Welcome to your weekly industry news roundup. Our analysis focuses on developments curated from various publications, impacting building design practices, with actionable insights for your professional work.
ESSENTIAL UPDATES
This week's industry focus shifts to the housing crisis, with both major political parties' election policies attracting criticism for failing to properly address supply-side issues. The Australian Financial Review argues the crisis isn't about buyers but about broken supply, while developers warn that workforce shortages and planning obstacles may undermine any policies aimed at increasing home ownership. State governments continue implementing various urban development initiatives, with Adelaide investigating higher density for inner western suburbs and Perth celebrating the completion of 314 new homes at Perth City Link. Industry regulation is under scrutiny, with tens of thousands of NSW contractors potentially having received licences without proper criminal history checks, while innovative approaches to housing affordability emerge, including a Tasmanian architect releasing free plans for owner-builders to construct low-cost homes
In this newsletter you can expect:
Housing supply and election policy analysis
Building quality and regulation concerns
Innovative approaches to housing affordability
Industry financial recovery indicators
Net Zero Homes training opportunities
AI in the built environment - special feature
Upcoming professional development opportunities
UPDATED PRACTICE NOTES NOW AVAILABLE
Design Matters National has recently updated our practice notes. This collation of materials for members gathers all the webinars and support resources to help members become familiar and proficient when it comes to compliance with the new Energy Efficiency Standards and associated building design principles. The resource will be updated as more materials become available. Members can access the complete collection through the Members Resource Portal. We encourage you to review these updated materials to support your professional practice
HOUSING SUPPLY POLICIES - ELECTION PROMISES UNDER SCRUTINY
Both major political parties' housing policies are facing criticism for failing to address the fundamental supply-side issues in Australia's housing market. The Australian Financial Review argues that the housing crisis isn't about buyers but about broken supply, asserting that "without serious reforms, we risk cementing a future where younger Australians are trapped in a cycle of inflated prices and growing debt."
The article notes that weekend campaign announcements show both sides of politics need to offer bolder supply-side solutions rather than demand-driven gimmicks. Critical elements of both major parties' policies include Labor's pledge to subsidise first-home buyers so they only need a 5 per cent deposit and the Coalition's tax deductions on interest payments for loans up to $650,000 on newly built homes for five years
This assessment is reinforced by industry leaders, with The Australian reporting that policies that don't take into account the tough time the housing sector has in building new homes are doomed to fail Leading developers have warned both major political parties that policies aimed at boosting first home buyer ownership of new dwellings would fail if they did nothing to boost the housing sector's capacity to build more homes, faster
The Australian Financial Review quotes developers Nigel Satterley and Tim Gurner warning that without addressing workforce shortages, housing policies will struggle to achieve their intended outcomes
This focus on supply issues follows our reporting in Issue #10 on housing affordability challenges, where CoreLogic and ANU data showed housing prices have risen from about four times median household incomes in 2001 to more than eight times in 2024
Industry Connection: The upcoming Builder and Designer Solutions Session on 27 May brings together designers, builders, and industry leaders to tackle the barriers to building better, energy-efficient homes. The workshop, hosted by Master Builders Victoria, will explore practical questions such as "Is building 7 Star really that hard?" and "How do you control those extra costs?"
FREE NET ZERO HOMES SKILLS TRAINING AVAILABLE
Solar Victoria is offering free online training for individuals working in the residential construction industry in Victoria This initiative represents an important opportunity for building designers to enhance their skills in meeting energy efficiency requirements
The Net Zero Homes – Skills Training is delivered through online self-paced training that will equip people working in residential construction in Victoria with the knowledge and skills needed to design and construct energy efficient homes Each module is self-paced and 2 hours in duration with a range of supporting resources and related materials for self-directed learning
This training includes guidance on National Construction Code 2022 obligations, such as new whole-of-home appliance requirements. In addition to practical skills, they cover the principles of residential energy efficiency, thermal performance, and net zero energy design and construction.
Solar Victoria is investing $1 million to deliver this training to support residential construction industry trades and professions to design and construct energy efficient 7-star rated and all-electric homes. The training was developed and is administered by the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining's Learning Hub for Energy Efficient Construction.
