ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 - Planning Institute of Australia
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ANNUAL 2019 REVIEW 2020
THE PLANNING INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
IS THE LEADER AND CHIEF GUARDIAN OF
THE PLANNING PROFESSION
Our Vision Our Mission PIA believes our planning
PIA’s vision is a strong, diverse
professionals are the key
To foster the development of a
and vibrant planning profession strong planning profession and to agents in delivering great
recognised by legislators, champion the importance of good planning.
policymakers, and the public planning in shaping Australia’s
PIA is passionate about the
alike as being committed to future. PIA will do this through
building more sustainable and professional leadership, effective
value that planners deliver
liveable communities. We aspire advocacy and networking, and to society and we actively
to be Australia’s trusted voice on practical, contemporary planning. advocate that to government,
planning – working impartially with industry and the community.
government officials, business and
the planning community to help
shape great spaces and places.
Our 3 Strategic Pillars
2. Advocacy
1. Leadership
2. Annual Review 2019/2020
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
VISION AND MISSION 2
LEADERSHIP
From the President 4
From the CEO 8
From the President-Elect 10
2020 PIA National Awards 11
for Planning Excellence
Australian Urban Design Awards 14
ADVOCACY
Advocacy 2019/2020 16
Standing Up For Planning 19
EDUCATION
Education 2019/2020 26
Young Planners Network 30
PIA Mentoring 32
MEMBERSHIP
PIA Membership 34
FINANCE
Financial Sustainability 38
Balance Sheet 40
Profit and Loss Statement 41
OUR SPONSORS
Principal Sponsors 42
Major Sponsors and Supporters 43
3. Education Our Team 44
Celebrating Our Fellows 46
PIA Honour Board 48
Annual Review 2019/2020 3.
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
As this will be my final We are indeed fortunate to be in Notwithstanding this success, the
report as National a strong financial position, able to following key initiatives the Board
weather the financial storm and had identified have been placed
President of PIA, I havoc the global pandemic has on hold:
would like to reflect unleashed.
on the Institute’s » Exploring the impact of digital
The macro economic shock brought disruption on our profession and
achievements since about by this global pandemic is the planners;
2013 when I first most severe economic downturn
» Gender equity survey of the
became a Director on Australia has experienced since
profession;
the National Board. World War 2. As PIA only came
into existence in 1951, these are » Focusing on Aboriginal and
During this time, PIA’s membership Torres Strait Islander People’s
the most challenging economic
has increased from around 4800 culture and contribution to
conditions the Institute has
to 5300 members. In addition, PIA planning; and
experienced in its 69-year history.
reaches more than 7000 individuals
who attend PIA events held all As a result, the National Board has » Postponing the National
around the nation throughout the faced challenges for which there Congress which was to be held in
year. Despite COVID-19’s devastating is no predetermined script. I am Adelaide earlier this year.
impacts in 2020, the number of Full pleased to report that the Board, Despite the lack of progress in some
Members increased from 3393 to working closely with our Senior priority areas, members can feel
3441 during the 2020 Financial Year Management Team, has risen to this justifiably proud of the progress
(FY2020). To increase membership challenge. For example, our CEO, which the Institute has made in spite
numbers during a global pandemic, David Williams and his dedicated of the impacts of COVID-19.
while other membership team have transformed PIA’s
organisations are experiencing educational and event offerings PIA recently hosted the first virtual
significant falls in membership, is a to an online service. The take up National Awards for Planning
remarkable achievement. of these offerings has exceeded Excellence which has been viewed by
our expectations and allowed PIA over 1400 people. This far exceeds
With the exception of FY2020, where the 500-600 people who would have
to maintain an important income
we incurred a small loss, PIA has attended the awards ceremony.
stream as well as improving services
recorded successive profits over the Similarly, PIA has played an integral
to our members.
past seven financial years amassing role in hosting this year’s Australian
over $750,000 in reserves which will Urban Design Awards and again this
be used to cushion the Institute this was a virtual awards ceremony.
financial year and into the future
against the ongoing financial impacts These innovations help raise PIA’s
of COVID-19. profile and show outstanding
examples of Australian Planning at
its best.
4. Annual Review 2019/2020
LEADERSHIP
In last year’s annual report, I noted It is a rare privilege to have served in “Together with our
that two key roles of the Board this leadership role in the Institute. dedicated staff,
are to provide leadership for the As PIA’s 34th National President,
organisation and to ensure that I have had the honour of helping
these volunteers are
good governance procedures are to navigate the Institute through the backbone of the
not only in place but are being COVID-19, a once-in-100-year event. Institute.”
followed. It has been an honour to Much more needs to be done As Planners, we are providing an
be part of a high performing Board building on the great wins over the essential role in the economic
which has provided leadership past seven years, so I am pleased to recovery underway in Australia.
during this global pandemic, guiding be handing over this leadership role While the global pandemic
the Institute through unprecedented to Darren Crombie. Darren has been has created an extra layer of
times. In particular, I would like to a PIA Director for the past six years uncertainty about what the future
acknowledge the contribution of my and has worked in government at holds, Planners are resilient and
two National Vice Presidents, Cate the Local, State and Commonwealth accustomed to building in flexibility.
