February has been an exceptionally busy and important month, marked by the release of three significant NSW Government policy documents for comment – Discussion Paper: A New Approach to Strategic Planning, the Draft Sydney Plan, and the Statewide Policy for Industrial Lands. Additionally, the Development Control Authority (DCA) exhibition is closing Wednesday 25 February and the new Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill is seeking stakeholder feedback.
The Bill will repeal the current DBPA 2020 amongst other Acts and will focus only on three key areas – Modern Methods of Construction, Building Approvals and Certifier Reforms. These present a valuable opportunity for the Institute to provide feedback and to continue to help shape the future direction of policy in NSW.
The Institute along with the assistance of various working groups, are currently reviewing the documents and will provide further analysis. If you would like to contribute to the Institute’s submission, please email your comments to us at nsw@architecture.com.au
On Friday, the NSW Chapter Council came together for our first meeting of the year in Coffs Harbour. We are delighted to welcome our new Executive Leader, Tammy Dickson, who has quickly immersed herself in the complexities of our state. The day included a focused morning workshop followed by attendance at the Regional Awards in Coffs Harbour. It was a productive and energising start to 2026 — we formally welcomed our new councillors and engaged in robust discussions to begin to set our Chapter priorities for the year ahead. The overarching sentiment was how can the Institute through the NSW Chapter Council better connect with members. Valuable information was gathered through the recent Member Voice which we can build upon. The results are currently being reviewed in detail and we are looking forward to sharing in the near future.
After a morning of intensity, we all had the pleasure of celebrating an inspiring range of thoughtful and innovative projects from across NSW at the Regional Awards. It was particularly valuable to connect with so many architects after the event which was held at the Sir Zelman Cowen and Sulman Award winning Yarilla Place.
All of the selected projects this year demonstrate a remarkable clarity of intent—a commitment to simplicity in detailing, a deep care for their environment, and a respect for context. Their material palettes are restrained yet inventive, proving that richness in architecture does not require excess, but precision and purpose. This year saw a record number of entries. While not every project can receive an award, each submission contributes meaningfully to strengthening and enriching the built environment of the communities and communicating the value of architecture. The President’s Prize for Regional NSW was awarded to Cobar Shire Council for their strategic commitment to providing services for their community and their recognition that good architecture can make a difference.
The NSW Chapter has also begun introducing both the Institute and SONA (the Student Organised Network for Architecture) to students commencing their university studies.
We recently had the pleasure of presenting to students at the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building. Next week, we will be visiting Western Sydney University, with sessions at the University of Sydney and UNSW to follow. At the end of January, our Regional Committee Chair and one of our new Chapter Councillors also met with students at the University of Newcastle, continuing our engagement with emerging architects across the state.
Looking ahead, the Large Practice Forum will be held at Tusculum on 19 February. If you would like to attend, please visit:
https://www.architecture.com.au/about/chapter-councils-committees/nsw-practice-forums
Finally, a reminder to provide your feedback on the draft Architectural Scope of Services document, now released for comment:
https://www.architecture.com.au/advocacy-news/policy/outline-of-services