VICTORIAN Roads and Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder last week announced that works to improve public transport reliability and travel times along two of Victoria's busiest arterial roads, Victoria Parade and Hoddle Street, will start over the next few months.

"VicRoads is about to begin consultation with the City of Melbourne and Yarra City Council to finalise plans to implement $32 million worth of vital improvements to public transport," Mr Mulder said.

LATE night trading in Melbourne's central shopping precinct will add life and vibrancy to the CBD, encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more, according to peak national industry body Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle last week announced that from 22 April, all retailers in and around Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central, Melbourne's GPO and the new Emporium Melbourne will trade until at least 7pm every night.

NEW South Wales Planning and Infrastructure last week announced that the proposal for a new commercial office, entertainment and retail building on the site of the IMAX at Darling Harbour will be determined by the independent Planning Assessment Commission.

The proposal represents an investment of $269 million in new facilities at Darling Harbour, consistent with plans to revitalise the precinct. The proponent intends to keep the theatre and upgrade the surrounding area for the community including a new playground.

NEW South Wales Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has announced that the NSW Government has completed the implementation of the Opal electronic ticketing system on the train network and will now move to the rollout on buses.

In a statement last week, Ms Berejiklian said Opal is now live at 66 extra stations on the Central Coast, Hunter and Blue Mountains lines – completing the rollout of Opal on all Sydney Ferries services and 308 suburban and intercity train stations.

THE Queensland Government last week announced that plans to boost the region's economy through the commercial transformation of Southport as the Gold Coast's central business district have been released for public consultation.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the draft development scheme sets out the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council's joint vision to establish Southport Priority Development Area (PDA).

THE Queensland Government last week said it will consider a ministerial call-in of the development application for a proposed wind farm near Mareeba in North Queensland, following a request from council.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said he was using his powers under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 to issue a proposed call-in notice for the proposed Mount Emerald Wind Farm at Arriga.

SOUTH Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis last week helped turn the sod to mark the start of construction of the new $65 million Brickworks Marketplace development in Torrensville, which is expected to create more than 800 construction and retail jobs.

Mr Koutsantonis said the 17,000 square metre Marketplace development, which is expected to open in mid 2015, will include a Woolworths supermarket, Big W discount department store, 29 speciality shops including Dan Murphy's and 700 on grade car parks.

BROOKFIELD Multiplex has commenced construction on Perth's largest hotel development, the six-star Crown Towers Perth, which is due for completion in late 2016 and will include 500 rooms, along with a pool, restaurants, bars, a grand ballroom, convention centre and private gaming salons.

The new Crown Towers Perth is located on a riverfront site at Burswood and adjoining the existing Crown Perth Resort. It aims to complement the existing resort, which features a 24 hour casino, 688 hotel rooms and facilities including restaurants, conference rooms, ballrooms, retail and theatre.

WEST Australian Planning Minister John Day last week announced approval of the Albany Local Planning Scheme (LPS1), which replaces two existing schemes and aims to provide clarity and consistency on planning matters across the City of Albany.

Mr Day said the city had been operating with two schemes since the Town of Albany and Shire of Albany amalgamated in 1998. The new scheme sets out the zones, reserves, acceptable land uses and development requirements within the Albany urban centre and 12 rural town sites and settlements.

ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell last week announced that legislation that aims to help cut through building and construction industry red tape and fast-track priority developments in the Territory has been agreed to in the Assembly.

The Planning and Development (Project Facilitation) Amendment Bill 2014 was agreed to in principle and has now been referred to a committee for more consultation before being debated in May.