Latest articles by Dr Janette Corcoran
October: the month of strata conferences
October could well be dubbed “Strata Conference Month”, with all corners of the sector hosting their own gatherings.
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Apartment Living Forum exposes strata blind spots in government
On September 16, local State MP for Melbourne Ellen Sandell convened a public forum at RMIT’s Storey Hall on the theme of apartment living.
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OC Act review webinar highlights complex issues facing owners
On Friday, August 29, the Owners’ Corporation Network (OCN) hosted a free webinar on the Victorian Government’s review of the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (OC Act).
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Victorian Government’s in-house buyer sparks fresh concern for apartment communities
In late July it was reported that Homes Victoria, the Victorian Government’s housing agency, is hiring an “internal homebuyer.”
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Owners corporations’ must matter in Melbourne’s budget
In a neighbourhood where nearly every resident lives in a high-rise apartment, the absence of any meaningful focus on owners’ corporations (OCs) in the City of Melbourne’s draft 2025–26 budget is deeply concerning.
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Financial shake-up for owners’ corporations
Following an announcement by Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos, significant changes are coming for Victorian owners’ corporations (OCs) — and they may have far-reaching impacts on financial management.
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Strata committee training: necessity or burden?
Owners’ corporation (OC) committees play a vital role in managing our residential buildings. Yet these annually elected volunteers often face wide-spread criticism ranging from accusations of misunderstanding complex strata regulations to internal dysfunction, to explicit conflicts of interest.
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Better strata living in 2025
We closed out 2024 with two final strata improvement activities.
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Advocating for residential strata: an overdue focus on energy efficiency
November marked a significant event for energy-conscious communities, with Melbourne hosting the 2024 Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) Buildings Energy Performance Summit.
Read MoreShort-Stay Levy Bill: what it might mean for vertical villages
The Victorian Government is currently considering amendments to the Owners’ Corporation (OC) Act 2006 that would give OCs new powers to manage short-stay operations, like Airbnb, in their residential buildings.
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Headleasing in residential strata
The Victorian Government’s 2023 Housing Statement aims to increase housing supply, but one initiative – “headleasing” apartments – raises significant concerns for the residential strata sector.
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Upcoming council elections: a call for local focus
As the council elections approach, Docklanders are being courted by candidates seeking their support. This brings up an important question: what can we reasonably expect from our local representatives?
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HighLife Expo: listening to the voices of residential strata
The recent HighLife Expo featured a range of activities, including webinars, stalls, and forums – along with a Listening Post.
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Owners’ Corporation Network: putting residential strata on a national footing
Several things are well known about residential strata. First and foremost is that it is now a mainstream way of living throughout Australia.
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Strife in strata: shedding light on conflicts of interest
The recent exposé aired on ABC’s 7.30 program has left many Docklanders reeling, unveiling a troubling reality of embedded conflicts of interest within strata management services.
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Disconnect between council and residential strata
In recent years, the landscape of Victoria, especially in Docklands, has been reshaped by the rise of strata-titled properties. Yet, despite their prevalence, there is a glaring lack of understanding within local council about how residential strata operates.
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Lithium-ion batteries in strata: webinar
The Owners’ Corporation Network (OCN) will host a free online webinar on Thursday, February 15 from 12pm to 1pm on the growing importance of rechargeable lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries to high-rise living.
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Radical retrofits
Ninety-nine percent of Docklanders reside in apartments, and a growing number of their residential buildings are fast approaching their two-decade mark.
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How cyber-secure are our vertical villages?
Technology has changed the landscape of when, where and how crimes are committed – and our vertical villages have already been breached!
Read MoreState election – representing vertical villages?
One in four Victorians live in residential strata – but are our vertical villages on the election agenda?
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