In the media

Building Stronger Homes Roundtable generates ideas to support homes against natural disasters
The Building Stronger Homes Roundtable convened by the Insurance Council of Australia and Master Builders Australia has proposed a number of disaster mitigation and resilience initiatives that will help to strengthen existing homes and communities against extreme weather events (19 February 2021). More...

Housing construction eclipses records
Construction on new houses will hit a record high this year, however, there are concerns this boom could be short-lived. Demographic shifts and HomeBuilder boosted this number however land constraints will limit new builds according to HIA (18 February 2021). More...

New South Wales

Developers forced to fix defects after commissioner wields new powers
The New South Wales Building Commissioner has shown he will not hesitate using one of his strongest powers to clean up the construction industry, issuing prohibition orders on several projects (19 February 2021). More...

New South Wales Government starts process to remove high-risk cladding
The New South Wales Government has announced further details on the project to facilitate the removal of high-risk combustible cladding from residential apartment buildings across the State. Project Remediate would provide interest-free, 10-year loans, to Owners Corporations to enable and fast-track the safe removal of high-risk cladding (11 February 2021). More...

Queensland

CSIRO and Queensland Government release 10 step bushfire resilience building guide
In conjunction with the Queensland Government, the CSIRO has devised a 10-Step Bushfire Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes. The steps of the new bushfire guidelines begin with learning the "essentials" about bushfires and their behaviour and culminate with maintaining bushfire-resilient properties (18 February 2021). More...

Toowoomba's new regional trade distribution centre on course for 2021 completion
Construction us underway on the Toowoomba Wellcamp Trade Distribution Centre at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (16 February 2021). More...

Construction starts on Gold Coast development set to create 1800 jobs
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has officially turned the sod on a $400 million development on the Gold Coast (12 February 2021). More...

Major construction boom sees Brisbane city traffic worsen
With a dozen major construction projects underway in Brisbane, the city council worries congestion will worsen (10 February 2021). More...

Construction begins on Brisbane Cross River Rail station site
Construction has begun on another Cross River Rail site - Brisbane's new Exhibition station at the RNA Showgrounds - which will enable year-round trains for the busy precinct. The new station is a part of the Queensland Government's $50 billion infrastructure pipeline over the next four years (10 February 2021). More...

Victoria

Geelong Future Economy Precinct nears finish line
The Geelong Future Economy Precinct at Waurn Ponds is now a step closer to completion with the last remaining tender awarded to Keystone Civil to construct the Epworth Place extension (17 February 2021). More...

Builders baffled by decision to halt regional construction in Victorian lockdown
Victorian builders say the state's latest five-day lockdown rules are excessive, especially for regional Victoria where work has ground to a halt just when it was getting back to normal (15 February 2021). More...

Multibillion-dollar West Gate Tunnel delayed by two years as political standoff continues
Melbourne's troubled West Gate Tunnel will not be completed until at least 2024, two years behind schedule, Transurban tells shareholders (11 February 2021). More...

Practice and courts

Building Better Regions Fund - Infrastructure Projects Stream - Round Five
The Infrastructure Projects Stream supports projects that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas. The projects can be either construction of new infrastructure or the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure. The Infrastructure Projects Stream only supports investment ready projects. Close date: 05 March 2021. More...

Cases

Queensland

Karam Group Pty Ltd v Earthmoving Contractors Pty Ltd & Ors [2021] QSC 10
EQUITY - EQUITABLE REMEDIES - INJUNCTIONS - INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTIONS - RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS - where the Applicant applies for interlocutory injunctive relief restraining enforcement of an adjudication decision; where the Applicant proposes that an amount of an adjudication decision be paid into court which includes amount paid in respect of sub-contractor's charges; where the Applicant seeks orders for restraint from filing an adjudication certificate in respect of adjudication decision - whether an injunction should be granted; whether there is a prima facie case; whether the applicant is entitled to the final relief sought; whether the balance of convenience favours the making of the interim orders. Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payments) Act 2017 Qld; Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 Qld.

Meechan v Savco Earth Moving Pty Ltd  [2021] QDC 14
TORTS - NEGLIGENCE - GENERALLY - where plaintiff employed by sub-contractor of defendant - where plaintiff fell off the back of a truck after being struck by the boom of an excavator causing injury to right elbow and shoulder - where excavator was operated by unlicensed employee of the sub-contractor - where plaintiff admits to throwing a weighted object at excavator driver - where allegations by plaintiff include failure to ensure integrity of excavator on site, failure to ensure excavator was operated exclusively by experienced and licenced operators and failing to isolate the keys of the excavator - where quantum in issue - whether defendant breached its duty of care - whether any breach by the defendant was causative of the loss suffered by the plaintiff.

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