Author: lauraj

NSW Architecture Awards shortlist announced

This year’s juries for the 2018 NSW Architecture Awards have revealed their shortlist of 92 entries. The shortlist was developed following an intensive schedule of presentations followed by site visits to consider 206 entries received across 10 categories, with a notable increase in entries in the Residential and Interior Architecture categories.

The winners in each category will be announced at the 2018 NSW Architecture Awards ceremony on Friday 6 July at The Venue in Sydney’s Alexandria.

Peter Mould, Chair of Juries, said: “I have had the privilege of overseeing the awards program since 2016 and every year I appreciate the variety and richness of opinions generated by debate about architectural excellence.

“This year’s panel chairs were also challenged to determine an overall winning project, which will receive the newly introduced NSW Architecture Medallion”, he added. “There are a number of outstanding projects among this year’s entries, and deliberations are still underway.”

The winner of the inaugural NSW Architecture Medallion will be announced at the awards ceremony, along with the winners of other prestigious awards including the NSW Premier’s Prize, the City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize and the Enduring Architecture Award.

The 2018 Panel chairs were Annabel Lahz, Imogene Tudor, Graham Jahn AM, Marissa Looby and Heidi Pronk.
“The Institute was also delighted to have Tricia Helyar, NSW Country Division Chair, and Jason Elsley, Newcastle Committee join the judging of the Blacket Prize, which recognises design excellence in a regional context,” Peter Mould said.

All entries were also considered for the Sustainable Architecture Award, judged by the Panel chairs and Andrew Bagnall of A.G. Coombs Advisory. Sustainability is considered integral to good design and entries were considered not only from a technical perspective but also in terms of their social sustainability. The jury was impressed by the richness and inventiveness displayed in this year’s projects, both large and small.

Entries that earn NSW Chapter Awards will progress to be considered for the National Awards later this year.

View images of the shortlisted entries here or download the shortlist.

Australia’s verdant display at the Venice Architecture Biennale revealed

Australia’s contribution to the world’s most influential collection of architecture and contemporary art has been revealed in Italy today at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Over 200 leading names in architecture and design gathered at the official opening of the Australian Pavilion to take in a tour of vast greenery and light before it opens to the public this Sunday 26 May.

Presented by the Australian Institute of Architects, this year’s exhibition, Repair, by Melbourne architects Baracco+Wright (Louise Wright and Mauro Baracco) and collaborating artist Linda Tegg will make a powerful sociological statement to a global audience.

On entering the Pavilion, visitors will find over 10,000 native Australian grassland plants arranged inside and outside of the Pavilion’s granite structure. This field of vegetation, titled Grasslands, will allow visitors to enter a physical dialogue between architecture and the endangered plant community – with just one per cent of these threatened species left in their native Australian environment.

The Pavilion will focus on architecture that integrates built and natural systems to effect repair of the environment, and in so doing, mend or improve other societal, economic and cultural conditions. On their bid to demonstrate what is at stake when we occupy land, Mauro Baracco said: “What was particularly important in conceiving of and executing this project, was the notion of taking care and taking one’s time,” Baracco explains.

“This was deliberately not a short process; from the seeding of these plants eight months ago in Sanremo, nurturing them to life, and ultimately realising the installation in Venice, we wanted to demonstrate that by showcasing a deep sense of care in our process – and by being mindful of the land we occupy as architects – we could hopefully invite our profession (and the broader public) to think about the opportunity that lies in doing so also.”

This ambitious feat features a further two components including Skylight – a custom designed lighting installation that simulates the sun’s 24-hour energy cycle and sustains the plants inside the Pavilion – which is based on Australian time and sun patterns.

Skylight is complemented by Ground – a video series projected on 5 x 8-metre screens inside the Pavilion. It will showcase 15 architectural projects selected by the Australian Pavilion’s creative team that unpack diverse iterations of repair including The Globe (m3architecture with Brian Hooper Architect, Brisbane), the transformation of a historic building to strengthen and add to the urban form of a rural town in Queensland and Featherston House (Robin Boyd, Melbourne), a seminal Australian work that distills an approach and awareness of the ground plane further demonstrating the country’s collective consciousness of the issue.

Commissioner of the Australian Exhibition, Janet Holmes à Court said: “The Venice Biennale provides us, as a country, with the opportunity to showcase Australia’s world class architectural talent on a truly global stage. This year’s Pavilion — as envisaged by our creative team — has asked us to consider some deeply important questions facing our community. It is my hope that our Pavilion kick-starts a discussion that begins here in Venice, but that permeates globally.”
Seventy-one countries will feature in the 2018 event with more than 600,000 visitors expected over the next six months. This will be the seventh presented by the Australian Institute of Architects at the Architecture Biennale and only the second exhibition to feature in the Denton Corker Marshall designed Pavilion which was opened by Cate Blanchett in 2015. The building is the only Pavilion built in the 20th Century in the Giardini. It replaced Philip Cox’s temporary structure that Australia had been using since 1988.

