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The Victorian Government Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Ryan Smith) spoke at the UDIA function of 4 November 2011. The Minister was brief but to the point in terms of relevance to his audience. He spoke of principles concerning establishing...
The Environmentally Sustainable Office Buildings (ESOB) Policy (Clause 22.19 of the Melbourne Planning Scheme) is intended to ensure that all new office developments in the City of Melbourne incorporate measures to reduce their impact on the environment. The policy requires...
As one of the graduate planners at Collie, I recently attended a series of four planning master classes for young professionals hosted by the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association (VPELA). The classes covered a range of planning topics designed...
The UDIA Victoria State Conference was this year held in Bendigo, with the title 'Connecting Victoria: A Vision for the future'. Affordability and lifestyle have been key drivers in housing demand in Bendigo in recent times, particularly given its proximity...
Mirvac is nearing completion with the Stage 1 civil works for its Harcrest development at Stud Road, Scoresby. It has also commenced construction for the sales office, some display homes and other dwellings in Stage 1 of the development. Collie...
Mike and Jenny Collie recently visited Malmo in Sweden and took time to walk around Vastra Hamnen, a substantial ‘docklands’ redevelopment project situated to the north west of the Malmo central area. Key observations include: the use of a significant...
Guest speakers at the Planning for Aboriginal Heritage PIA Victoria Professional Development Seminar were Harry Webber, Acting Manager Heritage Strategy, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Astrid Di Carlo, Special Counsel and Annette Jones, Solicitor of Russell Kennedy. We were given a brief...
On 21 July 2011 the Minister for Planning approved an amended version of the ‘Coburg Hill Development Plan’ (DP). The main feature of the amended DP is a revised overall street layout plan, which features an improved relationship and interface...
The Growth Areas Authority (GAA) has released the Small Lot Housing Code Standards. On 14 July 2011, the Minister for Planning announced that new (not yet approved) precinct structure plans would include provisions that will remove the need for planning...
I count myself as being very lucky to have had the opportunity to visit the World Trade Centre site in Lower Manhattan in 2000 and to have stood beneath and admired the twin tower buildings. We are all too aware...