The Australian Institute of Architects has called on the federal government to accelerate the decarbonization of the economy and fund social infrastructure, ahead of the 2020 budget to be announced on 6 October.
In a pre-budget submission, the Institute outlined seven key areas for “more affordable, equitable, amenable and sustainable places.”
One of key areas is the procurement of architectural services. The Institute undertaking research and developing guidelines for expressions of interest, request for tender, request for proposal and design competitions process. It recommends that all Australian governments facilitate the involvement of Australian architects in competitive design processes for publicly funded projects and that governments ensure fair and open procurement practices.
The Institute has also called for the appointment of an Australian government architect in its second key area of ensuring good design. The Institute says the role of the Australian government architect should lead the development of a national architecture policy “that recognizes and extends architecture’s contribution to the delivery of great, sustainable places for all Australians, regardless of location.”
The Institute recommends that government can also ensure good design by providing incentives and flexible funding arrangements linked to specific design and sustainability outcomes and that all new project funding must be linked to sustainability outcomes and contribution to local sense of place.
A third key area outlined in the Institute’s submission is climate change and community resilience. The Institute recommends establishing a national plan for zero-carbon buildings by 2040 and strong mandatory standards for the energy performance of buildings.
“As the climate crisis becomes more acute and its impacts more devastating, so too must our response be more urgent,” said national president Alice Hampson.
“That’s why we are urging the Australian Government to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral economy.
“As first the catastrophic bushfires then the coronavirus pandemic have so brutally demonstrated, it is imperative that we future proof our urban environments.
“Never before has the spotlight shone so harshly on the design of our housing, and the importance of getting it right as we build back better.”
The Institute also urged the government to invest more in social and affordable housing. “Australia will need more than a million social and affordable homes over the next 20 years,” the submission reads. The Institute recommended developing clear targets for social and affordable homes that include flexible housing types and multi-generational occupancy.
“Now more than ever it is apparent just how much the quality of the design affects the way spaces and places function and has the potential to stimulate the economy and enhance the environment,” said Institute CEO Julia Cambage.
“The trend that started pre-pandemic, which saw our regional centres and communities play an increasingly important role in driving economic growth, will only now accelerate.
“Australian architects are uniquely placed to offer expertise and insights in combating other fast emerging challenges including equipping our buildings to better manage air quality and filtration, preventing urban spaces from becoming heat islands and improving overall liveability.
“The planning and design of cities and towns to address these challenges will significantly impact the shape of Australia’s built environment, requiring a federal government commitment to a high quality, sustainable legacy for future generations.”
After the government announced a widely criticized plan to demolish Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial, the Institute used its pre-budget submission to again call for a stop the plan. It said, “the government must look to appropriate use of resources including preferencing redevelopment rather than replacement of public buildings.”
The remaining key areas in the Institute’s submission include managing change and fostering thriving cities and regions and improving building regulation.
“[The] Federal Budget will be critical in mapping out the path of Australia’s economic recovery,” said Alice Hampson.
“With the highest levels of unemployment since the Great Depression, and with interest rates at an all-time low, there will never be a better time for forward-looking governments to create jobs through investments in the infrastructure that will be needed for the next century and beyond.”
Source: Architecture - architectureau