Hart and Darren Crombie. They level, as well as in the private sector PIA is Australia’s peak organisation
have provided valuable support and in consulting. Consequently, he has representing Planners from every
have been outstanding leaders in an insight into all aspects of planning State and Territory across the length
their own right on the two Board and has proven to be an exceptional and breadth of this great nation.
Committees that they chair, the strategic thinker. The Institute is This places PIA in a unique position
Finance and Risk Management fortunate to have someone of the to be the “Trusted Voice in Planning”.
Committee and the Policy and high calibre of Darren to take on the Your Institute is well placed to help
Advocacy Committee. National President’s role. our members to meet the challenges
I would also like to thank the I would like to record the importance that lay ahead.
hard-working PIA team who are of our many volunteers, including
so capably led by David Williams. Divisional Committee members
David’s management skills and around Australia who contribute
his ability to grapple with difficult via working groups and various
issues and achieve outstanding committees helping to formulate
results have placed PIA in a strong submissions on key policy matters.
position to face the many challenges They act as mentors in our
arising from the global pandemic. mentoring programs and undertake
I am delighted to report that David numerous other PIA activities
has signed a contract to extend his each year.
employment as PIA’s CEO until 2023.
This is great news for our profession
and will ensure PIA continues to be a
high achieving professional Institute.
Steve O’Connor RPIA (Fellow)
National President
Annual Review 2019/2020 5.
FROM THE
CEO
A Year of Closer to home, one of PIA’s strategic January to June 2020
Two Halves intents is to bridge the gap between
As the holiday season began,
research and practice. Consequently,
the number, size and intensity
July to Christmas 2019 we pursued several pathways to this
of bushfires increased and what
end during the second half of 2019.
In PIA, we were riding a wave of seemed like endless days of mass
This included PIA and our members
success. We were increasing our devastation rolled out down the
making significant contributions to
advocacy impact, growing PIA’s eastern seaboard, in Western
the Academy of Science’s Future
reach into the profession through Australia and South Australia,
Earth decadal plan for urban
a broader range of Professional including the iconic Kangaroo Island.
systems research.
Development events, and The news broadcasts and social
strengthening the capacity of the We contributed heavily to the CRC media spoke of nothing else but
organisation. bid for Future Cities, a 10-year the fires and their impact on our
funded program of applied research communities and wildlife. Along the
As a member of the Commonwealth
led by the University of NSW, with lengthening trail of trauma, heroism,
Association of Planners, PIA
a key role in research design for selflessness and communities
supported CAP’s endorsement of the
PIA. While this application stumbled emerged, rallying together to
Commonwealth Women in Planning
in the final round of Ministerial support themselves and others.
Network Manifesto.
approval, the alliances formed and
At PIA, with holidays cut short,
The manifesto marks the first the project scope will serve PIA well.
work began on responding to the
international commitment by
In parallel, PIA collaborated and bushfire crisis. We strove to support
planning associations across the
advocated to put the U (urban those members impacted and
Commonwealth to advance the role
research) back in the Australian created conduits for the immediate
of women as active participants in
Housing and Urban Research response from planners to support
planning, designing, and shaping the
Institute (AHURI) and this appears to householders, communities and
built environment.
have been successful. local council planning staff in fire-
As a participant in the Global ravaged communities.
As we approached the Christmas
Planners’ Network, a group of 12 We moved swiftly, connecting expert
holidays, significant bushfires burned
organisations representing 100,000 natural hazard planning advice with
in Queensland and northern NSW.
professional planners, PIA signed recovery agencies and the various
the World Planners’ Abu Dhabi inquiries.
Declaration 2020. This included
the statement that there can be no
sustainable development without
sustainable urbanisation and no
sustainable urbanisation without
effective planning.
6. Annual Review 2019/2020
LEADERSHIP
To add to the strange New Year, I am so proud of the speed Other benefits emerged from PIA’s
in the Canberra office we watched with which the small PIA staff online delivery. For the first-time
as a massive hailstorm hammered team transitioned face-to-face members in outer suburbs, smaller
hundreds of cars in minutes and professional development to cities, towns and regional areas had
damaged buildings and homes, high-quality online delivery. Many easy access to PIA’s professional
adding a new layer of trauma. less agile and more conservative development. Many of the PD
Over these months, a news story ran organisations took months to topics are not jurisdiction-specific,
in the background of the challenges achieve what PIA achieved in about so members could join PIA’s PD
facing parts of China from something 48 hours. events hosted from anywhere
named Coronavirus. We watched Not only did we convert existing across the country.