The Venice Architecture Biennale runs from May 26 to November 25: wp.architecture.com.au/venicebiennale/.

From the National President

Clare Cousins

 

28 May 2018

 
Tomorrow marks two weeks since my inauguration as the Institute’s 79th National President and in this, my first message to members, can I once again thank you for this extraordinary privilege. It is from you that the Institute derives both its purpose and strength. Your time volunteering, your expertise and most of all your passion – strengthens our profession immeasurably.

I look forward to collaborating with you over the next 12 months to leverage our collective capacity for the good of architecture and the clients and communities we support.

But I’m conscious that this time will pass by in the blink of an eye, so I am determined to seize this opportunity with both hands.

That’s why we are hitting the ground running, taking the Institute’s respected position and substantial legacy of achievement and building on it. I want to look back on my time in this role and be proud that together we have made a difference.

Action and change
Achieving this ambition means sharpening our advocacy sword to enable us to cut through the politics and see projects implemented that have social conscience, quality and exceptional design as their backbone.

Effecting real change means engaging in genuine consultation and following sound process. We will do this in our approach to the membership, with inclusivity as our guiding principle, and seek to hold government and other decision-makers to the same high standards.

Membership review
I’m keen to ensure that the Institute remains relevant and inclusive to the diverse range of members that constitute our profession. In order to do this, we will be reviewing and redefining our membership offering this year to reflect the different voices and life situations of architects, graduates and architecture students.

ABIC contracts and bank lending conditions
The lending conditions imposed by banks for domestic building work have become increasingly problematic. Lenders not recognising the ABIC contract and bank imposed staged payments are detrimentally affecting our members, building contractors undertaking the work and the clients commissioning the projects.

I recently convened a meeting with the Master Builders Association, Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Australian Institute of Building Surveyors to better understand the issues from the broader industry’s perspective regarding lending conditions. We are looking to approach the banking sector collectively as a united voice with the intent of achieving a better outcome…They could certainly do with a good news story at the moment!

Board composition
At our National Council meeting in March, elections were held to select the Institute’s Board of Directors. I would like to congratulate Helen Lochhead, who was appointed National President Elect, and nationally elected councillors Vanessa Bird and Justin Hill, who join the Board for 2018–2019. Following our annual general meeting (AGM) in May, Andrew Broffman, former Northern Territory Chapter President, was reappointed to the Board by National Council as an interim independent director. I would like to extend our sincere thanks to former independent director Sarah Richardson, who stepped down at the AGM. Sarah was one of our inaugural independent directors and over almost two years provided much guidance on good governance, transparency and culture.

I would like to acknowledge the immense contribution made by my predecessors, Richard Kirk (Immediate Past President) and Ken Maher (departing Director), who have worked tirelessly to serve the best interests of our members during their terms as president. I look forward to their support as I take up the baton and build on the legacy that they have both left.

Venice Biennale Architettura
How to describe the indescribable? This international festival is without parallel and unquestionably one of the most influential and wide-reaching platforms on which to showcase architectural excellence. I was fortunate to join hundreds of Australians in Venice last week for the opening of the Australian Pavilion. The curators have accomplished a truly inspiring exhibition with Repair. For the next six months, Australian architecture will enjoy exposure on a global stage. More than two hundred thousand people from around the world visited the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2016, which gives a sense of the scale this opportunity provides the profession.

National Conference
The countdown is well and truly on and this year’s national conference, edge, will be here before we know it. As our biggest event of the year, the conference is an opportunity to be immersed in two days of architecture, to professionally learn from others and to reflect on our own work.

If you haven’t registered there is still time – June 6-8 on the Gold Coast – please click here for more information. 

It is also a chance to catch up with colleagues and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

 

Clare Cousins
National President

79th National President takes the reins

 

Victorian architect Clare Cousins was today inaugurated as the 79th National President of the Australian Institute of Architects at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Melbourne.

As the Institute increases its advocacy activity in line with our new strategic plan, Cousins will continue to champion key Institute policies including affordable housing and sustainability.

‘I am passionate about the transformational role architects play in the life of our cities and communities as champions of innovation, quality and design that enhances sustainability and liveability.

‘Architects are ideally placed to help deliver solutions to challenges around housing affordability, without compromising on amenity. We want to work with government to implement here in Australia housing models from around the world that could play a vital role in providing more appropriate housing for Australians.

‘With a strong focus on the power of good design, architects can have a positive influence on the production of both new and retrofitted housing stock that is energy efficient, reducing the unnecessary burden of high running costs on Australian households,’ Cousins said.

Cousins takes the reins from Richard Kirk who becomes Immediate Past President.

