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:
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.
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 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.
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.
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.