nightly as the maps showed the professional development online, Providing online PD to those
virus spreading slowly, gaining pace, we created new products, many of members unable or unwilling to
then infecting people in Australia. which were free. These included the attend face-to-face events in the
In the first week of March we closed Economics in Planning Series aimed capital cities was on our “to do” list
the doors to our offices in Sydney, at senior planners, managers and well before COVID. The first of the
Melbourne, Canberra and Perth. leaders and attracted more than Viability Analysis reports was due
Staff began working from home. We 300 registrations to each of the in early 2020. But we skipped the
have yet to return to our Sydney and one-hour sessions. Additionally, we Viability Analysis, the Business Case,
Melbourne offices. launched Planning Hour PD and and the Pilot Phase – we just did
As a result, in 2020 our new Friday Briefing Sessions. it. That is another lesson from the
common-use vocabulary includes But it was clear that our members extraordinary 2020. Just do it.
unprecedented, iso, pivot, needed more than just Professional The positive feedback from
border closures, face masks, Development. So, we created members from all corners of
social-distancing and even hyper- member connection events like Australia has been loud and
localisation. Virtual Coffee Catch-ups (some in the constant. Now that this service is
evening with wine) for each division operating, is proven, and is valued by
PIA changes Professional and for specific networks such as members it will continue as we live
Development delivery Women in Planning and Young with COVID-19, and onwards after
In PIA, we also learned quickly how Planners. the virus has been contained.
to provide professional development In the early days of nation-wide
and social connection events online. lockdown, these were really
Within the first week of shutdown, important and highly successful as
we transitioned PLANET to online, everyone became familiar with the
with much appreciation and challenges of working from home,
understanding from presenters mastering video calls and managing
and participants. the strange sense of exhaustion
after a day on Zoom and Teams.
Annual Review 2019/2020 7.
FROM THE
CEO
But it remains all about It is now obvious Australia can make
the “why” significant structural change when
the need is clear and the leadership
Both halves of 2019/20 have one
strong and honest.
thing in common. PIA’s fundamental
purpose didn’t change. The only If not now, then when? Each year
things to change were context and Australia and the globe do not
the operating environment. Why PIA directly address the need to rapidly
exists, in simple terms, is to: decarbonise our economies, the
risk of runaway climate change
» Advocate for great planning;
increases. This is a challenge that
» Create outstanding planners; planners and our communities
and cannot avoid. Chinatown Revitalisation, Broome
» Remind planners why they
became planners.
Urban Design and Planners have always understood
Performance that an individual’s resilience relies
PIA’s Advocacy Agenda We have witnessed over past on the strength of the community
Elsewhere in this Review, we detail decades the transition to a fabric around them, and the
PIA’s policy and advocacy challenges service-based economy with its community’s resilience is supported
and successes, and there have been agglomeration impact. Now, as a by the built structures, essential
many at the state, territory and result of the COVID-19 crisis, we services and communications all
federal level. have seen the capacity to work being able to withstand all sorts
In 2020, we have re-doubled our away from the office and noted the of shocks.
efforts in advocating to decision- advantages. But we don’t know everything. Much
makers and those who influence Many in the community realise remains to learn. The breadth and
them the importance of vision- the urban design attributes that depth of changes to the way our
based planning. We have stressed keep people healthy and happy. cities and towns are shaped and
the critical need for community These attributes are nothing new to perform resulting from COVID-19 are
involvement. We continue to planners, who have been calling for unclear. The possibilities have been
underline that planning has a more urban design focus on active widely hypothecated, so this is a time
positive role to play in reform. travel, access to open spaces, local when the profession needs to come
Soon we will return the advocacy retail and hospitality services etc. for together, to share, debate, support
focus to addressing Climate Change, many years. and lead.
after declaring a Climate Emergency This realisation of the power offered
in November. by a real sense of community has
been a moment of enlightenment for
many. But not planners.
8. Annual Review 2019/2020
LEADERSHIP
Thank you The initiative, inventiveness and Most of us will embrace the New
dogged-determination to deliver Year and never forget this year of
In the same way that great planning
services to members and, at times, two halves.
doesn’t happen by accident, PIA
simply be there for members was
thriving during the most challenging
awe-inspiring. Led by the Executive
of business conditions didn’t happen
Officers in each Division, the events
by accident.
team, the policy team, member
Your Institute Board was nothing
services team and finance team right
short of exemplary, being agile,
across the country collaborated,
dedicating extra time and focus
cooperated, learnt, taught and found
on the most important things to
new ways to deliver our services. I
members. My thanks in particular
could not be prouder.
to Steve O’Connor who has led the
We could not have held the team
Board as National President over
together and had the success we
the past two years. His enduring
enjoyed without financial support
support to me throughout his
through JobKeeper and various
tenure, in particular during 2020,
state government subsidies and tax
has been the keystone in the Board
waivers.
and management chiming in with
rapid and important changes to our My biggest thanks go to our
Institute. Members who, despite all that
happened in this uncertain year,
The calm, wise and dedicated role
have joined and renewed their PIA
that Steve has played cannot be David Williams
membership in record numbers.
