If you are referring to building regulations, that is there to protect the future buyer, not the owner. Without regs; there would be a shambles, wouldn't there. To go without regs, you could sell the block of land, but not any improvements. Regulations are only a small cost, compared to the developement, of a livable occupancy. Unless you are referring to cutting corners.

<If you are referring to building regulations>

No, I am not, but your comment illustrates how property owners have lost their rights.

Basically a whole lot of scaremongering ensues about the utter catastrophe that would ensue were property owners allowed to build anything which meets health and safety standards. (Of course, there would be no such catastrophe, as is evidenced by the many great cities that were founded without planning departments.) Then the rights are taken from property owners and administered secretly and obscurely by government, naturally for the greater good: Like socialism really, and equally successful in its achievements. i.e. Record housing costs, high rents ruining the competitiveness of retailers, and record corruption for a level of government to name the highlights.

Ros Elliott is a breath of fresh air by advocating a capitalistic/free market approach to planning. Well done.

The unregulated approach did work once, when block sizes were much bigger. These days we have to have standards to guide us, There is no rules against designing your own structure, it just has to comply with the building code. If you want your house not aligned in the frontage as other houses, all you need is your neighbors approval, easy.

<These days we have to have standards to guide us>

I agree that there is great benefit from having health and safety requirements for buildings.

<There is no rules against designing your own structure, it just has to comply with the building code.>

Yes, take a drive through any new suburb and note the conformity. Funny how everyone wants the same thing, isn't it?

<all you need is your neighbors approval>

What business is it of your neighbour what you build if it meets health and safety standards? But what better way for Council to divert attention from their own severe control by arguing that they are satisfying the concerns of residents? Though such concerns go out the window when a rabbit warren development for their mates gets the nod at a secret planning approval meeting.

Control up to a point is beneficial, but beyond that point any benefit erodes: Control over development in Australia has gone way past that point, and is causing structural harm to the economy.

Great article.

This is the problem with current government and planners, they take us tax payers for granted.

It is well known that small business is the largest employer we have, yet, governments today pay little respect to the owners, the risk takers who take risks, which ultimately create the jobs for the employees.

They make changes to IR laws that may well provide working conditions that are the envy of most countries, but they forget that the main purpose of small business is to make money.

The last 9 days has seen 5 public holidays. So business either closes, or pays huge wages, either way, profits are diminished which effects the risk V profit equation, and remember, if the risks get to high, the risk takers just say it's all to hard now.

It can all be solved with a surcharge, illegal in Queensland.

As for suggestions for 2012, may I suggest a change in the way they hand out money in the way of grants.

Instead of the first home buyers grant, how about an interest free loan instead. A loan that must be repaid if and when the home is either sold, or borrowed against.

At lest then, someone else could have the benefit of this tax payer funded gift.

A Butch you should put that in an email and send it to Julia, good idea.
Some people reckon they should be able to do their own power wiring also. It is all set up to protect the person that comes after you. Thats why the regulations. The only way your idea would work is to clear the block if you ever wanted to sell it. The houses that all look alike is they are builders plans. Internet sales are taking off, and cheaper. We have had a butcher on the phone for years. You order two weeks in advance and then gets delivered.