Industry News

The City of Melbourne has released the Docklands Public Realm Plan (DPRP) for public consultation setting out a strategic vision for the streets and places that the public use in Docklands.

Once finalised, the Plan will provide greater certainty to developers and designers with guiding principles relating to community amenity, connectivity, sustainability and Docklands unique identity. 

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said that the release of the Plan was an important next step in planning for Docklands in the second decade that will result in a more integrated public realm.

“The first decade of Docklands development focused on the bricks and mortar. Over the next ten years we are determined to deliver community infrastructure of the highest quality, such as a new library and community hub.

“Melbourne is renowned for its exceptional public spaces and quality streets. The Plan will ensure the public places in our newest precinct are cohesive, community friendly and diverse.

“The City of Melbourne’s acclaimed urban design and planning team has developed a comprehensive guide which will give certainty to developers and ensure quality infrastructure along the breadth of the waterfront. The Plan builds on valuable experience developed in the city over the past 20 years and seeks to apply this in an appropriate manner to suit the particular conditions in Melbourne’s rapidly evolving waterfront precinct.

“The Docklands Public Realm Plan will ensure there is a wide range of parks and places for the community at Docklands, whilst maintaining consistently high design standards.”

Cr Kevin Louey, Co-Chair of the Docklands Coordination Committee said that the Plan was now open for public submissions.

“We welcome the input of the community and developers alike on the Docklands Public Realm Plan.”

The Plan is coupled with new Design and Construction Standards for Docklands that outlines the approvals process and provides technical standards for public realm infrastructure.

Public consultation on the plan will be held at the Docklands Hub on Wednesday 13 June between 5:30pm-6:30pm and Saturday 16 June between 11am-12pm.

Download the Docklands public realm vision (PDF 281kb).

The Queensland Government has announced the relaunch of Software Queensland as IT Queensland, with State Minister for Science and Information Technology Ros Bates saying the move will solidify the state’s ICT sector.

“IT Queensland – in its former capacity as Software Queensland – has made a significant contribution to the ICT industry and I look forward to its ongoing input under a new banner with a broader focus,” Ms Bates said.

“Since 2005, it has been a representative on the ICT Industry Workgroup, providing extensive input from an industry point of view into a wide range of issues.”

Ms Bates said the State Government recognised the importance of the ICT sector in Queensland, saying it is vital for the government to improve services to the state.

“I have just concluded a series of roundtable sessions where I met with representatives from various industry associations and ICT companies to brief them on my priorities as Minister for Information Technology, and discuss how we can best work together,” she said.

“By successfully collaborating on major ICT projects, we can deliver real benefits to the community.”

“We know if government and industry present a united front, we will ensure the ICT profession has a successful brand and will attract the brightest graduates to the ICT industry.” 

The City of Sydney will invest almost $1 billion over the next 10 years on major projects, including building a low-carbon energy network, transforming George Street, a new town centre for Green Square and revitalising parks, pools and cultural centres across the city.

Twenty-one major projects are due for completion in 2012-13 and more are in the pipeline as the City pursues its Sustainable Sydney 2030 action plan for a green, global and connected city.

"The City has once again delivered a balanced budget with no debt that places us in a strong financial position over the next decade," Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said.

"We will be investing close to one billion dollars over the next ten years on projects both big and small to strengthen Sydney's reputation as a leading global city - renowned for its lifestyle, economy, tourism, sustainability, open space and cultural life.

"Our research shows people choose to work, set up a business and visit Sydney for many of the same reasons they choose to live here, so making our city work for residents is just as important as making it work for business and visitors.

"It's our high-quality parks, healthy environment and diverse cultural life that attract people, but it's critical our transport network and infrastructure also support growth.

"The City has a long term-plan (Sustainable Sydney 2030) that outlines how we will tackle these critical issues and I'm pleased to report that we are well on track to meeting our goals."

