Insights Library

Important Changes to Planning Compensation Claims (Financial Loss) Under the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Matthew Susic & Sebastian Greenway

Holiday Home Owners Beware! Vacant Residential Land Tax Notifications due 15 January 2025

Giancarlo Romano & Sarah Pereira

INDUSTRY ALERT: Key implications arising from the recent Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill 2024

The Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill 2024 (Bill) seeks to introduce…

Eliza Minney & Chris Boocock

Draft Legislation Revealed – Off The Plan Stamp Duty Concessions Reintroduced for 12 Months (Updated 7.11.24)

Giancarlo Romano & Maliq Maideen

VNI West Project’s New Alignment Released: What It Means for Affected Landowners

In late October 2024, Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) unveiled its preferred alignment for the Victoria-NSW…

Sebastian Greenway & Jonathan Hourigan

Victoria Government 10-Year Development Pipeline For Melbourne’s Greenfields: What Developers Need To Know

Eliza Minney & Chris Boocock

Victoria’s New Developer Contributions Framework – What Developers Need to Know

The Victorian Government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s developer contributions system, marking…

Joel Snyder & Jonathan Hourigan

Off The Plan Stamp Duty Concessions Expanded for 12 Months

Giancarlo Romano & Maliq Maideen

Navigating the Complexities of Drainage Schemes and Asset Delivery

Effective drainage schemes are crucial for urban development, ensuring flood protection, water quality, and environmental…

Joel Snyder & Jonathan Hourigan

Childcare Sector Shows Strength in Adversity

Giancarlo Romano & Maliq Maideen

Update: Municipal councils cannot impose fees for checking and supervising landscape plans because they are not engineering plans. Important learnings from the decision of the Tribunal in AV Jennings Properties Ltd v Whittlesea CC [2024] VCAT 836

Chris Boocock & Joel Snyder

Are Councils Highway Robbers in the Application of Development Contributions Plans?

Joel Snyder

“Protecting” Melbourne’s Green Wedges and Agricultural Land Action Plan

The Victorian Government recently released Melbourne’s Green Wedges and Agricultural Land Action Plan (Action Plan)….

Edward Mahony

Victoria: The State of Distress

Best Hooper

Celebrating Internal Promotions at Best Hooper Lawyers

Best Hooper Lawyers is pleased to announce the promotions of these outstanding professionals who have…

Best Hooper

The Tribunal’s stance on the Victoria’s Housing Statement

Eli Morrison & Romy Davidov

New Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Commencing 1 July 2024

Legislation for the new Commercial and Industrial Property Tax (CIPT) has now passed Parliament and…

Maliq Maideen

Further Amendments to VRLT and Land Tax following State Budget

Giancarlo Romano & Maliq Maideen

Important Amendments to GAIC and Section 35 Plans

The State Parliament has introduced the State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2024, which proposes to…

Joel Snyder & Jonathan Hourigan

Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West)

Sebastian Greenway & Jonathan Hourigan

Best Hooper recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia Awards

Best Hooper

Best Hooper Tops Doyle’s Guide (Again!)

Best Hooper

Development in proximity to Major Hazard Facilities: an update on how the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is handling objections from WorkSafe Victoria

On 1 November 2023, our office wrote an article about the implications of the decision…

Chris Boocock & Eliza Minney

One to watch: Build over easement applications and Melbourne Water

Chris Boocock & Eliza Minney

A Guide to Land Tax Objections

If you are a landowner in Victoria and received a land tax notice from the…

Lauren Cullen

Western Renewables Link

Sebastian Greenway & Jonathan Hourigan

Amendment VC254 – Major changes to existing use rights under Clause 63.11

Amendment VC254 was gazetted Monday and introduces a key change to the text of Clause…

Eliza Minney & Emily Marson

Amendments to state property taxes (LAND TAX, WGT AND VRT)

Giancarlo Romano & Maliq Maideen

The Minister confirms the VPA’s priorities for 2023/24 to deliver housing and jobs

Towards the end of 2023, the Minister for Planning (Minister) approved the Victorian Planning Authority’s…

Eliza Minney & Jonathan Hourigan

Latest VCAT decision re. the codification of the ResCode standards following Amendment VC243 – is there a preference for D’Andrea decision?

