Overview
The WA Chapter had another busy year dealing with government and industry and legislative change. Ian Dewar was elected as the new Chapter President and commenced his role in March 2005.
Changes to the Architects Act were finally passed through Parliament. However, the Architects Board of Western Australia is continuing to work on changes which will require professional indemnity insurance and compulsory continuing education for all registered architects.
The RAIA purchased the Elischer Building in Broadway Nedlands and utilised QBS to select Bernard Seeber Architects as the winning architecture firm to design the refurbishment of the building.
Awards and Events
The WA Chapter continually strives to promote architects and architecture. The president’s cocktail party, awards exhibition opening, the architecture awards and Architecture Week received good publicity with all events strongly supported by the members. The year finished off with a larger number of members attending the Christmas party.
The year was another fantastic one in WA for the architecture awards. Entry numbers increased to 96, with the presentation evening being a huge success and once again fully booked weeks in advance.
Architecture Week attendance decreased this year, in line with the coinciding of the week with the WA school holidays. However, the opening event announcing the BlueScope Steel winners and the Gold Medal winners was a huge success. The Young Architects Exhibition of “3 under and 4 over” held in Northbridge attracted good numbers.
Continuing Education
Lectures conducted during the included ones regarding: changes to the Construction Contracts Act; changes to the new State Administrative Tribunal; new energy guidelines under the BCA; risk management; and 30 The Bond in Sydney. The Chapter also organised log book registration talks, a visit from Astrid Klein from Tokyo and Commissioner John Martin during Architecture Week. Practice tutorials also continued to be popular for candidates taking the ABWA exams.
Advocacy Work
The WA Chapter President, State Manager and RAIA representatives continued to meet on a regular basis with many Government contacts. Major issues discussed during the year included the future of the City of Perth, Northbridge Link Project, Perth coastal planning, Parliament House Precinct and the sinking of the railway.
A sub-committee from the Practice Committee continued to meet with the Master Builders Association for ongoing discussions on how to improve contract documentation. Meetings were also held with the Department of Housing and Works on tendering procedures, and with Minister Alannah MacTiernan regarding changes in the CBD.
The Urban Design Committee held meetings with Jeremy Dawkins, Chair of the WA Planning Commission, to discuss the Northbridge Link Project, network city principles, and the future of the City of Perth.
With Thanks
The WA Chapter would like to thank its sponsors for their continued support. We would also like to thank our Councillors for 2005: Ian Dewar - President; Pat Pinder - Immediate Past President; Warren Kerr, Ralph Hoare, Gerard Siero, David Karotkin, Maxine Canning, Patrick Beale, Dick Donaldson, Bob Allen, Michael Dobson, Kate Ferguson, Nicky Brennan, Rod Mollett, Fiona Hogg.
|