SPECIAL FEATURE: AI IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, the built environment sector is experiencing significant disruption and opportunity Design Matters National is proud to host a special event exploring this revolutionary technology's impact on building design practices.
British architect, professor and author Neil Leach will be presenting "Alien Intelligence & Design" in Sydney on 28 April. This thought-provoking session will explore fundamental questions: What exactly is AI? How did it evolve? And what potential does it have to influence the future of architecture and design?
According to Professor Leach, we are facing a radically different form of intelligence “an alien intelligence“ that will far exceed human intelligence and completely transform the discipline of architecture. This lecture takes attendees on a rollercoaster ride looking at the extraordinary but often somewhat terrifying potential of what is arguably the most significant invention of humankind.
This free event will be hosted by Design Matters National, at Brickworks Design Studio Sydney on 28 April from 12-2pm. The session will include networking, an insightful lecture, and Q&A, shared with like-minded professionals over a light lunch.
This event is part of our ongoing commitment to exploring innovative technologies that are reshaping the built environment By understanding the implications of AI for design practice, members can better position themselves for the future of design.
STATE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
State governments continue to implement urban development initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply in strategic locations.
The South Australian Government has announced investigations into Adelaide's urban density in the inner western suburbs. Minister for Planning Nick Champion has initiated the Inner West Code Amendment, which will explore the appropriate maximum building height in strategic infill locations such as Port Road at Thebarton, the new Southwark development and the Hindmarsh triangle. The code amendment will review policies guiding development in the State Significant Infill Areas identified in the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan to ensure opportunities for residential development are maximised.
In Western Australia, the Cook Government has announced that Perth City Link has reached a new milestone following the completion of Perth Hub, a major residential development bringing more housing and amenities to the heart of the city. Delivered by Far East Consortium (FEC), the 32-storey mixed-use development on Wellington Street features 314 new homes, including 37 affordable dwellings delivered through a partnership between the State Government and Foundation Housing.
In Victoria, the Allan Labor Government is getting homes off the ground faster by streamlining the approval of nearly 150 homes in Brunswick and Springvale - where Victorians want to live - close to public transport, jobs and services Minister for Housing and Building Harriet Shing was in Brunswick to announce the Labor Government has given the green light for two new housing developments - at Albert Street in Brunswick and Kintore Street Springvale The eight-storey development in Brunswick will provide 61 new homes in walking distance from Sydney Road and is close to parks, trams, Brunswick Station, shops, jobs and services.
Industry Connection: Our Ask a Planner: Navigating the new townhouse and low-rise code Part 2 webinar on 28 May provides essential knowledge for designers working on medium-density projects that aim to increase housing supply while navigating complex planning requirements
BUILDING QUALITY AND REGULATION CONCERNS
Serious concerns have emerged regarding building industry regulation in NSW, with ABC News reporting that tens of thousands of contractors might have been granted licences without a criminal history check. This is because Building Commission NSW failed to secure a memorandum of understanding with NSW Police allowing staff to check an applicant's criminal record. Sources also claim investigators are being put at risk because they're not properly warned about an individual's criminal past.
This follows our reporting in Issue #10 on the broader building defects crisis, where we highlighted that building defects are costing Sydney home owners and taxpayers $700 million a year, with approximately 750 tradies having purchased fake qualifications from criminals.
In Western Australia, an Applecross building surveying contractor and its supervisor have consented to pay $15,000 in fines for negligent conduct, including certification of a two-storey building that was meant to be single storey According to agreed facts following State Administrative Tribunal mediation, Resolve Group Pty Ltd issued three compliance certificates, signed by Mr Hunt, for a building in Harrisdale - a certificate of design compliance in 2018, a certificate of construction compliance in 2019 and certificate of building compliance in 2020.
Industry Connection: Our Building Practitioner Pre-Registration Course for VBA on 30 April addresses current regulatory requirements while helping practitioners prepare for industry changes The course is particularly valuable for those seeking to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape
INNOVATIVE
APPROACHES TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
In a bid to support self-built low-cost housing, ABC News reports that a Tasmanian architect has released free plans for others to download and use He used one of his designs to construct his own family home, with the build taking six months around part-time work and costing about $150,000 However, the Housing Industry Association cautions that homes by owner-builders can work out more costly if things go wrong.