John Cicero & Chris Boocock

The importance of CHMP being approved prior to a statutory authorisation

Edward Mahony

View Sharing Principles

Andrew Iser & Eliza Minney

Construction, Finance and Project Advisory with leading lawyer Daniel Faigen joining Best Hooper

Daniel Faigen Private and Project Advisory Industry leading lawyer, Daniel Faigen, joined Best Hoopers growing…

Daniel Faigen

Recent VCAT decision takes a different view re. the codification of the ResCode standards following Amendment VC243

Eliza Minney & Chris Boocock

Major Hazard Facilities and the relevance of WorkSafe Guidance Note 2022

Our office was recently involved in the VCAT decision of Henry Trucking Pty Ltd v…

John Cicero & Edward Mahony

Codification of ResCode Standards

Emily Marson

Amendment Vc243 | Further Updates Following The Victorian Government’s Housing Statement

“Victoria’s Housing Statement” (VHS) was released on Wednesday and broadly seeks to introduce new policies…

Chris Boocock & Eliza Minney

Victorian Government’s Housing Statement – Key changes and what we know so far

Eliza Minney & Edward Mahony

Time Limits Matter

In a recent Practice Day Hearing before Member Perlstein, Andrew Iser (Senior Associate) successfully argued…

Best Hooper

What is the relevance of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter) to applications for review in the planning jurisdiction?

Chris Boocock & Dominic Scally

Roof Terraces – An Opportunity for Communal Open Space for Apartment Developments

Eli Morrison & Dominic Scally

Best Hooper Lawyers continues growth with introduction of two new Principal Lawyers

Best Hooper

Time of Council ‘decision’ in a planning permit application

Edward Mahony of our office recently appeared at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)…

Edward Mahony

Review of Valuation of Land for Properties encumbered by Heritage Overlays.

Joel Snyder & Lauren Cullen

Celebrating Internal Promotions at Best Hooper Lawyers

Best Hooper Lawyers is pleased to announce the internal promotions of outstanding professionals who have…

Best Hooper

Giancarlo Romano nominated again for “Real Estate Partner of the Year 2023”

Best Hooper

Sebastian Greenway joins Best Hooper 2023

Best Hooper is excited to announce that Sebastian Greenway, Victoria’s leading compulsory acquisition and compensation…

Best Hooper

Industry Update – Changes to Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution and Section 35 Plans

Joel Snyder & Jonathan Hourigan

The Protection Works ‘Cheat Sheet’

This article provides a brief overview and ‘cheat sheet’ of what to do when you…

Robert McKay & Sengul Gur

Proceed with Caution – 15 Year exemption from the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic)

Giancarlo Romano

Best Hooper recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia Awards

Best Hooper

Best Hooper Tops Doyle’s Guide Again

Best Hooper

Overlooking – VCAT Decision Confirms the Correct Interpretation of Standard A15

This article provides commentary on the recent VCAT decision in Chow v Yarra CC [2022]…

Andrew Iser

In person listings unlikely to be varied – learnings from the Tribunal

Eliza Minney & Chris Boocock

Update on Melbourne Airport Rail Link

The Project The Melbourne Airport Rail Link Project (Project) is the transport project set to…

Jonathan Hourigan & Lauren Cullen

Failure Appeals – Beware

Edward Mahony

Amendments to State Taxes

The State Taxation and Treasury Legislation Amendment Act 2022 introduces a number of changes to…

Giancarlo Romano

Two strikes and you’re out

Andrew Iser

VCAT introduce the Fast Track List

From 1 July 2022, the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal (“VCAT”) will be introducing a…

Edward Mahony

Giancarlo Romano shortlisted in five Categories including “Partner of the Year” across the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards and the Australian Law Awards 2022.