Major projects worth $864 million scheduled for the next 10 years include:

• $303 million for infrastructure, a health and recreation centre and other community facilities at Green Square;
• $233 million for green infrastructure development including trigeneration and photovoltaic power, LED street lighting and stormwater and waste management in the city centre and Green Square;
• $180 million for the pedestrianisation of George Street to support the introduction of light rail and provide better opportunities for business;
• $113 million for refurbishing and enhancing libraries, child centres and other community facilities; and
• $35 million for the redevelopment of Perry Park in Alexandria, including a new sporting precinct.

 The City will also invest an additional $894 million on ongoing programs that include:

• Footway reconstruction; 
• Pedestrian cycling and traffic calming;
• Road reconstruction and stormwater management;
• Planting trees and improving parks; and
• Upgrades to make the city more accessible.

There are 21 major projects due for completion by mid 2013, including:

·         The restoration of the Eternity Playhouse;

·         Revamps of the Glebe and Paddington Town Halls;

·         The rehabilitation of the former Royal South Sydney Hospital site;

·         Coulston Street pedestrian link to Sydney Park;

·         Fitzroy Gardens refurbishment; and

·         A pedestrian lift at McElhone Stairs, Potts Point.

The budget forecasts that the City's operating income will rise from an expected $450 million in 2011-12 to $467.3 million in 2012-13, due mainly to rates, domestic waste charges and gains from the City's property portfolio.

The increases is despite the rising cost of the City's operations, which are forecast to grow to almost $368 million in 2012-13, up from $340 million in 2011-12. The increases reflect additional staff employed to progress the City's priority projects and programs, together with rising property and infrastructure maintenance costs and increasing charges from government authorities.

Sydney rates will increase incrementally across the board, reflecting the recommendations of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), but exemptions will still remain for pensioners who don't pay rates if they live in the City of Sydney local government area.

Under the recommendations, average household rates will increase by $14 a year ($605 to $619). For businesses average rates will increase by less than $300 a year in the inner city ($16,008 to $16,297) and less than $200 a year for businesses outside the city centre ($5,609 to $5,807).

Sydney City Council has voted to develop a major new Cultural Policy for Sydney to guide arts and culture across Sydney, from major events and festivals to literature, film, food, wine and community initiatives.

Over coming months, the City will meet with artists, producers, performers, theatres, galleries, businesses, retailers, residents and visitors to hear their ideas about how the City can further support and encourage a thriving cultural life in Sydney.

The Lord Mayor Clover said that for the first time, the Council was putting Sydney's cultural life under the microscope, to take stock of what's already happening and what's needed to help its creative industries grow.

"Culture is an integral part of Sydney - our city has a rich connection with Aboriginal history and counts over 200 nationalities as part of our make-up. The support of our city's cultural life already has momentum, now we want to ensure it also has direction.

"The City currently spends more than $23 million each year on culture in Sydney, including our world-class events, grants and sponsorships, public art program and spectacular community facilities. The development of this new policy will bring all the work we're doing together with what's happening in the community and the private sector."

City staff are already investigating what has worked in other cities, drawing on studies from overseas and international creative industry benchmarks to help guide the development of the Cultural Policy over the next year.

The City's research and results from industry consultation will be presented to Council later this year in an issues paper, which will go on public exhibition to allow the whole community to have their say. It is expected that a final Cultural Policy will be adopted in mid-2013.

The Western Australian Government has announced the formation of a new resources research institute aimed at driving innovation.

The Minerals Research Institute (MRI) will be established with $7.5 million in state funding over the next three years.

State Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said the initiative would focus on researching new technologies that fostered improved exploration techniques and promoted new processing methods.

“This research will promote the long-term international competitiveness of WA’s minerals industry through innovation, increased productivity and investment attraction,” Mr Moore said.

Mr Moore said the new institute would continue the work of the existing Minerals and Energy Research Institute of WA (MERIWA) scholarship program, building on its achievements.

“The institute will provide a better resourced organisation with stronger governance and board arrangements to oversee the research programs and with representatives from industry and universities on the board to ensure research programs target and deliver long-term benefits for WA’s resources sector,” he said.

