POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATE JUNE 2023

ARCHITECTURE BULLETIN ISSUE: HOUSING FOR ALL – CALL OUT

We are fortunate to have esteemed guest editors Kieran McInerney and Dr Michael Zanardo for our upcoming special Housing Edition of the Architecture Bulletin.

Don’t miss the opportunity to contribute!  Abstracts are now due Sunday July 23, 2023

Find the details here: Architecture Bulletin

NSW BUILDING REFORMS

It has been a busy month supporting our members as the rollout of NSW Building Reforms has been expanded and now encompasses Classes 3 and 9c. This has meant a whole new cohort of our members has been required to register as Design Practitioner – Architectural under the DB&P Act. Details on the changes can be found here: Changes coming for class 3 and 9c buildings 2023

If you are seeking assistance on the impact of these changes for your practice please reach out to us. We are here to help. We are hearing from our members that some aspects of the current DB&P Act are being interpreted in differing ways by key consultants from project to project. We are in the process of completing some guidance tools to assist in clarifying the requirements under the Act and we will ensure these tools are available for our members in the upcoming weeks. Much thanks to our expert members Craig Burns, BVN and Rob Graham, Bates Smart for their assistance in developing these tools.

The Department of Customer Service Building and Construction Policy team have now released the Building Bill 2023 – Licensing Proposals: A review of building licensing and registration in NSW which are currently open for feedback.

The documents can be accessed here:

Building Bill (I)

Building Bill (II)

The NSW Department of Customer Service has provided a fact sheet to assist those working on remedial works. Find the fact sheet: Remedial Building Work

HOUSING REFORMS

The Department of Planning and Environment have announced new social and affordable housing reforms. Read about these reforms here: Housing SEPP

Our media statement calls for the affordable housing component to be maintained in perpetuity and for affordable housing to be managed by registered not-for-profit providers. Read our media statement here: Media Statement

Clearly it caught the eye of the Urban Taskforce which kindly circulated our media statement to its membership. Read the Urban Taskforce newsletter commentary here: Urban Taskforce 

CONNECTING WITH COUNTRY

The NSW Government Architect’s Connecting with Country Framework has now been released. Please view the framework here: Connecting with Country

GREATER CITIES COMMISSION

The Greater Cities Commission (GCC) and Western Parklands City Authority (WPCA) have now been absorbed into the Department of Planning and Environment.

Read about the changes here: More planning resources to focus on delivery of new houses and infrastructure

STATE DESIGN REVIEW PANEL

A new scheme has been introduced to deal with the current extended wait times being experienced for SSD projects. It applies to private sector led project developments on private land only and will not impact government projects or projects on government-owned land. 

Read the DPIE Fact Sheet here: State Design Review Panel

COMPLYING DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE FEEDBACK

Government recently sought our feedback on potential improvements that can be made to the CDC decision-making process in NSW to better support the delivery of new low-rise residential construction on already developed land. Thanks to NSW Chapter President Adam Haddow and Peter Smith, Smith & Tzannes for their work on this.

Lisa King

Policy & Advocacy Manager NSW

lisa.king@architecture.com.au

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