New South Wales
Overview
The year was a strong one for the NSW Chapter, with increasing attendances at Monday night talks and network events, as well as strong progress in advocacy and membership efforts thanks to the chapter’s dedicated public affairs and continuing education managers.
Continuing Education
During the year the Chapter ran two 10-week PALS courses and one weekend intensive PALS course in Newcastle. We also developed the comprehensive online central listing for CPE activities in NSW, and worked with a range of other providers to increase the availability of quality CE activities for members, including a free all-day seminar on stainless steel, attracting 160 to Tusculum. A range of new initiatives relating to CE were commenced, including the provision of free members online text CE units, and the assistance of third party providers of online CPE, such as eClassroom.com.au, to ensure that members could meet their annual ARB CPE requirements in the short term. We also consulted with the Architects Registration Board on implementation and amendment of the CPE policy, on behalf of members.
In 2005, the Chapter hosted more than 60 talks, including talks at Tusculum, through the architects networks, as well as the country and Newcastle divisions. Many of these talks qualified as informal continuing education, with others adapted to be formal. Monday Night Talks continued to be well attended by members. Topics included affordable housing, density, ‘tiny sites’, what makes a Sulman and Wilkinson award-winner, the new Hilton Sydney, and the work of the much respected late architect Hugh Buhrich. Speakers included Gerard Reinmuth of Terroir, Ken Woolley of Ancher Mortlock & Woolley, Bob Perry of Scott Carver, Peter Stutchbury of Stutchbury and Pape, and Peter Myers. One of the year’s highlights was a talk by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Thom Mayne of the United States at the Scientia. The talk attracted a sell-out crowd of more than 500, despite short notice. A talk at the NSW Art Gallery by three of the state’s leading architects - Alex Popov, Alec Tzannes and Mark Cashman - was another key feature of the year.
Awards and Events
Around 140 entries were received for the NSW Chapter Architecture Awards, with members and clients enjoying the award presentation night at the award-winning Sydney Theatre in the Rocks mid-year. In October at Coffs Harbour, the NSW Country Division held its annual awards presentation to coincide with its conference ‘Regional Architecture - New Horizons’.
Advocacy
The NSW Chapter in 2005 has been productive in fostering participation, and a continuation of members, in advisory bodies to federal and local government and industry, contributing architectural value to policies and the built environment. Meetings were held with members of parliament including Malcolm Turnbull and Peta Seaton, as well as key government staff from the NSW Department of Planning among others.
The NSW Chapter prepared and lodged a number of submissions throughout the course of the year, including those relating to: Expert Witnesses; SEPP 65; a review of the Rural Fire Service Planning for Bushfire Protection guidelines; Australian Competition & Consumer Commission; Draft LEP’s; Wollongong draft LEP and DCP; and BASIX. The chapter continued to advocate Supporting Women in the Professional Environment (SWIPE) to develop best business polices for architectural practices and a potential mentoring program.
With Thanks
The NSW Chapter would like to thank our sponsors Bluescope Steel, Lysaght, Laminex, Austral, Resene, Tarkett, Mirvac, Bentley, Ove Arup Foundation, Stockland, and FBE for their solid support during 2005. We would also like to thank our Country Division regular sponsors Termimesh, Architectural Window Systems, Peter Duncan Timber, CSR, Enware.
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