“The mining sector is a finite industry and its long-term survival depends on the discovery of new resources and the development of new technologies.”

A $15.7 million “Key City Workers Development” has recently commenced construction in East Perth to provide rental housing for low to middle income key city workers.

The first project of its type for local government in WA, it is jointly funded by the City of Perth, the State Government’s Department of Housing, the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and the Disability Services Commission, with the housing to be managed by Access Housing Australia.

The project aligns with the Western Australian Government’s State Affordable Housing Strategy objectives including improving the supply of affordable rental housing, providing options for people to transition through the housing continuum, and working in partnership with local and state governments to address local housing needs.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said that the City was practically addressing the issue of affordable housing for low to middle income key city workers.

“The City of Perth’s leadership with this project will mean that key and essential city-based workers, particularly those on modest incomes, will have the ability to live close to their workplaces.  It will not only help the workers but also help the city to thrive, diversify and develop economically,” Ms Scaffidi said.

The NRAS funding will provide annual incentives equating to approximately $6 million over ten years, with 75% being provided by the Commonwealth and 25% from the State Government.

Tenants in the project will be charged 80% of market rent, with prices based on the market rental value of each property. They will be subject to income assessment being an initial income limit of $44,128 for a single person and $61,006 for a couple with upper limits set at $55,160 and $76,258 respectively.

They must work in the City and leases will be limited to a maximum of three years. Tenants who stop working in the City will be required to vacate their apartment after six months.

The Key City Worker Development was designed by Jamie Penn, of Scott Penn Hall Architecture and Interior Design. It will feature a number of innovative sustainability features including contemporary water and energy efficiency technologies, and is registered for Green Star “as built” certification. Importantly, tenants will be living close to employment, shopping and entertainment, allowing many to live without the additional expense of a car.

Mr Penn said the building’s design aimed to reduce not only the environmental impact, but also the living costs of tenants.

The building contract for the three-level complex consisting of 48 one and two-bedroom apartments for around 90 tenants was awarded to the Northerly Group Pty Ltd and is set for completion by mid 2013. 

A new 177-bay public car park, featuring enhanced security and shelter, supplements the main housing project and is expected to reach practical completion in October 2012.

Funding support from the Disability Services Commission has ensured that six units have been specifically designed as “adaptable housing” for people with disabilities in alignment with the Liveable Homes initiative. 

Federal Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has refused to support the Federal Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), describing it as a cruel hoax that will promote false hope before states commit to funding the scheme.

In an address to the National Press Club, Mr Hockey said the Opposition refuses to support the move as it is unclear where the funding will come from.

"A number of state treasurers have said to me they haven't got the money that the Government is claiming they may have for the NDIS,” Mr Hockey said.

"I cannot make commitments to promises and I will not make commitments to promises that we cannot fund.”

The announcement by Mr Hockey comes after the Federal Government outlined $1 billion in the Budget for a preliminary rollout of the insurance scheme, which will cover 10,000 people by next year before increasing to 30,000 the year after.

Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Penny Wong, hit out at Mr Hockey’s comments. Saying it showed inconsistencies in the Opposition’s approach to the scheme.

“Mr Hockey also showed today that the Opposition is not serious about introducing a National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Senator Wong said.

The Tasmanian Industrial Commission has announced a final decision for the state to move to a four-term school year system.

State Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, welcomed the announcement, made by Commissioner James McAlpine.

“The amendment has become necessary as a result of the Minister for Education and Skills proposing to change the school academic year from three terms to four terms from the commencement of the school year in 2013,” Mr McAlpine said in a statement.

Mr McKim said the decision validates ministerial authority over the constitution of school term dates so long as there are no reductions in teachers’ entitlements.

“As there will be no reduction in teachers’ entitlements, I now intend to continue with the implementation of the four term school year from next year.

