Managing supply shortages and rising construction costs
As countries around the world counter the economic effects of COVID-19 by undertaking infrastructure projects and stimulating domestic construction, this has impacted global construction markets by creating: a shortage of some building materials; unpredictability in whether materials will be readily available when required; and upward pressure on labour and materials costs. To tackle these issues […]
ReadmoreCladding Safety Victoria Act receives Royal Assent
The Cladding Safety Victoria Bill 2020 (Vic) (CSV Bill) introduced 3 September 2020 has now received royal assent on 4 November 2020. The Cladding Safety Victoria Act 2020 (CSV Act) will come into operation on a day yet to be proclaimed, and at the very latest 1 July 2021. Key Features One of the main purposes […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | Construction hibernation? The impact of Stage 4 restrictions on construction projects
On 16 August 2020, the Public Health Commander issued the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 4), Workplace Directions (No 3) and Area Directions (No 7) (collectively, Directions), which provide much needed guidance on the potential impact of Stage 4 restrictions on construction projects in Victoria. Although the various government websites and daily press conferences […]
ReadmoreNSW Parliament Introduces a Statutory Duty of Care for Residential Building Work
In Brookfield Multiplex Ltd v Owners Corporation Strata Plan 61288 (2014) 313 ALR 408, the High Court found that a builder did not owe a common law duty of care to the developer of residential apartment buildings or its successors in title (including an owners corporation) for economic loss caused by defective work. The High […]
ReadmoreThe Residential Apartment Buildings Act: 5 Things You Need to Know
Recent reports of structural defects in high-rise apartments including the Opal tower and Mascot tower have undermined public confidence in the quality of construction work carried out in New South Wales. It has also raised questions as to avenues open to property owners to seek redress for defective work and the enforcement powers available to […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | Executing Documents Electronically and Serving under the Security of Payment Act
The Australian construction and property industry is experiencing unprecedented uncertainty in respect of COVID-19. Practical challenges arise in relation to executing, lodging and serving documents by traditional means. Executing and lodging formal documents electronically The Australian states and territories have dealt with electronic signature and electronic lodgement differently. A summary of the electronic signing of […]
ReadmoreContinuing Professional Development – 31 March 2020 | Representations, warranties and indemnities and their relevance for contracting
Below you will find the recording from our recent Continuing Professional Development morning, hosted via webinar on Tuesday, 31 March 2020. If you have any queries regarding the session topic, or related issues, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the presenter or our wider team. Representations, warranties and indemnities and their relevance […]
ReadmorePI policy carve outs for cladding – new MO effective 15 February 2020
Effective from 15 February 2020, the Victorian State Government has extended the permitted exclusions in ‘claims made’ professional indemnity policies relating to external wall cladding products to apply to all relevant industry professionals. Section 135 of the Building Act 1993 (Vic) allows the Minister for Planning to publish Ministerial Orders in the Government Gazette requiring […]
ReadmoreNon-compliant cladding extends to ‘Biowood’ composite cladding used as an external attachment
The Owners Strata Plan No 92888 v Taylor Constructions Group Pty Ltd and Frasers Putney Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCAT [15 November 2019, Senior Member Boyce] (Taylor Constructions) The first decision in NSW involving combustible cladding has been handed down by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Whilst most of the attention in recent times has […]
ReadmoreVictorian Government issues funding guidelines for the combustible cladding ‘rescue package’
On 19 December 2019, Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) issued guidelines on the Victorian Government’s cladding rectification funding program (Program) for the rectification of combustible cladding of residential apartment buildings (Guidelines). Importantly, the Guidelines set out which owners are eligible for the funding, namely that you must be an owners corporation responsible for a residential building […]
ReadmoreThe Victorian State Government’s Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019 passes Parliament.
On 12 November 2019 the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019 passed State Parliament and the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Act 2019 (new Act) has now received Royal Assent. The new Act enacts the State Government’s consumer focused ‘rescue package’ in relation to the funding of ‘cladding rectification work’[1] associated with ‘non-compliant or non-conforming external […]
ReadmoreTermination of construction contracts – the issue of good faith
Bundanoon Sandstone Pty Ltd v Cenric Group Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 87 (30 April 2019) (Meagher, Gleeson and McCallum JJA). Issue and Outcome The NSW Court of Appeal held that a show cause notice issued by a principal under a construction contract was not issued in good faith (because it was redolent of bad […]
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