overstated. Company Secretary
They have embraced our new
Where PIA’s rubber really hits Chief Executive Officer
delivery models for professional
the road is through the Division
development and re-doubled their
Committees. This group of some
efforts in our policy and advocacy
100 people from all parts of the
campaigns while under pressure
profession and all parts of Australia
from many points.
worked tirelessly to be the conduit
Much like the culture within the
to the broader membership and
staff team, the culture within the
provide their knowledge and wisdom
membership, the values within each
in supporting the Executive Officers.
member and the deep sense of
That volunteers did this while they
contribution to our profession and
were coping with the professional,
communities have shone through.
business and personal challenges
Much remains to do as advocates
of the pandemic is inspiring. They
for the public interest in shaping
made an incredible contribution to
our cities and towns, but now with
PIA in 2019/20.
the confidence gained by getting
Throughout both halves of 2019/20,
through nearly 10 months of this
the PIA staff team has been
wretched virus, the profession’s
extraordinary. The team has always
role has arguably never been more
prided itself on our outstanding
needed by our communities.
culture and morale and, at times
like early 2020, we saw the benefits
repeatedly.
Annual Review 2019/2020 9.
FROM THE
PRESIDENT-ELECT
I am delighted to In 2020, an important focus for PIA
provide this short has been continuity and resilience
of the organisation. Our staff under
contribution to the our CEO’s leadership have done
2020 annual report. a fantastic job. We are fortunate
2020 has been a challenging year to have high calibre staff across
that we have come through well. Australia and it is a privilege to work
Looking ahead, we are very well with them.
positioned as an organisation to
My thanks to Chief Executive Officer
continue to navigate through what
David Williams, the PIA staff, the
is likely to be more economic and
PIA Board, PIA Divisional Presidents
social uncertainty.
and Division Committees for their
Throughout 2020, PIA has shown continued efforts and support in
remarkable resilience. It has adapted 2020. The contribution of our staff
rapidly to a changing world. It has and volunteers is often under-
moved quickly and expertly to appreciated. It is their efforts along
support members and to deliver with those of the extended PIA
core member services online. In family that make this such a great Darren Crombie
doing this it has demonstrated to organisation. President-Elect
members the value it provides.
Finally, a special recognition of the
Continued delivery of member
contribution that our outgoing
services across advocacy, education
President Steve O’Connor has made
and leadership will remain a core
to PIA. It has been a pleasure to
focus into 2021.
serve on the Board with Steve for
PIA has continued to represent the last six years. As President, Steve
the interests of its members and has steered us through a difficult
maintain its position as the trusted period and he has done this with
voice on planning issues. Moving into good grace, wisdom and with a truly
2021 and beyond, I would hope that authentic style that will be missed.
we continue to do this. Importantly,
PIA should seek to be a thought
leader and speak out more for
planners and for the public interest.
10. Annual Review 2019/2020LEADERSHIP
2020 PIA NATIONAL AWARDS
FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE
Annual Review 2019/2020 11.2020 PIA NATIONAL AWARDS
FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE
2020 National Award Winners
2020 National Judging Panel
12. Annual Review 2019/2020LEADERSHIP
AWARD WINNERS
Category PROJECT TITLE NOMINEE or PROJECT TEAM STATE
Planner of the Year Nikki Huddy RPIA (Fellow) QLD
Young Planner of
Laura Oakley PIA (Assoc.) NSW
the Year
Ballarat's Creative City City of Ballarat with SGS Economics and
Best Planning Ideas
Strategy and Creative Planning, MGS Architects, Left Bank Co., VIC
– Large Project
Precinct Master Plan Eleni Arbus & Mary Papaioannou
Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal
Mandingalbay Yidinji Eco Corporation, Ethos Urban, Philip
Best Planning Ideas
Infrastructure Tourism Follent Architects, CChange Sustainable QLD
– Small Project
Project Solutions, BMT Global, Bligh Tanner and
Bennette + Bennett
Professor David Jones MPIA (Deakin
University), Emeritus Professor Darryl
Re-casting Terra Nullius Low Choy RPIA (Fellow) (Griffith
Blindness: Empowering University), Associate Professor Grant
Cutting Edge
Indigenous Protocols and Revell (University of Western Australia),
Research & VIC
Knowledge in Australian Associate Professor Scott Heyes
Teaching
University Built Environment (University of Canberra), Associate
Education Professor Richard Tucker (Deakin
University) & Dr Susan Bird (Central
Queensland University)
Revitalisation of Howard Brisbane City Council, Howard Smith
Great Place QLD
Smith Wharves Wharves
President's Award Town of Gawler Civic Centre Town of Gawler SA
The Hard Won Revitalisation of Howard Brisbane City Council, Howard Smith
QLD
Victory Smith Wharves Wharves
Improving Planning
Processes and Development.i Sunshine Coast Council QLD
Practices
Department of State Development,
Manufacturing, Infrastructure and
Public Engagement
The Spit Master Plan – Planning, John Gaskell Planning
& Community QLD
Conflict to consensus Consultants, Deicke Richards, ASPECT
Planning
Studios, Articulous, City of Gold Coast
and Gold Coast Waterways Authority
Urban Design Management
From Plan to Place Level Crossing Removal Project VIC
Plan
Reconceptualising the
Dr Melissa Kennedy MPIA, Community
Outstanding Creative Economy:
Planning and Development Program, La VIC
Student Project Possibilities in Place in Rural
Trobe University
Victoria
Outstanding The Role of Spatial Planning
Bunfu Yu MPIA TAS
Student Project in Energy Provision
Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania
Planning Champion TAS
(PMAT)
Annual Review 2019/2020 13.AUSTRALIAN URBAN
DESIGN AWARDS
Beautiful, welcoming, It said the Maitland Levee and The Leadership, advocacy and
and sustainable: 10 Riverlnk Building project (by research, city and regional scale
McGregor Coxall & Chrofi) had award was won by Leigh Woolley
projects recognised at successfully regenerated Maitland’s Architect and Urban Design
#AUDA19 high street, making it “an exemplar in Consultant for the Tasmanian
Judges recognised four projects in regional urban design and renewal in Building Height Standards Review
two categories at the October 2019 Australia”. project.
