A green roof has a top layer of plants growing in a lightweight medium on top of an impermeable barrier.Benefits include:1. Protect the building against the elements.2. Cut energy costs for heating and cooling due to thermal insulation and mass.3. Prevent rainwater runoff hitting the stormwater drains.4. Absorb CO2.5. Reduce the "urban heat island" effect.6. Promote biodiversity by providing habitat for insects and birds. 7. Improve air quality.Maintenance is similar to the upkeep of a lawn and/or garden. Green roofs can be retrofitted, although it's more cost-effective to install them during construction.

Owners corporations of large apartments have avoided reporting issues said David Chandler NSW Building Commissioner, because of fears for their apartments’ reputation. But by the time they have reached a dead end in the courts, “they’ve run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, they’ve had no defects repaired, and because of the passage of time the developer has wound up their company”. “The message has got to be: ‘Tell us about them earlier.’” In December, last year the NSW state government removed Chandler’s department from within NSW Fair Trading and established it as a standalone agency, Building Commission NSW with many more staff to enforce standards. https://www.smh.com.

Many of Australia's iconic "three storey walk-up" unit blocks are old and in desperate need of modernisation. Without external capital, however, the renovation bill has to be funded by the unitholders via strata levies.At the same time, there are very few greenfield (or brownfield) residential development sites in our popular (and crowded) inner cities.  An innovative solution is to use airspace and literally go "up on roof".  Strata corporations can develop this space themselves (if they have the means), or sell the airspace to one of their members, or a property developer.It's a win/win.More information: https://www.buyairspace.com.au/