Latest Story
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Car industry handouts are childish
Alex Philipatos | March 1, 2012The economic arguments against industry subsidies are well documented. Alexander Philipatos says Government handouts for the Australian car industry will lead to an unhealthy sense of entitlement amongst workers and society in general.
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Controlling smoke drift in apartments: A need for greater regulation?
Dr Andrew Penman | February 29, 2012Dr Penman from Cancer Council NSW says the review of the State’s strata and community title laws offers an opportunity to advocate strengthening strata law for apartment dwellers who want to protect themselves from tobacco smoke drift in their home.
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Management changes missing from strata legislation
Colin Grace | February 28, 2012Colin Grace identifies a number of crucial management changes he believes should have been included in the 1995-96 strata legislative review, and they go to the heart of daily strata management.
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Have your say on Strata Law reforms
Suresh Manickam | February 27, 2012Suresh Manickam calls on the community to have their say on the Strata Laws consultation before it closes on 29 February. ”I strongly encourage everybody living and working in strata to voice their opinions on strata at the Strata Laws Online Consultation.”
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Not seeing the (strata) wood for the trees
Francesco Andreone | February 24, 2012Francesco Andreone looks at the steady decline in the quality of new strata developments and identifies some much needed procedural strata law reforms. ”Sometimes we don’t see what’s obvious because we’re too focused on small details and miss the bigger picture.
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Wholesale review of community titles legislation overdue
Phillippa Russell | February 23, 2012Lawyer Phillippa Russell says major and minor changes are required to the NSW strata legislation. She shares her list of top priorities.
Strata legislation over the last decade has seen several changes. These changes have only really been nibbles around the edges of reform, with some changes being put in place at the instigation of minority groups with their own agenda and with almost all changes taking place without full industry consultation.
So a fresh approach and stakeholder participation is welcomed.
Both major and minor changes are required to the strata legislation. A wholesale review of the community titles legislation is now overdue.
Some of my wish list items (not in any order of priority) are:
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Ability to terminate strata schemes key for growth
Chris Johnson | February 22, 2012The Strata Laws need to be changed to allow many inner and middle ring areas to go through a regeneration, just as in many suburban streets, houses are knocked down and replaced with better quality houses.
Support needed to encourage independent living
Waldemar Niemotko | February 21, 2012As the Australian population ages, Waldemar Niemotko calls for strata laws that work to encourage seniors to live independently.
Better solutions for dispute resolution
Kay Ransome | February 19, 2012Disputes in strata schemes can and do occur. Chairperson of the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, Kay Ransome, wonders whether there may be a better dispute resolution model.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that disputes in strata and community schemes can and do arise.
The requirement in the present legislation for mediation of disputes is an important step in achieving solutions parties can work with. For matters which do not resolve at mediation, there are currently different paths to determination depending on the type of dispute – an adjudication and a hearing before the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT).
Noticeboard not enough – keeping owners informed
Natalie Fitzgerald | February 17, 2012In the communication age we currently enjoy it is important for strata laws to reflect our level of connection. Strata manager Natalie Fitzgerald calls for greater distribution of correspondence to ensure all owners are given a fair opportunity to participate in the running of their strata schemes.
Successful strata living is created through the successful creation of a community which in turn is fostered through communication. And yet only those buildings defined to be a ‘large scheme’ – meaning they number more than 100 lots are obligated to provide minutes and agendas to all owners. With large schemes making up only approximately 0.08% of all strata schemes in NSW – that’s a lot of owner’s left potentially in the dark.
The aging of the bronzed Aussie bloke
Andrew Penman | February 16, 2012The bronzed Aussie look of past decades doesn’t represent the modern Australian male in 2012, says Cancer Council NSW CEO, Dr Andrew Penman.
