Construction crisis: No minister, it’s broken. Try an iron clad mandated warranty instead David Chandler, Western Sydney University The recent Building Ministers Forum in Hobart was noteworthy for its consistency in for declaring more red tape, more checkers checking the checkers, and avoiding any policies that would make a genuine difference.
The case for passive homes as a national standard Nick Lane, Passive Place The energy policies and building standards that govern our homes need to keep us comfortable and limit global warming. Passive house, a rigorous building standard for ultra-low energy buildings, ticks these boxes. 15
Australia still has a way to go to improve sustainability: Arcadis Sponsored: Arcadis | 15 September 2016 A Sustainable Cities Index released this week by global design and consultancy firm Arcadis shows that long-term planning is crucial, with Canberra ranked as more sustainable than Sydney, Melbourne and…
Fact-checking Scott Morrison on affordable housing David Thorpe | 31 January 2017 The Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison has been seeking solutions to the problem of affordable housing in London. So let’s do some fact-checking on his position.
Government clean coal thought bubble would cost double that of renewables Cameron Jewell | 31 January 2017 The public should be ultra, super critical of a push for Ultra-Super Critical (USC) coal-fired power stations as a way to tackle climate change, research from the Climate and Energy…
SA continues climate leadership with green office refurb Cameron Jewell | 6 February 2017 The South Australian government has received a 6 Star Green Star Interiors rating for an office fitout, which it says is the first Australian project to get such a high…
Liberal state governments promise to axe renewables targets Cameron Jewell | 13 February 2017 Opposition Liberal governments in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland have promised to axe their state’s renewable energy targets, responding to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s call for a unified national approach.…
City of Sydney to accelerate environmental action plan Cameron Jewell | 28 March 2017 The City of Sydney has approved its Environmental Action Plan, which will see it push for net zero emissions by 2050 and get 50 per cent renewables for the entire…
News from the front desk: Issue No 332 – On the climate dance and turning tides 30 March 2017 It can be confusing understanding where we’re heading with the global dance on climate change. Hazelwood closes – two steps forward. Trump moves to abolish climate policies – three steps…
Corruption concerns over NSW’s mandatory planning panel push Cameron Jewell | 9 August 2017 Property lobby groups are overjoyed by the NSW government’s announcement it will install mandatory planning panels to approve development applications, but the local government sector and opposition parties say there are probity and accountability issues.
Governments talk tough on trash, but will anything change? Willow Aliento | 10 August 2017 ABC’s Four Corners waste and recycling exposé has everyone talking about rubbish, with the NSW and Queensland governments squaring up for a stoush over garbage sent to Queensland to avoid landfill levies.
Questions about planning panels and the behavior of politicians The Fifth Estate | 11 August 2017 COMMENT: The NSW government’s backflip on amalgamation came with a twist; it was swiftly followed up with a move to remove council power to determine development applications above $5 million,…
Port Augusta’s solar thermal dream comes through Cameron Jewell | 15 August 2017 After many years of lobbying and activism, the fight to get a solar thermal power plant at South Australia’s Port Augusta has been won.
John Bradley appointed Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning secretary 22 August 2017 John Bradley has been appointed secretary of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
Modern day slavery: Construction sector supply chain labelled at risk as mandatory reporting eyed Willow Aliento | 23 August 2017 The construction industry has been labelled at risk of slavery in supply chains in a federal government discussion paper.