‘I would like to thank Richard for the incredible counsel and leadership he provided during his tenure. The Institute has undergone great change over the past few years which culminated in the launch of our Strategy 2018-2020 at the end of last year.

‘Our new strategy provides a strong framework as we dive into the next 12 months with an ambitious program focused on advocacy and revitalising our offering of toolsets to assist members in their day-to-day practice,’ Cousins said.

Cousins established her Melbourne practice, Clare Cousins Architects, in 2005. She was elected to the Institute’s National Council in 2016 as a Nationally-elected Councillor and is the current Chair of the National Practice Committee.

Previously, she was a Victorian Chapter Councillor and has been an active member of the Victorian Small and Medium Practice Forums, Chair of the Member Services Committee (Victoria), Chair of the Architecture Australia Editorial Committee, Constructive Mentoring Program mentor (Victoria) and a juror at both state and national levels of the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Architecture Awards program.

For the first time, the Australian Institute of Architects has both a female National President and Chief Executive Officer – Jennifer Cunich. The Institute has stepped up to the gender equity challenge with five female Directors on the eight-person Board, and National Council with seven females out of sixteen member representatives.

Cousins will be succeeded by Nationally-elected Councillor and Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment at the University of NSW in Sydney, Helen Lochhead, who took on the role of President Elect at the AGM.

From the Chief Executive Officer

 

Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Cunich. Photo by Kelly Chen
 

May 14, 2018
 

Last week, Commonwealth Treasurer, The Honourable Scott Morrison MP handed down his third Federal Budget. It was a mixed bag of initiatives with personal tax cuts, infrastructure and support for older Australians the key features. There were some welcome housing measures including the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, providing $7 billion in housing funding and an additional $620 million for homelessness services over the next five years, as well as over half a billion dollars put towards improving housing outcomes for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.

Investment in infrastructure was a big ticket item with a number of initiatives announced ahead of Budget night, including $5 billion for Melbourne Airport Rail Link along with other critical rail works and we hope to see more invested in public transport links across the country in the future.

There were some missed opportunities for a Federal Government Architect, and better sustainability and energy efficiency measures and the Institute will continue to advocate on these important issues.

To assist members in understanding what the 2018-19 Budget means for you, your practices and the built environment our National Policy Advisor, Leanne Hardwicke, has prepared a bespoke budget de-brief which is available here.

Tomorrow (15 May) we will be holding our Annual General Meeting at our Melbourne Office at 41 Exhibition Street and members have the opportunity to vote on a special resolution to amend the Institute’s current Constitution including the full recognition of the International Chapter. If you haven’t had an opportunity to read the Notice for the AGM outlining these changes or our Annual Report, you can view them here. Thank you to those who have submitted proxies and we look forward to seeing members who can attend in person.

Coinciding with the AGM and the handover of Presidency, we have some further changes to our Board. Sarah Richardson, one of our inaugural Independent Directors, will be stepping down after almost two years of service. The Institute has made remarkable progress in recent times towards improving our governance, culture, risk management and performance and Sarah has played an important role in these changes. She has fearlessly challenged the status quo, brought a wide variety of much needed experience and skills and has encouraged us all. On behalf of the Board, Executive and you, our members, I would like to thank Sarah for her dedication and incredible service and counsel to the Institute.

I am pleased to announce former NT Chapter President and Board member, Andrew Broffman has been re-appointed to the Board as an Interim Independent Director. Under our Constitution, we may have one member serve as an Independent Director and Andrew will fulfil this position while we undertake a review of the Board’s current skillsets and identify a new Independent with a skillset that can complement the strategic projects the Institute has underway.

We are only a few weeks out from Conference, and the excitement is building. I’m looking forward to hearing from the impressive line-up of international and local speakers including recently announced speaker Roberto Bannura, a Director at Steven Holl Architects in China. One of the highlights of the conference has always been the opportunity to explore the local architecture and connect with colleagues through the fringe program. This year will be no exception with a full range of talks, tours and parties on offer. See the full schedule here.

And don’t forget the conference provides you with access to both formal and informal CPD opportunities. If you haven’t already registered there is still time to join us for what will be an inspiring few days – register now.

Finally, I will be heading off shortly to attend the opening of Australia’s Exhibition, Repair, at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. This is an important opportunity to promote the incredible work of our members on the global stage and for Australia to be a part of international discussions and solutions to the issues facing communities around the world. I look forward to sharing with you more details of the exhibition by Baracco + Wright with Linda Tegg following the launch on Thursday 24 May.

 

Jennifer Cunich
Chief Executive Officer

Policy and Advocacy Update

 

May 2017

As we strive to deliver our key priorities as part of the Institute’s Strategic Plan, we continue to prioritise our advocacy and government relations efforts, with chapter Executive Directors at the forefront of our efforts to advocate for better government decisions and policy, which recognise the importance of the profession in our built environment and position the Institute as the voice of architecture in Australia.

