Infrastructure Australia has received additional funding in the 2020-21 Federal Budget to provide reform and investment advice in support of the infrastructure-led COVID recovery. This funding will ensure Infrastructure Australia is resourced to: 1) Expand the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan to respond to COVID-19; 2) Lead new research on the capacity of the infrastructure sector to deliver the investment pipeline; and 3) Conduct an 18-month comprehensive reset of the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework, the basis for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List. Infrastructure ... more

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has made a fee relief scheme available for building practitioners and plumbers who have experienced financial hardship due to the impacts of COVID-19. Under the fee relief scheme, eligible building practitioners will be exempt from paying application and renewal fees, and the annual fees associated with maintaining their registration. Plumbers hit hard by the impacts of COVID-19 can also apply for exemptions from application, accreditation and examination fees, as well as fees associated with registration and licensing. VBA CEO, Sue Eddy said construction is critic... more

Property industry confidence is gradually picking up, albeit very cautiously, according to the ANZ/Property Council Survey for the December 2020 quarter. Stimulus measures such as the HomeBuilder grant as well as support from state and territory governments for new and first home buyers are driving up sentiment for the residential construction sector. The ANZ/Property Council Survey national confidence score for the December 2020 quarter increased by 6 index points to 82 – still well below a neutral score of 100 and the survey historical average of 123. Property Council of Australia chief executive, ... more

At an online ceremony last night, five projects and concepts received Australia’s highest accolade for urban design as part of the 2020 Australian Urban Design Awards (AUDA). The AUDA are co-convened by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). Reflecting on this year’s nominations, CEO of the City Renewal Authority in Canberra and AUDA Jury Chair, Malcolm Snow said that “it was excellent to see integration of green infrastructure, climate change awareness, the importance of public space togethe... more

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented a variety of significant challenges for the building industry, regulators and consumers, Building Ministers have agreed to a four-month delay to the adoption of the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC). NCC 2022 is now expected to be adopted by states and territories from 1 September 2022. The delayed adoption will also see adjustments to key dates in the amendment cycle process for NCC 2022 to allow stakeholders time to participate. These adjusted dates include: May - July 2021: NCC 2022 Public Comment Draft release... more

The winners of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ (AILA) 2020 National Landscape Architecture Awards have been announced, this time in the Institute’s first-ever virtual awards program. Last night, the AILA recognised a total of 46 winners across 15 categories for exceptional practice, validating talent, commitment, and design excellence. Among the winners, 13 Awards of Excellence were delivered, acknowledging the most significant of work for advancement in landscape architecture. AILA CEO, Ben Stockwin, said the AILA was pushed to explore a new and creative way to deliver the Awards ann... more

Weld Australia has called on the Federal Government to ensure that 30 per cent of all new apprenticeships and traineeships funded through its recently announced $1.2 billion investment are offered to women. Today, CEO of Weld Australia, Geoff Crittenden, said the Federal Government must set a target to achieve much-needed improvements in the gender composition of Australia’s trades. “In a post-COVID-19 world, irrespective of how much funding the Federal Government invests in training and apprenticeships, Australia’s economy will not recover unless we maintain our industrial, manufacturing and infrast... more