The Institute members and staff welcome Melanie Croaker as ACT Chapter Manager. Melanie is well known and supported. Her passion for architecture, knowledge and strategic planning skills will promote architecture through events, support member services, continuing professional development and representation in government and industry forums.

The return of the National office to 2a Mugga Way and colocation with the ACT Chapter will enable us to undertake ‘high hitting’ achievements with efficiencies. The incoming Chapter Council looks forward to the Institute being a collegiate ‘go to place’, openly communicating with members and institutions with participation from students, graduates, registered architects from all stages and experiences of their professional careers.

The ‘2010 Building Quality in the ACT’ report to the ACT Governments and the subsequent review of the ACT Building Act 2004 is a response to the costs to the community of buildings and building services that arise when basic standards and protections are not achieved. The scope of the review includes all aspects of building regulation, including:

Pre-construction: Design compliance, contracts, obligations of developers, approvals, exemptions, practitioner licensing;

Construction process: Compliance with plans, stage inspections, on-site supervision, amendments;

Post construction: Final inspections, certificates of occupancy; and,

In general: The scope of the Act, administration and enforcement (public and private), insurance, skills, training, accountability of practitioners, owners rights and obligations, consumer protection, complaints and dispute resolution, funding and governance, interactions with related legislation, offences and penalties! For more information, refer to the: Overview of the Review of the ACT Building Act 2004.

When approved by the Minister for Planning a discussion paper based on the findings of the review will be released in early 2015 (anticipated to be April).

The review of the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 will be released in late 2015 (anticipated to be December).

Members are encouraged to contribute to the professions response to this review by providing comment in writing to the Chapter office, committees and Council.

The implications of these reviews are significant, for the professions future terms of engagement, scope of service, time commitment, fee/remuneration, responsibilities, liabilities and insurability.

To realise a rich and diverse built environment that the community wants, celebrates and comfortably occupies and loves, a clear brief and fulsome engagement is required by the client, architect and constructor.