Policy spotlight

Building the Education Revolution

In responding to the Federal Government's stimulus spending, the Institute took the initiative to highlight the profession's availability for projects. We emphasised the importance of good design and the need for projects to align with the Federal Government's objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Specifically the Institute:

• Canvassed members' availability to work on stimulus projects and this was conveyed to; the State and Territory Coordinator Generals responsible for overseeing implementation of the stimulus projects, and to the Australian Procurement and Construction Council's members
• Promoted the skills and expertise that the profession could contribute to help each government achieve their objectives
• Developed a sustainability fact sheet providing an overview of practical ways to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of BER projects. This was promoted through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' website, the federal department responsible for the BER.
• Made 30 selected Environment Design Guide papers and case studies relevant to BER projects, available electronically and free of charge, for use by all consultants, designers, contractors etc engaged on BER projects.

Climate Change

In the lead up to the United Nation's climate change summit in Copenhagen, the Institute led the development of a compelling Call to Action statement signed by a number of equivalent international organisations. The statement focused on the crucial role architecture and the built environment can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The statement featured a series of principles and proposed blueprint for action including a call for significant targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from the built environment.

The Call to Action document is supported by Architecture Canada, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Commonwealth Association of Architects.

Second Plank Report

Throughout 2009 we actively promoted the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council's (ASBEC) Second Plank Report – Building a Low Carbon Economy through Energy Efficient Buildings to relevant federal ministers and parliamentarians. We gained traction with federal politicians who increasingly recognise the greenhouse gas abatement potential of the building sector through energy efficient design for both new and existing buildings.

The Environment Minister Peter Garrett referred to the report in several forums acknowledging the excellent work undertaken and affirming energy efficiency as the Government's second plank in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions.

The Institute is leading ASBEC's update of the Second Plank report in light of new Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme modeling, energy and other relevant data, now available since the Second Plank's publication in September 2008.

BEMP

Another successful BEMP event was held in August 2009 with approximately 200 people attending the pre-BEMP dinner for the Australia Award for Urban Design, of which the Prime Minister is patron.

The BEMP summit covered four themes: sustainability, liveability, prosperity and partnerships. Four Ministers and six parliamentarians joined ten industry and other experts to make both an informative and interactive summit.

BEMP's focus was planning sustainable communities with the BEMP co-hosts commissioning a Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities draft consultative document that formed the basis for discussions throughout the day.

During BEMP, the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, announced a Built Environment Sustainability Roundtable to establish a regular government/ industry dialogue. BEMP is co-hosted by the Institute with the Property Council of Australia, the Green Building Council Australia, the Planning Institute of Australia and the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia and will be held again in June 2010.

Sustainable Communities

In response to the Prime Minister's call for a more strategic and coordinated approach to planning, the Institute and its BEMP partners, commissioned a consultative draft paper titled Principles for Planning Sustainable Communities.

The document formed the basis for discussion at BEMP this year and outlines a series of principles and measures to guide urban planning strategies.

We are pleased the recent Council of Australian Government's agreement on strategic planning for capital cities adopted a similar approach to that outlined in our principles document.

ASBEC Cities for the future project

The Institute is actively participating in the ASBEC project Cities for the Future. This project is exploring and measuring the links between greenhouse gas emissions from urban transport and land use within Australia's cities. Importantly this study will set out in practical terms what impact changes to land use and transportation will have on greenhouse gas emissions, economic outcomes and liveability in Australian cities.

The future

The New Year is shaping up to be a busy one on the policy front. Issues we will be pursuing include:

• Sustainable communities
• Planning reform
• Calling for a Commonwealth Government architect
• Procurement (Calling for fairer and more balanced agreements)
• Measures arising from the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency
• Occupational Health and Safety legislation changes, and
• Universal Housing