Australian Urban Design Awards in a The Caulfield to Dandenong Jury chairman and Canberra City
clear sign of the exemplary standard level crossing removal project in Renewal Authority chief executive
of the 52 entries short-listed for Victoria, by Aspect Studios and Cox Malcolm Snow said: “All of the winning
2019. Architecture, was highly commended projects unequivocally demonstrate
The Maitland Levee and Riverlink as an example of how “major that their designers and clients have
Building and the Howard Smith infrastructure works are positively both the insight and skills to make
Wharves in Brisbane won the award shaping Australian cities”. places that are beautiful, welcoming
for best built project at a city and and sustainable in their different
Elevating the rail line had created 22
regional scale at a presentation on contexts”.
hectares of green space.
Wednesday evening. The Australian Urban Design Awards are
Flour Mill, a mixed-use development
The award for best built project at a co-convened by the Planning Institute
project on a former industrial of Australia, the Australian Institute of
local and neighbourhood scale went site in Sydney’s Summer Hill led Architects and the Australian Institute of
to the Flour Mill of Summer Hill and by architecture firm Hassell, was Landscape Architects.
the Ferrars Street Education and described by the jury as “a new
Community Precinct at Fishermans community successfully integrated
Bend in Melbourne. within the historic context of the city’s
The jury described the inner west”.
transformation of the Howard Smith Tract’s Victorian Ferrars Street
Wharves on the Brisbane River Education & Community Precinct
into an entertainment destination project at Fishermans Bend was
and public space as a “spectacular” recognised for its successful
achievement by project partners integration of an early learning
HSW Nominees, Urbis and Woods centre, maternal and child health
Bagot. centre, multipurpose community
rooms, and indoor/outdoor
community sports facilities.
14. Annual Review 2019/2020LEADERSHIP
Australian Urban Design awards
Annual Review 2019/2020 15.ADVOCACY
2019 / 2020
Climate, Fire, Pandemic
and Productivity – How
PIA has advocated for
planning in 2019/2020.
Although the last year has been
tragically disruptive, PIA has pursued
a consistent advocacy narrative
on behalf of our members. This
responded to a changing climate,
building resilience and improving the
productive contribution of planning.
PIA’s Policy and Advocacy Committee
has guided our priorities in crises,
for recovery and over the long term.
In 2019, we acknowledged the
climate emergency. We examined With the onset of the black The arrival of the COVID-19
our policy positions and aligned summer bushfires, PIA offered our pandemic changed the trajectory
them with our commitment for the profession’s support and volunteers, of planning within months. PIA
built environment, to achieve net and then introduced our policy was instrumental in informing the
zero carbon emissions before 2050. to build back more resilience. PIA first Planning Ministers’ Forum
PIA is now setting out policies, roles made comprehensive submissions under the National Cabinet. Our
and training essential for planners to each of the National and State planning principles helped shape the
to play their part. We are working bushfire inquiries. We have provided approach of planning agencies by
with partner professions through expert witness and our input establishing the following hierarchy
the Australian Sustainable Built has been taken up in preliminary of decision-making considerations:
Environment Council (ASBEC) and recommendations of the Royal
» health and wellbeing;
making specific contributions on Commission.
issues such as the future of NABERS. » the importance of economic
The fires and accelerated habitat loss
stimulus;
Australia has had plenty of warning were the backdrop to the Samuel
of the consequences of a changing Review of the Commonwealth » the maintenance of capable
climate. Last year PIA made a Environment Protection and planning enterprises; and the
leading contribution to national Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) value of well-planned and
guidelines on land use planning Act. PIA’s submission was clear productive cities and regions for
for disaster resilient communities that support for reduced process long term recovery.
