The Weekly Roundup DESIGN
MATTERS
developments curated from various publications, impacting building design practices, with actionable insights for your professional work.
ESSENTIAL UPDATES
This week's developments reflect significant industry challenges in housing affordability and construction productivity Major themes include housing crisis concerns across multiple states, innovative solutions for housing shortages, construction industry productivity challenges, and evolving regulatory frameworks. The news cycle highlights an industry searching for balance between increased demand, supply constraints, and productivity improvements through both policy reform and practical innovations.
20 Feb 2025
In this newsletter you can expect:
Housing affordability challenges and policy responses
Construction productivity findings and industry reforms
Urban development and planning innovations
Building regulation changes and program initiatives
HOUSING CRISIS AND POLICY RESPONSES
The housing crisis continu political and urban planni across Australia Recent a Australia's community con may be worsening the ho economist Peter Tulip not often exhibit negativity bi affordable housing projec (ABC News)
This concern is echoed in Western Australia, where are weighing heavily on re of the state election, with accommodation pressure affordable new builds squ rental markets (ABC News Meanwhile, Sydney record building approvals in over the Sydney Morning Hera of recovery as developers in getting larger projects These challenges are evol innovative proposals, inclu residential conversions ex professionals as potential housing shortages (The Fi
Professional Development Connection: Our February 26 "Ask a Planner Series" focusing on "What's changed in planning in Victoria over the past 12 months" directly addresses these housing policy challenges, offering professionals insights into navigating community consultation processes and understanding planning reforms.
PRODUCTIVITY AND CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION
Declining productivity in h construction has significa the supply of new homes groundbreaking research Productivity Commission. reveals that over the past productivity has declined productivity by 12% in sta the broader economy's 49 increase during the same Today).
This assessment has been peak industry bodies, with Australia applauding the C findings as confirmation of long-standing calls for reform.
The Australian Forest Products Association similarly highlighted the report's recommendation to scale back "unnecessary regulatory impediments" to encourage greater uptake of modern construction methods, including prefabricated and modular construction
The push for innovation is visible in several developments, including WA Labor's proposed build-to-rent scheme designed to boost rental housing stock if re-elected. This initiative aims to encourage large developers to invest in rental-focused projects amid Western Australia's tight housing market (ABC News).
Related
Professional Development
The March 12 & 19 "NCC 2022 Condensation Provisions" workshop series provides valuable guidance on implementing modern construction techniques while meeting regulatory requirementsparticularly relevant as the industry seeks productivity improvements through innovative building approaches.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING INNOVATION
Several significant urban development initiatives are advancing across Australia In Ballarat, development is breaking building-height records as the historic gold rush city experiences population growth driving vertical expansion (The Age). This trend mirrors broader discussions about urban density and renewal.
The intersection of politics and development is highlighted in Victorian politics, where former Premier Daniel Andrews' housing statement proposing tower redevelopments has created tensions within Labor. Described as "Australia's biggest-ever urban renewal project," the plan calls for 800,000 new homes across Victoria over a decade (The Age).
In Perth, a $40 million redevelopment will transform the Enex shopping centre into the city's first "urban-commercial village," with Woods Bagot leading the design of a new dining precinct in the CBD (Architecture and Design)
These developments occur alongside NSW's announcement of a new tender pipeline for school infrastructure projects, designed to simplify the process for construction industry participation in educational facility development (Inside Construction)
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PassivHaus tour provides an opportunity to experience a multi-awardwinning sustainable home that demonstrates innovative approaches to urban designparticularly relevant as cities like Ballarat and Perth implement new development models that balance density with livability.
INDUSTRY SAFETY AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
Health and safety concerns continue to impact the industry, with new research confirming engineered stone is behind a surge in deadly silicosis cases among Australian workers. Conducted by Monash University, the study identified an alarming increase in cases among workers who handled artificial stone benchtops prior to last year's ban (Sourceable).
In Queensland, regulatory changes are underway with the resignation of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission chair amid tensions over the state government's push for a "new direction" for the agency (The Australian).
Climate adaptation is also emerging as a critical consideration, with reports that more than half of Australia's homes were built before current fire standards were implemented. This highlights retrofit needs, while climate change makes home ownership increasingly expensive through rising insurance premiums in disaster-prone areas (Architecture and Design).
Fire Safety & Regulatory Connection
In response to findings that over half of Australia's homes were built before current fire standards, our March 11 "Ask an Assessor: Strategic Energy Assessment" workshop addresses building performance optimisation, while the March 12 & 19 NCC Condensation Provisions workshops provide technical guidance on meeting current building regulations for safer, more resilient structures.