Giancarlo Romano

Ambit of discretion limited to permit trigger

Edward Mahony

Existing Use Rights and Licensed Premises

Emily Marson

“The death of transformation” – The Supreme Court interpretation of what can be considered under an application to amend a planning permit

The Supreme Court (Court) in the decision of Mondib Group Pty Ltd v Moonee Valley…

Eliza Minney & Edward Mahony

Cautionary Tale – Lodging appeals within time and recent line of decisions on late objector appeals

Eliza Minney

Best Hooper Top Doyle’s Guide

Congratulations to our team on being recognised as a First Tier Town Planning and Development…

Best Hooper

Green Gold Energy v Minister of Planning – Renewable Energy Facilities in Declared Irrigation Districts

Edward Mahony

Best Hooper is on the move in January 2022

Best Hooper is excited to share some exciting news with you! We have spent the…

Best Hooper

Meet our Land Development and Compulsory Acquisitions Team

Best Hooper

Owners Corporations and Other Acts Amendment Act 2021

The Owners Corporations and Other Acts Amendment Act 2021 (Vic) (OC Amendment Act) has finally…

Best Hooper

Green light to issue domestic building disputes in the County Court instead of VCAT

Andy Vicendese

Windfall Gains Tax – Update

Joel Snyder

Leasing Update: Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme Reintroduced for Victorian Businesses

Giancarlo Romano

Subdivision of Land in Two Zones

Tania Cincotta and Edward Mahony of our office were recently engaged by a landowner whose…

Edward Mahony

Major Amendments to Stamp Duty and Land Tax in Victoria: The winners and losers

Giancarlo Romano

Case Update: Application and Drafting of Development Contribution Plans

Warde St Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning [2021] VSC 238 This recent Supreme Court…

Best Hooper

Case Update: Scope of Council Powers in relation to Compulsory Acquisition

Best Hooper

Getting to Know Excess (Hiatus) Land

As landowners become familiar with their land holdings through surveying data, it is becoming more…

Joel Snyder

VCAT Update – A return to face to face hearings

Eliza Minney

Best Hooper: The Next Generation

Best Hooper is proud to welcome the next generation of equity partners with Romy Davidov…

Joel Snyder & Romy Davidov

The Dangers of Service by Post

Robert McKay

BEST Lawyers recognises BEST Hooper Lawyers

Best Hooper

Compensation for Planning Blights – Amendments to Part 5 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Joel Snyder

Best Hooper recognised again as First Tier Planning & Development Law Firm

The Doyle’s Guide 2021 Victorian Leading Town Planning & Development Law Firm Rankings have just…

Best Hooper

Amendment GC172- policy neutral or material impact?

Edward Mahony

Childcare Centres: Recession Proof Essential Services

Following a year full of challenges, an easing of Covid restrictions has seen some version…

Giancarlo Romano

Roll out of Stage One of the Suburban Rail Loop

Joel Snyder

Clause 52.18 – Planning exemptions to assist in hospitality recovery

Yesterday Amendment VC193 introduced new planning permit exemptions into Clause 52.18 of all planning schemes…

Emily Marson

Leasing Update: Extension of Relief – and some Surprises

Giancarlo Romano

HomeBuilder Scheme – Victorian Guidelines Announced

Following on from the HomeBuilder Scheme announcement by the Federal Government in June this year…

Giancarlo Romano

Giancarlo Romano, our newest Principal Lawyer

Best Hooper

New VCAT Practice Notice PNPE9 – Amendment of Plans and Applications

Emily Marson

Construction to Help us Re-Build – HomeBuilder Scheme Announced

Giancarlo Romano

Virtual Witnessing and Electronic Documents

Due to the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the requirements under…

Best Hooper

Roll Out of North East Link Acquisitions Commences

Emily Marson

Maximising the Development Potential of Land

Whilst COVID-19 has changed the manner in which we work and operate day-to-day, our office…

Best Hooper

COVID-19 – A little bit of positivity goes a long way

Giancarlo Romano

VCAT Update from Deputy President Bisucci – 19 May 2020

Following a VPELA webinar this morning with Deputy President Bisucci, we provide the following updates…