Since our last update, we have advocated at a state and territory level on several issues:

 

Australian Capital Territory

Urban Design
The ACT Chapter has provided a submission on the City and Gateway Draft Urban Design Framework. The submission supports the Framework’s initiative to provide opportunities for more intense development along key public transport routes within Canberra’s existing areas, and a strong focus on the quality of the streetscape to be provided and the contribution to the city’s green infrastructure. However, the chapter has recommended that a high level of public amenity be embedded and has made a number of recommendations, including more consideration of the location, provision and role of future school facilities in the affected area.
 

ACT’s Climate Strategy to a Net Zero Emissions Territory
The ACT Chapter has registered its broad support for the ACT’s Climate Strategy to a Net Zero Emissions Territory. The submission welcomes the initiative to reduce or eliminate the Territory’s reliance on non-renewable and greenhouse emitting fossil fuels. However, the chapter has made a number of recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the strategy.
 

Housing choices
The ACT Chapter has welcomed the Territory Government’s Housing Choices Discussion Paper, which examines the best ways to meet the city’s housing needs for the future. The chapter says the discussion paper is based on sound research and provides confidence that important planning matters will now be addressed. The chapter is particularly pleased with the Collaboration Hub, which is exploring such issues as what zoning should allow and what provisions and principles are important to deliver appropriate housing and has welcomed the inclusion of a proposed Demonstration Housing Project, for which it has been advocating for some time.

 

Queensland

Apartment design standards
The Queensland Chapter has called on the State Government to examine the need for standards and guidelines for apartments, similar to those in New South Wales and Victoria, but specifically addressing the Queensland context. The chapter has sent a submission to the government, arguing for Queensland-specific standards and performance metrics in response to external provisions, internal considerations, performance standards, servicing provisions and community aspirations.

 

Brisbane planning
The Queensland Chapter has commended the Brisbane City Council City Planning Committee on its ‘Plan Your Brisbane’ and ‘Your City, Your Voice’ initiatives, applauding their broad community consultation regarding design concerns and the predicted rapid growth of the city. The chapter has argued for stronger design regulation to ensure higher density living does not reduce quality outcomes for residents, the addition of more of Brisbane’s significant, subtropical modern architecture to the local heritage register, and for the council to consider the broad skills of architects as designers for roles outside of the ordinary role descriptions within council.

 

South Australia

South Australian election
The South Australian Chapter provided a policy position request to the parties ahead of the recent state election. The chapter identified design quality and planning reform, industry participation and procurement, and professionalism and public safety as the key areas affecting its members. Along with the policy position, the chapter compiled a brief survey for the parties, focussing on those key areas.

 

Accredited Professionals Scheme Discussion Paper South Australia
The South Australian Chapter joined forces with the Planning Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects to share the common elements of their response to the Accredited Professionals Scheme Discussion Paper. The three organisations registered their support for the principle of a system of accreditation of skills and ongoing development for those with roles in assessment and/or determination in the planning system, the upskilling of accredited professionals involved in the planning assessment process, and a clarification of liability insurance issues. The SA Chapter also provided its own submission, focussing on issues specific to architects.

 

Value of good design
The South Australian Chapter has welcomed the draft DPTI2 ODASA Community Guide document, describing it as a succinct and legible guide to the value of design for the state’s communities. The chapter’s submission says design is a complex, multi-faceted undertaking, and that the use of educated and skilled design professionals such as architects should be encouraged to achieve the desired outcomes, and argued that architects should be acknowledged in the document as a registered profession with specialist design expertise.

 

State Nominated Skilled Migration Paper
The South Australian Chapter provided a submission to the State Nominated Skilled Migration Paper. The chapter noted that the supply of locally educated graduates currently meets the employment demand in the state, with a limited number of positions for more experienced practitioners also available. The submission said the relatively small number of migrants entering South Australia has a minimal impact on architectural practice, although it noted that overseas architects can provide alternative perspective, work methodologies and experience once they gain employment in local practice. The chapter recommended that architects remain on the skilled migration list at the current time, with a review proposed in five years, to assess the employment conditions, migrant numbers and graduate numbers at the time.

 

Procurement
The South Australian Chapter and the Association of Consulting Architects have joined forces to respond to plans to refurbish and expand an aged care facility at Murray Bridge. The organisations’ submission criticises the methodology for the Lerwin Refurbishment and Expansion, saying the tender includes Stage 1 – Concept Design as part of the tender submission. The two organisations have argued that this would require tenderers to provide conceptual design information, artist impressions and high-level estimates without payment, would increase the risk of sub-optimal outcomes, devalues the intellectual property of the architectural profession and compromises the financial viability of the practices involved. The organisations have offered to assist the Rural City of Murray Bridge to develop more suitable methodology for securing architectural services.

