The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 40-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 40-storey tower, which has just shy of 230 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Dispute Resolution

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<div>The newly created Australian Financial Complaints Authority, to begin operation on November 1, is a vital step to streamlining dispute resolution, according to a statement from the Australian Banking Association.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>They believe it will make the dispute resolution process easier to access and easier to understand for customers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>CEO of the Australian Banking Association Anna Bligh said banks are strong supporters of external dispute resolution and supported streamlining the process to better help customers understand where they need to go if they have a complaint.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“A fast, free and binding service which deals with disputes outside of court is the best way for a customer’s issue to be heard and quickly resolved,” Ms Bligh said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“AFCA will have increased powers including expanded scope to hear disputes from larger businesses and the ability to award compensation for direct and indirect financial loss and non-financial loss."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>She stated, “the Banking Code of Practice will be used by AFCA as the new benchmark for industry practice, considering in its investigations if a bank has breached the Code and therefore its contract with the customer,” she said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>All ABA banks are members of the scheme therefore financially contribute to AFCA, which will ultimately be fully funded by contributions from the broader financial services industry.</div>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Banks welcome 'one stop shop' for resolving disputes: ABA

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Fast-food franchisee SumoSalad has reportedly managed to negotiate lower rents from reluctant landlord Westfield through its tactic of insolvency laws.
The two parties are close to a mutually favourable commercial outcome, with the final details to be sorted out by early next week, Australian Financial Review columnist Tony Boyd wrote in Chanticleer.
The deal is expected to attract great attention from retailers operating in large shopping centres because it will show that it is possible to tip the balance of power from landlords back to tenants, Boyd said. 
SumoSalad co-founder Luke Baylis said on Tuesday he was negotiating better rental terms at Westfield centres, without going into details. 
SumoSalad’s boss put two of the 20 companies in his group into voluntary administration in June, escalating the tension between the fast food chain and Westfield after failed attempts over six months to negotiate cuts in leasing charges.
The two companies, Sumo Westfield Leasing Pty Ltd and Sumo Leasing Pty Ltd, were put into voluntary administration with Morgan Kelly and Peter Gothard from Ferrier Hodgson appointed voluntary administrators. 
Baylis’s contention was that SumoSalad franchisees had suffered from the opening of new food eating areas which, according to him, was designed to increase foot traffic but had cannibalised the sales of SumoSalad outlets because of increased competition.
"Using the voluntary administration law involved a more strategic approach in terms of negotiating," Baylis said.
He added that SumoSalad was well prepared for using the insolvency laws because all of its leases were held in separate companies within the SumoSalad Group. The two SumoSalad leasing companies had 63 separate leases across 25 different lessors. Westfield was responsible for 19 of them.
Kelly compared the use of the voluntary administration laws by SumoSalad to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy law in the United States. 
“You have protection from your creditors while you negotiate a commercial outcome,” he said.
"I believe the use of the laws in this way is unprecedented.” 
Kelly said in a report to creditors that many SumoSalad franchisees were not trading profitability "primarily due to high levels of rent" and led to a number of them “abandoning their sites”.
Baylis says that while the strategic use of insolvency laws had been effective, it would cost him about $250,000.
 