Eliza Minney

Amendments to Corporations Act in Response to COVID-19

Best Hooper

The Best Hooper Version of “Business as Usual”

Along with the majority of other service providers in Australia, we are guilty of professing…

Joel Snyder

Leasing Update: New Regulations Place Onus on Tenants

Giancarlo Romano

Update on VCAT Hearings

Eliza Minney

Land Tax Relief Legislated for Victorians

Giancarlo Romano

Leases Update: Omnibus Bill – Regulations Still to Come

Click here for our FREE Relief Form to assist both Landlords and Tenants by facilitating…

Giancarlo Romano

Planning and Development Update: Omnibus Bill

Best Hooper

APDA Insights Series: Live Interview with John Cicero

APDA, as part of their Insight Series, interviewed our very own John Cicero (Principal of…

Best Hooper

Leasing Update: “Mandatory Code of Conduct” Announced for Commercial Tenancy Relief

Giancarlo Romano

Our new normal

Paul Kelly expressed a view in the Weekend Australian that Scott Morrison has taken the…

John Cicero

COVID-19 – Practical Solutions for landlords and tenants (Part 3)

Giancarlo Romano

COVID-19 – Government Assistance Overview for landlords and tenants (Part 2)

The COVID-19 health crisis has necessitated Government intervention and assistance the world over. The National…

Giancarlo Romano

COVID-19 Leasing Trilogy – a legal overview for landlords and tenants (Part 1)

Giancarlo Romano & Robert McKay

A Letter to Our Developer Community

Best Hooper

10 consecutive years as a first tier leading Town Planning and Development Law Firm

Best Hooper

Visitor car parking the PPTN and the ghost of Benedettis case

This note relates to the VCAT decision in Icecorp Pty Ltd v Boroondara CC [2019]…

Dominic Scally

Have Water Authorities Gone Too Far?

Joel Snyder

Best Hooper Offering Free Legal Services to Victorian Community Groups for those affected by the bushfires

While this new year has sprung upon us in a devastating way, we are always…

Best Hooper

UDIA Life Member Award

Best Hooper

Introduction of Solar Energy Facility guidelines

Amendment VC161 was gazetted on 17 September 2019 to the Planning Schemes which introduces new…

Edward Mahony

Have we hit bottom of the market – population and building approvals projections?

Robert McKay

Garden area requirement revisited

The interpretation of the garden area requirement in General Residential and Neighbourhood Residential Zones was…

Edward Mahony

Best Hooper recognised as a First Tier Planning and Environment Firm and five lawyers recognised in The Doyle’s Guide 2019

Best Hooper

Best Lawyers in Australia 2020 Edition – Ian Pitt QC Wins prestigious Lawyer of the Year Award

Best Hooper

The Plunkett Decision – How it affects loss on sale claims

Joel Snyder

Alkero Reconsidered – The latest development in ‘Jezmac’

Background Jezmac Pty Ltd v Glen Eira CC [2018] VCAT 2053 (Jezmac) was required to…

Eliza Minney

The Roll-Out of Reformed Infrastructure Contributions Plan

Joel Snyder

New regulations for owners corporations

On 3 December 2018, the new Owners Corporations Regulations 2018 (Vic) replaced the existing Owners…

Joel Snyder

VCAT Decision Small Lot Exemption Aboriginal Heritage Regulations

Best Hooper

Ground level – what is natural?

All residential zones detail a ‘maximum building height’. However there has been a number of…

Edward Mahony
What is a Garden?

Garden Area application – per lot or planning unit?

Edward Mahony

A recent warning about bearing the risk of DCP Infrastructure Projects

In a judgment of His Honour Greg Garde, the Supreme Court has considered the treatment…

John Cicero

Integrated Decision Making – A Timely Reminder

Best Hooper

Planning permits and applications may be eligible for reduced car parking

Edward Mahony

AIG forum w Hon. Matthew Guy MP and Mr. John Cicero

Edward Mahony

Amended Garden Area Requirement – Clarity or Further Confusion?

