Lease or Licence?
It is common in developments where the developer does not own the land that a developer will enter into a development agreement with the land owner coupled with a construction lease or licence to occupy and construct on the land. The ability to occupy the land is crucial to undertaking the development and if the […]
ReadmoreRecent VCAT decision sets out the limits to when a planning permit can be amended
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has considered the limits to when a permit can be amended under section 87A of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) in the recent decision in Alkero Development Pty Ltd v Stonnington CC (Red Dot) [2018] VCAT 1120 (Alkero). This decision provides useful guidance to developers […]
ReadmoreAre you ready for the GST withholding regime?
Changes to the payment of GST on new residential property are due to take effect from 1 July 2018. The changes are an administrative measure which although not imposing a new tax, do have significant ramifications for property developers as it will impact the settlement process and cash flow. The changes apply to sales of […]
ReadmoreUse of electronic signatures
Most documents used in day-to-day business can be signed electronically in Australia. The Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 2000 (ETA) governs electronic transactions in Victoria. Electronic signatures The ETA does not contain a prescribed definition of what would be an ‘electronic signature’. Therefore, an electronic signature may take the form of an image of an individual’s […]
ReadmoreThe Dangers of Side Letters
Introduction Whilst not a brand new case, we have chosen to review ACN 151 368 124 v Pro-Pac Packaging (Aust) Pty Ltd 20171 because it highlights the dangers of an increasing trend in our industry – use of the side letter to get around formal document negotiation deadlocks and deadlines. Unfortunately the case highlights that […]
ReadmoreHeads of Agreement
The Supreme Court of Victoria has confirmed in Casdar Pty Ltd v Joseph Fanous [2017] VSC 616 that a Heads of Agreement signed by a Landlord and Tenant followed by post contractual conduct will not always immediately bind the parties. Casdar Pty Ltd (Landlord) appealed a decision from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) […]
ReadmoreThe impact of adverse weather events on the construction industry
In August 2017 Hurricane Harvey dominated international headlines as it ravaged parts of the southern United States of America, on its way to becoming the costliest tropical cyclone in history and surpassing the ignominious records set by Hurricane Katrina.1 As images splashed across our news outlets of Houston highways inundated with water, stores bereft of […]
ReadmoreExternal cladding – how to manage an emerging problem
Over the past 10 to 15 years many buildings have been constructed using Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP). ACPs are frequently used in buildings because of the need to improve thermal or acoustic aspects of the design and also because the panels are a comparatively cheap building material to use. ACPs typically have on each side […]
ReadmoreHow will the new GST withholding regime impact your development?
The ATO has released a draft of the legislation which will give effect to the proposed new GST withholding requirements for buyers in new developments announced by the Treasurer in this year’s budget speech. Partner Matthew Raven has produced this brief summary. Who is affected? The proposal will affect all developers of apartments and […]
ReadmoreCall for submissions on the Better Apartments Draft Design Standards
Following the Better Apartments – A Discussion Paper (May 2015) and the Better Apartments Public Engagement Report (December 2015), the Victorian Government has now released the long awaited Better Apartments Draft Design Standards (Draft Standards). Partner Meg Lee and lawyer Linda Choi highlight the key proposals. The Draft Standards aim to raise the quality of […]
ReadmoreUnfair contract terms
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced that it is taking waste management company JJ Richards to court over alleged breaches of the unfair contracts regime under the Australian Consumer Law [1] (ACL). The unfair contracts terms provisions of the ACL were extended to apply to standard form contracts involving small businesses from […]
ReadmoreVictorian Government demonstrates commitment to renewable energy with ambitious targets
The Andrews Government has demonstrated its commitment to the renewable energy industry and combating climate change by introducing a bill to the Victorian parliament last Thursday which will legislate ambitious new renewable energy targets. Partner Meg Lee and Senior Associate Kate Kirby report. What is the target? The new Victorian renewable energy targets (VRETs) […]
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