If you’re like me, you take a quick look at the chapter newsletter then click to the next email, perhaps with the idea that you’ll get back to it later. Of course, we all know what happens.
As your new president though, I’m hoping that with this and future e-news you’ll be inspired to see what’s been happening, who’s doing what, and what events might be coming up.
The ACT Chapter recently welcomed the 2017 National Emerging Architect Prize recipient Anthony Balsamo at the ACT Chapter rooms and hosted a lively evening attended by almost 50, mostly young architects, graduates and students. The emerging architects committee ran an inspired night by arranging a support group of speakers before the main act. Aarthi Ayyar Biddle, Tim Dyer, Jeremy Mather, Jessica De Rome spoke to three themes Process, Perseverance and Procrastination with Jess de Rome adding a forth Purpose and an added dash of humour. There were plenty of refreshments at the event and I am told, the evening carried on well into the night at the Realm Hotel.
I spoke briefly at the event and encouraged the attendees that the future of the Institute is largely in their hands and encouraged them to get involved in the Chapter, to consider joining a committee and to tell us what they expect of the Institute. I welcomed suggestions for events they might like to see. A note of disappointment was the absence of older members – you missed a great show.
The ACT Government has embarked on its Housing Choices initiative with the catch phrase:
Canberra is changing – and there are many different way our housing needs can be met. What do we need to do?
There are two significant programs as part of the initiative including: 1) a call for expressions of interest from parties interested in building a demonstration housing development and 2) a consultative program involving a group of 35 randomly selected Canberra citizens called the Collaborative Hub conducted by interstate facilitators and EPSDD. The group will meet over 5 full day functions to hear a range of speakers from various professions such as architects, planners, demographers, and so on. They’ll have access to the 153 submissions received by ESDD on its Housing Choices prognostications and have opportunities to debate on what is needed to address the changes Canberra faces.
Ultimately, the Hub is to deliver a set of informed ideas that address the above catchphrase. The premise being, if everyday citizens are given complete access to all the information, and if they study that information in comprehensive detail, hear from subject-matter experts and are given sufficient time, they can reach a group consensus that most of the community can live with. It is envisaged that the outcome will inform changes to the Territory Plan and thus improve housing choices into the future.
By way of background. The ACT Government and EPSDD recognize that the Territory Plan inhibits innovation and is not addressing the need for housing types that fall between single detached housing and apartments. The term “missing middle” has been coined to describe housing types such as townhouses, group housing, community housing, manor housing (too English) particularly in established areas. The hope is that the demonstration housing project and the outcomes of the Collaborative Hub will show the broader community that we can do housing differently and more creatively.
The terms of the EOI for the demonstration village has disappointed some members who find that it’s targeting of those with land and the capacity to build, or those with the where-with-all to purchase land and develop is too restrictive. I took the opportunity to take this issue up with the planners and Leanne and I met with Joanne Mitchell and Bruce Fitzgerald from EPSDD in Ben Ponton’s absence. They explained that the Government wants to deliver – they want bricks and mortar on the ground (my words), not just another hypothetical. They explained that the respondents are expected to outline in their submissions how they challenge the Territory Plan, and indeed would welcome meaningful divergence to make the exercise worthwhile.
Notwithstanding my slight apprehension, the Government and its agencies are taking the matter seriously and should be praised for its efforts, and if Chief Planner Ben Ponton can get the territory plan “down to one page” he deserves a medal.
Philip Leeson,
ACT Chapter President
14 May 2018