Yuma (Hello). The ACT Chapter has achieved much for members this year particularly on the advocacy front. It’s through regular member engagement that I understand what your priorities are, and along with Chapter Councillors, can represent your views at the many government and industry forums we’re part of.
Here are some of our key advocacy priorities noting that our members are active across many different areas including heritage, sustainability, and education.
Planning
We have advocated hard for members across ACT planning reform and sustainability in the built environment. This is a once in a generation opportunity for a better planning system that facilitates certainty, equity, affordability, sustainability, choice, active transport and design quality for a compact city.
We want a planning system that not only sets the minimum standard – but also sets the great design and sustainability aspirations for our city. One where the design review panel facilitates fast and efficient approvals for projects that deliver those aspirations for Canberrans.
We want the design review panel to have legislative weight to enable the department to take action on their advice to achieve innovative good design outcomes.
We want the new planning system to deliver on the missing middle to enable better access to affordable housing and aging in place in community.
Most recently I appeared before the Parliamentary Inquiry into Planning and will continue to raise your views.
Climate resilience
I think we’ve all come to realise that we must take decisive, urgent action to reduce carbon emissions and help shape a different future. The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are the most urgent problems of our time.
Our local Architecture community is leading the country in starting to track the metrics that will get us to net zero. A shout out to the fabulous team from the
Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge. Thank you to all local architects who have shown how simply and cost effectively we can change to a low carbon future.
Procurement
We are focused on procurement and a pipeline that prioritises great design led by qualified, registered professionals using local industry. Thank you to Major Projects Canberra for engaging with Chapter Council. We look forward to outcomes around
- A consistent basic brief
- Transparency in procurement
- Local industry participation and improved diversity & equity outcomes.
- We support good procurement practices like the paid design competition model and look forward to more of this approach for signature projects.
- We will continue our extensive advocacy across affordable sustainable housing.
There’s been a continued focus on architectural excellence across the professional continuum from higher education, through registration and beyond.
We along with so many of you are charting out a better future with First Nations peoples – it’s going to be a long journey and it’s important to get started. More on this in the New Year.
Our advocacy program for next year is focused and busy. We’ll introduce member initiatives such as the Equity and Diversity task force programs
ArchiBubs so new parents can stay connected to the profession.
Australian Architecture Conference 2023
And in big news, Canberra will host the Australian Architecture Conference in October which will be led by our National President Shannon Battisson. It’s a massive opportunity to profile our wonderful city to the world.
Thank you
Thank you to our incredible Chapter Sponsors without whom we can’t carry out our program of activities including Major Chapter Partner BCA Certifiers, Chapter Partners Harvey Norman Commercial and DFK Everalls. Thank you to the fabulous Chapter team who support all of the work that we do.
Most of all, thank you for being a member of your professional association and for making a difference to the community at large.
Have a great holiday break. Wishing you a very Happy New Year.
