DM WEEKLY ROUNDUP ISSUE 3

The Weekly Roundup

ISSUE #3

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 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 continues to dominate political and urban planning discussions across Australia. Recent analysis indicates Australia's community consultation system may be worsening the housing crisis, with economist Peter Tulip noting these processes often exhibit negativity bias, resulting in affordable housing projects being blocked (ABC News).

This concern is echoed in reports from Western Australia, where housing shortages are weighing heavily on regional voters ahead of the state election, with short-term accommodation pressures and lack of affordable new builds squeezing locals out of rental markets (ABC News).

Meanwhile, Sydney recorded its worst year for building approvals in over a decade, though the Sydney Morning Herald reports early signs of recovery as developers navigate challenges in getting larger projects approved.

These challenges are evolving alongside innovative proposals, including office-toresidential conversions explored by industry professionals as potential solutions to address housing shortages (The Fifth Estate).

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 housing construction has significantly restricted the supply of new homes according to groundbreaking research from the Productivity Commission. Their report reveals that over the past 30 years, physical productivity has declined by 53% and labor productivity by 12%—in stark contrast to the broader economy's 49% productivity increase during the same period (WA Today).

This assessment has been welcomed by peak industry bodies, with Master Builders Australia applauding the Commission's 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 requirements particularly relevant as the industry seeks productivity improvements through innovative building approaches.

Read the full Productivity Commission report here

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).

Sustainability Focus: The February 27 Hütt 01 PassivHaus tour provides an opportunity to experience a multi-awardwinning sustainable home that demonstrates innovative approaches to urban design particularly 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.

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AND FUTURE WORK The Australian Constructors Association, in partnership with the NSW government, has launched the "It's Possible" campaign to encourage mid-career women to consider construction careers. ACA CEO Jon Davies noted many women either haven't considered construction careers or harbor misgivings about the industry (Infrastructure Magazine).

This initiative aligns with broader industry efforts to address workforce challenges and implement the Productivity Commission's recommendations for improving housing construction efficiency.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR February-March Highlights 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 Mar 20: Upskill Now Masterclass (Thermal) Mar 25: DMN 2025 South Africa Study Tour Briefing

Women in Design Connection: The March Women of DMN networking events in Melbourne & Perth provide timely opportunities for female design professionals to connect and share experiences, complementing industry-wide efforts to increase women's participation across the built environment sector.

UPCOMING EVENTS FEBRUARY 2025 DMN's Summer Kick-Off 2025 Date: Feb 20 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Carousel Albert Park, Melbourne Status: FULLY BOOKED - SEE YOU THERE! 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 2025 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 Women of DMN: Networs of success - Lunch + Q&A Panel Date: Mar 21 Time: 12:00PM (AWST) Location: Caesarstone Showroom, Homebase Duration: 2.5hrs Panelists: Sarah Urbani | Cara Little | Debbie Bute | Anne Courtney Bennett

DMN 2025 South Africa Study Tour Briefing Date: Mar 25 Time: 2:00PM (AEDT) Location: Online Duration: 1hr Presenter: Mike Tuzee | Impact Events

Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) Services Overview -- WA Members Only Date: Mar 27 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Online (AWST)

APRIL 2025 Contract Administration Workshop Date: Apr 12 Time: 8:30 AM Location: Online (AEST) Presenter: Geoff Hoare

MAY 2025

Building a Successful Career: Winning Work & Keeping Clients Date: May 26 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Online (AEDT) Presenter: Britta Siggelkow

JUNE 2025 Contract Administration Workshop Date: Jun 28 Time: 8:30 AM Location: Online (AEST) Presenter: Geoff Hoare

SEPTEMBER 2025 Contract Administration Workshop Date: Sep 27 Time: 8:30 AM Location: Online (AEST) Presenter: Geoff Hoare

SOURCES IN THIS ISSUE ABC News, The Fifth Estate, Sydney Morning Herald, Productivity Commission, Master Builders Australia, WA Today, The Age, Architecture and Design, Inside Construction, Sourceable, The Australian, Infrastructure Magazine

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