell that
can be incorporated into window glass, representing a game-changer
for multi-storey building design and electricity generation (30
April 2020).
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Making infrastructure sustainable offers a bigger bang
for our buck
Infrastructure's social licence to operate is in
jeopardy thanks to the community's construction fatigue and
sheer opposition, with around $20 billion worth of infrastructure
projects delayed, cancelled or mothballed over the past decade.
Making these projects certified under a sustainability rating
scheme could turn the tide (30 April 2020).
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Building industry job losses show further government
stimulus needed
The 5.3 per cent fall in the number of building and
construction industry jobs in the last six weeks revealed in data
released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is 'alarming
and reinforces the need for immediate government stimulus
measures' says CEO of Master Builders Australia (MBA) (29 April
2020).
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Building to bounce back
The GBCA has released Building to Bounce Back, a
policy paper that outlines how governments can maximise the
record-breaking infrastructure investment ahead. As the business
cases roll in, we need governments to take a broad view of the
assets, and to select projects that are resilient to climate change
impacts (29 April 2020).
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Fast-tracked planning for the coronavirus recovery: Can
triage help?
Fast-tracked planning approvals could accelerate the low
carbon transition, fix social problems and boost the economy at the
same time. Western Australia and New South Wales are using State
Emergency powers to accelerate planning decisions and to extend
planning permissions already granted but not yet started due to the
lockdown (27 April 2020).
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Construction sector key to future job and economic
growth
The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government are
continuing to work closely with the construction sector during this
unprecedented pandemic to ensure longevity and job creation
throughout and on the other side of COVID-19 (24 April 2020).
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'We are in a war': Why the construction industry
is too big to fail
While travel, tourism and hospitality have fallen victim
to the coronavirus pandemic, construction continues as the industry
is deemed too important to the economy to be shutdown. But measures
such as social distancing and staggered shifts and break times have
increased costs and lowered productivity as companies seek to keep
projects on schedule (20 April 2020).
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New South Wales
Accelerated planning projects to deliver jobs and boost
the economy
Thousands of new homes, new industrial complexes and six
schools are among the first wave of projects that will have their
assessments fast-tracked to boost the State's economy and
create opportunities for thousands of new jobs in response to the
COVID-19 crisis (28 April 2020).
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$395m economic stimulus package to safeguard council
jobs, services and infrastructure
The New South Wales Government has announced a $395
million economic stimulus package to safeguard council jobs, and
local services and infrastructure in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic (26 April 2020).
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Queensland
Practical completion milestone for Brisbane's new
runway is achieved
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) and
Skyway, a joint venture between BMD Constructions Pty Ltd and CPB
Contractors Pty Ltd, achieve practical completion of Brisbane's
new runway. With practical completion now achieved, the detailed
commissioning process for the new runway will continue as part of
the wider Operational Readiness and Testing (ORAT)
programme (30 April 2020).
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Infrastructure to drive Queensland forward
Minister for Infrastructure Cameron Dick has confirmed it
was full steam ahead for the Queensland Government's
infrastructure program, despite COVID-19 (30 April 2020).
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First Look: Queen's Wharf Brisbane River Park
A suspended concrete platform will support a new 6,500sq m
park on Brisbane River as part of the $3.6 billion Queen's
Wharf development by the privately-owned Destination Brisbane
Consortium (29 April 2020)
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Victoria
VBA hosts Rapid Industry Guidance service to keep
industry safe and open
Keeping Victoria's building and construction industry
safe and open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is now
even easier, with the Victorian Building Authority
(VBA) hosting a dedicated call centre providing
rapid guidance and information on occupational health and safety
matters (29 April 2020).
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Victoria green lights mega projects to boost
economy
Approvals for four major projects, including the
country's tallest residential tower, has been fast-tracked in
Melbourne following the formation of a high-level planning
taskforce (24 April 2020).
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New taskforce to bolster building and development
industry
Planning Minister Richard Wynne and Treasurer Tim Pallas
will oversee the Building Victoria's Recovery Taskforce, which
will investigate planning and investment opportunities to boost
Victoria's building and development industry over the short,
medium and long term (24 April 2020).
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Cases
Diona Pty Ltd v Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd
[2020] NSWSC 480
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – adjudication
determination under the Building and Construction Industry Security
of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) – whether determination void
– whether jurisdictional error – whether Adjudicator
failed to consider the contract
Morrison v Moss (No. 3) [2020]
NSWDC 136
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – referral of question of
rectification costs for defective works to referee – whether
referee's approach should be wholly or partly adopted –
whether a conclusion by referee contrary to evidence
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