It was inspiring to hear from SANAA, Architectus and Arup at our recent The Sydney Modern Project: Behind the Scenes of the Art Gallery of NSW Transformation event. Thanks to all those who attended. What an amazing addition to our city this project will be.
Building Ministers Meeting
The commonwealth, state and territory meeting of Building Ministers took place on August 26. See here the government communique.
The Institute’s media statements can be found here:
- Call for increased minimum livability standards for housing
- Institute welcomes new building standards for Australian homes
The ABCB has now published the second half of NCC 2022 on their website. This provides the details regarding the new residential energy efficiency and condensation mitigation measures recently agreed by Building Ministers. Find the link here.
NSW Treasury Commercial Framework and Government Contract Terms & Conditions
We continue to advocate strongly for the scrapping of fixed daily rates for architects on NSW government contracts. Through the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (the GIPA Act) we requested NSW Treasury provide us with specific data pertaining to the formation of a benchmark for capped rates.
See the government response to our GIPA here.
See the response from Treasurer Matt Kean to our letter expressing our concerns here.
The proposed government contract Terms and Conditions were recently released for feedback and the Institute sought legal advice on behalf of our members in the preparation of our submission to government. Read the proposed Term Sheet and our submission here.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill
We are very grateful to have received a briefing on the upcoming Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill. While this work will be underway for some time, it was terrific to hear from both Matthew Alexander and Jason Goninan from Aboriginal Affairs on the approach and valuable consultation currently ongoing. There will be opportunities for briefings and further information for our members as this work progresses and we will keep you updated.
Greater Sydney Commission – Youth Industry Panel open for nominations
Expressions of interest in joining the Greater Cities Commission’s Youth Advisory Panel are now open. It would be wonderful to have young people in our profession represented on the panel. Click the link here to find out more.
NSW Building Reforms
We are pleased that David Chandler has now confirmed he will continue in the role of NSW Building Commissioner. David and his team’s tireless work in lifting the standards of apartment buildings for NSW consumers is highly valued.
New Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading, the Hon Victor Dominello MP has quickly moved to progress the many reform items which have been awaiting further development. These include:
- A proposed Building Bill to replace the Home Building Act 1989
- A proposed Building Compliance and Enforcement Bill to replace the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020
- Broader amendments to existing building regulatory framework
- Expansion of registration, documentation and declaration requirements under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and powers under the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 to class 3 and 9c buildings
- Implementation of the Fire Safety Review
Read the Notification to Stakeholders on Staged Development Changes here.
We continue to work closely with the policy team towards the release of a new version of the Compliance Declaration Form and an updated Design Practitioners Handbook with additional guidance. Our dedicated webpage will be revised and will include both existing and new content once these important changes are in place.
Additionally, we are assisting with the upcoming release of the online module ‘Producing Compliant Designs’ which we know will provide great assistance and confidence to practitioners in implementing the building reforms into their professional practice.
Project Remediate
The Pattern Book has now been released. Angus Kell kindly presented this to our Large Practice Forum recently. Thank you Angus for your amazing work in this space.
ICirt Ratings Scheme
A message from David Chandler on the iCirt ratings scheme currently being implemented across NSW:
Hi all,
Every cloud has a silver lining. How impactive is it when the portfolio Minister is so customer attuned. Victor understands the power of data transparency to level the playing field. Purchasers of NSW off the plan apartments are the big winners here. Much more in the pipe. DLI is just winding up.
Driving the iCIRT message is fundamental to building a minimum viable market base for DLI.
It is also a huge mobilizer for developers and builders to understand how they can build resilient businesses that will competently and reliably deliver repeated trustworthy outcomes.
To shift the reform construction dial in NSW, data has been the underlying backbone. Data is not some nerdish indulgence. It is the DNA of DCS. It is how every NSW agency has been able to join up its intelligence to serve the public through floods, fires and COVID.
Data now informs the more productive efforts of proactive NSW Building and SafeWork regulators. As the nation leading NSW reforms become the norm, every designer, builder and supplier to the construction value chain will benefit from doing construction smarter, more compliantly and once. What is now unfolding is once in 20-year socio-economic reform where the public and industry are both winners.
These are the Strong Foundations that will advantage the NSW economy to benefit through critical investment in new housing supplies as consumers feel more confident to return to the market. I predict that this critical supply of trustworthy housing will become a competitive advantage in attracting tomorrow’s workforce both nationally and globally.
Our industry should be well pleased to see its combined efforts achieve this 20-year reset of our most important market positively rebrand. Well done all.
Cheers
David
See Victor Dominello MP’s LinkedIn post here.
Powerhouse Ultimo Renewal
The response to submissions on the DA is now being prepared by government and is due mid-September.
We are now working with CreateNSW, providing feedback on the proposed competition brief.
MLC Building 105-153 Miller St North Sydney
The MLC building remains at high risk of demolition. We continue to call upon Minister Griffin to relist the building immediately and, this time, in a manner that will be upheld. We remain hopeful of being able to secure a meeting with the Minister in the near future to discuss the importance of this building’s listing.
DPIE
NSW Flood Inquiry Report
The Full Report of the NSW Floods Inquiry has now been released. Read it in full along with the government’s response here.
Paint Shop Sub-Precinct Rezoning Proposal
This precinct is a location of high historical significance to NSW and of a unique industrial landscape character. The Institute is concerned the proposed redevelopment area does not adequately consider the value of the industrial and transport character which appears ignored in the development of the design guidelines, with few aspects of the urban form informed by this heritage layer.
Read our full submission here.
Sustainable Buildings SEPP
This important work has now been released. Read the SEPP here.
We are working with government to organise a member briefing on this new SEPP as soon as possible.
Housing SEPP
A minor amendment was made to the Housing SEPP on 18 March 2022. The changes include:
- Clarification on where the seniors housing provisions apply
- Allowing for subdivision of seniors housing in the R2 zone
- Introduction of a separate pathway to enable LAHC to continue self-assessing seniors housing
- Clarification of the savings provisions (including the application of site compatibility certificates) in the SEPP
You can find a copy of this amendment on the NSW legislation website.
Current draft plans and policies on exhibition include:
- Draft Coastal Design Guidelines
- Draft South East and Regional Tablelands Plan 2041
- Draft Riverina Murray Regional Plan 2041
- Riverwood Estate SSP
- Transport and Infrastructure SEPP amendment (Chapter 4 Major Infrastructure Corridors)
- Marsden Park Transport Corridor
- Proposed amendments to planning controls for Riverstone West
- Central State Significant Precinct rezoning proposal
See the link to further information here.
NSW Election 2023
In the lead up to the NSW election we will shortly be sending out a survey to all NSW members. This is an important opportunity to inform us of the critical issues which impact your professional practice that you would like government to focus on and which will inform our pre-election asks. Look out for this survey coming soon!
Lisa King
Policy & Advocacy Manager NSW
lisa.king@architecture.com.au
Image (from left to right): Matt Press, Laura Cockburn, Angus Abadee & Lisa King
