Joint Media Relase
25 May 2004
Dr David Kemp, MP Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage
David Parken National President, Royal Australian Institute of Architects
Peter Gow Executive Director of Policy and Planning, Western Australian Department of Housing and Works
Kayt Watts Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Building and Chair of the Exemplars Committee
Di Jay Chief Executive Officer of the Planning Institute of Australia
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Australians are being called on to nominate outstanding people, places, businesses, governments, projects and innovations that best illustrate our nation’s built environment.
The Year of the Built Environment National Exemplars Program, which will run throughout 2004, was launched today by the YBE 2004 National Steering Committee - the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH), the Western Australian Government’s Department of Housing and Works (DHW) and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) - along with the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) and the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, said the Exemplars Program presents an excellent opportunity for all Australians to celebrate what the Year of the Built Environment means to them.
“The ‘built environment’ isn’t just about our office buildings and the houses in our cities and towns. It’s also about the air we breathe, the ‘green spaces’ we create, industry developments like energy-saving technology, and Australia’s special historical places,” he said.
National President of RAIA, David Parken, said that the program partners were looking forward to seeing the diverse range of Exemplars.
“One of the unique things about the National Exemplars Program is that nominations aren’t confined to one group or project, or even a time period,” he said.
“Applicants may have promoted service to the industry over a number of years, perhaps through design, teaching, research, development, community programs, planning or construction. An Exemplar could be an individual, a building, an innovative project, system or technology or even a city.”
WA Department of Housing and Works’ Executive Director of Policy and Planning, Peter Gow, said that the Exemplars Program would use real examples against the seven themes of YBE 2004.
“The program will unfold in two stages, the first of which is the creation of a registry of Exemplars to be published online via the YBE 2004 national website (www.builtenvironment2004.org.au) from July 2004, and at the end of the year with a Commemorative Compendium.”
The themes for the Year are: Towards Sustainable Communities; Healthy Environments; Excellence in Building, Our Built Heritage; Imagining the Future; Design for All; and Building Regional Communities.
Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Building and Chair of the Exemplars Committee, Kayt Watts, said that the second stage involved an expert industry review panel choosing one Exemplar from each of the seven YBE 2004 theme categories that displays extraordinary achievement.
“The panel will comprise members from the program partnership, as well as professional representatives from a wide range of disciplines to provide expert technical advice. The panel will select seven Exemplars to be awarded at a National YBE 2004 Awards Event in November this year.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Planning Institute of Australia, Di Jay, said the Commemorative Compendium and the National Awards event would encourage future innovators to look towards the built environment for their inspiration.
“In 2004 let’s stop and take a look around at our distinctive urban landscapes - our next Australian Exemplar might be just around the corner.”
Applications for nominations are now open and can be submitted until Friday 3 September 2004. For more information, including nomination forms, visit www.builtenvironment2004.org.au or email ybe2004exemplars@aib.org.au.
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Media contacts
Royal Australian Institute of Architects - Trish Croaker, National Media Adviser: 0408 756 163
Department of the Environment and Heritage - Dale Starr, Public Affairs Director: (02) 6274 2305 or 0417 047 990
WA Department of Housing and Works - John Harskamp, YBE 2004 Executive Officer: (08) 9222 4994
Australian Institute of Building - Jo Spencer, Communications Manager: (02) 6247 7433
Planning Institute of Australia - Di Jay, CEO: (02) 6262 5933
YBE 2004 Exemplars Secretariat - Jo Spencer: 1800 644 715
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