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
AECOM survey reveals what Sydney’s stakeholders want Willow Aliento | 2 September 2014 AECOM has presented the findings of its interactive Sydney Connected survey to leaders of the property and planning sector.
Climate Council: sea level rise a major threat to Australian property Cameron Jewell | 17 September 2014 The Climate Council spent a sunny Wednesday cruising around Sydney Harbour with a media cohort. Sounds like fun, but the intent is much less rosy. The organisation is pointing out…
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor on climate change, planning powers and dog boxes Willow Aliento | 2 October 2014 Memo to the Victorian government and opposition: City of Melbourne wants its development approval powers back.
Report: Australia’s car obsession is making us vulnerable Cameron Jewell | 7 October 2015 Cars and trucks are causing billions of dollars in congestion, health impacts and environmental damage, a new report released today (Wednesday) by the Australian Council of Learned Academies has warned.
Survey results are in: vast majority want higher energy standards 24 August 2016 Surprise surprise, most of you, our readers, want to see higher energy performance standards. The survey many of you kindly participated in last week found overwhelming support for raising energy…
Heritage and WestConnex meet head-on in Haberfield Cassi Plate, NoWestConnex: Public Transport | 8 September 2016 Australia’s most significant and, until a few weeks ago, most heavily heritage-protected garden suburb has been eviscerated. And Sydney’s newly unelected czar of city planning, Lucy Turnbull, professed ignorance.
Creating the female-friendly city Ann Sherry, Committee for Sydney | 15 March 2017 The theme of International Women’s Day was “Be Bold for Change”. In that spirit, what bold decisions can Sydney make to ensure that it genuinely reflects and responds to the…
Can urban congestion really be solved with high speed rail? Michael Brown | 15 March 2017 It’s back – now better than ever! This time, high-speed rail could solve Australia’s housing affordability problems! Australian capital cities are facing challenges of diminishing housing affordability, increasing urban congestion,…
News from the front desk: Issue No 331 – On zoning changes and “winning the lottery” 23 March 2017 NSW’s new planning minister Anthony Roberts has been in the papers this week, with the announcement that an expanded “priority precincts” program would occur around rail stations to foster development.
Planners in red hot demand Sandra Edmunds | 28 March 2017 MARKET PULSE: Demand for planners in Melbourne and Sydney is “red hot” at the moment with many consultancies finding it difficult to fill positions. John Wynne, national planning director of…
Plan Melbourne: density and heritage come into conflict Sandra Edmunds | 30 March 2017 Critics are concerned Plan Melbourne’s renewed push for development in activity centres combined with reformed residential zones will damage the city’s distinctive heritage. Key changes to residential zones, which came…
How do we restore the public’s faith in transport planning? Crystal Legacy, RMIT University; Carey Curtis and Jan Scheurer, Curtin University | 5 April 2017 Opposition to proposed road projects has become a feature of state and federal elections.