 
 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

SumoSalad close to winning lower rental deal with landlord Westfield

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), which is now expected to commence on 1 October 2016, makes some significant changes to the existing statutory dispute resolution procedures that strata manager’s, owners corporations and lot owners should be aware of. These are detailed below but first, we look at the existing dispute resolution process.
The Current Dispute Resolution Process
The current Act, the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), requires most strata disputes to be mediated prior to an application being accepted by the NSW Civil &amp; Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) registry. There are a few exceptions including applications for interim orders and applications for the compulsory appointment of a strata manager. Mediations are usually conducted by mediators from the Office of Fair Trading. Mediations can take between one to three weeks to arrange.
Adjudicator’s Orders 
If an agreement was not reached at mediation, or, if the mediation agreement has been breached, in most instances the next step is to file an application for Strata Scheme’s Adjudicator’s orders. These applications are “heard on the papers”. This means that the applicant, respondent and any interested parties must file written submissions and evidence in accordance with the timetable provided by the NCAT registry. Evidence is usually by way of a statutory declaration. To view submissions made by interested parties you must contact the NCAT registry and make arrangements to view the file. NCAT copying fees will apply if you wish to make copies. After the closing date for submissions, an Adjudicator is assigned and they review the filed documents and make a written decision which is then posted out to the parties.
If you wish to appeal the decision of an Adjudicator then you must file an application for NCAT orders. Strict time limits apply and legal advice should be sought on the date the order takes effect and the time limit for filing an appeal. Leave to appeal outside of time can be applied for however it can be difficult to obtain. Costs orders are not available in this type of application.
Interim Orders 
These are Adjudicator’s orders that are made on an urgent and usually ex parte (meaning without the other party being present) basis. They are generally reserved for matters where an order is required to preserve the status quo prior to an Adjudicator making final orders. Interim order applications must be filed together with applications for Adjudicator’s orders.
Tribunal Orders
Applications for Tribunal orders are filed with the NCAT Registry. The Registry serves the application and a notice of directions hearing. Unlike Adjudicator’s orders, the parties must attend NCAT for hearings. Applications can be made for telephone hearings in some circumstances.
There is no right of appearance in NCAT and leave to appear must be sought at either the first directions hearing or in writing beforehand. At the first direction hearing, orders setting out a timetable for the progression of the matter are made. These will include dates when submissions and evidence are due. The Registry will also re-list the matter, for a further directions hearing or for final hearing.
Although the rules of evidence do not apply (except in civil penalty matters such as for a breach of a notice to comply) the proceedings are similar to court proceedings in that both parties are to appear and argue their case before a NCAT member. The Member may restrict each parties’ time to provide arguments and adduce its evidence. At the end of arguments the Member may reserve their decision or give an oral decision when the arguments have closed. You have the right to request written reasons for the decision.
Appeals are strictly limited both in time and the types of appeals that can be made. We recommend you seek legal advice before instituting any appeal.
 The new NCAT Process
The Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 provides for a new dispute resolution process. Owners Corporations can establish their own independent dispute resolution process and the NCAT is given wider powers. Mediation is still required however prior to applying for orders for most types of matters.
Arguably the largest change is that there will be no more applications for Adjudicator’s orders and all applications must be made for Tribunal orders. This means that all applications will now be heard in person (or if leave is granted over the telephone) and parties will need to attend the NCAT to present their arguments and evidence. Leave to appear is still required and the same provisions of the Civil &amp; Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) apply to applications for leave. The process for Tribunal orders detailed above will remain the same although it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of matters listed at each directions hearing (meaning more time should be set aside to attend directions hearings) due to all matters now being heard by the Tribunal.
The ability to appeal from a Tribunal decision is unchanged. 
Allison Benson is legal practitioner director, Kerin Benson Lawyers and can be contacted <a href="https://kerinbensonlawyers.com.au/">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Property 101:  Dispute resolution and NCAT