(AIDR Handbook). Our input built duplication was contingent on the
on members’ experience in each successful introduction of high
state and territory on the value of national standards to improve
planning for multiple overlapping biodiversity.
hazards.
16. Annual Review 2019/2020ADVOCACY
PIA advocated these principles in PIA continues to highlight the PIA has continued to drive
recovery working groups involving importance of a National Settlement conversations in industry news and
industry and government in Strategy to achieve better integrated mainstream publications, particularly
most states and territories. Our land use and infrastructure on the National Settlement
involvement promoted reforms investment decisions. This work Strategy. We’ve explored new ideas
with ongoing value. The pandemic acknowledges that population on PIA Commons with regular
refocused Government and industry growth and change (however conversations with interesting
on the contribution of the property impacted by COVID-19) will have people about the planning issues
and construction sector to economic implications around Australia that matter.
and social recovery. PIA has and across the boundaries of a
partnered with industry groups on patchwork of Regional Plans. PIA has PIA is aware of the billions of dollars
the ‘Constellation Project’, advocating approached the Heads of Planning saved and immense improvements
for a stronger commitment to social and Infrastructure Australia on how in health, wellbeing and productivity
and affordable housing delivery. a coherent national population and from well-planned and resilient
We have advocated investment in infrastructure strategy would make cities and regions. This is why our
local sustainability projects that spatial planning more effective advocacy efforts have remained
reflected community values that and appeared at the Australian focused on planning reform that
were revealed during lock downs. Parliament Select Committee on achieves these benefits most
PIA contributed to Infrastructure Regional Australia to advocate for effectively and with greatest
Australia’s Audit and Infrastructure these same issues. community trust.
Priorities by promoting investment PIA has used the 2019/20 crises
in bundled local green infrastructure PIA recognises the productive
potential of digital reform. We have to reinforce our narrative – that
projects to deliver more accessible the planning profession has the
and liveable cities and towns in line established a Plantech working
group to identify the digital systems answers to shape Australia’s cities
with planning strategy. and regions in ways that make them
and industry capacity needed to
PIA has advocated for productivity ensure that the best and most healthier, more productive and
reform of the planning system, creative planning decisions can be resilient.
especially to ensure the lightest made. PIA has recruited outstanding Moving into 2020/21, PIA is acutely
regulatory burden is imposed to talent among our members from aware of the challenges and
achieve strategic planning outcomes. universities, government and opportunities of positioning the
However, we have called out planning firms to make this happen. planning profession to make a deep
counterproductive proposals to ‘cut and timely contribution to mitigating
red tape’ where they compromise PIA has worked closely with our
members on our policy and and adapting to a fast-changing
results expected from strategic climate.
plans. PIA has made detailed advocacy response and worked to
submissions to the Reserve Bank spread our messages throughout
and Productivity Commissions membership and beyond. Members
nationally and in NSW on the value have likely seen emails and social
of planning and where reform is media messages which touch
most cost effective. on many issues for which we
advocate, including affordable
housing, renewable energy, local
infrastructure and the value of
planning.
Annual Review 2019/2020 17.ADVOCACY
2019 / 2020
PIA has continued to
drive conversations
in industry news
and mainstream
publications. The three 135
articles on the following Total number of meetings
pages are examples of with elected and government
PIA’s voice published officials between 1 July and
across the year to 30 June
speak to the public on
behalf of the planning
profession.
400
Total number of planning
articles (not event promotions)
published online in PIA
publications between
1 July and 30 June
54
Total number of written
submissions to government
1 July–30 June
18. Annual Review 2019/2020ADVOCACY
STANDING UP
FOR PLANNING
Commonwealth In responding to the The Covid crisis and the National
‘agreement’ to national recommendations of the Alexander Cabinet have now disrupted
Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Commonwealth-State relations
settlement strategy – role in the development of cities, and may bring an end to COAG
an opportunity not to the Federal Government agreed via Australia’s National Federation
be missed. ‘in principle’ to the development Reform Council. This will refocus
of a National Settlement Strategy. Ministerial Committees including
By John Brockhoff, Planning
This is an initiative promoted by those dealing with population and
Institute of Australia. the Planning Institute of Australia planning.
First published 6 June 2020. (PIA) with support across the built
We are now closer to having the
environment sector.
governance arrangements needed
It is important that the to progress elements of a National
Commonwealth now take this Settlement Strategy. While the
opportunity to set out how Australia strategy itself would give clear spatial
is to shape its growth sustainably direction to the decisions made by
across all cities and regions. the Council.
