WOBO appreciates the information and support by CreateDigital and Lovegrove and Cotton.

NCC 2025 preview is live

• Water management
• Carpark fire safety
• Commercial energy efficiency
• Condensation mitigation
• All-gender sanitary facilities
• Structural reliability and fire safety Performance Solutions
• Combined sprinkler and hydrant systems

In case you missed it..

Have you seen our ‘NCC 2022 Volume One glazing calculator (Class 2 and 4)’?

This version of the NCC 2022 glazing calculator assists in understanding and applying the NCC Volume One J3 External glazing DTS Provisions for Class 2 or a Class 4 part of a building.

Open the calculator

Lovegrove & Cotton Lawyers Bulletin

This article examines the application of reasonable satisfaction under Briginshaw v Briginshaw in show cause proceedings before the Victorian Building Authority. It explains how the civil standard operates in serious disciplinary matters, why cogent and exact evidence is required where suspension or cancellation is in prospect, and how these principles shape practitioner responses and internal review.

Link to article:Read Article

Western Sydney University highlighting the International Building Quality Centre Model Building Act

We note the recent post by Western Sydney University highlighting the International Building Quality Centre Model Building Act — a world-first statute-ready framework for building safety reform.
Lovegrove & Cotton committed substantial research and development resources to its evolution, with the firm’s founder providing detailed drafting instructions that helped shape the legislative architecture.
It is significant to see this work recognised by a leading legal academic as international building law reform gathers pace.

Link to article:Read Article

How Final is an Occupancy Permit in Victoria?

Uncertainty is emerging around how “final” an Occupancy Permit really is in Victoria, particularly where conditions are attached.
In this article, Justin Cotton, Director of Lovegrove & Cotton Lawyers, and Chair of HIA Industrial Relations & Legal Services Committee, examines two conflicting VCAT decisions and what they mean for builders.
The piece explores implications for completion, suitability for occupation, and final payment claims.
A must-read for practitioners navigating risk at the end of a project lifecycle.
Link to article:

A Guide to Building Dispute Resolution in Victoria

Navigating building disputes in Victoria can be complex, with multiple pathways and procedural requirements.
In this practical guide, Justin Cotton, Director of Lovegrove & Cotton Lawyers, and Chair of HIA Industrial Relations & Legal Services Committee breaks down the key stages from pre-litigation through to VCAT and court proceedings.
The article also explores conciliation via DBDRV and security of payment claims.
An essential overview for anyone involved in construction disputes and potential litigation in Victoria.

Link to article:

Climate science meets policy: A step forward in Australia

Last month in Australia a significant thing happened. The government announced proposed planning reforms to strengthen climate and extreme-weather risk assessment for new developments.

It might not have made international headlines. But in terms of flood risk meeting science meeting policy, it signaled a critical shift. Historically, planning systems have relied on historic data but the new framework recognizes that considering what the environment will be like in the next 50–100 years is more important than what it has been like over the past 50.
This shift comes at a critical time. A few months ago, Fathom’s Chief Operations Officer Dr Andrew Smith was a speaker at a roundtable, convened by Suncorp, bringing together policymakers, insurers and resilience leaders at Parliament House in Canberra.

Up for discussion was how to address a major challenge that Australia (and many other parts of the world) is facing today. There is an urgent need to build more housing but the risks associated with where and how that housing is built are increasing at pace. Climate change means more intense rainfall, rising sea levels and storm surges while at the same time urbanization puts more people and property in harm’s way.

New technologies are being widely adopted that are transforming flood risk assessment, highlighting the impact of factors such as urbanization. This signals two changes. First, we can better identify current and future risk. Secondly, climate science has become a core part of risk infrastructure and is no longer just a specialized field.

It is rare for policy to follow science straight away. More often, it takes time for evidence, economics and political reality to align. The Australian government’s proposed planning reforms could signal that this alignment is beginning to happen, and climate risk is being placed closer to the center of policymaking.

Long may this continue. Fathom is proud to be a leader in the advancement of science, but this has little meaning without tangible action from policy makers and businesses to improve resilience and outcomes for their communities.

The hidden flood risk facing hospitals

New analysis shows at least 170 US hospitals face significant flood risk, with some potentially exposed to more than 15 feet of water during a 1-in-100-year event. Flooding doesn’t just threaten buildings. It can disrupt emergency access, damage critical systems and impact patient care when communities need it most. As climate extremes intensify and mapping gaps persist, better data and system-wide resilience planning are becoming critical for healthcare infrastructure.

Read the full insight to see where risks are growing, how a healthcare flood resilience study works in practice, and why better flood data is critical for protecting vital infrastructure. Read now

Webinar on demand: Using advanced flood risk modeling to strengthen emergency management planning and response

State agencies face rising flood risks and outdated maps. In partnership with WSP and NEMA, this webinar shows how high-resolution, climate-conditioned flood data can drive faster, actionable emergency planning – from hazard mitigation to evacuation strategies. Learn how to turn static maps into decision-ready flood intelligence.  Watch now