Nov 2017
The Institute is continuing to focus on delivering proactive and effective advocacy. We are working through the list of Institute policies that need updating, with ongoing consultation with members to ensure we are dealing with the issues that matter most to members and effectively communicating our messages to governments and the public. New policies can be developed at the instigation of the chapters, national committees and National Council.
Since our last update, we have also advocated at a national and local level on several issues:
Darwin City Deal
The Northern Territory Government has entered into an agreement with the Commonwealth to work together to create a City Deal for Darwin. The NT Chapter recently provided a submission during the first phase of consultation, offering broad support for the vision to create a thriving city that defines business and growth in northern Australia. However, the chapter suggested the reconsideration of some aspects of the Master Plan’s transport vision to improve the city’s liveability.
Tasmanian Women’s Strategy
The Tasmanian Chapter’s Women in Architecture Group recently joined forces with the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects to provide a submission to the Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2018 – 2020. The submission registered support for the strategy and said cultural change is needed to address inequality affecting women and girls in Tasmania. The two organisations urged the Tasmanian Government to play a lead role in making change and suggested both the establishment of a centralised government organisation to deal with these issues and a public education campaign.
Antarctic infrastructure
The Tasmanian Chapter provided a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories inquiry into Australia’s infrastructure assets and capability in Antarctica. The chapter recommended a collaborative effort involving architects and engineers, to achieve cutting-edge design and construction methods and ensure laboratories and residences that can withstand the extreme conditions and provide the best planned and highest quality habitable environment possible for researchers and support staff.
Planning amendments
The Tasmanian Government’s move towards a statewide planning scheme continues, with the release of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Amendment (Major Projects) Bill 2017. The Tasmanian Chapter provided a submission, expressing support for the proposed measures, but arguing for a good design review within the assessment process, which adheres to good design principles, ensures the location, form and character of the development is addressed and promotes good design as integral to state identity. The submission also recommended the involvement of suitably qualified, interdisciplinary experts on the assessment panel, with architects and urban design specialists comprising a substantial part of the panel.