The Building Amendment (Swimming Pool and Spa) Regulations 2019, imposing new compliance requirements on all owners with swimming pools and spas, commenced on 1 December 2019. It applies to all swimming pools and spas that are capable of holding more than 300mm of water. This includes outdoor and indoor swimming pools, outdoor and indoor spas, portable, relocatable, bathing, wading and above-ground pools. Read More
People with limited decision-making capacity may soon have more power to manage their own personal and financial affairs under legislation which will this month come into effect in Victoria. The new guardianship laws aim to strike the balance between empowering and protecting Victorians whose capacity to make decisions is limited because of a disability. The Guardianship and Administration Act 2019 (Vic) governs the appointments and powers of guardians and administrators and introduces supportive guardian and administrator appointments. Read More
Just when everyone thought that there was a thorough understanding on what type of cladding is considered non-compliant because it is combustible, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal handed down a decision about a dispute that did not involve the ill-reputed aluminium composite panels that were declared as being highly combustible. Rather, this matter considered proprietary architectural product called Biowood. If you are not familiar with this product, just picture McDonalds with its wood-like façade. Read More
The principals and staff of Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams are very pleased to welcome the team from Boothby & Boothby to our firm. They are based at our Mount Waverley office and practise predominantly in our property and wills and estates departments. Wills and other deeds that were held by Boothby & Boothby are now held by Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams. Read More
Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams Lawyers have merged with the Malvern East law practice of John R Sharkie, Lawyers & Solicitors. John Sharkie and Brendan O'Keefe have both moved across to Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams and are based at our Mount Waverley Office. Read More
The Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Bill 2019 (Bill) was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Victorian State Government on 15 October 2019. The Bill introduces amendments to the Building Act 1993 (Principal Act) including but not limited to: Read More