In the media

Infrastructure Australia calls for a renewed commitment to infrastructure reform
Infrastructure Australia, the nation's independent infrastructure advisor, has called on Australia's governments to renew their commitment to infrastructure reform in a new report on what has been achieved since the release of the Australian Infrastructure Plan in February 2016 (25 June 2018). More...

Landmark ruling: CFMMEU official to feel sting of penalties for breaking the law; union penalty almost doubled
In a significant decision, the Full Federal Court confirmed it will order a CFMMEU official to personally pay his penalty for breaking the law, without seeking or receiving financial assistance from the union (25 June 2018). More...

Helping regions be ready for inland rail
The Liberal and Nationals Government has announced the development of a strategic planning tool to support the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail, led by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) (20 June 2018). More...

New South Wales

Watpac awarded Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Stage 2 and Medical Imaging building project
Watpac Limited ('Watpac' or 'Group') announced it has been appointed to deliver the main building works contract which forms a significant part of the overall $200 million Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Stage 2 and Medical Imaging building project for Health Infrastructure, on behalf of the New South Wales Government (27 June 2018). More...

$3 billion for game-changing Sydney-Parramatta Metro West project
The NSW Government is pushing ahead with the Western Metro, reserving an initial $3 billion for the game changing project and investing $28 million in NSW Budget 2018 to accelerate the completion of the final business case to get on with the next stage (27 June 2018). More...

Queensland

Trad turns trend on infrastructure funding
The 2018-19 Queensland Budget has delivered a welcome focus on infrastructure, with Treasurer Jackie Trad turning around the trend decline in infrastructure funding with more than $29 billion dedicated to road, rail, school, and hospital projects over the next four years (27 June 2018). More...

Giant water battery gets conditional approval for $500m loan
A solar farm in far north Queensland receives conditional approval for a $500 million loan to build and integrate a pumped hydro storage facility to provide "reliable energy" to the country at peak demand (23 June 2018). More...

Adani groundwater plan 'protects itself'
Adani's blueprint to protect groundwater in the Queensland Galilee Basin from its $16.5 billion coal mine is primarily designed to protect the company from prosecution, an expert says (20 June 2018). More...

Budget delivers more record transport spending for Far North Queensland
The Palaszczuk Government is delivering $253.3 million of road infrastructure in 2018-19 alone for Far North Queensland (19 June 2018). More...

Victoria

Victorian Opposition reveals new plans for controversial East West Link
The Victorian Opposition announces plans to resurrect the East West Link road project, putting forward two design options to link the Eastern Freeway with Citylink, but voters won't know the exact route until after the November election (28 June 2018). More...

Victoria's $14.7 billion record engineering construction
The Andrews Labor Government's record infrastructure investment has seen Victoria's engineering construction activity soar 48.7 per cent in the past year, and 19.2 per cent across the March quarter – the highest in the nation (27 June 2018). More...

In practice and courts

Queensland

Building Queensland - current business cases
Building Queensland leads the development of Queensland Government detailed business cases with an estimated capital cost of over $100 million. This includes business cases being developed by Queensland Government departments, government-owned corporations and nominated statutory authorities. Projects currently being led by Building Queensland are outlined here (29 June 2018).

Cases

Goodwin Street Developments Pty Ltd as trustee for Jesmond Unit Trust v DSD Builders Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 984
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – challenge to adjudicator's determination under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) – whether plaintiff should pay into court the amount of the determination pending determination of the challenge – where plaintiff a trustee of unit trust – where plaintiff has insufficient cash funds to pay amount of determination into court – where no evidence of financial position of unit holders – whether as a matter of discretion court should not require the amount of determination to be paid into court.

Green Suburban Pty Ltd v Vita Built Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 330
BUILDING CONTRACTS — Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic) — payment claim issued after termination of contract — no 'reference date' to support payment claim — absence of reference date meant payment claim invalid such that adjudication determination also invalid — adjudication determination quashed by consent for jurisdictional error.
COSTS — whether plaintiff ought to obtain costs order where error made by adjudicator —where hearing dates and filing of material necessitated following opposition – order for costs made with small discount.

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