BDAV News June2017 by Design Matters National

VOLUME 22 • EDITION 5 • JUNE 2017

T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F T H E B U I L D I N G D E S I G N E R S A S S O C I AT I O N O F V I C T O R I A

new Building Regulations Sunset Review

Natural Ventilation in Apartment Living HIA Australian Home of the Year and much more!

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BDAV NEWS

Welcome This month’s edition features lots of news including an update on the Building Regulations Sunset Review, new legislation that impacts the building industry, plus lots of project profiles – including the HIA’s Australian Home of the Year. Ashley Thompson contributes his usual informative Planning Tidbits column, and Chris Webber shares some usual advice in the insurance arena....to name a few. Enjoy the read! Giselle Grynbaum Editor

BDAV News Produced by Giselle Grynbaum for Building Designers Association of Victoria Inc PO Box 174, Carlton South VIC 3053 Web: www.bdav.org.au Phone: (03) 9416 0227 Email: info@bdav.org.au Editor: Giselle Grynbaum

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Tim Adams Todd Pearce Giselle Grynbaum DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in BDAV News are those of the contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Building Designers Association of Victoria. Products and services advertised herein are not necessarily endorsed by the BDAV. Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, neither the BDAV nor the publisher nor any person contributing to this publication shall incur any liability in respect to any information contained herein, nor for any errors or ommissions which may occur in this publication. Contributions are welcome, and should be emailed to the Editor to info@bdav.org.au.

COVER PHOTO Prue McMillan, Arc Studio Ink

In This Edition.... Cover Story: Canterbury Project........................................................................................ 4 Industry News: Building Regulations Sunset Review.............................................................................. 3 Building Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) 2017................................... 7 Special EOFY Offer: Invest in BIM technology before end of June and Save................. 7 Modular Construction Code Board Handbook.............................................................. 8 Member Wins in Built Environment Awards................................................................... 9 2017 Sustainability Awards............................................................................................ 9 Vacant Residential Property Tax................................................................................... 11 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.................................................................................... 11 AWARDED Advertising Now Available......................................................................... 12 Ideas Sought for Medium-Density Housing in QLD..................................................... 15 Passive House Partnership.......................................................................................... 17 Industry to Join in Public Housing Renewal.................................................................. 19 Dangerous Designs..................................................................................................... 19 Waste Management in Multi-unit Developments......................................................... 21 WoodSolutions 2017 North America Tour................................................................... 21 Apartment Living – Studies Show Importance of Natural Ventilation............................. 23 Building More Energy Efficient Buildings....................................................................... 29 Australian Home of the Year 2017............................................................................... 31 Warrnambool Emmanuel College................................................................................ 33 New Victorian Planning Authority CEO......................................................................... 35 Timber Leader Appointment........................................................................................ 35 Mirvac Retail Wins in National Heritage Awards........................................................... 37 Automating the Construction Industry.......................................................................... 39 Adelaide Partners with European Union to Build Smart, Sustainable Cities.................. 42 VBA News: Many Building Surveyors Do Not Make Light Work ...................................................... 7 Heavier Penalties Introduced for Reckless Builders........................................................ 9 Unregistered Contractor Convicted............................................................................. 28 Planning Tidbits:..................................................................................................12 Insurance Issues: Have You Updated Your Computers?..................................................................17

Smart Homes – What are the Risks?.............................................................17 Technology: Todd’s Top Apps.......................................................................................................... 27 Job Market...................................................................................................................... 41

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V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Building Regulations Sunset Review by Kate Bell, BDAV CEO The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) released the proposed Building Regulations 2017 for consultation on the 18 May 2017. The full suite of consultation documentation is available at https://engage.vic.gov.au/ buildingregulationsreview BDAV is currently formulating a response which is due by the 18 July 2017, so if you are interested in contributing to this process, please notify the BDAV office at info@bdav.org.au. Key changes to the regulations which DELWP have marked as strengthening regulations: Improve reporting by a relevant building surveyor (RBS) to the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). An RBS would provide more information to VBA about timeframes for building work and about obligations relevant to the work (such as about mandatory inspections, exemptions and consents granted and whether the work relates to change of use or requirements for protection work). Require a RBS to inform the owner and builder a building permit is about to lapse. A RBS would be required to send them each a notice that the building permit was going to lapse in three months, if certain inspections hadn’t happened. VBA and the council would also receive a copy. The applicant could then ask the RBS for an extension to prevent their building permit lapsing. Require a RBS to provide more information with a protection work notice. So owners of adjoining property are better informed about the protection work process and how the building work will affect them, the RBS would be required to record a determination in a prescribed form. The RBS would have to have regard to specific criteria when determining whether protection work was required. The notice required to be served on the adjoining owner would also be required to be in a prescribed form, and accompanied by: – VBA-approved guidance material about the protection work process and the procedure for resolving disputes; – a copy of an allotment plan showing the position of the proposed building work in relation to an adjoining property;

– plans and specifications showing how the proposed building work might affect adjoining property and how the proposed protection work would address this risk. Introduce new requirements for swimming pool and spa barriers. All swimming pools and spas would be required to have a four-sided isolation barrier that complies with the most recent Australian standard (which may require owners of older pools and spas to bring them into compliance by 1 October 2020). The Regulations would require the owner to maintain the pool and/or spa safety barrier (a requirement previously of the occupier), and the occupier would be required to take all reasonable steps (such as to notify the owner) to ensure the barrier was operating effectively. Add three extra mandatory notification stages: before covering walls, floors or ceilings (to check fire resistance and the structural integrity of the framework); before covering waterproofing in wet areas; and after completing stormwater drainage system. This aims to reduce the high level of defects in some current building work. Key changes to the regulations which DELWP have marked as updated regulations to improve administrative efficiency or to reflect changes in other legislation (eg Building Act) are: Prescribed forms have been introduced to make sure that a building permit includes the information that is needed. This aims to avoid delays caused by the need to request additional information. In other cases, some Regulations have been updated to include additional information that is required to achieve the objectives of the Building Act 1993, and some have been updated to reflect other Acts and schemes.

Fees for councils have been updated to move them towards full cost recovery. The Regulations prescribing fees will automatically revoke on 1 June 2020, which will give additional time to undertake a review of the fee regulations. Other Regulations have been updated for clarity and consistency and to modernise the drafting of the Regulations. Key changes to the regulations which DELWP have marked as reduced and revoked regulations to reduce regulatory burden are: The current Regulations are based on the manual lodgement of documents. The proposed Regulations encourage electronic lodgement of documents by reducing the number of hard copies required when documents are lodged electronically. The current Regulations require a report and consent from a council to build a shed on undeveloped land. The proposed Regulations would allow as-of-right construction of a single Class 10a building with a floor area less than 10sqm on undeveloped land. This would align with the planning system which regulates Class 10a sheds larger than 10sqm and with Schedule 8 in the current Regulations, which exempts this class of building from a building permit. The Regulations prescribing fees will automatically revoke on 1 June 2020. A proposed Regulation gives additional time to undertake a review of all fee regulations. New fee Regulations will need to be made before June 2020. Some provisions have been amended so that they align with other Acts and standards. Some Regulations have been revoked where there is duplication with other schemes or if the Regulation is redundant.

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Cover Story

Canterbury Project Roy Hodgson Design won the award for Residential Design: Alterations & Additions over $500K construction cost in the BDAV’s 2016 Building Design Awards for their Canterbury project. In doing so, Roy Hodgson Design have once again demonstrated their adeptness at transforming outdated dwellings into impressive family homes. This 1920s home had fallen into disrepair when Anna Wood and her family commissioned Roy Hodgson Design to turn its fortunes. The brief was to enhance the character and ‘soul’ of the heritage home, explains Roy Hodgson. Increasing the indoor and outdoor living amenities, making the most of solar gain via a challenging east-west site orientation, and incorporating a pool and double garage were also prerequisites – all under heritage overlay. The challenge for Roy was to navigate the sloping block with its fall of approximately three metres. “This was cleverly managed by a series of retaining walls,” Roy explains, “and by increasing the rear fence height behind the pool. The solution also meant the living, alfresco and pool areas are at grade.” In the existing home, corridors were widened, baltic pine floors were sanded and polished, heritage features restored, and painting white on white throughout creates an airy, refreshed environment. The extension – located to the rear southern boundary – presents an impressive façade of full-height steelframed sliding doors with clerestory

windows protected from the summer sun by wide timber eaves. Perhaps surprisingly, the scheme also retains neighbouring amenity. “Despite the dimensions of the extension, there is minimal impact on the neighbouring properties, with substantial setbacks providing privacy and a leafy outlook,” said Roy. Inside, an expansive open-plan family and dining room are divided from the kitchen and concealed butler’s pantry by a white Calacatta marble island bench. A cantilevered box window seat sits adjacent to the dining area, providing a perfect view of the garden and the Melbourne skyline. To Roy, the rewards from this project have seen delighted clients and a design that “satisfies the clients’ desire for a contemporary extension – despite significant heritage overlays”, while

respecting and enhancing the heritage attributes of the original home. The Judges were equally impressed. They said “This design is a successful merger of old and new, respecting and enhancing the heritage attributes of a classic interwar residence. It has breathed new life into the many retained original features and integrated them with an elegant and light-filled extension. Taking full advantage of the northerly aspect available, the addition provides effective indoor-outdoor connectivity by utilising a level change, which also denotes an articulated transition from existing to new. The outcome is a stunning transformation of a period home into a bright, passive-solar contemporary space that retains the grace of its original era at the street frontage, and provides a modern garden-connected addition.”

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Acknowledgements Designer: Roy Hodgson Design P/L www.rhdesign.com.au Builder: Rangeview Building Building Surveyor: Collinson Fogarty Laws Structural Engineer: NK Structural Design Land Surveyor: BT Surveys Landscape Design: Roy Hodgson Design P/L Interior DĂŠcor: Wood Design Co Photography: Prue McMillan, Arc Studio Ink

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

New Legislation – Building Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) 2017 by Kate Bell, BDAV CEO On 11 May 2017 the Building Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill 2016 was passed by the Victorian Parliament and it received Royal Assent on 23 May 2017. The changes will be introduced in stages throughout the rest of the year and into 2018. The provisions of the Bill relate to a range of issues including: Registration of companies; New personal and financial probity tests for registration and renewal; Information on building practitioner’s registration and disciplinary history to be made more accessible to consumers; Improvements to the building permit levy process and collection;

Increased rigour around the inspection of building work; Providing for transfer of work between building surveyors and other measures to improve the regulation of building surveyors Stronger entry and information-gathering powers for the VBA and other regulators A full Explanatory Memorandum is available on the Victorian Government legislation website. The full link is at http:// www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_ Notes/LDMS/PubPDocs.nsf/ee665e366d cb6cb0ca256da400837f6b/537E513FEA 5F1F79CA2580810078AAF4/$FILE/5812 97exi1.pdf Pleasingly, the legislation removes the responsibility from the building designer in regard to ensuring that the building work (construction) is carried out in accordance

with the Building Act, Regulation and building permit; however, despite assurances from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the building designer could potentially still be held responsible if a building permit is not in place. We remind members of the previous article on this matter “Update on Beware of ‘New’ Section 16” (https://news.bdav. org.au/update-beware-new-section-16/) which provided some guidance on how you can limit your liability. BDAV will provide further updates on the specific implementation of these changes which directly affect building designers/draftspersons. This includes changes to the BDAV engagement agreement, building contracts, general notes and other material.

Many Building Surveyors Do Not Make Light Work Many Victorians building new homes or undertaking major renovations are unaware they have inadvertently committed an offence by appointing multiple building surveyors to work on the same project.

Mr Smith says both owners and building surveyors should be clear with each other from first contact and read the information about appointing a building surveyor available at the VBA’s website, at www.vba.vic.gov.au.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is reminding homeowners that work carried out by an appointed building surveyor could be invalid if more than one surveyor is appointed to the work.

Once an owner has appointed a building surveyor, the building surveyor must notify their local council. If a homeowner decides to engage their local council’s municipal building surveyor, they do not need to formally appoint them – they can simply apply for a building permit from the council.

VBA Director of Enquiries, Inspections and Complaints – Murray Smith – says it is an offence to appoint more than one building surveyor per job. “We are noticing more instances of multiple building surveyors being appointed by homeowners for the same piece of work,” Mr Smith said. “The surveyor may start work, unaware another building surveyor has already been appointed as the relevant building surveyor for that project, or has already started the same building permit process. This constitutes an offence by the owner appointing the second building surveyor. Dual appointments may also result in disciplinary action against the second building surveyor in certain circumstances. Dual appointments create confusion for owners, building surveyors, builders and local council officers.”

It is not an offence to appoint separate building surveyors to carry out different projects (covered by different building permits) on the same property.

For example, a homeowner could have one building surveyor working on a new garage, and another on a kitchen renovation at the same home. It would be an offence to have two or more building surveyors appointed to work on the new garage. If a homeowner wishes to change building surveyors, they must obtain written consent from the VBA. Details about this process is available at http:// www.vba.vic.gov.au/disputes-andresolutions/terminating-the-appointmentof-a-private-building-surveyor. More information is available at http:// www.vba.vic.gov.au/consumers/buildingfor-consumers/building-surveyor

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Industry News

BDAV NEWS

Modular Construction Code Board Handbook The Modular Construction Code Board Handbook is one of the first documents world-wide that is designed to offer guidelines on best practice for modular construction. Prior to its scheduled release for public comment in May, it increasingly attracted the interest of industry. The below information is taken from an article that appeared in Built Offsite, Issue 4. The Modular Handbook is one of the activities of the Modular Construction Codes Board, which was formed as part of a grant agreement between the Victorian State Government and Monash University, with the support of industry bodies such as Engineers Australia, the Australian Steel Institute and PrefabAUS as well as numerous industry partners who have generously contributed funding and expertise. The Handbook is part of a vision, shared by a number of people in industry and academia, to promote best practice and innovation in this emerging industry. Industry partners include module manufacturers, materials providers, engineering firms and building contractors, among others. These partners have had close involvement in the development of the Handbook, in the form of content contributions and reviews. A peer review process has also been conducted with members of industry and academia to ensure that a wide range of viewpoints are represented. The Modular Handbook aims to provide guidance to industry on the design and construction of modular structures, by serving as a platform for the sharing of experience and knowledge advances. It aims to fill knowledge gaps and promote best practice, as well as provide confidence to all stakeholders, from designers through to financiers, that this emerging construction methodology is based on sound engineering principles and that the relatively young age of the local industry need not be a cause for concern. It is hoped that the Handbook might assist in bringing about a cultural shift in the traditional construction industry, by encouraging the use of comprehensive manufacturing and assembly approaches from other industries. Built Offsite reported there has been much published previously on various facets of modular construction and prefabrication, but the Modular Handbook represents the first instance where such a broad range of relevant subjects, for such a diverse array of intended audiences, have been brought together through an

industrial collaboration in one place to form a single, unified source of guidance. The Modular Handbook covers a broad range of topics relevant to modular construction, including:

Structural Design: Guidance for structural engineers regarding how to approach the design of modular structures, both in their fully assembled form and as individual modules that must be structurally sound during manufacture, storage, transport and assembly. This also includes guidance relating to wind and earthquake design, connections, element design, testing and structural analysis.

Building Services, Performance and Amenity: Covering a range of building services, including hydraulics, electrical, mechanical and fire protection, with a great deal of practical guidance relating to the provision of services in the presence of the significant discontinuities between modules often present in modular construction. Also covered are fire engineering, acoustical performance and sustainable thermal regulation.

Architecture: An overview of the interplay between architecture and modular construction methodologies, emphasising the importance of a holistic design process with early consultation between all stakeholders. This content also provides guidance on criteria for determining the degree of prefabrication that is appropriate for a given project.

Facades and Materials: These chapters detail some advantages relating to integrating facades with modular components, as well as some practical guidance on successful assembly; material manufacturing, tolerances, quality and certification guidance is also presented.

Durability: This chapter outlines important guidance on the longevity of structures, particularly as it relates to corrosion and material fatigue. These are important topics in modular construction, due to the wider variety of environments that modules may be exposed to in their lifetime, and cyclic loading from vibrations during transport, among other factors.

Safety: Modular construction represents a new approach to construction that presents new risks as well as new

opportunities with respect to safety. One of the key features of modular construction is the emphasis on off-site manufacture under controlled conditions, which creates opportunities for improved safety, e.g. through less work at height and less risk due to inclement weather conditions. The Modular Handbook seeks to emphasise safety by design, in line with the general philosophy of holistic design that underpins modular construction.

Transportation, Erection and Temporary Works: These topics represent some of the most significant novelties and considerations that arise in modular construction. The practical experience of many in the industry has indicated that transportation and lifting of modules can be the main drivers of design and can be major factors in the feasibility of the modular approach for a project. Compliance, Inspection & Verification, Traceability and Documentation: A thorough treatment of modular construction must also cover topics relating to procedural matters such as Compliance, Inspection & Verification, Traceability and Documentation. These become ever more important in Modular Construction due to the emphasis on offsite manufacture and thus the likelihood of an extended logistical and procurement chain. Ensuring the quality and performance of the completed building or structure will depend significantly on these areas. Disassembly, Reuse & Recyclability, Relocatable Modular Structures: The nature of modular construction as the assembly of manufactured modules, and the associated detailed design process, creates opportunities to achieve better outcomes with respect to end of life concerns and the possibility of repurposing structures and constituent materials. This can lead to significant improvements in the sustainability of the industry. Design for Manufacture & Assembly, Digital Engineering and Lean Manufacturing: These topics provide detail and guidance on the philosophies that underpin successful modular construction. It is important that the right mindset is adopted when considering a modular construction methodology, as this does represent a significant departure in many ways from traditional construction. Source: Built Offsite

Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Member Wins in Built Environment Awards BDAV Member, Earnshaw & Associates, won two awards in the City of Whitehorse 2017 Built Environment Awards announced last month for their Blackburn House Project: Single House-New Dwelling and the Sustainability Award. The brief was to design a ‘green’ home that would take full advantage of the unique bushland setting and creek meandering through the property.

The design intent included: Take advantage of the north-east aspect and views to the creek; Rejuvenate the surrounding landscape and creek to integrate the two with the building; Create a comfortable open plan family home which is well connected to the landscape beyond; Integrate elements of the original home such as stone feature walls.

The judges commented that the house has strong environmental sustainability merit, achieving the equivalent of a 10 Star Energy rating by being energy efficient, minimising ground surface disturbance, careful materials choices, low water use and landscaping with indigenous plant species which have low water requirements.

Heavier Penalties Introduced for Reckless Builders The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) now has greater enforcement powers over people who knowingly oversee or carry out building work that is not in accordance with the building permits, the Building Act (1993) (the Act) or the building regulations. One of several amendments to the Act that come into effect late last month is the inclusion of Indictable Offences which carry heavier penalties aimed at deterring anyone in the business of building from purposely doing the wrong thing. Importantly, these offences also apply to people and businesses managing or arranging building work. “Under amendments to the Act, those involved in building work who are found guilty of committing an offence by deliberately ignoring the law will face a penalty of fines, and Courts also have the power to impose a prison sentence,” said VBA CEO, Prue Digby. These new offences carry maximum fines of up to $93,276 and a potential maximum of five years’ imprisonment for a person; and maximum fines of up $466,380 for a body corporate. Other amendments to the Act and the building regulations that came into effect are: People in partnerships that undertake building work are now liable as builders,

meaning that if the partnership is guilty of an offence, each member of the partnership may also be liable, even if they are not a builder themselves.

building work may be held to be registered subject to meeting certain criteria when the new corporate registration scheme comes into effect.

Conflict of interest provisions are now extended from Private Building Surveyors to include Municipal Building Surveyors acting outside their municipal area.

“As the authority responsible for implementing these changes, the VBA will use these powers judiciously and continue to work closely with the people we regulate to ensure they’re aware of how these changes affect their business, and that they are compliant with the new regulations,” said Ms Digby.

From 1 July 2018, or sooner if proclaimed, new provisions in the Act will also allow a body corporate or company to register as a building practitioner with the VBA. Companies already engaged in

Further information on the changes that have come into effect can be found on the VBA website at vba.vic.gov.au.

2017 Sustainability Awards If your firm is at the forefront of ecologically sustainable building practice and design, now is the time to enter the 2017 Architecture & Design Sustainability Awards. With 14 categories, including the new category of People’s Choice, this year’s Sustainability Awards are set to be the best and biggest in their 11-year history – even more reason for you to enter.

Benefits of entering A comprehensive, ongoing program of exposure for your project or product,

encompassing online, email, print, social, face-to-face networking and content marketing. Shortlisted projects, which will be revealed after the nomination deadline, will be featured in the September/October issue of Infolink magazine and the Architecture & Design website, as well as being promoted on all our social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and the Architecture & Design daily newsletter. For more information, go to www.sustainablebuildingawards.com.au

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Vacant Residential Property Tax From 1 January 2018, owners of residential Victorian properties who keep their property vacant will be charged a Vacant Residential Property Tax (VRPT). A residential property is deemed vacant if it is unoccupied for more than six months in a calendar year. The six months do not need to be continuous. The Victorian Government views vacant residential properties as effectively withdrawing supply of occupiable properties from the market, thereby increasing pressure on prices and rents. The VRPT is intended to encourage these owners to make their property available for purchase or rent, allowing Melbourne’s current housing stock to be used efficiently. The tax will apply to the inner and middle areas of Melbourne, where the issue of housing affordability is most pressing. There will be a number of practical exemptions applied, recognising there are some legitimate reasons for a property being left vacant. The framework for the tax will be subject to consultations with property groups and the community. The tax will be incorporated into the land tax legislative framework. Consistent

with this framework, liability for the vacant residential property tax is self-reporting. That is, property owners are expected to inform the State Revenue Office when their property triggers the tax. The State Revenue Office will also undertake monitoring and compliance activities. The Vacant Residential Property Tax will be calculated as 1 per cent tax on the capital improved value of the taxable property. The capital improved value of a property is the value of land and buildings as determined every second year as part of the council valuation process. The capital improved value of your property is displayed on your council rates notice.

Maribyrnong Melbourne Monash Moonee Valley Moreland Port Phillip Stonnington Whitehorse Yarra

Vacant residential properties outside these local council areas will not be subject to the VRPT. There will be specific exemptions with qualifying criteria. Exemptions will include: Holiday homes (owned by those with a principal place of residence in Australia),

For example, if the taxable property has a capital improved value of $500,000, the applicable tax will be $5,000.

City units for work purposes,

The VRPT will only apply to vacant residential properties located in the following local council areas: Banyule Bayside Boroondara Darebin Glen Eira Hobsons Bay Manningham

Homes subject to legitimate temporary absences (e.g. medical care, overseas appointments)

Properties in deceased estates, and

Once the consultation process with relevant stakeholders is completed, more detailed information about the tax will be announced. In the meantime, currently known information is available at www.sro.vic. gov.au.

Share Your Success to Win a Premier’s Sustainability Award Victoria’s sustainability leaders are being urged to enter this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards and share their insights with people, organisations and companies across the state. Sustainability Victoria CEO, Stan Krpan, said the 15th Premier’s Sustainability Awards were a great way to recognise Victoria’s sustainability talent. “The bar gets higher every year. We’re delighted to see increasingly diverse and interesting ways that people are working hard to combat the effects of climate change and improve the environment. “Community groups, schools, state and local government, businesses and individuals with a commitment to sustainability are encouraged to enter these Awards. “We want to recognise them and their wonderful work, and hopefully

inspire others to think about their own environmental contributions.” There are 10 categories in the program – covering every type of sustainability work right across Victoria: Built Environment Community Education Environmental Justice Environmental Protection Government Health Innovative Products or Services Large Business Small and Medium Enterprises. As well as awards in each category, the Premier will select two overall winners

for the Premier’s Regional Recognition and the top award, the Premier’s Recognition Award.

Entries close on Wednesday, 21 June 2017. For more information about how to enter the awards and to attend an information session, go to www. sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au

Planning Tidbits

BDAV NEWS

Little bits that can make a big difference to your town planning outcomes Regular readers and applicants will be aware of the recent changes to the General Residential and Neighourhood Residential Zones introduced in April of this year, under amendment VC110, requiring a mandatory minimum Garden Area as part of development proposals on lots greater than 400m2. Clause 32.08-4 now provides the following requirements:

Lot Size

Min % of lot required to be set aside as garden area

400-500m2

25%

501-650m2

30%

>650m2

35%

Amendment VC110 also incorporated a definition of ‘Garden Area’ into the Victorian Planning Provisions. Since its introduction, our office has been inundated with questions from applicants seeking clarification of: whether gardens above basements can be included in the calculation, the status of areas under eaves and cantilevered first floors, and what exactly constitutes a ‘roofed area’ over a pergola or outdoor entertaining area? Clarification on these issues will be provided by VCAT, overtime, as the Tribunal hears cases that require these matters to be considered. The

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AWA

Department has also indicated that it will provide a practice note on ‘garden areas’ to assist in overcoming the current ambiguity. In the meantime, we thought it might be helpful to publish the response we provided one applicant seeking clarification as to whether or not an area under an eave can be included in the calculation of garden area. In response to this query, we replied with the following: Eaves are just one characteristic that has not been picked up in the definition of Garden Area. Unfortunately, a definitive answer to this question will not be available until such time it is formally tested at the Tribunal (or State Government widens the definition). Until then, I would expect both building surveyors, private and Council planners to potentially hold varying positions. Clause 1 holds the following position: Providing the Garden Area under the eave is part of an area with a dimension greater than 1m, it can and should be considered in the Garden Area calculation. To not include garden under an eave would be nonsensical. We note that the primary definition of Garden Area primarily states:

AWA

Ashley Thompson, Clause:1

Is a Garden Under an Eave a Garden Area?

“An uncovered outdoor area of a dwelling or residential building normally associated with a garden.”

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The definition then goes on to give examples and exclusions:

“It includes open entertaining areas, decks, lawns, garden beds, swimming pools, tennis courts and the like. It does not include a driveway, any area set aside for car parking, any building or roofed area and any area that has a dimension of less than 1metre”

Clause:1 is of the opinion that an area under an eave would be included as a ‘garden bed’ in the primary definition. Importantly, ‘roof’ and ‘uncovered outdoor area’ are not defined within the planning scheme. In the context of the ‘Garden Area’ definition, we believe that any ‘roof’ or ‘uncovered outdoor area’ would need to generally prevent light and rain from penetrating in order to exclude that area from the ‘Garden Area’ calculation. In the example of eaves and other similar structures, both light and rain can permeate – so in situations where there is garden located below them, we would strongly recommend their inclusion into any Garden Area calculation. As mentioned earlier, other practitioners and Council planners may hold differing positions – but we remain hopeful that commonsense will prevail.

Under development The issue of ‘over-development’ is often tendered in objection to planning permit applications. Such a concern usually relates to the perceived inability of a site to accommodate the scale of the development proposed. These tid-bits are part of the regular contribution made by Clause:1 Planning to BDAV News. For more information, contact Ashley Thompson on (03) 9370 9599 or visit www.clause1.com.au

Planning Tidbits

‘Underdevelopment’ is also a legitimate matter to be considered within the planning regime and, although much less common, can be raised as a concern against proposals that underutilise land in defiance of the relevant planning policy and controls. The issue of underdevelopment was canvassed in a recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) case, Nice Star Pty Ltd v Maroondah CC [2017] VCAT 365, in which a proposal for four double-storey dwellings was refused, mainly on the basis that it did not achieve a level of development appropriate for the Residential Growth Zone (RGZ) and the Design and Development Overlay (DDO3). The purpose of the RGZ includes (inter alia): To provide housing at increased densities in buildings up to and including four storey buildings; To encourage a scale of development that provides a transition between areas of more intensive use and development and other residential areas. The objectives of the Design and Development Overlay in this case includes (inter alia): To encourage future development that optimises the full potential of sites and reflects its location within a Central Activities Area; To create certainty for the community, land owners and developers within Ringwood regarding the future of the Activity Centre and potential opportunities and constraints associated with existing allotments; To encourage multi-level apartment style residential housing opportunities to complement and enhance the form and transit city role of the Ringwood Activity Centre.

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

The Tribunal noted in its reasoning that the scale of development anticipated is one that is higher and more intense than the surrounding suburban context and cited both State and Local Planning Provisions, including neighbourhood character policy, for promoting higher density apartment-style housing in more intensive multi-level forms. It was the permit applicant’s case that the proposal was an intensification (with additional dwellings), and that an apartment development design (having costed it) would result in a loss of 27% investment The Tribunal found this difficult to understand given apartments were being built concurrently in the activity centre, and that ultimately the proposal was not consistent with the zoning of the land, the DDO3 and local policy. Similar findings were made in Black T Pty Ltd v Maribyrnong CC [2012] VCAT 303, where a proposal for five attached double-storey dwellings in addition to the existing dwelling, within the Footscray Central Activities District and on the edge of the Principle Public Transport Network (PPTN) was refused by the Tribunal, noting:

…built forms which represent substantial change are sought in this locale. In my view a two storey development, as is presently proposed in the Application, does not represent substantial change. There is already a mix of one and two storey development in the surrounding area. If this part of the CAD were to develop with two storey forms it would, in my view, be an under-realisation of the policy expectations for such a higher order activity centre.

By contrast, in Melder Pty Ltd v Monash CC [2014] VCAT 131, a proposal for 30 double-storey dwellings in a Residential 1 Zone, the Tribunal did not agree with Council that the proposal

constituted an underdevelopment of the site. While the review site had attributes to support a more intensive form of residential development, there was no clear policy within the Monash Planning Scheme which identified a particular development future, or strategic role, for the land. In that case the Tribunal found:

….there needs to be more than just an opportunity to perhaps achieve a few more dwellings, or another form of housing, for an otherwise appropriate proposal to be refused on the basis of being an underdevelopment. There also needs to be a failure to achieve a clear policy vision, or a locally identified strategic opportunity, for a particular site or precinct. Given the lack of a policy or DDO setting out a preferred future character or strategic direction for the site, I cannot conclude that the proposal before me is an underdevelopment in strategic terms.

These decisions highlight the importance of underlying planning policy, particularly the more specific local planning policy, in determining what is an appropriate development. Many Planning Schemes provide a Strategic Framework Plan which sets out the preferred development types by location, with corresponding policy. As noted in the Nice Star decision, the underlying zoning and any Design and Development or Development Plan Overlays also set out expectations for the scale of development within various parts of a municipality. While the ‘underdevelopment’ issue is a rare problem with most permit applicants, it is useful in highlighting the importance of using the underlying planning provisions to inform the design response at an early stage of the development process.

Ph: 03 9370 9599 www.clause1.com.au

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Ideas Sought for Medium-Density Housing in QLD The Queensland Government has launched a singlestage ideas competition for medium-density housing. Similar to the NSW government’s Missing Middle Design Competition, which concluded in April, the Queensland government’s Density and Diversity Done Well competition seeks ideas for affordable and achievable medium-density housing options. Like the competition in the NSW, the goal of the competition is to identify ways to increase housing density, without sacrificing liveability, in Australia’s large, low-density cities. Queensland planning minister Jackie Trad said the competition is about “challenging the status quo and investigating out-of-the-box ideas about how we can do density well and deliver the ‘missing middle.’ “We are looking for innovative and affordable ideas that will create both exciting places to live now and build great, sustainable neighbourhoods into the future. It is about thinking creatively about how our housing interacts with the world around us and about how we can address growth in our urban areas while preserving the things that make living in Queensland great.”

The Hub on Echlin by Architects North (above) received an award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing at the 2016 Queensland Architecture Awards.

Queensland government architect Malcolm Middleton added, “This is not a unique challenge and I would like to acknowledge the good work of Peter Poulet and the New South Wales Office of the Government Architect in advancing the ‘missing middle’ in NSW and for assisting my office in the preparation of this competition brief.” The competition is open to nationally and internationally registered architects, as well as students, graduates and building designers. The competition seeks proposals for either one to two-storey buildings in suburban areas or for four to six-storey designs in places with more amenities, like the areas around train stations or clusters of shops. It is hoped that entries will demonstrate a diverse range of housing typologies, including small-scale infill housing, townhouses and triplexes, and row and terrace housing. The competition also seeks proposals for homes that are climactically responsive, accommodating of joint living and working arrangements and adaptable for intergenerational living. A $50,000 prize pool will be shared between up to 10 winners. The jury may also award commendations but these will not receive a cash prize. Density done well is a core theme of the South East Queensland Regional Plan released in October 2016. The plan covers 12 local government areas around Brisbane, stretching from the Gold Coast in the south, north to Noosa and west to the Lockyer Valley. The competition is a joint initiative of the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and the Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland. It closes at 5pm on Tuesday 4 July. Winners will be announced in mid- to late-August. To enter the competition,go to densityanddiversity.openinnovation. com.au. Source: ArchitectureAU

Brighton Twin Set by Push received the Job and Froud Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing at the 2016 Queensland Architecture Awards.

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WannaCry – Have You Updated Your Computers? by Chris Webber, Webber Insurance Services In the past month, it has been widely publicised the damage that the ransomware WannaCry has caused to businesses both large and small throughout the world. Australia was lucky with the timing of this ransomware – it was released on a Friday night Australian time, meaning that by the time everyone woke up on Saturday, a solution was already in place, minimising the impact. It could have been much worse. Many people and businesses are still using outdated, unpatched Windows XP and Windows 7 machines which allow for these exploits to take down your

computer network. Even Windows 8 and 10 can be vulnerable if they are not kept up to date. I have written in the past about the simple steps each business can take to protect themselves from a cyber-attack. As a refresher, the Australian Government uses the terminology ‘The Essential Eight’ when it comes to protecting a network. These eight strategies are:

Whitelist Applications – only allow certain applications to run; Block web browser access to Adobe Flash, web ads and untrusted Java code; Disable untrusted Microsoft Office macros; Enable Multi-Factor Authentication where possible (banking, emails etc);

Patch/Update operating systems (ie, Windows);

Daily backup of all important data.

Patch/Update applications (ie, Office 365);

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Smart Homes – What are the Risks? by Chris Webber, Webber Insurance Services With the creation of ‘Smart Homes’, the ability for unauthorised people to gain access into your personal life has increased substantially. Unfortunately for most though, the allure of being able to turn your lights on with your iPad outweighs the increased risk you face at home. Recently, a major two-hour global outage of Amazon, Twitter, PayPal and Netflix was blamed on a directed denial of service (DDOS) attack that utilised everyday items such as fridges, washing machines, universal remotes and cameras. The world is adding a staggering 5.5 million Internet of Things (IoT) devices every day, with the total sitting at around 6 billion connected devices worldwide. Smart electricity meters, where a connection between the meter and the electricity provider send gas and water information both ways. These devices traditionally have no inbuilt security measures – no password protection or firmware that can be updated. What this means is that hackers can monitor in real time the electricity usage in someone’s home. Burglars will easily be able to tell when someone is not home. There is also a heightened exposure that the providers themselves can exploit the device to breach privacy. A consumer loses the control of where their data is going. The exposure increases further when you add other internet connected devices such as alarms, garage doors and video

surveillance. Claims examples that have been happening include arson, theft, blackmail and extortion. SmartApps, similar to smart phone apps, are being created to allow a Smart Home to do things like ‘lock a door at 9pm’. Unfortunately, when these apps are being programmed, they also allow the ability to ‘open’ the doors as well, as they cannot be limited to locking only. It’s similar to the theory that what goes up must come down, but in this case, what can be turned on, can also be turned off.

Chris Webber is the Managing Director of Webber Insurance Services with diplomas of both Insurance Broking and Risk Management. Webber Insurance Services is the approved Insurance Broker of the BDAV. For any enquiries, please call 1300 668 553 or email bdav@webberinsurance.com.au

Whilst Smart Homes are still in their infancy, Building Designers must take care when talking to clients or specifying certain products. Whilst it may be ‘cool’ to operate a home with an iPad, thought must be given to how this could adversely affect the security of someone’s home.

Passive House Partnership A new partnership between the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Passive House Institute (PHI) will boost the passive house (passivhaus) building approach in Australia. The partnership will encourage the future development of ultra-low energy buildings. The passive house conceot is a voluntary building standard that delivers comfortable, energy-efficient and affordable buildings. Homes designed to ‘passivhaus’ specifications use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional buildings. According to the GBCA’s head of market transformation, Jorge Chapa, passive house is an integrated solution to providing thermally-comfortable, energyefficient buildings. GBCA’s goal is to recognise passive house-certified buildings within Green Star, which will contribute to a better overall built environment.

Chapa said that GBCA and PHI organisations will be working together to provide the industry with guidance on how buildings with a passive house certification can achieve Green Star credits. This will include developing guidelines and co-hosting professional development opportunities, such as site tours and workshops. The partnership comes after the GBCA proposed an update to the Green Star – Design & As Built rating tool, which would recognise a new passive house pathway to achieve ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ and ‘Thermal Comfort’ credits. The GBCA has already established partnerships with the International WELL Building Institute, the International Living Futures Institute and the Living Future Institute Australia to align credits under the Green Star, WELL Building Standard and Living Building Challenge rating systems. Source: Architecture & Design

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Industry to Join in Public Housing Renewal Interested parties are being sought to partner with the Victorian State Government to redevelop outdated public housing in inner Melbourne. To grow housing further, Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley has invited community housing associations, design firms, construction companies and financiers to take part in the Registration of Capability (ROC). The Victorian Government is looking to establish innovative partnerships to deliver affordable, mixed tenure social housing. The sites considered as part of the Public Housing Renewal Program are in Northcote, Brunswick West, Heidelberg West, North Melbourne, Prahran and Clifton Hill. The renewal of Flemington estate and Stokes Penola in Preston are also included in the ROC.

The ROC is the first stage in the process and allows parties to identify their preferred sites and demonstrate their ability to deliver the renewal project. Following a thorough assessment parties will be shortlisted and move through to the next phase. Construction on the sites is not expected to start from early to mid-2018. Residents will be assisted during the temporary relocation and have the right to return to new homes. Further sites in regional and inner Melbourne are expected to be developed in the future as part of the renewal program. The redevelopments are part of the Government’s Homes for Victorians strategy which is providing $2.1 billion in financial instruments for community

housing associations to rent, buy and build new homes. “So much of our public housing stock is old and no longer fit for purpose,” said Victoria’s Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley. “We need to make a move to update and grow stock that will continue to meet tenant needs in the future.” “We can’t condemn another generation of Victorians to live in housing poverty – we want to create better living conditions and encourage our tenants to be active members of vibrant communities.” “This is the first step in generating new communities and while it will be a long journey, we believe the investment will truly be worth it.” The ROC is open until 22 June 2017 and is available at www.tenders.vic.gov.au

Dangerous Designs Dangerous Designs is an online design competition, which encourages inspirational use of wood and wood products. Sponsored by WoodSolutions, the competition is open to anyone in Australia. The Student category is for full-time or part-time students at university, TAFE, college or school. The Open category is for everyone else. Every second month, a $500 prize is awarded for the best submission for the preceding two months in each of the Student and Open sections, with the annual prize of $10,000 awarded from winning bi-monthly entries submitted in year to 30 September 2017.

The People’s Choice SUR(PRIZE) All entries will be published on the Dangerous Designs Facebook and Instagram pages, and a ‘People’s Choice’ prize will be awarded based on a submission’s popularity, measured by ‘likes’. The People’s Choice prize will include return airfares and tickets for two or three people (if the winning entry was submitted by three team members) to the 2017 Festival of Dangerous Ideas at the Sydney Opera House, two nights’ accommodation at the quirkily adventurous QT Hotel and a $400 meal allowance. Prize details are subject to change and availability.

The People’s Choice prize is not transferrable. If the winner is unable to attend the Festival of Dangerous Ideas on the stipulated dates, they will forfeit the prize and it will be awarded to the runnerup entry. This, and subsequent winners, will be subject to the same attendance provisions. In the result of a tie, the winner will be determined by the time and date of submission, with the earliest entry winning.

Who Will Judge Dangerous Designs? Dangerous Designs will be judged by judges appointed by WoodSolutions and Dangerous Designs Supporters. Members of the judging panel may change, at the discretion of WoodSolutions. Entries for each period will close at midnight AEST on the last day of the second month. The judges’ results will be published on the first day of the second following month. All entries will be published on the Dangerous Designs website and Facebook and Instagram pages and entrants will be notified on the results via email. Entries will be rated on the following criteria: Originality/Interestingness Use of wood and wood products

Relevance (usefulness and/or desirability, value and commercial potential) Design (elegance, craft of design) Sustainability (recyclability, carbon footprint, energy replacement etc.) Each criterion carries a maximum of 20 points, so the maximum score is 100. In the result of a tie, the entry submitted and received by Dangerous Designs first, wins. After judging, scores will be published on the website and no further correspondence entered into. Judges, at their sole discretion, may move an entry to another category if they feel it is better suited. For more information, go to: http://dangerousdesigns.com.au/

Got Something Newsworthy? A project that your proud of? Or involved in a community project? Or a comment about something contained in this edition? We’d love to hear from you! Email details to The Editor at

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Waste Management in Multi-Unit Developments The Apartment Standards have been introduced to improve the liveability and sustainability of apartments in Victoria. The standards were introduced into the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes in April 2017. The Apartment Standards will apply to all new apartment developments in Victoria. The waste and recycling standard requires that waste and recycling management facilities be designed to meet the best practice waste and recycling management guidelines for residential development adopted by Sustainability Victoria. Sustainability Victoria’s document Guide to Best Practice for Waste Management in Multi-unit Developments (2010 revised 2017), is the most current document and therefore applicable. The 2017 revised version of the guidelines provides an updated reissue of

the 2010 guidelines. This has been done to remove any material that is no longer relevant or outdated, and to ensure that there is a best practice guideline for waste management in multi-unit developments available in line with the Apartment Standards – Waste and Recycling Standard. Best practice management options and technologies with regard to waste management and resource recovery are constantly changing, and therefore Sustainability Victoria is currently undertaking a complete revision of the best practice guidelines. A new and updated guide to best practice for waste management in multi-unit developments is due to be released later in 2017. To access the Guide to Best Practice for Waste Management in Multi-unit Developments, go to http:// www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/servicesand-advice/local-government/wastemanagement-in-multiunit-developments

WoodSolutions 2017 North America Tour WoodSolutions is holding its 5th international tour from 19-26 July 2017 travelling to North America into the heart of tall timber buildings. Previous tours have been to the United Kingdom, New Zealand and twice to central Europe. The theme of this tour is ‘timber frames meet mass timber (CLT)’ where in this part of the world these forms of timber construction occur together offering an excellent opportunity to investigate where each timber construction system is best suited. The tour will commence in Portland, Oregon USA where tall timber buildings are on show with Carbon 12 - 8 storey mass timber Frameworks, 12 storey mass timber that will be shortly under construction and a range of mid-rise timber framed apartment buildings. The tour will then travel to Vancouver, Canada where again there is a mixture of timber building types including 6 storey timber framed apartment buildings and various mass timber buildings including Brock Commons, an 18 storey mass timber student accommodation building under construction. The group will then visit buildings that are still under construction, as well as completed, ranging from apartments,

offices, educational and sporting halls showcasing timber’s vast suitability to various structural forms. Along the way you will see CLT manufacture, nail laminated CLT and fabrication plants, plus some time off at the Whistler Blackcomb Resort. The small tour group will also meet some of the professionals behind the notable buildings who you would not normally get the opportunity to meet to hear their stories and learn from their experiences. The tour is for six days and seven nights, open to building professionals with an interest in tall – timber buildings offering inspiration, information and fun for only AUD$4,950.00 twin share (plus $900.00 single room supplement). Your tour leaders will again be Eileen Newbury who is a program manager from WoodSolutions and Andrew Dunn, a timber engineer from the Timber Development Association. This dynamic pairing will provide comprehensive knowledge on timber design and construction. For more information on this tour, go to https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/ resources/events/woodsolutions-2017north-america-tour-19-to-26-july

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Apartment Living – Studies Show Importance of Natural Ventilation Breezway has highlighted that ventilation is vitally important for healthy, naturally comfortable homes and buildings. To this end, they have profiled two recent Australian reports for their findings relating to natural ventilation.

price premium, with 80% of the survey respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement that “an ‘airy’ apartment that has good natural daylight, direct sunlight and good ventilation is essential and is worth paying more for.”

Report 1: Better Apartments – Public Engagement Report

To access the report, go to https:// www.planning.vic.gov.au/policyand-strategy/planning-reform/betterapartments

Recognising the growing popularity of apartment living, the Victorian Government has been working on their Better Apartments Design Standards for a number of years. As part of the development of the design standards, they released a discussion paper and then gathered feedback to better understand the relative importance of various aspects of apartment living.

Natural ventilation in apartments is considered more important than views, sunlight or noise Public interest in the design standards was strong with over 1700 people responding to the survey, 145 submissions being received and 235 people participating in workshops, forums and interviews.

Report 2: Living Well – Apartments, Comfort and Resilience in Climate Change Produced by the University of Melbourne for the Australian Communities Foundation Green Cities Innovation Fund, this report primarily considers the performance of typical Melbourne apartments with the majority of their glazing facing west (a worst case scenario) during heat waves without mechanical cooling, and the retrofit opportunities to improve their performance. The most interesting aspect of this report is the decision to run the modelling on 5 of the 6 apartments both with and without natural ventilation through openable windows.

Natural ventilation was ranked by survey and written respondents as the third most important issue affecting apartment living, with only ‘daylight’ and ‘space’ ranked as more important. The respondents ranked ‘natural ventilation’ as being more important than ‘sunlight’, ‘outdoor space’, ‘noise’ and ‘outlook’.

To access the report, go to http:// www.thrive-research.com.au/projects/ living-well-apartments-comfort-andresilience-in-climate-change/

People say they’d pay more for apartments with good ventilation

The report’s authors modelled a four week period in 2009 that included a heatwave period of three days with daytime temperatures over 40°C and night-

Ventilation was considered to be important enough to command a

Without natural ventilation or mechanical cooling, apartments will be uncomfortably hot

time temperatures above 25°C, so it is to be expected that apartments with western orientations, no mechanical cooling and windows that do not open would be uncomfortably hot. Their modelling with the windows always closed showed that, on average, the indoor temperatures in the apartments would be above 25°C for 77% of the four week period. One of the apartments was predicted to only drop below 25°C for 2% of the four week period despite the outside temperatures dropping below 15°C for seven nights.

Opening the windows reduced the indoor temperatures Running the modelling with the windows able to be opened to naturally cool the apartments resulted in a 71% reduction in the amount of time that the indoor temperatures were above 28°C – ....Continued on page 25

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Apartment Living (continued from page 23) the temperature above which overheating is more likely to result in negative health impacts. One of the report’s conclusions was “Natural ventilation is an effective way of rejecting excessive heat that accumulates inside a building, and is free and easily retrofitted to most apartments”.

Restricting window openings for fall prevention could result in similarly uncomfortably hot indoor temperatures The modelling assumed that windows could open to 50%. If restricted opening devices are used to comply with the Building Code requirements for fall prevention through openable windows, then windows will only be able to be opened to a maximum of 120mm. If a sliding window 1800mm wide has its opening restricted to only open to 120mm, then instead of ventilation being possible through 45% of the window’s area, ventilation will only be possible through around 6% of the window’s area. This is nowhere near the 50% assumed in the modelling and will therefore significantly reduce the effectiveness of natural ventilation, resulting in indoor temperatures closer to those modelled with the windows permanently closed!

People will simply run their air conditioners, but could be in trouble in the event of a power failure Without being able to cool their apartments through natural ventilation, either because their apartment has windows which don’t open, or because they can only open the windows a tiny bit, people will simply run their air conditioners. This will keep their indoor temperatures within the comfortable range, but will drastically increase their electricity consumption, pushing up their power bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Increased use of air

conditioning will also put a greater strain on the power grid, increasing the likelihood of power outages during heat waves – which is precisely when apartments could turn into ovens without good natural ventilation!

Pay attention to ventilation openings when specifying apartment windows Architects and building designers should pay close attention to the windows they specify in apartments. The public feedback shows that people value being able to open their windows to allow natural ventilation, and the modelling shows the potential for apartments to be powerhungry at best and dangerously hot and stuffy at worst if no, or very restricted, openings are provided. With ventilation openings on both sides of each blade, the Altair Louvre Window with the Stronghold System is a great option to maximise the natural ventilation in apartments, even when openings are restricted to comply with the BCA fall prevention requirements.

Further Infromation Learn more about the benefits of using Altair Louvre Windows with the Stronghold System in Apartments at http://www.breezway.com.au/fallprevention-and-window-replacement-inapartments/ Source: Breezway

L S Planning Pty Ltd offers experience and expertise across a broad range of planning issues, such as:  Planning permit application preparation and management  Planning reports  Representation at VCAT  Expert witness advice and representation  Planning Scheme amendments  Strategic planning  Residential development concept preparation Town Planning is a complex field which is constantly evolving and requires a level of expertise to achieve a successful outcome. Please call to find out how the team at L S Planning can assist you, with your next project. Phone (03) 9399 1236 Email lstupak@lsplanning.com.au www.lsplanning.com.au

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Todd’s Top Apps A monthly review of must have, worthy of looking or just plain interesting apps that are relevant to the design industry. Compiled by Todd Pearce, MBDAV.

Flir One Pro

Daydream VR Thanks to a team member at the BDAV office for the heads up on this. Some of you may be like me and have spent a bit of time playing with VR headsets, 3D walk through and the like. There are some high-end units such as the well-known Oculus Rift. For the most part, you have either of two options – plug it into a computer or use your smart phone held in front of your eyes with a goggle assembly. Whilst these are both reasonable, Google is approaching this with a stand-alone headset which does not need an attached computer, nor does it use your smart phone. So, a good one to keep an eye on for anyone exploring this space and trying to stay across the options. Google is partnering with various hardware manufacturers so will probably see some nice competition between different approaches as products come to market.

So, I finally decided I had enough justification to talk myself into buying a thermal imaging smart device attachment for a few projects I had on. I knew that the Flir One had snuck into Apple stores as I’d seen it on the shelves about a year ago. So, try to buy one I did – only to find that stock is almost nonexistent anywhere; a quick bit of research revealed that the team at Flir One is just about to release two new versions: the Gen 3 and the Pro (which would explain the stock run down). Both look pretty good – the Gen 3 is less expensive with comparable functionality to the previous two versions and the Pro comes loaded with some extra functionality but at higher price tag. So just a heads up for anyone in the same boat – probably worth holding off buying one as the two new versions are just around the corner.

If any other members use or know any new or interesting apps, please feel free to drop me a line to info@bdav.org.au and I’ll share them with other members.

iPad Pro 2 Another hardware update very likely to occur shortly is the update for the large size iPad Pro (A.K.A iPad Pro 2). Apple recently introduced a mid-size iPad Pro (in terms of functionality – but in the smaller form factor). Whilst not yet announced, it’s entirely likely that the upgraded full-size iPad Pro will be released over the next few months. Again, if you have been tempted to buy an iPad Pro in the larger form factor – it could be worth your while waiting for either the updated model or try to wrangle a bargain as they run out remaining stocks of the current version.

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Industry News

BDAV NEWS

Unregistered Contractor Convicted An unregistered contractor who carried out a defect-ridden extension and renovation on a home in Sunshine West has been convicted and fined $5,000 in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria after an investigation by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). The Sunshine West contractor was paid more than $70,000 for domestic building work in 2013/14 despite never being registered as a building practitioner with the VBA. The building works included the construction of a 44-square metre extension to an existing home, the demolition of an existing study, the installation of a new skylight, shower room and pantry, and kitchen and bathroom renovations.

Leaking shower head unit; Faulty installation of towel rails and toilet roll holders; Missing silicone sealant to many sections of both bathrooms; Leaking waste pipe from one vanity unit; Poor quality grouting in both bathrooms; and Installation of flood lights, rather than security lights. The property owner lodged a complaint with the VBA which, upon investigation, led to a conviction in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. VBA Chief Executive Officer, Prue Digby, reminded home owners to ensure their builder was registered.

The unregistered contractor also demanded a further $5,861 to fix a list of defects including:

“It is not worth the money or heartache to risk using an unregistered building practitioner for your dream renovation or home,” Ms Digby said.

A leaking skylight, causing damage to the ceiling; Missing bulkheads for the new cabinetry;

“It takes less than five minutes to log on to the VBA’s website, use the Find a Practitioner tool and ensure your builder or plumber is registered.”

The charges included: Entering into a major domestic building contract without being registered as a building practitioner. Receiving a deposit of more than 5 per cent of the contract price for domestic building work where the contract price was more than $20,000. Not producing a formal written contract for major domestic building works valued at more than $5,000. Carrying out domestic building work when not registered. Not being covered by required insurance when carrying out major domestic building work (because he was unregistered, he was unable to obtain the required insurance).

CPD Seminar 5 June 2017 Town Planning - a Year of Change Details/bookings at

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BUSHFIRE ASSESSMENTS

Keystone Alliance Bushfire Consultancy was born out of the requirements for building design and construction in designated Bushfire Prone Areas as a result of the “Black Saturday” fires of 2009.

We Specialise in: Bushfire Attack Level Assessments (BAL) for building permit application Bushfire Management Statements (BMS) for planning applications within BMO or WMO overlays Single Dwellings / Extensions / Sub-divisions / Multi Units

Here’s What Our Customers Say: “It is great to be able to rely on an expert in such an important area. We have found Keystone Alliance Bushfire Assessments to be quick and reliable in the delivery of their service” Ann West - Abcad Design

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713 Plenty Road Reservoir Vic 3073 Tel: 9478 8991 Fax: 9478 8997 Email: enquiries@keystonealliance.com.au www.keystonealliance.com.au

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Building More Energy Efficient Buildings The Victorian State Government is reducing the energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions of Victoria’s buildings. The Government will continue to work with the community and industry to move to cost-effective standards to lift the energy performance and improve the comfort of Victoria’s least efficient rental properties. Current funding includes: $8.9 million to strengthen energy efficiency regulations for new homes; $5.7 million for the Residential Efficiency Scorecard home rating tool, designed to measure and assess the fixed features of homes that drive energy costs; $2.4 million to establish the foundations of energy efficiency standards for residential properties and the disclosure of energy ratings when homes are sold; $1.8 million for a new Better Commercial Buildings Program to fund energy efficiency improvements for 50 poorly performing commercial buildings and tenancies.

Stronger energy efficiency standards for residential properties will help Victorians reduce their energy bills and improve the comfort of their homes, especially during extremes of hot or cold weather.

mid-tier buildings. Providing grants to commercial buildings and tenancies, this will enable them to conduct energy audits, implement upgrades, and measure and verify efficiency improvement. The $5.7M set aside for the residential and mid-tier efficiency funding towards the Residential Efficiency Scorecard will empower householders to improve their property’s sustainability performance, subsequently allowing them to save on associated energy costs.

“We want to ensure that Victoria’s homes are the most comfortable and healthy in Australia,” said Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s Minister for Energy, Environment & Climate Change. “We’re making sure new home buyers are getting what they pay for, so we will work with the Victorian Building Authority to increase building industry compliance with energy efficiency regulations.” The largest share of this package – $8.9 million – will go towards strengthening energy efficiency regulations for new homes. The process going forward will involve reviewing current regulations, working with builders, and improving building industry compliance with the revised regulations.

The $2.4 million to establish a new set of energy efficiency standards for residential properties, will includes the disclosure of energy ratings when homes are sold. Source: Victorian Government and Architecture & Design

Kingspan Site Visit 15 June 2017 Details/bookings at

The Better Commercial Buildings Program will fund energy efficiency improvements for 50 under-performing

www.bdav.org.au

LANDSCAPE PLANS

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BDAV NEWS

Need someone to conduct an energy rating for you? Use a BDAV Accredited Thermal Performance Assessor! Legislation in several Australian states requires that all domestic construction submitted for building permit approval must demonstrate compliance with energy efficiency requirements. One method for demonstrating this compliance is through the use of software accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). In New South Wales, the BASIX thermal comfort protocol also applies. NatHERS is a star rating system (out of ten) that rates the energy efficiency of a home, based on its design. The BDAV is a government-appointed assessor accrediting organisation for thermal performance assessors and has many accredited assessors as BDAV Members. TPAs accredited through the BDAV are committed to a code of conduct that sets minimum professional standards and responsibilities. To find an assessor for your rating requirements, go to www.bdav.org.au

Building Designers Association of Victoria PO Box 174, Carlton South VIC 3053 P (03) 9416 0227 E info@bdav.org.au www.bdav.org.au

Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Australian Home of the Year 2017 WA builder Spadaccini Homes has won the 2017 HIACSR Australian Home of the Year at the 2017 HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards. The project also won the award for Australian Custom Built Home, which was partnered by Stramit Building Projects. The luxurious and immaculately designed winning home offers both glamour and a warm, comfortable liveable design. The Judges were impressed by the home’s faultless workmanship, attention to detail and high quality finishes such as marble flooring, stone cladding and glass mosaics. Three levels feature five bedrooms and bathrooms, gym and sauna, ‘infresco’ entertaining with a suspended plunge pool. Faultless workmanship and detail like marble flooring, stone cladding and glass mosaics shows true collaboration between client and builder. A PV system with a custommade German home automation system controls energy use.

Townhouse/Villa award

2017 HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year by Spadaccini Homes (above & below)

Victorian builder Virgon Constructions won the Australian Townhouse/Villa Development award. Partnered by Rheem Australia, this award recognises excellence in multiple dwelling residential projects. The winning project includes beautiful finishes that are complemented by exceptional craftsmanship across three levels in this upmarket townhouse/villa development and are designed to achieve a premium, contemporary look. The project’s overall energy footprint was also minimised by sourcing as many materials from local suppliers as possible.

Bathroom of the Year award Hunter builder Croese Building won Australian Bathroom of the Year, partnered by Caroma. The award recognises quality workmanship in the manufacture and installation of a complete single residential bathroom. The winning project is a sumptuous ensuite which offers an exquisite private retreat akin to a day spa for the owners of this home. It features sliding glass doors that open onto an atrium courtyard to provide not only a connection to the outdoors, and link the master bedroom, but allow for an abundance of natural light that floods the space. To view all the winners, go to www.hia.com.au.

Australian Townhouse/Villa Development award by Virgon Constructions (above & below)

Australian Bathroom of the Year by Croese Building (above)

BDAV NEWS

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Warrnambool Emmanuel College Growing in reputation and doubling student enrolments in ten years, Warrnambool Emmanuel College needed a multi-purpose space to grow alongside the community. This space would need to serve as a beautiful backdrop for all aspects of student life, allowing creativity and academia to flourish, sporting opportunities to grow and a central space for community events. Key to achieving this inspiring and flexible centre was the use of Cemintel’s Barestone, a pre-finished exterior façade that combines the look of raw cement with the performance and ease and installation of Cemintel’s ExpressWall. The cladding’s soft, dappled greys are set in a geometric pattern, tessellating across the building’s surface to create a practical yet striking aesthetic. For a building that is the heart of the school community, BareStone was selected by the project architect Cirillo Architects and has been used to create a distinctive structure, adaptable to its many uses by students and the Warrnambool community. Being low maintenance, there is little upkeep needed to withstand the demands of a lively school setting, ensuring the space can simply be enjoyed.

“The college needed to maintain their excellent opportunities for a growing number of students, and the new building is important to achieving that. Cladding was the perfect fit for a busy school environment, as it’s pre-finished and low maintenance but enhances the design of the centre,” says David Janes, BDH Construction.

Image ÂŠ Casa Magayon | Design: Roderick Anderson, SARCO Architects Costa Rica

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

New Victorian Planning Authority CEO Experienced planning expert and public servant Stuart Moseley will help drive Victoria’s blueprint to cater for population growth and build sustainable and healthy new communities. Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has announced Mr Moseley as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Planning Authority. He will begin at the VPA in June. “Stuart Moseley’s long list of achievements and experience will be a great asset for the VPA as it sets out to plan for a strong and sustainable Victoria for many decades to come,” said Mr Wynne. “He has the runs on the board as a distinguished public servant and a meticulous planning expert. He’s just the person to

lead the VPA as it begins a renewed focus on planning in regional Victoria.” “Victoria is fortunate to have secured the services of someone with the skills and experience of Mr Moseley for this important role,” said Victorian Planning Authority Chair, Jude Munro AO. “He is someone who understands the importance of creating and maintaining strong stakeholder and community relationships to drive organisational improvement and deliver quality development opportunities.” Mr Moseley has most recently held the position of Deputy Director General of the Queensland Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning at a time of flagship reforms such as new planning legislation and a focus on affordable living and design policy.

He is a former CEO of Adelaide City Council and General Manager of Information and Strategy at the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. He is a registered planner, a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and was national vice president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia. Mr Moseley takes over from the longstanding CEO of the Planning Authority, Peter Seamer, who is about to take on a new Government role. The appointment comes as the Victorian Planning Authority complements its planning for metropolitan Melbourne with a renewed focus on regional Victoria. Victoria’s population is growing faster than any Australian state, and is expected to top 10 million people by 2051. This presents great opportunities, but it is important to get the planning right to capitalise on this growth.

Timber Leader Appointment A leading researcher from the world’s largest university wood and forestry program is to be appointed as Foundation Fellow for Australia’s National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life.

“If you look around the industry, we’re not getting any younger. It’s essential we train talented young people in the field – the value of that to this industry is immense.

Professor Philip Evans will take on the position while maintaining an ongoing role as BC Leadership Chair in the Faculty of Forestry at University of British Columbia – an arrangement which enables continual knowledge sharing and access to multiple sources of research funding.

“Through a network that the Centre will establish, we will have access to some of the brightest minds in the best universities in Australia and around the world. This Centre is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference and apply the knowledge I have gained over the last 33 years.”

A strategic initiative of the industry group Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), the Centre is a partnership between industry, academia and government. It was launched late last year and is based at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Managing Director of FWPA, Ric Sinclair, said Prof Evans was a perfect fit for the role.

The Centre is designed to put Australia at the forefront of international best practice, and uses an evidence-based approach to ensure design guides and standards remain world class in the light of climate change, new engineered timbers and changes in building design. “As Foundation Fellow, I’m there to establish the Centre and set the initial research direction, which will be handed over within five years or so to a new generation that we will train,” Prof Evans said.

“Phil is heavily engaged with industry, and is a world-class operator, with experience in the UK, North America and Australia,” Ric said. “Phil worked at The ANU between 1985 and 2001 and is still an Honorary Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the ANU. He is an Australian citizen and knows the Australian industry very well. Many of his former students went on to become today’s industry leaders.” Ric said the Centre would initially focus its efforts on the development of evidence-based data, systems and tools to underpin consumer confidence in the performance of timber products.

Over time, the Centre will also create world-leading predictive models to enable architects and building specifiers to more easily choose the appropriate timber products for specific end uses and tasks, Ric said. In collaboration with industry, Phil has been involved in the creation of many products, most recently novel composite wood flooring that does not swell at the edges when exposed to water. “It’s important to meet the needs of academia while at the same time producing outputs that industry can use, whether that’s in terms of reducing costs or new products,” said Phil, whose academic work mainly focuses on the surface properties of wood. “My work has demonstrated that what we do in the lab is only about ten per cent of what is required to take a wood product to market.” “Industry is a crucial partner in the innovation landscape, and it’s a good omen that Australia’s timber industry is firmly behind the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life”.

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Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Mirvac Retail Wins in National Heritage Awards Mirvac Retail has been recognised for its conservation and urban renewal development of Sydney’s oldest new food destination, Tramsheds Harold Park, by the Australian National Trust. The National Heritage Trust Awards are the first win for the precinct, taking out the prize for Adaptive Re-use of the original 1904 Tramway Depot. An authentic and highly considered heritage restoration project, Tramsheds, is Mirvac Retail’s largest conserved built heritage endeavour; restoring and reinterpreting the once derelict Tramway Depot into a community hub, complementing and utilising existing heritage fabrics to create a unique dining destination in Sydney’s Inner West. The award comes after two years of construction and redevelopment of the site, seeing Mirvac work closely with heritage associations and construction specialists to ensure each element of the build was retained, repaired or restored. Successful historic conservation has seen Tramsheds take on a new lease of life whilst ensuring bespoke features, such as the original saw-tooth roof, graffiti, old staircases and an original Tram R1 1995, to be maintained for future generations. Tramsheds is now an unprecedented food destination for locals and visitors who can experience history re-imagined. The precinct houses a collective of the country’s most innovative food providores along with a range of everyday amenities including a large supermarket, hairdressers, gym and medical centre. Susan MacDonald, Head of Retail at Mirvac commented, “This is an incredible win for our newest precinct. Mirvac Retail has been looking at enhancing our urban impact, further creating value for our communities and providing relevant experiences that can be enjoyed by all.” “For Tramsheds to be recognised as a successful heritage development by the National Trust is truly an accomplishment for Mirvac. We’re looking forward to seeing what the future brings for Tramsheds and Mirvac Retail as we work to further meet the needs of our customers and communities through an enhanced retail and precinct offering.” Images: Visualeyes Photography

BDAV NEWS

You’re good to go with a BDAV Engagement Agreement

Locking down an engagement agreement early in the piece is important in getting the green light to proceed safely with your client’s project. The BDAV’s Engagement Agreement is a respected industry standard that safeguards the Designer’s relationship with their Client. Available only to Full Members of the BDAV via a one-off subscription (which includes any future updates), this excellent document, supplied electronically with license to reproduce as many times as required, covers the full needs of all building design projects, including payment of fees, disbursements, engagement of consultants, copyright, materials and indemnity, nomination of consultants, disputes resolution process, and much more.

The BDAV Engagement Agreement has been highly praised by BDAV Members. It was developed by the BDAV’s former Executive Officer, whose legal background and 40 years’ background in the building industry provided him with a solid understanding of the industry’s needs. Orders may be placed online, at the webshop at the BDAV’s website – www.bdav.org.au – but remember to log-in as a Member before accessing the webshop, as this item is only visible to Full Members. Phone: (03) 9416 0227 Fax: (03) 9416 0115 Email: info@bdav.org.au www.bdav.org.au

Industry News

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Automating the Construction Industry The Great Wall of China is regarded as the longest running construction project of all time. The wall took more than 2000 years and millions of workers to complete. At the time, labourers used only simple machinery to build the wall — a vast difference from the equipment used in construction today. Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of obsolete industrial parts supplier EU Automation, discusses the use of automation in 21st century construction. Automation has already been used by a number of construction companies to make the building process more efficient. Though house building is an extremely complex and time consuming activity, Swiss prototype robot bricklayer, In-situ Fabricator, can build a house in just two days. In-situ Fabricator isn’t the only example of developments in rapid house building — Chinese 3D printing pioneer, WinSun, claims to be able to print ten houses in just one day using its innovative technology. These developments, however, are yet to become mainstream.

Adopting Automated Methods The construction industry has begun the adoption of automation and robotics, with numerous projects underway to encourage use of the technology. Part of the challenge in adopting robotics comes from the unstructured and often unpredictable nature of construction sites, in contrast to more structured manufacturing production lines. Despite the challenges, recent years have seen the introduction of automation and semi-automation, such as the retrofitting

Autonomous Solutions

of autonomous solutions into existing forklifts and diggers. This can increase the productivity and safety of the work environment.

The nature of the construction environment is more suited to mobile robots, able to adapt to a changing environment. This technology has been introduced by a US start-up, Skycatch, who has used drones to give a bird’s eye view of the ever-changing construction site and has given robotic bulldozers the technology needed to navigate. Selfdriving bricklayers or plasterers could be the next major development to be introduced widely.

As well as improving worker safety, increasing levels of automation could help overcome the shortage of skilled construction workers. Collaborative robotics could see construction workers operating alongside robots in both factories and on the construction site to increase productivity and modernise construction.

Modern Construction The increased use of modern methods of construction has led to the potential to manufacture off-site. Housing units or modules can now be manufactured in a controlled factory environment away from the construction site. The modules can then be transported to the site for final assembly. Off-site manufacturing can entail volumetric 3D units that are produced and fully fitted away from the construction site. Once they arrive, the modules are then stacked onto the building foundations to begin the building process. In the United Kingdom, off-site manufacturing has received support from international engineering enterprise Laing O’Rourke, who is currently in the planning stage of an advanced manufacturing facility that will be used in commercial projects. Construction and manufacturing group, CCG has also created a manufacturing facility in Scotland that has the capability to manufacture 3000 buildings per year.

The rate and direction of modern paving uses equipment that is regulated by a control system. Semi-autonomous road pavers and asphalt pavers are already in use. However, the process is still labour intensive, as the robot can only perform a single function. A fully autonomous robot would improve on this process, as Ohio University has shown with its reduced scale prototype of RoboPaver, which would allow real-time control of the automated paving process. There are clear advantages to incorporating automation technologies into construction, including uniform product quality, accuracy, speed and safety. Research is focusing both on the automation in existing machinery and on the development of new technology and robots for on-site and factory-based automation. Drones, robotic bulldozers and 3D printers may well fit onto the construction site of the future. This could lead to the automation of complex construction tasks, although perhaps not on the scale of the Great Wall of China.

Standards Package

through SAI Global Special pricing secured for BDAV Members for Australian Standards required by our industry. To order go to the webshop at

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but remember to log in first as a Member, as this item is not visible to non-members.

Graduates

BDAV NEWS

Get designs on your future. If you’re a Graduate of Building Design or Interior Design, why not consider a Graduate Membership of the Building Designers Association of Victoria. It’s a great pathway to ensure your future career plan or vision comes true. Amongst other benefits – including free job listings – BDAV Graduate Membership enables you to network with practitioners running their own design practice – who could be your future employers. To see what your future holds, go to www.bdav.org.au or contact the BDAV at info@bdav.org.au

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Job Market

Job Market Draftsperson Required Small building design firm, located in Murrumbeena, seeks a qualified Draftsperson with a preferred minimum of 3-5 years’ industry experience, in residential/multi-unit developments. Will consider very keen recent graduate if the right fit. The applicant must be proficient in AutoCAD and have solid technical detailing and project documentation skills. Knowledge of Sketch-up helpful. This is a great opportunity for a self-motivated and creative Draftsperson wanting to work in a fast-paced but relaxed office environment. Please phone Peter on 0419 119 488 or forward your CV to peter@ rawarchitecture.com.au.

Home Designer Required Latitude 37 is looking for a home designer to liaise with clients to create designs. You will communicate your designs in Revit. Candidates will have a minimum of 3 years’ local experience in residential design/drafting and experience using Revit, ArchiCad, Chief Architect or other 3D BIM software. You’ll have knowledge of ResCode, BCA/NCC and town planning, with qualifications in building design, architecture etc. Email recruitment@l37.com.au.

Architectural Draftsperson Required

Draftsperson or Graduate Required

Leading domestic builder based in Latrobe Valley is currently offering a career opportunity to an Architectural Draftsperson. The person we are seeking would have completed or about to complete a Diploma of Building and Design. If you would like some further information regarding this exciting role, please contact Nick Costabile on (03) 5127 8586 or send your CV to nick@ kingbuilt.com.au.

Boutique Design practice in southeast suburbs seeks a Draftsperson or Graduate for a full-time or parttime position. We work with high-end residential design, commercial and industrial projects from feasibility, design, interior design, internal detailing, contract administration and full 3D amination in our office. Applicants must be proficient in ArchiCAD and have a strong work ethic to learn and grow in a team environment including new software. This is a great opportunity to develop and grow in a relaxed office environment. Please forward your email to dan@cramerdesign.com.au.

Architectural Draftsperson – Revit Building and design company seeks architectural draftsperson to join a small rapidly growing team. This full-time position in the design team will have you involved with all aspects of the design and documentation process, and provides an opportunity to broaden your skills working on residential and commercial projects. Candidates must be proficient using Revit software. AutoCAD skills are beneficial. Candidates are also expected to have an understanding of ResCode and planning schemes, and an understanding of the BCA volumes of the NCC. We are looking for excellent verbal and written communication skills, organisational and time management skills. Please forward your application to melanie@cbd.cx.

Senior Architect/Draftsperson

Permanent Part-Time Draftsperson

We are an established CBD-based specialist practice, expanding our offering through the establishment of Mt Eliza based office to service the Mornington Peninsula region. Candidates will need sound knowledge in local building construction and have solid experience and understanding of architectural documentation with strong skills in AutoCAD and/or Revit software. You will possess a ‘can do’ attitude, have excellent attention to detail and presentation skills, and good communication skills. The business specialises in high end architectural documentation and will be focusing on single and multi-residential projects, seeking to provide a niche service to residential stakeholders building on the peninsula. Local town planning approval process experience would also be a valuable asset. Projects range from very small to large. The successful candidate will be based full-time at the Mt Eliza office and will be supported by the business Principal. If you fit the criteria, please email your CV to admin@mod3. com.au.

EazBuild seeks an enthusiastic Draftsperson or Graduate to join our small team four days a week in a part-time capacity, with the possibility of full-time within 6 months. We are based in the picturesque north-east Victorian township of Bright that offers plenty of attractions, adventure sports, outdoor activities and much more! We offer our clients a whole pre-build, pre-development service from feasibility, design, drafting, town planning, thermal performance report (6 star energy ratings), in all facets of residential design and small commercial applications. Applicants should be willing to diversify their skills in many areas, including design, drafting, admin and energy rating and have a strong work ethic. Skills required for the job are experience with ArchiCAD and most Microsoft packages. Experience in Adobe and FirstRate5 will be a bonus. Excellent opportunity for a graduate or an experienced Draftsperson. You will work alongside a team of qualified builders/draftspersons, town planner and energy performance assessor, so there is plenty of scope to grow, develop your experience and knowledge. Please email your application to info@eazbuild.com.au.

Contract AutoCad Drafting Position Seeking contract draftsperson to help with overflow work. Potential to lead into more in future as business expands. Position will be working from home, so possessing own computer with AutoCad is a must. Knowledge of ResCode and building codes is an advantage but not mandatory. Must be proficient with AutoCad. Must have ABN – hourly rate negotiable. Please contact Alesha via email only at mail@lecadli.com.au. ....Continued on page 42

Industry recruitment specialists for Architects, Building Designers, Property Developers and Interior Designers Remuneration advice, market updates, expert knowledge, permanent, temporary and contract recruitment.

Phone 03 9349 1055 www/bloomfieldtremayne.com.au

Industry News

BDAV NEWS

Adelaide Partners with European Union to Build Smart, Sustainable Cities Adelaide has been chosen by the European Union as the latest partner in the EU World Cities project. The program, which is managed by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), aims to facilitate the exchange of information and best practice on regional and urban development policy issues. Currently, the European Union is selecting cities that exemplify smart and sustainable policy from around the world. The chosen cities will then share their experiences and best practice with regard to such topics as urban innovation, green development, integrated urban-rural development and start-up policy. Adelaide was seen to exemplify a smart city for various initiatives throughout the capital that were in-line with World Cities sustainability agenda. For instance, Adelaide has previously launched an ‘Internet of Things’ innovation hub with Cisco, and the City of Adelaide recently launched the Ten Gigabit City project with

the aim of transforming the entire capital into a high-speed internet zone. Recognising Adelaide’s selection by the EU, South Australia’s climate change minister, Ian Hunter, pointed to the city’s efforts to embrace a low-carbon economy as a sign of its innovation. “The world is taking action to limit carbon pollution, and it is great to see Adelaide recognised for its leadership in emissions reduction and renewable energy,” said Mr Hunter. Adelaide’s Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the program would bring much welcome global attention to the city. “It will demonstrate to the world our capacity to embrace new technology and explore great ideas, as well as provide an opportunity for the City of Adelaide to be a global leader in sustainability and responding to environmental change.” Source: Architecture and Design

BDAV CPD Webinar 19 June 2017

Foundations for Business Growth In our series of business-focussed presentations for business owners and decision-makers, hear Tim Dwyer present a webinar on Monday, 19 June 2017, where he will explain why businesses struggle to grow, and their predictable stall points. Tim will also provide some simple tools to help you manage your business more effectively. Tim Dwyer is a business consultant and coach to entrepreneurs, business owners, and CEOs who is passionate about business and creating true value. For details, or to register, go to

www.bdav.org.au

Job Market....Continued from page 41 ArchiCAD Intermediate Draftsperson We’re a bespoke building design firm based in Melbourne’s inner west. We’re looking for a draftsperson (3+ years’ experience) to join our close-knit team. You’ll work alongside our lead designer and other drafties to produce high quality drawings for residential projects using ArchiCAD. You’ll liaise with clients and external consultants to ensure specifications are met and documented. You’ll have detailed knowledge of the design process and sound knowledge of residential building requirements. You’ll also be interested in exploring sustainable building materials and their application in residential projects. Please email your CV and cover letter (or any questions about the position) to hello@altereco.net.au.

Draftsperson Required Small building design firm located in the south-eastern suburbs seeks a qualified or recently graduated Draftsperson. Applicants must be proficient in Revit and have solid technical detailing and project documentation skills. Knowledge of 3DMax and Vray is helpful but not essential. This is a great opportunity for a self-motivated and creative Draftsperson wanting to work in a

relaxed office environment. Please forward your CV to dale@crowhurstbd.com.au.

Residential Building Designer Small design office in Northcote seeks experienced Building Designer (min. 5 years’ experience). Immediate contract position, part-time/full-time opportunity. Potential to become permanent after 3-6 months. We seek someone who can liaise directly with clients, prepare concept designs through to working drawings. Revit proficiency is essential. Email CV and folio to Matthew Duignan md@meshdesignprojects.com.au md@ meshdesignprojects.com.au.

Thermal Performance Assessor Needed (FirstRate 5) A sustainability consulting firm located in the south-eastern suburbs is looking for a part-time thermal performance assessor/sustainability consultant. The successful candidate will have experience and skills in working with FirstRate 5. Certificate IV in NatHERS Assessment is the preferred qualification. Experience in producing other sustainability reports will be desirable but not mandatory. The successful candidate will receive training

in preparing other relevant sustainability reports for both planning submissions and building approval documentation. Please forward your CV to energy@tul.net.au.

Thermal Performance Energy Assessor Required Seeking qualified new entrant Thermal Performance Energy Assessor as a subcontractor with potential for a long-term working relationship. Must be accredited in FirstRate5 and hold Certificate IV in NatHERS Assessment. No assessor experience required; training and coaching will be provided to the suitable candidate. However, must have at least intermediate level of IT experience. Looking for a hard worker who is self-motivated and able to work well autonomously. Please contact Karim Ghobrial at Efficient Energy Choices on 0414 430 046 to enquire.

Thermal Performance Assessor Seeks Part-Time Work Recently BDAV-accredited thermal performance assessor with Cert 1V in NatHERS Assessment and FirstRate 5 training looking for part-time work to gain experience in Sydney NSW. Please contact Paul 0413 360 095.

BDAV membership is the ultimate designers ‘must have’.

V O L 2 2 E D I T I O N 5 JU N E 2017

Membership Benefits include: • Belong to a true non-profit Association • Monthly Journal: BDAV News • Weekly eNews • Winning Design Magazine • Member updates • Continuing Professional Development: comprehensive program of seminars, workshops, webinars, and regional meetings • Documents for building projects: – project specifications – engagement agreements – indemnity documents – standard form contracts for residential and non-residential projects • Reference material, including a great suite of Practice Notes, Advisory Notes, and much more • Free* advice on matters including copyright, contracts, wages and conditions, legislative and regulatory requirements, etc • Access to Professional Indemnity Insurance through our preferred insurance agent • Accreditation for Thermal Performance Assessors and Home Sustainability Assessors • Lobbying and Representation • Annual Building Design Awards to promote your skills as a designer • Annual 10 Star Challenge to promote knowledge of energy efficiency principles • Free website listing to generate referrals for your business in Find a Building Designer/Energy Rater

One look inside tells you that being a Member of the Building Designers Association of Victoria entitles you to many member benefits. Advantages such as important information to help you to promote your business, advice* for greater efficiencies, and especially our comprehensive Continuing Professional Development program, will assist you to reap the rewards. Being a BDAV Member is a sound investment for your business – especially for sole-practitioners, who often work ‘in a vacuum’ and value peer support for advice and guidance. Phone: (03) 9416 0227 Fax: (03) 9416 0115 Email: info@bdav.org.au www.bdav.org.au *Advice is of an elementary nature. Anything significantly complex should be referred to an appropriate professional advisor. BDAV is an approved CPD Provider for the Victorian building industry, as administered by Victoria’s Building Commission.

• Free Job Listings for Members seeking staff or Members looking for work • Student Scholarships/Grants/ Awards • Help Desk • Online Member Forum • Access to latest information from the nation’s leading suppliers • Networking • Use of BDAV logo: provides recognition on your website and business stationery and much more!

designing amazing spaces

Building Designers can offer an incredible range of design skills to your project To get in touch with a BDAV building designer, go to www.bdav.org.au