Master Builders Australia's latest industry forecasts paint a cautiously optimistic picture for the building and construction sector, with signs of recovery emerging across the housing market However, the nation remains 160,000 homes short of the National Housing Accord target, underscoring the need for governments to take urgent, coordinated action to unlock the industry's full potential. Covering the full five-year Accord period, the forecasts show around 1.04 million new homes are likely to commence construction, short of the 12 million homes needed to ease Australia's housing crisis Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said: "While the latest data gives us cause for cautious optimism, now is not the time for complacency."
Industry Connection: Our Performance Solutions: Livable Housing Design Requirements, Condensation Management, Drainage, and Roof Design webinar on 22 May addresses key building performance areas that align with government policy objectives for sustainable, accessible, and durable housing.
REGULATORY REFORM NEEDED
The OECD says governments must overhaul their regulatory frameworks to ensure they are adaptive, efficient and fit for purpose in an era of technological disruption and climate urgency Infrastructure Magazine reports that the global economics body is urging the infrastructure sector to embrace smarter, more adaptive and risk-based regulation to streamline project delivery, support innovation, and accelerate the green transition. The report finds that regulatory systems still lag behind in areas critical to infrastructure planning, environmental protection, and innovation
This aligns with our reporting in Issue #10 on Australia's construction productivity crisis, where The Urban Developer noted that standardisation and systematic oversight could slash construction times by 80% and cut costs by 30% amid falling output.
Industry Connection: Join us at Melbourne Design Week: Meeting the Challenge of Creating Homes of the Future, Today event on 22 May. As the urgency for sustainable living grows, the built environment plays a critical role in shaping a low-carbon future. This event brings together leading building designers, architects, and energy efficiency assessors to explore what it takes to design homes that not only meet current sustainability goals but set the benchmark for 2050.
April UPCOMING EVENTS
Lunch & Learn with Neil Leach, 'Alien Intelligence & Design' - Sydney
Date: 28 April
Time: 12-2pm
Location: Brickworks Design
Studio Sydney
Cost: FREE ADMISSION
Building Practitioner PreRegistration Course for VBA
Building a Successful Career: Winning Work & Keeping Clients
Date: May 26
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Online (AEDT)
Presenter: Britta Siggelkow
Ask a Planner: Navigating the new townhouse and low-rise code Part
2Date: May 28
Time: 10:00-11:30AM AEST
Location: Online
Presenter: Ashley Thompson and Mel Ryan
Home Tour: 2024 BDA Winner ‘Scotchman’s View’
Date: May 29
Time: 10:30AM AEST
Location: Drysdale, VIC
Swimming Pool Barriers Updates to AS1926.1 - 2024: What you need to Know
Date: May 27
Time: 2:00PM AEST
Location: ONLINE
June
Women of DMN Catch Up at NEXT DOOR 2
Date: Jun 6
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Next Door At Omar & the Marvellous Coffee Bird, Melbourne VIC 3185
Upskill for Whole of Home Masterclass
Date: Jun 10
Time: 04:00PM AEST
Location: Online
Presenter: Matthew Graham
DMN + AWS Regional RoadshowBallarat
Date: Jun 17
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: AWS Showroom Ballarat
Upskill Now Masterclass (THERMAL)
Date: Jun 19
Time: 04:00PM AEST
Location: Online
Presenter: Matthew Graham
July
Hempcrete: Major inroads in the Australian hemp construction industry
Date: Jul 02
Time: 12:00PM AEST
Location: Online
Presenter: Klara Marosszeky
FirstRate5 LIVE: Model Class 2 Multi-Dwellings (v3.2)
Date: Jun 20
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Online (AEST)
Contract Administration Workshop
Date: Jun 28
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Online (AEST)
Presenter: Geoff Hoare
September
Building Practitioner PreRegistration Course for VBA
Date: Sep 17
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Online (AEST)
Presenter: Geoff Hoare
Contract Administration Workshop
Date: Sep 27
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Online (AEST)
Presenter: Geoff Hoare
SOURCES IN THIS ISSUE
The Age, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, ABC News, Build Australia, Infrastructure Magazine, The Fifth Estate, Master Builders Australia, Solar Victoria, State Government Media Releases