The SA Chapter has also written to the state’s Local Government Association (LGA) to recommend a best-practice approach to the procurement of architectural services with LGA Procurement. The chapter is aiming to set up a working party between the Institute and LGA Procurement, with the intent of resolving agreed guidelines and processes for the tendering of architectural services to local government.

 

Tasmania

Affordable Housing
The Tasmanian Government held an emergency housing summit soon after the state election, to discuss potential solutions to the critical shortage of affordable housing in the state, in particular the emergence of a ‘tent city’ at the Hobart Showgrounds. The Institute was not invited to the summit, and the Tasmanian Chapter is working to ensure our involvement in the ongoing efforts to address the crisis. The chapter provided a written submission to the summit, recommending several potential short-term solutions, as well as a long-term approach, and will continue to push for more involvement from the profession in such discussions.
 

Draft Protection Work Determination and Guidelines
The Tasmanian Chapter has provided a submission to the Department of Justice on new draft Protection Work Determination and Guidelines. The chapter broadly supports the direction, saying it is reasonable in describing the responsibilities envisaged for the parties involved and, in particular, will help to more clearly define the rights and responsibilities of land owners. However, the submission raises some concerns about the responsibilities for builders as well as insurance and contract implications, and additional costs involved with the requirements.
 

Hospitality and heritage tourism
The Tasmanian Chapter provided feedback on the Hospitality and Heritage Tourism Discussion Paper, looking at a collaborative framework to help grow heritage tourism. While the discussion paper is aimed primarily at tourism operators, the chapter has offered its support for partnerships related to this and suggested potential projects to help build on the interest already generated by successful projects, including sharing the history of Tasmania’s award-wining architectural projects involving adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.

 

Western Australia

Infrastructure planning and decision making
The Western Australian Chapter has welcomed a WA Government proposal to establish a new approach to infrastructure planning and decision making – Infrastructure WA. The chapter has applauded the government’s plan to make infrastructure planning a bipartisan process by removing it from direct control of the government of the day. In the short to medium term, the chapter has urged the government and its agencies, including Infrastructure WA, to develop, design, procure, deliver and maintain public buildings and infrastructure assets according to the recommendations made by the Special Inquiry into Government Programs and Projects, dated December 2017.
 

Federal Budget a mixed bag for architecture

9 May 2018

Last night’s Federal Budget included a mixed bag of initiatives with personal tax cuts, infrastructure investment and support for older Australians the biggest ticket items.

Unlike last year when housing affordability formed the centrepiece, specific housing measures remained on the fringes this time around but still included some notable developments, said Australian Institute of Architects National President Richard Kirk.

‘The Institute is certainly pleased to see the Federal Government funding the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, providing $7 billion in housing funding and an additional $620 million for homelessness services over the next five years,’ Mr Kirk said.

‘In particular we are delighted that just over half a billion dollars has been put towards improving housing outcomes for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.

‘New measures supporting export and trade, including $15 million over four years for a package of initiatives to support Australian businesses and maximise commercial opportunities in overseas markets are particularly welcome. The Australian architectural profession is highly regarded internationally, and this will assist to expand the reputation of Australian architects, as will the funding of Australia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai.

‘The Government is continuing to invest in a pipeline of infrastructure projects worth $75 billion over ten years and this will be important to achieving high standards of connectivity as our country grows in population.

‘We applaud the Government’s $5 billion commitment to Melbourne’s Airport Rail Link along with other critical rail works around the country and hope to see additional investment in improving public transport networks in all states and territories in future budgets.

‘Similarly, the $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund is welcome to tackle hot spots but highlights that our growth has historically not been well managed.

‘Better planning across all levels of government as well as proper investment in transport connections would go a long way to alleviating the need for such band-aid measures.

‘The Government has missed an opportunity to establish a Federal Government Architect, the benefits of which are increasingly plain to see and being adopted at a State and Territory level. This is a critical initiative that must be implemented.

‘Likewise, sustainability and energy efficiency have been largely ignored with funding focused on implementation of the Finkel Review as the highlight of the energy measures. As we have said previously, the focus must switch to the demand side of the equation and harness the opportunities offered by the built environment if we are to achieve real progress.’

 

Budget Highlights pertinent to the Architecture Profession

 

Executive Director ACT and National Policy Advisor Leanne Hardwicke joined 260 representatives from peak bodies around Australia for the Federal Budget lockup on Tues May 8. Read the full bespoke budget de-brief for Institute members below.  Our media release is available to view here.