The term dates for 2013 will be as follows:

• Term 1:                4 Feb – 19 April (Easter break: 29 March - 2 April)
• Term 2:                6 May – 5 July
• Term 3:                22 July -27 September
• Term 4:                14 October – 19 December

“The Commission has found that it does not have the jurisdiction to mandate the number and or the length of school terms.

 “As I have previously said, the move to a four term school year will be in the best interests of students’ learning and well-being as outlined in the advisory group’s report.

“In accordance with Commissioner McAlpine’s recommendation, we will seek to meet with the Australian Education Union to work through any areas of concern which still require resolution.”

The Victorian Government has announced five new appointments to the Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC).

Due to commence their roles by the end of the month, State Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith announced the following appointments:

• Chair – Phillip Honeywood
• Angela Reidy
• Dr Charles Meredith
• Ian Harris
• Ian Munro

The VEAC is responsible for conducting investigations required by the State government relating to the protection and ecologically sustainable management of the state’s environment and natural resources of public land.

Currently, the council is undertaking investigations into biodiversity and ecological values in the Yellingbo investigation area.

Planning for Victoria’s new $22.7 million Charlton Hospital has begun after the State Government appointed a team to guide the future development of the hospital.

The Project Control Group has been established to meet and oversee the redevelopment of the site, with surveying already underway.

"A preliminary site assessment has commenced with the design phase set to commence in July 2012," State Health Minister David Davis said.

"This purpose-built facility will include residential aged care and inpatient bed-based services, urgent care, primary care and allied health services, including the co-location of general practitioner services."

Construction on the site of the former Charlton Primary School is expected to begin mid-2013.

The Project Control Group brings together representatives of the East Wimmera Health Service Board and Executive and the Department of Health, as well as specialist consultants who have been appointed from Aurecon project management, Baade Harbour Australia architects, Sweett Australia quantity surveyors and Umow Lai and Associates engineering services.

The hospital is expected to generate over 45 permanent positions after construction is completed. 

The Victorian Government has secured three of the world’s most renowned games developers to give keynote addresses at a two day Game Masters: The Forum game development symposium.

The symposium, to be held by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), will host independent developers Peter Molyneux (Populous, Dungeon Keeper and Fable), Tim Schafer (Full Throttle, Psychonauts and Brutal Legend) and Warren Spector (System Shock and Deus Ex).

"Securing these international gurus of the games industry to share their experiences will stimulate business and professional development opportunities for Victorian and Australian games developers,”  State Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher said.

"In addition to keynote presentations, selected games developers will also have an opportunity to engage in one-on-one meetings with these outstanding international games experts.

"Participation in Game Masters: The Forum will provide an exciting kick-start to ACMI's 2012 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition,Game Masters, which opens on 28 June and features over 125 playable games from more than 30 internationally-renowned game designers.

ACMI's Chief Executive Officer Tony Sweeney said Game Masters was an opportunity to bring the games and cultural industries together.

"Having highly respected international guests coming to Melbourne for the launch of Game Masters provides a forum to explore the synergies and intersection between the games industry and the broader cultural industries," Mr Sweeney said.

Film Victoria's Chief Executive Officer Jenni Tosi welcomed the opportunity to partner with ACMI in jointly funding the symposium.

"I'm delighted with this partnership and I'm sure it will provide inspiration and new connections for our talented games developers, stimulating ideas and business opportunities for this important sector of our industry," Ms Tosi said.

Tickets for the Game Masters: The Forum go on sale on Friday 18 May via www.acmi.net.au 

The Victorian Government has announced the appointment of Chris Chesterfield as the Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Office of Living Victoria (OLV).

Currently the general manager of waterways at Melbourne Victoria, Mr Chesterfield has extensive experience in the water sector.

"Chris' experience in the water sector and working with the urban planning sector will assist in leading reform and change to the way we manage water in our urban spaces,"  State Minister for Water Peter Walsh said.

Established in response to advice from the Living Victoria Ministerial Advisory Council, the OLV will be responsible for executing the Living Victoria Implementation Plan.

