VICTORIAN Planning Minister Matthew Guy last week announced a 50,000 lot land supply target for Melbourne's growth corridors in 2014, saying that it is vital for the Victorian economy that the supply of land for housing growth is strong.

The 50,000 lot land supply target will be delivered by the Metropolitan Planning Authority and applies to land in Melbourne's western, northern and south-eastern growth corridors, with all land to be located within Melbourne's urban growth boundary.

THE Victorian Coalition Government is investigating the strategic and commercial options for the future of Victoria's state-owned ports, Treasurer Michael O'Brien confirmed last week, with a scoping study to be finalised prior to the release of the 2014-15 state budget.

"The Coalition Government is carefully considering the future of Victoria's port assets to ensure they deliver the best return to Victorian taxpayers," Mr O'Brien said, adding that any "future decision on assets that are critical to the economic vitality of Victoria, such as our ports, needs to be made responsibly."

NEW South Wales Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian last week said that light rail in Sydney has moved another step forward, with three major international consortia invited to tender for a Public Private Partnership to deliver and operate the light rail network.

The government has now formally released a Request for Proposals for the major contract covering the design, construction, services relocations, operation, maintenance and finance of the new 12-kilometre CBD and South East Light Rail. The successful tenderer will also operate and maintain the expanded Inner West Light Rail network.

NEW South Wales Planning and Infrastructure last week said that hundreds of new homes and jobs will be created through the revitalisation of the former Kolotex and Labelcraft facilities at adjoining sites on George St, Leichhardt, following the approval of an amendment to the Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

The two factory sites, which are located near Lewisham railway station, bus services along Parramatta Road and the soon-to-be-finished Taverners Hill light rail stop, will be developed into a medium-density residential community with approximately 330 new dwellings.

NEW South Wales Planning and Infrastructure last week placed on public exhibition amendments to the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP), which aim to guide the revitalisation of Newcastle's city centre while protecting its unique character.

The Department said the amendments, which follow feedback received during the community consultation period last year, will help determine the shape of the Newcastle city centre and show how transport infrastructure can support urban renewal.

NEW planning controls to streamline development at the state's three major ports were introduced by the New South Wales Government last week to help facilitate the Port of Newcastle's transition to a private long-term lease operation.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard said under the new State Environmental Planning Policy (Three Ports) 2014, planning controls at the Port of Newcastle will mirror those at Port Kembla and Port Botany.NSW Treasury is currently seeking an operator to sign a 98-year lease for the Port of Newcastle, with $340 million from its proceeds to be spent on revitalising the Newcastle CBD.

QUEENSLAND Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney last week announced that twenty regional councils across the state can commence work on Royalties for the Regions Round 2 projects, after their detailed business cases were selected to proceed.

A total of almost $100 million will go towards a range of projects in regional Queensland, including road upgrades, water treatment and supply facilities and important services like childcare.

QUEENSLAND Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney last week said that a total of 19 national and international developers have registered their interest in delivering up to three new world-class integrated resort developments in Queensland.

At the close of registration, a total of 12 proponents had registered their interest in delivering an integrated resort development at the nine-hectare Queen's Wharf Brisbane site. In addition, seven developers expressed interest in developing an integrated resort in regional Queensland.

THE Queensland Government last week announced that the proposed $600 million Capricorn Integrated Resort near Yeppoon has moved to the next stage after the Coordinator-General released the final terms of reference for the project's environmental impact statement (EIS).

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the potential project was an exciting tourism venture that could create more than 20,000 jobs. 

THE West Australian Government last week announced that construction will soon commence on South Hedland's first four-star hotel, which is being delivered under the government's Pilbara Cities initiative that aims to revitalise South Hedland into a modern town.

The 120-room, five-storey hotel, which is being developed by Hickory Group and was designed by architects Fender Katsalidis, will be located on the corner of Wise Terrace and McLarty Boulevard. Construction is expected to begin in April 2014 and the hotel is scheduled to be in operation by December 2014.