 

The Economy

  • The Budget forecasts that global growth continues to improve, with widespread growth across advanced and emerging economies. There has also been an upswing in trade globally, especially in our Asian neighbours.
  • Australia is experiencing its 27th year of consecutive growth. Businesses are doing better, non-mining business investment has improved, and business conditions are at their highest level since the Global Financial Crisis.
  • Strong labour market performance is expected to continue and the unemployment rate is expected to decline further. As the labour market tightens, wages are also expected to increase.
  • Australia’s economy is expected to grow by a solid 2¾ per cent in 2017-18 and growth is forecast to rise further to 3 per cent in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
  • The Budget is forecast to return to a modest balance of $2.2 billion in 2019-20 and increase to projected surpluses of $11.0 billion in 2020-21 and $16.6 billion in 2021-22.

 

Tax

  • The Government will keep taxes as a share of GDP within the 23.9 per cent cap.
  • The Personal Income Tax Plan will be implemented over a seven year time frame. The government will lift the 32.5 per cent tax bracket to $90,000 from 1 July 2018. Further threshold changes in 2022-23 and 2024-25 will simplify and flatten personal tax rates, with the 37 per cent tax bracket being abolished in 2024-25.
  • Companies with annual turnover less than $50 million will have their tax rate cut to 27.5 per cent from 1 July 2018.
  • Small businesses will also benefit from the Government extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off for a further 12 months to 30 June 2019.
  • The Government has streamlined GST reporting for around 2.7 million small businesses by reducing the number of BAS GST questions to only three and scrapping the requirement for a 20 question worksheet.
  • The small business entity turnover threshold has been lifted from $2 million to $10 million, which has extended access to a range of small business tax concessions.

 

Export and Trade

  • $40.2 million over four years from 2018 19 (including $7.3 million in capital funding) for initiatives supporting the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, including funding for:

$19.2 million over four years to open a new Consulate General in Kolkata, India, and a new High Commission in Funafuti, Tuvalu, to promote Australia’s foreign policy and trade interests in the Indo Pacific region;
and $15.0 million over four years for a package of initiatives to support the Australian business community through building public support for open trade and investment, enhancing government engagement with business and maximising commercial opportunities in overseas markets. The Government is investing $20 million in SME Export Hubs. The Hubs will foster greater cooperation between Australian businesses, helping them grow as they work together to sell their products to the world.

  • The Government will fund Australia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, showcasing Australia’s culture, business and industry, including Australia’s Defence industry, as well as trade and investment opportunities.

 

Energy

  • $37.6 million over five years from 2017-18 to support measures to improve energy affordability, reliability and sustainability. This includes funding to:

implement recommendations from the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market (the Finkel Review) and the Energy Security Board to support better planning and system security and to help consumers get better energy deals;
improve the functioning of the gas market, including gas pipeline regulation and law and rule changes;
support the COAG’s Energy Council’s work on energy market transformation and energy efficiency; and
deliver periodic energy security assessments to provide information to plan for energy supply and use into the future.

  • The Limited Merits Review regime, which allowed electricity network businesses to appeal regulatory pricing decisions and charge more for electricity, has been abolished, limiting future network price increases on consumers’ bills.
  • The emissions reduction target will be maintained at 26-28 per cent.

 

Housing Affordability

  • Measures to unlock the supply of affordable housing remain, including the establishment of the $1 billion National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation and the release of more land suitable for housing. The NHFIC will comprise the Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator and the $1 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility.
  • The new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement will commence from 1 July 2018. This agreement will provide $7 billion in housing funding and an additional $620 million for homelessness services over the next five years, ensuring that funding for homelessness services will be ongoing and indexed.
  • $4.8 million over four years from 2018-19 to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to construct better estimates of the stock of affordable housing and to improve existing survey based planning and zoning data and dwelling construction cost collections.
  • $0.2 million in 2018-19 to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to bring together all major housing and homelessness data in a user friendly dashboard.

 

Aged care

  • To support the choice of older Australians who wish to stay at home and avoid going into residential aged care the Government will be increasing the number of home care places by 14,000 over 4 years at a cost of $1.6 billion.

 

Indigenous housing

  • $550 million commitment over five years from 2018–19 for a new agreement with the Northern Territory Government on remote housing, to help alleviate overcrowding and improve employment and business opportunities in remote communities. This commitment will be matched by funding from the Northern Territory Government.

 

Sporting facilities

  • $29.7 million in 2018-19 to deliver up to 500 local community sporting infrastructure development grants of up to $500,000 to improve community sporting facilities.

 

Land release Queensland

  • The Government will divest land currently owned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority in the Redland City local government area, Queensland, in 2019-20. The property divested can support up to 400 homes and will increase the supply of land for housing in metropolitan Brisbane.

 

Skills

  • In addition to the Pension Loans Scheme and Pension Work bonus changes, support will be provided to older Australians who choose to stay in work, by providing wage subsidies of up to $10,000 for employers.
  • The Government is providing an additional $250 million for the Skilling Australians Fund.
  • The Skills and Training incentive will provide up to $2,000 to fund up-skilling opportunities for mature aged workers identified as being at risk.