 "It will also prepare a regulatory impact statement for building controls to improve the water performance of new buildings and work with the Department of Planning and Community Development to amend Victorian planning provisions to improve stormwater management," Mr Walsh said.

The Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Implementation Plan and the Victorian Government response is available atwww.water.vic.gov.au/livingvictoria 

The Government of East Timor has revealed a sector of a new European built gas pipeline that will be used to pump natural gas from the long-disputed Greater Sunrise gas field in the Timor Sea.

The announcement is the latest move in the long running dispute between Woodside Petroleum and the Government of East Timor, who propose to construct a pipeline to pump the natural gas to Dili for processing.

Currently, the gas field is managed by Woodside, who have plans to built a floating conversion facility.  

Ten new desalination research projects will share in $2.7 million from the Australian Government funded National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia (NCEDA).

Speaking at the opening of NCEDA’s International Intakes and Outfalls Workshop in Adelaide today, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell, announced the outcome of the Centre’s fourth round of funding for Australian desalination science.

“Australia now has 44 world class desalination research projects advancing Australian science and ingenuity while safeguarding the national public water interest,” Senator Farrell said.

“Our ongoing commitment to the nation’s water security is also creating opportunities for employment and sustainable growth, while consolidating our place on the international stage in the desalination and water sector.”

CEO Neil Palmer said the new Australian desalination research had a focus on renewable energy solutions, with one of the projects proposing to use geothermally-heated groundwater to power desalination.  Projects funded in previous rounds have included solar-powered desalination and innovative use of waste heat generated from large-scale minerals processing.

“Further reduction of the energy consumption of desal plants and fast-tracking new green technologies will continue to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian water and desalination industry and make us more competitive internationally,” Mr Palmer said.

A further $4.9 million of in-kind contributions and $535,000 in additional funding from participating organisations and research participants will bring $8.1 million of new investment into Australian desalination research. The Australian Government via its Water for the Future Initiative has allocated $12.3 million for the Centre’s four funding rounds.

Information on successful projects is at: www.desalination.edu.au

St Hilliers Construction has announced it has entered voluntary administration after the company reported a number of problems associated with the construction of the $350 million expansion of the Ararat Prison in Victoria.

The group blamed stalled negotiations over the previous few months with the Ararat Prison equity investors and its bankers in conjunction with the Victorian Government. The negotiations failed to procure an agreement for an additional $150 million in funding.

The group’s board found that it could not run the risk of incurring additional debt, and that the entry into voluntary administration was the only prudent course of action.

The company has appointed Moore Stephens Sydney corporate Recovery Group as administrators, who will take over the operation of the troubled group.

St Hilliers Group Executive Chairman Tim Casey said: “It is very regrettable that we have had to initiate this action. We have over a number of months explored and exhausted all possible avenues to recapitalise the construction business and find a solution to the significant cost and time overruns on the Ararat Project. Unfortunately a solution was not possible under the current regime.”

“We will now work actively and constructively with the Administrator and all stakeholders to continue all viable projects and to find a way to restructure the construction business going forward. For the rest of the St Hilliers Group it remains business as usual.”

The Federal Government is seeking comments on the Draft National Building Energy Standard-Setting, Assessment and Rating Framework.

Under the strategy, Federal, State and Territory governments have committed to developing a framework that will work towards consistent approaches on how buildings are assessed and rated for energy efficiency and sets a pathway for establishing a minimum energy performance standard for new buildings over time.

Comments are welcomed on the Draft Framework until 6 July 2012. Consultation forums on the Draft Framework are also being held in all capital cities in May and June.

For more information on the forums and related documentation, visit Draft National Building Energy Standard-Setting, Assessment and Rating Framework.

The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) has released a report into the emerging trend of community governance in local government.

The report explores recent trends in community governance throughout the country, recognising it as distinct from the role of and practices of local government.

The report concluded that community governance had evolved to such a point that it is significant to local government planning and development as it represents the interest of council’s constituents.

The ACELG has urged that the relative freedom of local governance that has allowed community governance to flourish be allowed to remain.

