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) […]
ReadmoreAustralia and New Zealand have moved one step closer to establishing a framework to manage PFAS, a manufactured chemical which has emerged as a contaminant of concern worldwide over the recent years and this year has been the basis for two class actions in Australia. PFAS, short for per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, has become an issue […]
ReadmoreIn brief –The Planning and Environment Court has for the first time decided an application by a developer to convert non-trunk infrastructure to trunk infrastructure. In a decision that has significant financial implications for developers and infrastructure providers, the Court refused the application and provided guidance on the determination of future conversion applications. Implications […]
ReadmoreGadens is proud to have acted for the Sunshine Coast Council from the very beginning with the ground breaking Sunshine Coast Solar Farm. The second largest solar farm of its kind in Queensland, it has set a new precedent for renewable energy generation, particular for local government. The Gadens construction, infrastructure and procurement team, led […]
ReadmoreThe Planning and Environment Court in the matter of Wust v Moreton Bay Regional Council (No. 2) [2017] QPEC 36 made an order requiring the Moreton Bay Regional Council to pay Brian Wust’s costs of the appeal to the extent that the costs related to the disputed conditions. Otherwise, each party was to bear their […]
ReadmoreThe Victorian Government recently introduced a bill to parliament as the first stage of the long anticipated overhaul to Victorian environmental protection legislation. 1. Background In 2016, an independent ministerial advisory committee conducted an inquiry into the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA). As previously reported by Partner, Meg Lee, and lawyer, Linda Choi, the […]
ReadmoreEffective from 1 August 2017 there will be a number of changes to regulations under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) (Act). Major Domestic Building Contracts Major domestic building contract is now defined as a domestic building contract where the contract sum is more than $10,000 (previously $5,000).1 If the contract sum for […]
ReadmoreThe Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Bell v Brisbane City Council & Ors [2017] QPEC 26 which involved an appeal commenced by a submitter Kate Bell against the Council’s decision to approve, subject to conditions, a development application made by Sunland Developments No. 8 Pty Ltd. The development application […]
ReadmoreThe Planning and Environment Court in King of Gifts (Qld) Pty Ltd & Anor v Redland City Council & Anor [2017] QPEC 15 declared that a change to a proposed service station, carwash facility and drive through restaurant was a minor change. The changes to the proposed development comprised the following: refining the onsite sewerage […]
ReadmoreThe Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Spry v Brisbane City Council & Anor [2017] QPEC 16 which involved a submitter appeal against the decision of the Brisbane City Council to approve a development application for a development permit for 3 multiple-dwellings. The issues in dispute in the appeal concerned […]
ReadmoreIn the recent decision of Fitz Jersey Pty Ltd v Atlas Construction Group Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 53 a Contractor was able to garnish $11 million from the Principal’s bank account using the NSW security of payment legislation. The Principal was caught by surprise because at the time the money was garnished from its bank […]
ReadmoreUnder section 60A of the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 (Qld) (SBFA), Councils must seek the approval of the Treasurer before entering into a “type 1 financial arrangement”, which includes granting an indemnity in favour of another party within a contract. However, on 6 January 2017, the process for Councils looking to provide an […]
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