 

Higher Education

  • $123.6 million over five years from 2017-18 to the University of the Sunshine Coast, the University of Tasmania and Southern Cross University for additional Commonwealth supported places. This funding will complement previous infrastructure funding provided to these universities to support investment in regional campuses, and will support:

an additional 1,200 bachelor places in 2020, growing to 3,600 ongoing places in 2022, for the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus;
an additional 500 sub bachelor places in 2018, and 1,000 ongoing sub bachelor places from 2019, for the University of Tasmania’s Burnie and Launceston campuses;
and an additional 105 bachelor places in 2019 and 210 bachelor places in 2020, growing to 315 ongoing bachelor places from 2021, for Southern Cross University’s Allied Health Building in Coffs Harbour.

 

Heritage

  • $23.1 million over four years from 2018-19, and $5.7 million annually from 2022 23, to establish a flagship Australian Heritage Grants Program (AHGP). The AHGP will provide grant funding to protect and promote places in Australia with Commonwealth, National or World Heritage values. The cost of this measure will be met from savings from the rationalisation of the existing heritage grants programs and from within the existing resources of the Department of the Environment and Energy. 

 

Regions

  • Creation of an additional 500 Commonwealth supported sub bachelor places and 500 places for bachelor students at Regional Study Hubs.
    Intellectual Property
  • $0.6 million in 2018-19 to fund the development of a detailed business case to modernise IP Australia’s patents management system and streamline access to its services via digital channels. This measure will support Australian businesses to protect their intellectual property, and in so doing, support and strengthen innovation in the Australian economy.

 
Innovation

  • $20.0 million over four years from 2018-19 to establish the Asian Innovation Strategy. This strategy will expand eligibility for the existing Global Innovation Strategy grant program to support Australian businesses and researchers in all countries, and establish a new funding stream within this program focused primarily on Asia. It will also extend funding for the ‘Australia India Strategic Research Fund’ for an additional four years.

 

Infrastructure

  • The Budget includes $24.5 billion for new nationally significant transport projects and initiatives.
  • The Government is establishing the $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance (RoSI) initiative. Under RoSI, funding will be provided to upgrade key freight routes to improve road safety and better connect key sectors, such as agriculture and mining, to export markets.
  • A $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund will be established to bust congestion in cities.
  • The Government will provide $250 million to a newly established Major Project Business Case Fund for development and planning of nationally significant projects. New major projects include:

NSW – the Federal and New South Wales Governments will be equal partners in funding the first stage of the North South Rail Link in Western Sydney. The Government is providing $971 million for the Pacific Highway Coffs Harbour Bypass, and $400 million to duplicate the Port Botany Rail Line.;

Victoria – a commitment of up to $5 billion to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and funding of $1.75 billion for the North East Link.;

Queensland – an additional $3.3 billion for continuing upgrades of the Bruce Highway, including $800 million for the Cooroy to Curra Section D project, and $1 billion for the M1 Pacific Motorway between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill and Varsity Lakes and Tugun.;

Western Australia – a further $1.05 billion for the METRONET rail project, $944 million for the Perth congestion package and $560 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.;

South Australia – $1.4 billion for future priorities on the Adelaide North-South Road Corridor and $220 million for the Gawler Rail Line electrification.;

Tasmania – $461 million for the replacement of the Bridgewater Bridge and an additional $59.8 million for the second stage of the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation program.;

Australian Capital Territory – $100 million for the Monaro Highway Upgrade.;

Northern Territory –  $180 million for the Central Arnhem Road Upgrade and $100 million for the Buntine Highway Upgrade.

 
 

From the National President

Richard Kirk

National President, Richard Kirk. Photo by Toby Scott

30 Apr 2018

There is arguably no better way to sign off my final column as National President, than with the highly anticipated relaunch last week of the Institute’s Acumen Practice Notes product. The delivery of this new and vastly improved platform is the culmination of sustained and exemplary work by the Acumen Content Review Panel and Institute staff and I once again acknowledge and thank them for their tremendous efforts. Both the refreshed content and redesigned operating system provide members with a tool that is sophisticated, yet simple to use and that will have a multiplier effect in terms of the benefits it delivers to individual practitioners and the profession more broadly. The early feedback has certainly been positive and I would urge you to provide us your comments on your experience of the new platform. The Institute acknowledges the generous support of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria. If you haven’t had a chance yet to have a look I would urge you to do so.

The Acumen Practice Notes project highlights the multiple streams of benefit the Institute is geared to offer members, from high-impact advocacy on major policy issues to targeted support at the practice level. It’s also demonstrative of the Institute’s heightened capacity to deliver on the significant commitments made as part of our 2018-2020 Strategy. Production of this important strategic plan is another example of how much can be achieved through collaboration and leveraging the strengths from the transformative governance changes supported by our members.