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Adjudication
The process of determining an adjudication application. Adjudicators consider written material submitted by parties, and undertake further investigations if required. Adjudication does not involve a hearing.
Adjudicator
A professionally qualified, independent decision-maker who determines adjudication applications under the BCCM Act. In making decisions, adjudicators are not subject to direction (for example, by the Commissioner or Attorney-General).
See also Specialist Adjudicator
Administrator
A person appointed by an adjudicator to undertake specified functions of a body corporate, committee or committee member, such as calling a general meeting of the body corporate.
Affected person 
A person named by an applicant as being affected by the outcome sought in a conciliation or adjudication application. 
Appeal           
An application by a person aggrieved by an order to overturn the order. Adjudicator’s orders can be appealed to QCAT on a question of law and referee’s orders can be appealed to the Magistrates Court. The BCCM Office is not a party to an appeal and has no role in the appeal.
Applicant
A person who applies for conciliation or adjudication under the BCCM Act or for an order of a referee under the BUGT Act.
Application
A request, made in the required form and accompanied by the prescribed fee, for conciliation or for an order of an adjudicator or a referee.
Amendment
A request by an applicant to change or add to their application. Amendments require the approval of the commissioner, which may be subject to conditions if sought after parties have been invited to make submissions.
BCCM Act
Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997.
BCCM Office 
Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management.
Body corporate
The legal entity created when a community titles scheme is established. All lot owners are automatically members of the body corporate. The ‘body corporate’ is different from the ‘committee’ elected to administer it on a day-to-day basis or a ‘body corporate manager’ engaged to assist with administrative duties. Distinct from a ‘body corporate manager’.
Body corporate manager
A manager (individual or a company) may be appointed by a body corporate to provide administrative services (for example, sending out levy and meeting notices). Distinct from a ‘body corporate’.
BUGT Act
Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980.
Case management 
The assessment of an application to determine if it meets the requirements of the body corporate legislation, and the management of applications through to their referral to conciliation or adjudication.
Commissioner
Manages the dispute resolution and information services provided by the BCCM Office. The Commissioner makes decisions about the case management of applications under the BCCM Act, but does not consider the merit of an application, make orders, or review orders.
Complex dispute
A dispute which can only be determined by QCAT or a specialist adjudicator. Includes certain disputes about contractual matters and lot entitlement issues.
Conciliation   
A process in which the parties to a dispute meet with a conciliator to try and reach agreement on how to resolve the dispute.
Conciliator     
An impartial dispute resolution professional who assists parties to resolve their dispute. The conciliator does not decide the merits of a dispute or how to resolve it.
Conciliation agreement       
The written document signed by the parties to a conciliation application, detailing the things they have agreed on. It is a good will agreement and is not legally enforceable.
Consent order          
An order made in the terms agreed to by the parties. A consent order can be enforced but cannot be appealed.
Declaratory order    
An application for an order about an operational matter where there is no dispute and no respondent (e.g., requests to change the financial year end date). A declaratory order is not appropriate where there is a dispute over an issue or an applicant is seeking an interpretation of or a ruling on a legal issue.
Dispute resolution recommendation         
A decision of the commissioner or delegate as to how an application should be resolved (e.g. conciliation or adjudication).
Dismissal       
A decision of the commissioner or an adjudicator not to decide an application that is within the jurisdiction, on the basis that it would be better determined in a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction. 
Emergency application        
An application that can be referred to an adjudicator to determine without the usual submissions process, usually if there is no dispute (eg. if a body corporate seeks urgent authorisation of spending).
Expeditable application      
An application for final orders that may be progressed more quickly, either because there is no dispute or because of the urgency of the circumstances.
Extension       
Extra time which may be allowed on the due date to provide information, make a submission, or reply to submissions.
Interim order
A temporary order which puts an action on hold or keeps things as they are until a final order can be made about the dispute. Interim orders are distinct from expeditable applications. 
Jurisdiction    
The legislative power of a conciliator to conciliate an application; or an adjudicator or referee to decide an application.
Order  
The written decision of an adjudicator or referee to determine an application, accompanied by a statement of reasons. An order may grant or dismiss the orders sought, or made alternative orders. An order is legally binding and enforceable. It is an offence to contravene an order.
See also Interim order, Declaratory order and Consent order 
Parties to a dispute  
Those named in an application as being involved in a dispute – the applicant, respondent and affected persons.
QCAT  Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. QCAT determines appeals of adjudicators’ orders and complex disputes, as well as disputes about debts owed by owners to a body corporate. 
Referee           
A professionally qualified, independent decision-maker who determines applications for orders under the BUGT Act 
Regulation module   
Each community titles scheme is registered under one of five regulations (subordinate legislation) made under the BCCM Act which helps determine the procedures applicable to that scheme.
Rejection       
A decision of the commissioner to end an application, for example because it is not within jurisdiction, or the applicant has not attempted self-resolution or conciliation, or the applicant has not supplied requested information.
Reply to submissions           
A written response made by an applicant to the submissions made about their application. 
Respondent  
A person named by an applicant as the person against whom the outcome in an application is sought. 
Self resolution           
Attempts to resolve a dispute before lodging an application. Self-resolution is compulsory for all applications.
Specialist adjudicator          
A professionally qualified, independent decision-maker who determines adjudication applications, particularly complex disputes, under the BCCM Act. Appointed by the commissioner at the request and with the agreement of the parties to the dispute.
Submission   
Written comments on an application made by a person invited to make a submission. Submissions cannot be confidential.
Withdrawal   
A request by an applicant not to proceed with an application. An application must be withdrawn in writing.
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