DM WEEKLY ROUNDUP ISSUE 2

The Weekly Roundup

ISSUE #2

DESIGN MATTERS NATIONAL

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 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 unfolding across multiple jurisdictions. The Allan government's Melbourne housing plan has sparked debate over heritage protections in historic areas like Hawthorn, where proposals for 20-storey towers challenge traditional preservation approaches (Herald Sun).

Meanwhile, Tasmania's government has proposed limiting third-party planning appeals, potentially affecting how external groups, including NGOs and environmental organisations, can influence planning decisions on public land (ABC News).

These changes occur as research reveals that residents consistently prioritise access to nature and local amenities in urban planning, with a preference for reaching these amenities within 20 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 has secured its future with creditor approval of the 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 Australia's expansion plans, with approval granted for over 300 new homes in Adelaide's north, demonstrating coordinated efforts to increase housing supply.

Sources: The Urban Developer, The Australian, Adelaide Now

Related Professional Development The February 21 FirstRate5 LIVE session addresses compliance modeling for multi-dwelling projects, particularly relevant for these emerging development types.

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.

Sustainability Focus: Experience innovative sustainable design firsthand at the Hütt 01 PassivHaus tour on February 27.

Sources: Architecture AU, Allhomes, NSW Government

POLICY AND MARKET ANALYSIS Regulatory Update: 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 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.

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.

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 Series Victorian 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 Date: Mar 12 Time: 1:00PM (AEDT) Location: Online Duration: 2hrs Status: Registations Closing Soon

NCC 2022 Condensation Provisions - Design Considerations and Practical Applications PART 2 Date: Mar 19 Time: 1:00PM (AEDT) Location: Online Duration: 2hrs Upskill Now Masterclass (Thermal) Date: Mar 20 Time: 12:00PM (AEDT) Location: Online Duration: 4hrs DMN 2025 South Africa Study Tour Briefing Date: Mar 25 Time: 2:00PM (AEDT) Location: Online Duration: 1hr Presenter: Mike Tuzzee | Impact Events

APRIL 2024 Contract Administration Workshop Date: Apr 12 Time: 8:30 AM Location: Online (AEST) Presenter: Geoff Hoare

JUNE 2024 Contract Administration Workshop Date: Jun 28 Time: 8:30 AM Location: Online (AEST) Presenter: Geoff Hoare

SEPTEMBER 2024 Contract Administration Workshop Date: Sep 27 Time: 8:30 AM Location: Online (AEST) Presenter: Geoff Hoare

View all upcoming CPD opportunities Access our online learning resources

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