The construction conversations we should be having

zero-carbon options to their customers or end-users (building owners).

Suppliers can use the programme to bid for projects offering a zero-carbon option (with the anticipated offsets included in the quoted fee), leaving the end-user to pull an affordability lever or a carbon lever.

Returning to the earlier point about homeowners and renovators, this programme can be a tool to prompt broader conversations around consumer decisions and finding the right balance between ‘building beautiful’ versus ‘building sustainable’.

Minister for Manufacturing

It is not the role of Government to choose building materials. The required performance should be specified, so there is an incentive for all materials to be mea-

sured and to perform well against that criterion.

It also requires a set of rules to be established for how carbon calculation occurs – something MBIE will need to develop in order for Building for Climate Change to operate effectively and with integrity.

With timber having an industry advocate within Government in the form of a Minister for Forestry, there is a lot of material-specific support for timber. There is no equivalent Minister for Steel or Concrete.

If there were a pan-material Minister for Manufacturing who could represent broadly across all building materials, we could expect an improvement in outcomes for all involved in the manufacturing sector and those downstream who rely on its products and services, and associated upside for the national economy.

Role of innovation

There are significant opportunities for advancement in the form of new materials. However, the advancement opportunities offered by traditional building materials and hybrids should not go unrecognised.

We need to expand the conversation about Industry 4.0 applications in the construction sector. HERA has previously reported the significant productivity

benefits this offers in our published report.

There are also significant sustainability gains to be had from the more holistic decision-making approach that Industry 4.0 offers. The Construction Accord has a concerning lack of focus on innovation, certainly as it pertains to new technologies.

This is particularly worrying if the Accord is intended to be a transformation plan for the construction industry, alongside other key sectoral guiding documents, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Transformation Plan. Hopefully, this is something that will be addressed in the planned updates to the Construction Accord.

If there were a pan-material Minister for Manufacturing who could represent broadly across all building materials, we could expect an improvement in outcomes

There is no point reducing the upfront carbon emissions now if they are only going to be released back into the atmosphere in our children’s lifetimes

Behaviour change

Why are we still focused on beauty versus brains? No one wants to spend large amounts of money on their home build or renovation, but people seem willing to spend to make their kitchen more beautiful rather than more sustainable.

In general we seem to spend more of our discretionary funds on luxury items versus functionality in terms of sustainability.

There is a necessary behaviour change here that must be underpinned by massive sociological change that may be little impacted by regulatory change. It is great to see so many beautiful, functional, sustainable, and innovative design solutions being conceived and realised, and more are emerging all the time.

Now we need to make personal and professional changes (and what may be seen as personal sacrifices) to better support these designs, so our consumer and leadership decisions align with our urgent need to decarbonise.

For many people it will be a staged process, from recycling to paying to offset flights to choosing to install a solar hot water system instead of a higher-spec oven or dishwasher, and then committing to a more major step such as going zero carbon operations in

their business.

These are the changes we need to make, and they aren’t without cost in a time when building and construction costs are already high.

The process, the costs, and the trade-offs for each of us, our households, our communities and our businesses – this is a critical conversation we need to have at a national level.

Dr Troy Coyle brings more than 20 years’ experience in innovation management across a range of industries including materials science, medical radiation physics, biotechnology, sustainable building products, renewable energy and steel. She is a scientist with a PhD (University of NSW) with training in journalism and communications.

New dam safety regulations

New rules will provide a nationally consistent approach to dam safety

Until now, New Zealand was one of the few countries in the OECD that did not have an operative dam safety framework. The lack of a consistent framework posed a risk to people, property and the environment.

The regulations will come into effect in May 2024, and once in force dam owners will have a further 1-2 years to undertake the necessary work to classify their dam and put in place a dam safety assurance programme.

“From 13 May 2024, the owners of dams that meet the height and volume requirements will need to confirm the potential risk their dam poses, put in place safety plans and undertake regular dam inspections,”says Amy Moorhead, Manager Building Policy at MBIE.

“This will help to ensure that an essential part of New Zealand’s infrastructure remains safe and reliable.

“The new regulatory framework will reduce the likelihood of dam failures which have the potential to cause significant harm a great distance downstream.”

Dams that fall within the scope of the regulations will be given a potential impact classification based on their potential to cause harm in the event of failure.

Medium and high potential impact dams will be required to have a dam safety assurance programme. These dams will be required have regular monitoring and surveillance practices in place for the safe operation of dams.

Low potential impact dams will have no ongoing requirements except for their initial classifications and then regular classification reviews every five years.

“Most small farm dams and ponds and weirs will be excluded from the regulatory framework as they are unlikely to meet the minimum size or storage volume thresholds,” says Moorhead.

Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau is developing a programme for assessing and registering Recognised Engineers.

Recognised Engineers will be required to determine potential impact classifications and to certify and audit dam safety assurance programmes. Those engineers who complete the relevant assessment requirements will be able to conduct these tasks.

The new dam safety regulations also require dam owners to review their dams against flood performance criteria every five years as part of a comprehensive safety review.

“Our understanding of the effects of climate change is continuing to improve with time. We want to ensure the new safety provisions remain fit for purpose in a changing environment,” says Moorhead.

The regulations will apply to dams that are: • 4 metres or higher with a volume of 20,000m3 (8 Olympicsized swimming pools) or greater, or • 1 metre or higher with a volume of 40,000m3 (16 Olympic-sized swimming pools) or greater.

Guidance for dam owners is available on the Building Performance website.