ACT has radically overhauled its strata legislation, especially in relation to sustainability retrofits. Now the NSW Government is undertaking its own review.

The New South Wales Government will commence a comprehensive review of NSW strata and community title laws from mid 2012.

Anyone interested in making comments, raising specific issues or suggesting possible solutions can participate in an online consultation hosted by public policy think tank Global Access Partners. The online forum is open until 29 February 2012. For more details go to www.openforum.com.au/strata.

NSW Fair Trading has issued a safety alert following a Coroner’s report into the death of a young security guard who died from carbon monoxide poisoning from an enclosed gas pool heater in a strata unit block.

Developers are often the barometer of what the market demands, so when you see new residential projects sporting solar panels, vegie plots, bicycle racks, grey-water systems and generous green spaces, you know there's been a marked shift towards more ecologically sustainable design.

The Smart Green Apartments program launched by the City of Sydney on 20th September will help Owners Corporations by providing sustainability assessments for individual buildings. The assessments identify opportunities to improve energy and water efficiency, provide recycling infrastructure within apartment buildings and help residents reduce household waste.