The report found 11 key findings:

• Local government's communities have a stronger expectation that they will be involved in decisions which affect them, and this may influence the way in which individuals vote.
• Size and geography both matter.
• A community governance approach changes the roles of elected members, from a purely representative democracy model to one where community input is sought issue by issue.
• It is critical that all parties are well informed.
• A community governance approach highlights the importance of ensuring that the council is able to hear all the voices within the community and not just the traditional 'squeaky wheels' or other loud voices.
• In all councils it is councillors who have ultimate responsibility for the council's policy on community engagement but there is a need to tailor actual delivery to the circumstances of the individual council, other pressures on elected members, and the council's culture and structure.
• Most councils involved in the study have recognised in different ways the need for community capability building initiatives and community governance often amounts to a process for decision-making about a particular place or places within the larger area served by a council.
• Place-based management virtually amounts to a prerequisite for a genuinely effective and comprehensive approach to community governance, and there is likely to be a growing trend for councils to look at reorganising their structures to reflect this.
• There is likely to be tension between state government planning, for example planning directed to allocating anticipated population increases within metropolitan centres, and a community governance approach. The former is a top-down approach to imposing decisions on individual communities and the latter a bottom-up approach expressing the community's preferences.
• Councils adopting a community governance approach recognise the need for three separate roles: around decision-making and implementation, facilitation, and advocacy.
• The development of community governance as discussed in this report should remain free from statutory direction

The full report can be found here

The New South Wales Minister for Local Government, Don Page, has hit out at the expected cost increases that the state’s councils will face after the Federal Government’s Carbon Tax comes into force in July.

Mr Page said the Federal Government has not factored into account the ‘significant impact of the tax on the local government sector.’

Mr Page released the following estimates:

• Dubbo City Council, which has estimated that its power bill alone will increase by $500,000;
• Tamworth Regional Council, which will see its electricity costs increase by $300,000;
• Camden Council, which is budgeting for Carbon Tax costs of $155,000;
• Wagga Wagga City Council, which has already put aside $660,000 to pay for the tax; and
• Shellharbour City Council, which estimates that it could pay up to $800,000 per annum or $15,000,000 over the life of their local tip.

“As Minister, I believe it is appalling that an already struggling sector like local government will have no direct compensation for the huge costs it will face due to the imposition of the Carbon Tax,” Mr Page said.

“Councils have been left confused and uninformed, leaving councils to play a guessing game as to how much the tax will cost them.”

Mr Page’s comments come after it emerged that two local councils in NSW, Shellharbor and Wagga Wagga, will be featured on the country’s top 500 polluters and will have to pay the $23 per tonne of carbon.

The Western Australian Government has announced it will wind back a recent decision on decreasing penalty interest rates to support families.

The move to increase the rates was initially proposed to support families by reducing penalty rates on late payments, but the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) successfully argued that the move would be counter-intuitive and would result in increased costs for the average ratepayer.

The move would have seen the penalty interest charged by Local Government on late rates payments from 11 per cent down to seven per cent.

“While the move was well intentioned, WALGA demonstrated to the Minister that it would actually have the opposite effect to helping families,”  WALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard said.

“WALGA estimated it would have created a $6 million shortfall which would have had to be recovered through rates increases which would actually result in most ratepayers having to pay more.”

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has outlined NBN expansion in the North and mid-North Coasts of New South Wales, with expansion in Coffs Harbour, Taree and Port Macquarie expected in mid-2012.

The announcement will see fifteen thousand premises in over 170 communities and seven local government areas receive a fixed wireless service, which is expected to be fully completed in 2015.

"Through the NBN, the government will also deliver uniform national wholesale pricing. This means that people living in and around Coffs Harbour, Taree, and Port Macquarie will pay the same prices for NBN services as people in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong. This is a truly exciting time for broadband consumers in regional and rural Australia,” Senator Conroy said.

Through the use of fixed wireless technology, the NBN will deliver speeds exceeding 8 times of current ADSL speeds.