VALE GISELLE GRYNBAUM
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Giselle Grynbaum, the first CEO of the Building Designers Association of Victoria (BDAV), who passed away last month at her home
Design Matters National formally acknowledges Giselle's passing and recognises her selfless devotion and immeasurable contribution to the building design profession in Australia and our organisation.
TRIBUTE TO GISELLE GRYNBAUM
By Sean Hamilton Former BDAV President, Fellow and DMN Life Member
Together with Brian Morrison, Giselle was our first BDAV CEO and she literally devoted her life and soul to the association and all our members.
We are saddened by the news of her passing, but also, we that knew her warmly reflect on her engaging and effervescent smile. She lit up the room, she made things happen, she cracked-on regardless the hour or day for us and got things done. Completely selfless and professional.
Pivotal in taking the association to its peak, she never sought praise, thanks or acknowledgement. Giselle strove for and only ever wanted the very best of success for us She Lived the BDAV She single handedly launched the Building Design Awards and continued to elevate this event to its most prestigious status.
To fully comprehend and articulate the magnitude of her contribution to the association would be to write a book. We will never forget that. A genuine and lovely person, the world is lesser for her passing I will very much miss her Indeed, we all will
Thoughts and deepest condolences go to Brian. Giselle was his best mate and business partner. Together they partnered to bravely risk it all to chase down our vision. They founded and forged the very pillars of strength and professional integrity of what the BDAV and DMN is today
INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTIVITY:
INDUSTRY WARNING
Australia's transport sector is urging the next federal government to confront declining construction productivity. According to Infrastructure Magazine, Roads Australia Chief Executive Ehssan Veiszadeh says the country's stagnant productivity -- particularly in infrastructure delivery -- is fuelling project delays, inflating costs and eroding public services.
"Delays in construction are pushing back community access to critical infrastructure by months or years," he said. "They're also draining government budgets, leaving less for housing, health and social services."
This productivity warning aligns with the concerns raised in Issue #12 regarding workforce shortages, particularly in the planning profession, which highlighted how insufficient qualified professionals are hampering Australia's ability to meet housing supply and infrastructure targets.
Industry Connection: Our upcoming Performance Solutions: Livable Housing Design Requirements, Condensation Management, Drainage, and Roof Design webinar on 22 May addresses key building performance areas that can help practitioners improve project delivery efficiency while meeting regulatory requirements.
Industry Connection: Our Contract Administration Workshop on 28 June provides essential knowledge for practitioners navigating complex project delivery challenges, helping designers manage contractual relationships and mitigate risks in increasingly challenging market conditions
FEDERAL ELECTION: BUSINESS IMPACTS AND INDUSTRY RESPONSES
Adelaide Now reports that whether you own a cafe, a plumbing business or a farm, the weekend's election will have an impact on how you run your business, with varying implications across different sectors
Property Council congratulates re-elected government
The Property Council of Australia has congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on its Federal election win and thanked all outgoing parliamentarians for their service to the nation In a media release, Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas said: "The property industry congratulates the Prime Minister and his team on a hard-won and decisive result The good grace with which Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Dutton conducted themselves on election night also underlines the strength of our enviable democracy "
GBCA welcomes continued focus on sustainable buildings
In a related industry response, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) congratulates the Albanese Government on its re-election and welcomes the clear mandate it has received to continue delivering meaningful progress in sustainable building policy The GBCA noted that over the past three years, the Albanese Government has recognised the central role buildings play in improving affordability, resilience and wellbeing. From sustainable procurement and electrification to skills development and low-carbon manufacturing, the Government has laid strong foundations for a more sustainable built environment In their statement, GBCA Chief Executive Officer Davina Rooney said: "We welcome the opportunity to continue this important work and to go further in accelerating the shift to healthier, more efficient and climate-resilient buildings " These industry responses reflect the ongoing engagement between peak bodies and government in shaping policy outcomes that affect the built environment sector, continuing the collaborative approach to addressing housing and sustainability challenges reported in previous issues.