The ‘in principle’ agreement was The opportunity is now wide open
made in the Government’s response for the Commonwealth and States
to the recommendations of the to undertake lasting microeconomic
Alexander Inquiry. PIA’s submission reform that can improve productivity
was central to the findings of this and shape the sustainable growth
inquiry and was based on avoiding and change of our cities and regions.
a tipping point – beyond which we The ‘in principle’ agreement must
would be sleepwalking towards now lead to deep commitment
being a nation of unliveable to the key elements of a National
megacities. Settlement Strategy:
Prospect of Commonwealth / A national ‘spatial’ vision – for
State governance reform a sustainable and prosperous
Australia that is specific on the role
The Government’s response to the
of its cities and regions and which
Alexander Inquiry was prepared pre-
responds to a coherent climate
covid in the context of COAG and the
policy.
National Population and Planning
Framework. This offered limited A coherent set of regional plans –
scope for reform – only ad hoc city that are consistent in the planning
deals, migration opportunities and and population assumptions, climate
‘congestion busting investment’ were and environmental performance
on the table. benchmarks and infrastructure
demand parameters applied to
guide growth or change for places
and communities
Annual Review 2019/2020 19.STANDING UP
FOR PLANNING
The Commonwealth Government A National Settlement Strategy They acknowledge a ‘hub and spoke’
becoming more ‘spatially aware’ of its should seek greater community model of faster rail connectivity
impacts – establishing a role within involvement in the issues that among cities and regional centres as
Government to advise the National concern them and lead to a well as an improved freight network
Federation Reform Council on the balanced national discussion and consideration of a high speed
spatial implications of major funding, about the future of our cities and rail network linking principal nodes
investment, monetary and taxation regions as places to live and work. It along the East Coast.
policy decisions. would help us look for factors that
The Australian Government has
influence regional population growth
Infrastructure investment focussed agreed ‘in principle’ to establishing a
and change. It should provide a
on strategic outcomes for places – clear trajectory to carbon emissions
framework for addressing climate
an infrastructure investment strategy reduction and expanding the use of
change resilience and carbon
designed to achieve regional plan green building and precinct rating
reduction in the built environment.
outcomes including via City Deals tools.
and growth compacts integrated. What has the Commonwealth A welcome observation is the
National Settlement agreed ‘in principle’ to? Commonwealth’s response
Strategy recap The Commonwealth Government supporting States and territories
has now agreed ‘in principle’ to investigating the potential for city
A National Settlement Strategy is
developing a national plan of commissions (eg Greater Sydney
needed to provide a spatial context
settlement incorporating a national Commission) and promoting
for government action to implement
vision for our cities and regions for governance reform that works
strategic plans around Australia.It
the next fifty years. toward achieving shared objectives
would not be about forcing people
for a city or region.
to settle anywhere, nor changing The have ‘agreed’ that this plan
constitutional responsibilities for should encourage integrated Of the 15 recommendations that
planning. However, it would be about strategic masterplans for all tiers are explicitly linked to the call for
ensuring investment decisions are of government in each jurisdiction a National Settlement Strategy the
more responsive to where housing and that these enable integrated Australian Government agrees
and job growth could occur – and it decision making on infrastructure, ‘in principle’ to 10 of them. The
would provide a mandate to plan for housing, employment and services. Government notes the remainder,
more resilient, better connected and excepting the recommendation (31)
For urban areas, the plans should
more liveable cities and towns. dealing with reform of tax settings
promote accessibility, a 30 minute
that distort patterns of city growth
A coherent national vision would city and more compact urban
and the need for appointing a
restore a ‘line of sight’ between the form in a high quality urban
National Chief Planner.
planning of places, homes and jobs environment. In the regions, they
– and the broader growth outcomes support centre growth and catalytic
sought by each tier of government. investment where it contributes
to decentralisation – specifically
supporting investment in community
infrastructure and improved rail
links.
20. Annual Review 2019/2020ADVOCACY
Some Commonwealth Next Steps
assumptions are no longer Although the Commonwealth
relevant Government’s explicit commitments
A common theme in the from the Alexander Inquiry are
Government’s response to the modest, they reflect a growing
recommendations is that previous awareness of their role in shaping
governance arrangements under the our cities and regions. They are
National Population and Planning becoming less blind to the spatial
Framework, City Deals and through implications of their monetary
the portfolio responsibilities of the and taxation policy, funding
relevant Ministers will continue and infrastructure investment
to be sufficient to address the decisions. They are beginning to
Commonwealth’s interests (ie see themselves as partners with
Minister for Population, Cities and the states and territories in shaping
Urban Infrastructure and Minister great places to live and work.
for Housing).In addition, the PIA will continue to focus on how
Commonwealth and State/Territory a National Settlement Strategy
Planning Ministers have recently should make a difference to living in
reengaged in a National Planning Australia’s cities and improving their
Ministers Forum. resilience to future economic, social
These assumptions in the and environmental conditions. A key
Government’s response are no step is building up a coherent and
longer relevant. mutually consistent set of regional
plans around Australia – informed
The demands of responding to the
by consistent infrastructure
Covid crisis and the creation of a
demand parameters and a common
National Cabinet have opened the
response to climate change and
doors for a reset on how we govern
natural hazard threats.
this country more collaboratively.