Amendment VC143 was gazetted on 15 May 2018 which revises the garden area requirement contained…

Emily Marson

Garden area requirement Tribunal decisions, clarity or confusion?

Emily Marson

Best Hooper recognised as Best Lawyers in Australia 2019 Edition

Best Hooper is extremely proud to announce that a number of our planning lawyers have…

Best Hooper

Best Hooper recognised in The Doyle’s Guide 2018

Best Hooper

A Slice of Heaven | The Development Potential of Air Rights in Victoria

The Melbourne property market’s future is up in the air – literally. Traditionally, the property…

Joel Snyder
Rose-Mania-now Senior-Associate

Rose Maina now Senior Associate at Best Hooper

Best Hooper

What is a Garden?

In early 2017, the Government introduced further changes to the residential zone provisions.  Significantly, the restriction of the number of dwellings in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone of 2 was removed.  This was a sensible reform.

John Cicero

Due Diligence – How Much is Enough?

Best Hooper

Electronic conveyancing; a no-brainer for property developers

Giancarlo Romano

How healthy is our Victorian residential development industry?

Best Hooper

Is it more than just a simple fencing dispute?

It is not uncommon for, what would appear to be, a simple fencing dispute to…

Best Hooper

Planning scheme amendments to remove/vary restrictive covenants

Edward Mahony

Best Hooper lawyers top Doyle’s Guide 2017

The prestigious Doyle’s Guide 2017 was announced this week, with our firm receiving numerous listings…

Best Hooper

Report and Consent’ under the building regulations – What it is, and what it isn’t

Best Hooper

Good Design gets green light for Seaford Local

An unexpected turn of events during a recent VCAT hearing confirms that good design is…

Dominic Scally

Landowners – Know your rights

Joel Snyder

Why You Should Want a Lawyer (and Not a Robot)

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” Albert Einstein. With the advent of…

Best Hooper

Recognised In The Best Lawyers List

Best Hooper

Trespass by Tower Crane

Best Hooper

VCAT Decision on the Transitional Provisions in Reformed Residential Zones

Tania Cincotta

Development Requires Experience and Passion

Very few people would disagree that there is a housing supply crisis in Australia, yet…

John Cicero

Title Insurance Holds the key for Homeowners and Buyers

Giancarlo Romano

‘Better Apartment Design Guidelines’ The Importance of Dates

One of the recent amendments to the Victorian planning provisions has been the introduction of…

Best Hooper

Melbourne’s Population Set To Soar

Dominic Scally

Avoid a Dispute by doing a little digging

Anyone who has purchased a property will have learnt that the old English doctrine of…

Best Hooper

Best Hooper Launches New Property Transaction Services Division

Giancarlo Romano

Recent Changes To The Victorian State Government’s Planning Provisions

Another week, another change to the Victorian Planning Provisions. On 13 April 2017, the Minister…

Best Hooper

The State Government’s Changes To Residential Zones

Emily Marson

Council Reform Key to Unlock Renewal Development Sites

John Cicero

Highly contested case facing Gardiners Creek in Glen Iris

Romy Davidov

When Mistakes Happen

Imagine coming home one day to discover that your eaves have been cut back and…

Best Hooper

Tribunal’s Latest Decision on the Meaning of Natural Ground Level

Best Hooper

Best Hooper Joins Australia Post’s Land Title Verification of Identity (VOI) Service

Best Hooper recently signed up for Australia Post’s Land Title Verification of Identity (VOI) service…

Emily Marson

The Infrastructure Contributions Plan and Melbourne’s Greenfield Growth Areas

John Cicero

New Regime For Appointing Building Surveyors In Victoria

Recent amendments to the Building Act have seen some important changes to the process of…

Best Hooper

VCAT Decision Favours Laneway Development

Best Hooper

Legislative Changes to the Application of GAIC OCT 2016

We recently reported on Best Hooper’s involvement in the Supreme Court decision of Frontlink Pty…

John Cicero

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