HOUSING APPROVALS: CONSTRUCTION TARGETS AT RISK
Two industry publications have highlighted concerning trends in housing approvals data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics Build Australia reports that Australia's housing sector faces a steep uphill battle to meet national construction goals, as new data reveals a sharp drop in approvals for new homes in March The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported an 88 per cent decrease in total dwelling approvals for March, falling to 15,220 homes --- a six-month low and well below the 20,000 homes per month needed to reach the federal target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The decline was led by a 27.4 per cent plunge in apartment approvals, which dropped to 3,055, while single-family home approvals fell by 45 per cent
Similarly, Sourceable reports that building approvals dropped back in March following two strong months in January and February. On a seasonally adjusted basis, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that the number of dwellings that were approved for construction throughout Australia fell by 88 percent in March to come in at 15,220.
This worrying trend in housing approvals compounds the housing supply challenges discussed in previous issues, particularly the workforce shortages in planning and construction highlighted in Issue #12 that are hampering Australia's ability to meet housing targets
Industry Connection:
To help practitioners navigate the complex planning and approvals landscape, our Ask a Planner: Navigating the new townhouse and lowrise 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 regulatory requirements.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MAY
Ask an Assessor: Windows and Glazing in an Energy Assessment
Date: May 20
Time: 2:00PM
Location: Online (AEST)
Presenters: Matthew Graham and Russell Harris
BONDOR Factory Tour
Date: May 21
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Bondor Vic - Truganina
Future of Construction Tour
DAte: 21 May
Time: 09:00AM
Location: Curtin Universty | Engineering Building, Perth
Performance Solutions: Livable Housing Design Requirements, Condensation Management, Drainage, and Roof Design
Date: May 22
Time: 2:00-3:00PM
Location: Online (AEST)
Presenter: Paul Mulholland
Melbourne Design Week
Date: May 22
Time: 6:00PM
Location: 23-27 Cardigan St, Carlton
Presenters: Jeremy Spencer, Greg Sparrius, Pip Sparrius, Uta Green, Ben Walsham
Swimming Pool Barriers Updates to AS1926.1 - 2024: What you need to Know
Date: May 27
Time: 2:00PM AEST
Location: ONLINE
Building a Successful Career: Winning Work & Keeping Clients
Date: May 26
Time: 6:00PM (AEST)
Location: ONLINE
Presenter: Britta Siggelkow
Ask a Planner: Navigating the new townhouse and low-rise code Part 2
Date: 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
Women of DMN Lunch - Northside
Date: 30 May
Time: 12:30PM
Location: Ascot Vale Hotel
JUNE
Government Reform Agenda: What does this mean for building designers?
Date: 3 June
Time: 2PM-3PM
Location: ONLINE
Presenter: Stevebn Baxas
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
Ask and Interior Designer | The Strategic Value of Interior Designers in Project Planning
Date: Jun 11
Time: 02:00 PM
Location: ONLINE
Upskill Now Masterclass (THERMAL)
Date: Jun 19
Time: 04:00PM AEST
Location: Online
Presenter: Matthew Graham
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
JULY
Hempcrete: Major inroads in the Australian hemp construction industry
Date: Jul 02
Time: 12:00PM AEST
Location: Online
Presenter: Klara Marosszeky
Protecting your bottom line: Debt recover strategies for design professionals
Date: 24 July
Time: 4:00PM (AEST)
Location: ONLINE
Presenters: Drew Laing and Caitlyn Hoey FirstRate5 LIVE: Model Class 2 Multi-Dwellings (v3.2)
AUGUST
Ask an Interior Designer: Designing from the inside out - The power of early interior planning
Date: 21 August
Time: 2Pm-3PM
Location: ONLINE
Presenter: Dominique Hunter
SEPTEMBER
DMN Member Dinner - Hobart
Date: 3 Sep
Time: 5:30PM
Location: 140 Cascade Rd, South Hobart
Tassie Member Breakfast - Hobart
Date: 4 Sep
Time: 8:00AM
Location: Brickworks Hobart Design Studio
Presenter: Wayne Gorman
DMN Member Dinner - Launceston
Date: Sep 4
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: 140 Cascade Rd, Hobart
Building Practitioner Pre-Registration 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