24 September 2018

^{Image: Nina Hamilton}

 

I have had a busy month which included my involvement at Open House Launceston, a meeting with Minister Jaensch’s Housing Advisor Simon Duffy, and my attendance at the Minister’s Round Table discussion on the Affordable Housing Action Plan Stage Two.  Stage Two of the action plan builds on the work of Stage One, providing an additional 1500 new affordable houses. Discussions covered an update on the current 2015 – 2025 Strategic Plan and further input and feedback from participants on initiatives being implemented and considered. Feedback on the roundtable consultation along with their quarterly updates on affordable housing will be posted on their website.

 

On Friday our Chapter staff organised a beautifully presented breakfast which set the scene for us hosting a convivial and successful meeting between Chapter Councillors and the Board of Master Builders Tasmania, after our previous breakfast in December last year. This was an opportunity for Chapter Council and staff to meet their new Executive Director, Matthew Pollock, and further strengthen ties with the MBT. Matthew presented a paper on Building and Construction Industry Forecasts in Tasmania, which can be accessed here. Discussion also focussed on the recent work experience program which saw placements in businesses from both architectural practices and building and construction firms for students from The University of Tasmania Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees. The discussion allowed great opportunity to cover common ground and we received good feedback to act on for future shared pursuits.

 

Leigh Woolley’s presentation at the Chapter of his recent report for the city was very well attended, with 63 in-house and 46 livestream registrants. This is still available to view – please contact Katie at the Institute for access if you missed out. The current City of Hobart Council process and its intentions (including Council’s interpretation of Leigh’s work) as a proposed planning scheme amendment can be accessed on their Your Say Hobart website. This provides an outline of the process, access to their documents, as well as the opportunity to comment. Importantly, it also gives a link to Leigh’s full final report of 30th June 2018, for your reference when considering comment on HCC’s interpretive response to his advice. As you will see there is currently a public consultation and feedback period via an online form until 17 October 2018. Please have your say as the more well-informed comments the better.

 

Adjustments to LUPAA legislation have been circulated, and assistance from someone with experience on the previous LUPAA submission in the next day or two would be useful, as the due date for a response is this Friday. Please contact Bron at the Institute if you are able to lend a hand.

 

After our successful inaugural Open House Launceston program, planning is in its final stages for this year’s Open House Hobart, which has all kinds of surprises in store for the public and includes a focus on alternative forms of residential architecture and multi-residential housing. My thanks in advance to all putting their hands up to make this program the success it has become, and for extending the conversation about architecture and our city amongst the broader public.

 

And finally, congratulations to all our members who have been shortlisted for the 2018 National Architecture Awards. Best of luck, and we look forward to the outcomes on November 1st.

 

 

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects