developments curated from various publications, impacting building design practices, with actionable insights for your professional work.
ESSENTIAL UPDATES
This week's developments reflect significant shifts in urban planning, heritage preservation, and construction innovation across Australia Major themes include strategic urban renewal, innovative construction approaches, and crucial policy reforms The news cycle highlights an industry balancing preservation needs with housing demands while advancing sustainable practices and addressing supply challenges through both policy and practical initiatives.
13 Feb 2025
In this newsletter you can expect:
Heritage preservation and planning reform developments
Major site acquisitions and housing supply initiatives
Sustainable construction innovations and timber technology
Building regulation changes and economic updates
HERITAGE AND PLANNING EVOLUTION
A complex dialogue between heritage preservation and housing density is unfold across multiple jurisdictions The Allan government's Melbourne housing plan ha sparked debate over heritage protections historic areas like Hawthorn, where propos 20-storey towers challenge traditional preservation approaches (Herald Sun)
Meanwhile, Tasmania's government has p limiting third-party planning appeals, pote affecting how external groups, including N and environmental organisations, can influ planning decisions on public land (ABC Ne
These changes occur as research reveals th residents consistently prioritise access to n and local amenities in urban planning, wit preference for reaching these amenities w minutes (Architecture & Design)
Sources: The Herald Sun, ABC News, Architecture & Design
Professional Development Connection: Our February 26 "Ask a Planner Series" will explore these evolving dynamics in Victoria's planning landscape, offering practical guidance for navigating these changes.
URBAN RENEWAL AND DEVELOPMENT
The transformation of industrial heritage sites into new development opportunities is gaining momentum across Australia Time & Place has secured Ford Motor Company's historic 15 9ha Campbellfield site for a planned $250-million development, marking a significant urban renewal initiative 17km north of Melbourne's CBD. The site, featuring three warehouses built between 1962 and 1999, represents a strategic approach to reimagining industrial spaces
In the residential sector, Bensons Property ha secured its future with creditor approval of th Jreissati family's bailout deal, ensuring the continuation of work on 1,300 apartments across their $1.5bn project pipeline.
This development runs parallel to South
Sources: The Urban Developer, The Australian, Adelaide Now
CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable construction is gaining significant traction, exemplified by the approval of NSW's tallest commercial mass timber building in Sydney's CBD. According to Architecture AU, the 13-storey Tzannesdesigned structure will transform a parking lot opposite Wynyard Park, setting new benchmarks for sustainable commercial construction.
This development coincides with Allhomes’ report of growing interest in innovative design approaches, as highlighted in Paul Tilse's showpiece Denman Prospect home, where material selection plays a crucial role in architectural distinction.
Additionally, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, says thirteen highly skilled design practices have been commissioned by the Minns Labor Government to contribute additional lowand mid-rise designs to the NSW Pattern Book. This is the second tranche of designs to be added to the NSW Pattern Book to make the delivery of homes in NSW faster, providing more homes for those who need them Six designs for terraces, semidetached dual occupancy and manor houses or low-rise apartment buildings will be produced alongside six designs for midrise residential flat buildings
Additionally, one landscape design practice has been commissioned to develop design guidance for the low-rise and mid-rise patterns, for both private and shared open spaces.
POLICY AND MARKET ANALYSIS
December 2024's building approval data presents a nuanced picture of the sector's health. The ABS reports total dwellings approved rose 0 7% to 15,174, with private sector houses falling 3.0% to 8,715, offset by a 15.2% rise in private sector dwellings excluding houses to 6,209. The total residential building value reached $8.33b, while non-residential building value increased by 9.7% to $6.62b.
In Queensland, the Crisafulli Government's Building Reg Reno initiative aims to reduce red tape while maintaining safety standards, including pausing new project trust accounts for projects under $10 million This reform targets support for the 270,000 Queenslanders working in the $59 billion industry
The ABC this week reports that the Western Australian housing crisis has emerged as a key election issue, with peak bodies advocating for increased social and affordable housing, higher building approvals, and enhanced density around transport hubs ahead of the March 8 poll South Australia leads in housing policy effectiveness, according to HIA's assessment of announcements over the past two years, closely followed by Western Australia.
Regulatory Update:
The Contract Administration Workshop series (starting April 12) offers essential guidance for navigating these evolving regulatory requirements and/or our "Ask a Planner Series" will explore these evolving dynamics in Victoria's planning landscape, offering practical guidance for navigating these changes.
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Queensland Government, ABC News
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AND FUTURE WORK
The release of the 'Future of Work' report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee highlights the growing impact of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making across sectors Committee Chair Lisa Chesters MP emphasises the need to balance technological benefits with worker protections, particularly noting concerns about technologyenabled surveillance and data collection practices.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
February-March Highlights
Feb 21: FirstRate5 LIVE - MultiDwelling Compliance Modeling
Feb 26: Ask a Planner SeriesVictorian Planning Changes
Feb 27: The Hütt 01 Passivhaus Home Tour
Mar 6-7: Women of DMN Network Events
Mar 11: Ask an Assessor Series Launch
Mar 12 & 19: NCC 2022 Condensation Provisions Workshop
SOURCES IN THIS ISSUE
Architecture AU, The Urban Developer, ABC News, Herald Sun, The Australian, Adelaide Now, Allhomes, NSW Government, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Housing Industry Association, QLD Government
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY 2024
INSPOEXPO Program (FREE Webinar series)
Dates: Feb 11–20
Location: Online via ZOOM
Status: No registration required direct ZOOM access
Just click the link to join.
Format: Six days of expert-led webinars
Tuesday Feb 18
11:00 AM - Smart Power Tech (Webinar 2)
1:00 PM - XCEM
Wednesday Feb 19
1:00 PM - Australian Glass Group (Webinar 2)
Thursday Feb 20
10:00 AM - AWS
12:00 PM - Bondor
DMN's Summer Kick-Off 2025
Date: Feb 20
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Carousel Albert Park, Melbourne
Status: FULLY BOOKED
FirstRate5 LIVE: Model Class 2 Multi-Dwellings (v3.2)
Date: Feb 21
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Online (AEDT)
Note: 8 hours (2 x 4 hours) small group training
Status: Only ONE spot remaining
Ask a Planner Series
Date: Feb 26
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Live, Online & Interactive (AEDT)
Topic: Year in Review - Victorian Planning Changes
Status: Registrations Closing Soon
The Hütt 01 Passivhaus: Home Tour
Date: Feb 27
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: 146R Bell Street Coburg, Melbourne VIC
Status: Registrations Closing Soon
MARCH 2024
Women of DMN Catch Up at Northside Wines
Date: Mar 6
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Northside Wines, 543-545 High St Northcote, Melbourne VIC 3070
Women of DMN Catch Up at Next Door
Date: Mar 7
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Next Door At Omar & the Marvellous Coffee Bird, Melbourne VIC 3185
Ask an Assessor Series
Date: Mar 11
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Live, Online & Interactive (AEDT)
Topic: Optimise your 7-Star Designs - Strategic energy assessment for better client outcomes
Presenter: Tim Adams & Jeremy Spencer
NCC 2022 Condensation Provisions - Design Considerations and Practical Applications PART 1