And the time has come to turn our attention to the next suite of measures that members will vote on with notice of our next Annual General Meeting having now been issued for 12.30pm, Tuesday 15 May 2018. Not only will this provide an opportunity to review the Institute’s audited financial statements and other statutory business, we will be moving a special resolution to amend the Institute’s current Constitution including the full recognition of the International Chapter. The International Chapter is a very important step towards the Institute developing into a membership organisation that can serve our membership irrespective of where they are based – a recognition of the globalisation of the profession.

The Institute is now in a very strong and stable financial position and we’ve seen a 12 per cent increase in membership over the past two years. This significant turn-around is due to the incredible commitment of Institute staff and our members who volunteer much of their own professional and personal time. On behalf of the Institute I want to thank you for this generous contribution. We are becoming stronger and are growing our value offering as a partner in your practices and careers and through this program of renewal we expect this growth to continue.

Our profession’s largest gathering, the National Architecture Conference – edge, is taking place in just over a month (6-8 June). Featuring the celebrated Israeli Canadian American architect Moshe Safdie, French duo Nicolas Moreau and Hiroko Kusunoki, Borja Ferrater of Spain, Sarah Manning from the United Kingdom and Lek Mathar Bunnag from Thailand alongside local practitioners and academics – it is an event not to be missed with a truly global perspective. It’s not too late to register so visit the website now and I look forward to seeing many of you on the Gold Coast.

Last week, esteemed New Zealand architect David Mitchell passed away. David was a respected practitioner and an influential teacher, recognised with the 2005 NZIA Gold Medal. On behalf of our Institute I would like to offer our condolences to David’s partner, Julie Stout, their children, family and the NZ architecture community.

It has been a great privilege to serve as President during this incredibly productive period for the Institute as we have made significant strides down a path that will deliver a legacy of lasting benefit for the profession. In passing the presidency to Clare Cousins I offer my best wishes for the year ahead where the Board and National Council will continue to implement the reforms of the Institute in order to support our members and the profession more effectively. I also will take this opportunity to thank all members for your support throughout my tenure – your support has enabled us to achieve great outcomes and I have no doubt with the incoming leadership team they will continue to be delivered.

 

Richard Kirk
National President

From the Chief Executive Officer

 

 

April 16, 2018
 

Excitement is definitely building ahead of the Venice Architecture Biennale opening next month following the successful preview events in Melbourne and Sydney last week. It was also terrific to see the Australian Government show their support for our ground-breaking exhibition, Repair, contributing $150,000 in funding. Announcing the grant, Minister for the Arts, Senator Mitch Fifield said: ‘Australia’s participation in the Biennale will showcase our world class architectural talent, engage us in a global conversation around the future shape of the built environment and help to establish international partnerships and trade opportunities, which are vital to driving our creative economy.’ Repair is a truly ambitious undertaking, with the Creative Directors travelling this week to Sanremo to transport to Venice the 10,000 now mature endangered native plants grown from seeds sown eight months ago, which will form the centrepiece of the installation.

Closer to home we are preparing to launch our own significant project, the refreshed and much-enhanced Acumen Practice Notes. This critical tool for members has been completely transformed inside and out. We have coordinated a comprehensive update of its content, while at the same time reconceiving and upgrading the digital platform to vastly improve the user experience. Once it goes live, members will discover a streamlined, highly effective operating system with additional, practical features that make it easier to use and increase its effectiveness. A display of frequently viewed notes and proformas and the ability create your own personalised gallery of ‘favourites’ are just a few of the added functionalities it will offer. The rebuilding of Acumen Practice Notes has been an extensive but very worthwhile process because of the added value it will deliver for members. The new system has been extensively user tested, the revised content produced with the assistance of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria’s ongoing support, and the project as a whole is a terrific example of what can be achieved through sound collaboration.

The next stage after Acumen Practice Notes will be undertaking a refresh of the Environment Design Guide. First established more than two decades ago, this wide-ranging resource of more than 200 peer-reviewed design notes covers various aspects of sustainability in the built environment for design practitioners. During this time huge strides forward have been made, technologically and otherwise, in sustainable building practice and a comprehensive review of the guide will help ensure its continued value to members.

Ahead of our upcoming Annual General Meeting on 15 May, our audit has been completed and we look forward to presenting our healthy finances at the meeting. Both our Annual Report and Notice for the AGM will be released shortly. I would like to conclude by adding my warmest congratulations to Helen Lochhead as the Institute’s President-Elect. This appointment builds on the already formidable contribution Helen has made serving on our Board and National Council.

 

Jennifer Cunich
Chief Executive Officer