Commercial and residential property news
THE federal Labor government’s carbon tax has been blamed for a spike in rates, to be passed on by Australia’s largest council next financial year.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the average ratepayer will face an increase of $54.62 per annum – reflecting a 4.5 per cent jump.
Mr Quirk said this rate could have limited to $31.48 a year (representing 2.6 per cent) if the carbon tax was removed.
Read more
DAYS before the federal labor government’s carbon tax is set to take effect, several Victorian councils have discovered they have been added to the list of some 500 companies set to pay.
The councils of Hume, Geelong, Wyndham and Bendigo have been included on the mystery list of polluters set to pay the tax. Several other councils in Victoria and around Australia are expected to be added in coming days.
Voters and the business community have criticised the hush-hush method the Labor government has decided to announce the polluters which will pay the tax.
Read more
RAWLINSONS – the construction industry’s cost handbook – is going a long way into highlighting waste in the ALP government’s $16.2 billion Building the Education Revolution program.
According to the latest edition of the Rawlinsons Constrution Handbook, single level primary school buildings should cost about $1350 per square metre to construct.
By comparison, the NSW government is spending $13,306 per square metre building 21 canteen buildings in public schools.
Read more
THE Federal Government has scrapped its blotched $2.45 billion insulation scheme, designed to save jobs – but instead, now looking to cost them.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced the scheme’s termination on Friday February 19, describing the risks as “unacceptably high” – and releasing research from as far back as early 2008, warning the hugely expensive program could result in fraud, and house fires.
The Greens Loans program, and solar hot water scheme were also scrapped on Friday.
It’s reported up to 160,000 homes have been fitted with sub-standard ceiling batts “with minimal benefit to the environment”, while around 80,000 households face safety risks.
AN ELECTION is coming up, and Victoria’s state government is pretending to get tough again.
Despite repeated requests from the media and industry bodies, it’s taken until now – or actually – until after any Brumby Government election win – to crack down on the way real estate agents price property.
If elected, the ALP government has promised to cut “price plus” advertising, as part of a plan to stamp out underquoting.
Read more
THE Victorian Government will offload a prominent asset on the banks of the Yarra River, at the junction the CBD meets Southbank and Docklands.
The Department of Treasury and Finance is managing the campaign to sell the former Melbourne Convention Centre building at the south-west corner of Flinders and Spencer streets and abutting the prominent semi-circle Crowne Promenade Hotel.
The low rise building, once used as Melbourne’s makeshift Crown Casino is expected to be demolished.
Read more
DESPITE evidence government grants unnecessarily inflate up real estate values, the Victorian State Government is using them again, as a carrot leading to the November 13 election.
Below is a statement about the initiative, by the HIA, which includes exact values about the new grants available.
Read more
THE State Government is continuing to offload prime located development sites around freeway edges and wedges.
The latest listing, by the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance, is at 12 – 62 Cook Street, Port Melbourne, abutting the West Gate Freeway, on the city-side between Todd Road and Salmon Street.
The 3.1 hectare site is perhaps most recognized as being the VicRoads Westgate Training and Conference Centre.
Read more