Insights Library

Case Update: Application and Drafting of Development Contribution Plans

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by Best Hooper

Getting to Know Excess (Hiatus) Land

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

Article by Joel Snyder
& Ruby Rockman

VCAT Update – A return to face to face hearings

Article by Eliza Minney

Best Hooper: The Next Generation

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

Article by Joel Snyder
& Romy Davidov

The Dangers of Service by Post

Article by Robert McKay

BEST Lawyers recognises BEST Hooper Lawyers

Best Hooper is extremely proud to announce that, once again, members of our legal team…

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by Joel Snyder
& Ruby Rockman

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…

Article by Best Hooper

Amendment GC172- policy neutral or material impact?

Article by Edward Mahony

Childcare Centres: Recession Proof Essential Services

Article by Giancarlo Romano

Roll out of Stage One of the Suburban Rail Loop

Article by Joel Snyder
& Ruby Rockman

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…

Article by Emily Marson

Leasing Update: Extension of Relief – and some Surprises

Article by Giancarlo Romano

HomeBuilder Scheme – Victorian Guidelines Announced

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

Article by Giancarlo Romano
& Adam Pincus

Giancarlo Romano, our newest Principal Lawyer

Article by Best Hooper

New VCAT Practice Notice PNPE9 – Amendment of Plans and Applications

Amongst a number of changes introduced to the Planning and Environment List is the introduction…

Article by Emily Marson

Construction to Help us Re-Build – HomeBuilder Scheme Announced

Article by Giancarlo Romano
& Adam Pincus

Virtual Witnessing and Electronic Documents

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

Article by Ruby Rockman

Roll Out of North East Link Acquisitions Commences

Article by Emily Marson

Maximising the Development Potential of Land

Article by Lucy Eastoe

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

Article by 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…

Article by Eliza Minney

Amendments to Corporations Act in Response to COVID-19

Article by Ruby Rockman

The Best Hooper Version of “Business as Usual”

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

Article by Joel Snyder

Leasing Update: New Regulations Place Onus on Tenants

Article by Giancarlo Romano

Update on VCAT Hearings

The Victorian Planning & Environmental Law Association held a seminar this morning in relation to…

Article by Eliza Minney

Land Tax Relief Legislated for Victorians

Article by Giancarlo Romano
& Adam Pincus

Leases Update: Omnibus Bill – Regulations Still to Come

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

Article by Giancarlo Romano
& Adam Pincus

Planning and Development Update: Omnibus Bill

Article by Jun Yu

APDA Insights Series: Live Interview with John Cicero

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by Giancarlo Romano

Our new normal

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

Article by John Cicero

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

Article by 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…

Article by Giancarlo Romano

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

Article by Giancarlo Romano
& Robert McKay

A Letter to Our Developer Community

To Our Developer Community, In these unprecedented times, we cannot predict how this will look…

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by 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]…

Article by Dominic Scally

Have Water Authorities Gone Too Far?

Article by Joel Snyder

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

Article by Best Hooper

UDIA Life Member Award

Article by Best Hooper

Introduction of Solar Energy Facility guidelines

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

Article by Edward Mahony

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

Article by Robert McKay

Garden area requirement revisited

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

Article by Edward Mahony

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

Article by Best Hooper

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

Best Hooper is extremely proud to announce that a number of our Planning and Land…

Article by Best Hooper

The Plunkett Decision – How it affects loss on sale claims

Article by Joel Snyder

Alkero Reconsidered – The latest development in ‘Jezmac’

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

Article by Eliza Minney

The Roll-Out of Reformed Infrastructure Contributions Plan

Article by Joel Snyder

New regulations for owners corporations

Article by Joel Snyder

VCAT Decision Small Lot Exemption Aboriginal Heritage Regulations

Article by Lucy Eastoe

Ground level – what is natural?

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

Article by Edward Mahony
What is a Garden?

Garden Area application – per lot or planning unit?

Article by 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…

Article by John Cicero

Integrated Decision Making – A Timely Reminder

Article by Best Hooper

Planning permits and applications may be eligible for reduced car parking

Very recently, the State Government introduced Amendment VC148 to Planning Schemes, which applies to all…

Article by Edward Mahony

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

Article by 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…

Article by Emily Marson

Garden area requirement Tribunal decisions, clarity or confusion?

Article by Emily Marson

Best Hooper recognised as Best Lawyers in Australia 2019 Edition

Article by Best Hooper

Best Hooper recognised in The Doyle’s Guide 2018

Article by 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…

Article by Joel Snyder
Rose-Mania-now Senior-Associate

Rose Maina now Senior Associate at Best Hooper

Article by 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.

Article by John Cicero

Due Diligence – How Much is Enough?

Article by Best Hooper

Electronic conveyancing; a no-brainer for property developers

Best Hooper has been an expert in the property and land sector areas of law…

Article by Giancarlo Romano

How healthy is our Victorian residential development industry?

Article by 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…

Article by Best Hooper

Planning scheme amendments to remove/vary restrictive covenants

Article by Edward Mahony

Best Hooper lawyers top Doyle’s Guide 2017

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by 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…

Article by Dominic Scally

Landowners – Know your rights

Article by 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…

Article by Best Hooper

Recognised In The Best Lawyers List

Article by Best Hooper

Trespass by Tower Crane

A hammerhead tower crane that was entering the airspace above an abutting residential property in…

Article by Best Hooper

VCAT Decision on the Transitional Provisions in Reformed Residential Zones

Article by Tania Cincotta

Development Requires Experience and Passion

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

Article by John Cicero

Title Insurance Holds the key for Homeowners and Buyers

Article by Giancarlo Romano

‘Better Apartment Design Guidelines’ The Importance of Dates

Article by Best Hooper

Melbourne’s Population Set To Soar

Article by 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…

Article by Best Hooper

Best Hooper Launches New Property Transaction Services Division

Article by 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…

Article by Lucy Eastoe

The State Government’s Changes To Residential Zones

Article by Emily Marson

Council Reform Key to Unlock Renewal Development Sites

As a 28-level tower has recently been given approval as part of Lendlease’s $2.5 billion…

Article by John Cicero

Highly contested case facing Gardiners Creek in Glen Iris

Article by Romy Davidov

When Mistakes Happen

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

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by Best Hooper

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

Article by Emily Marson

The Infrastructure Contributions Plan and Melbourne’s Greenfield Growth Areas

Article by 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…

Article by Best Hooper

VCAT Decision Favours Laneway Development

Article by 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…

Article by John Cicero

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