This represents an opportunity John Brockhoff is the National Policy
that the Commonwealth must not Manager for the Planning Institute of
Australia.
miss to deliver on their ‘in principle’
agreement to a National Settlement
Strategy.
Annual Review 2019/2020 21.STANDING UP
FOR PLANNING
The urgent challenge Climate change is without much A look through the entries
of net zero embodied doubt the greatest threat now shortlisted for the 2019 Australian
confronting the planet – and Urban Design Awards will confirm
carbon. the dread most of us feel about that planners are exploring
By David Williams, Planning accelerating global warming is being innovative, new ways to encourage
deepened by the failure of our active transport, improve rail
Institute of Australia.
elected leaders to act decisively. transit options and pave the way
First published 2 October for automated and zero-emissions
2019. For decades, politicians have hedged vehicles.
their bets on climate action or
demurred when stronger actions They’re equally proactive in ensuring
were proposed: little wonder that 18 our buildings are made ready for
of the past 19 years have been the climate impacts and are healthy and
warmest on record. comfortable places in which to live
or work.
Our towns and cities are at the
epicentre of global warming: they The importance of this mission got
consume nearly 80 per cent of the a timely boost last month when
world’s energy and produce more the World Green Building Council
than 60 per cent of greenhouse gas (WorldGBC), along with the Green
emissions. Building Council of Australia and
62 other co-signatories, laid out a
Built environment professionals roadmap for net zero “embodied”
need to succeed where governments carbon buildings.
have failed.
Embodied or upfront carbon refers
Planners, architects, engineers and to the emissions released during
landscape architects already work the manufacture and transport
hard to make these places more of building materials, and the
sustainable, but that effort needs to construction as well the end-of-life-
be redoubled in the absence of firm phases of built assets, while the
new commitments and actions by emissions released when heating,
government. cooling, lighting and energising
The challenges of adapting and built assets over their lifetime are
equipping our built environment for grouped as operational carbon.
the climate emergency are two- Until relatively recently, insufficient
fold: to lower transport-generated attention has been paid to upfront
emissions and to quickly reduce carbon, perhaps because much
the upfront and operational carbon of it is a case of out of sight and
emissions from our buildings and out mind. But it is a substantial
infrastructure. contributor to global carbon
emissions – over 10 per cent.
That percentage will rise as the
operational carbon emissions of
our homes, factories and offices are
progressively reduced by using new
technologies and new materials.
22. Annual Review 2019/2020ADVOCACY
However, steel, glass, cement, and The WorldGBC wants all new It hardly needs saying that limiting
bricks – all of which are inherently buildings, infrastructure and global temperature increases to 1.5
energy-intensive to make – are renovations to have at least 40 per degrees Celsius will be a large and
likely remain in strong demand as cent less embodied carbon by 2030, complex task – made more so by the
construction materials. with net zero operational carbon. inevitable creation of winners and
losers – or that declaring a climate
That puts an obligation on built- Its goal for 2050 is for all new assets emergency without an effective plan
environment practitioners to reuse, to have net zero embodied carbon, risks frittering away additional time.
recycle, readapt and reconfigure and all buildings, infrastructure and
existing assets and materials where renovations (new and existing) to The Planning Institute of Australia
possible. have net zero operational carbon. is looking to involve planners more
closely on how best to map a path
Time to get away from the idea that Is this timeframe feasible? If we’re to a radically carbon-constrained
we should tear down factories and pragmatic in our approach, then yes. future, and other built environment
stadiums after 30 or 40 years professions are doing the same.
The Australian Built Environment
The idea that offices, homes, Council (ASBEC), with the support If this process leads to demonstrably
factories and sports stadiums should of the Planning Institute of Australia effective and high-quality outcomes,
have a design life of 30 or 40 years (PIA), has endorsed the WorldBGC’s the public’s support for more far-
to then be torn down, dumped goals. reaching solution will grow – and
in landfill sites, and replaced with politicians will have to get down off
equally disposable assets is hugely And PIA is now looking closely
at the implications, for not only the fence and start acting decisively.
wasteful.
development assessment but how Planners, architects, engineers and
If there is any silver lining to our carbon reduction and offsetting is landscape architects must take the
current apartment construction applied in strategic planning and in lead in this climate crisis, and not
crisis it is that governments and the the master-planning of precincts. simply because we’re committed to
public realise that buildings must leaving the world a better place for
be designed for an extended life, Carbon offsets are an important
policy mechanism for sequestering our children and grandchildren.
preferably be adaptable to new uses
or renovated if they’re no longer fit carbon created in the making and We alone have the skills, the energy
for purpose. running of buildings – but neutrality and the commitment to make a
is not a given. decisive difference.
For built-environment practitioners,
the next challenge (after reducing Being long-term (and off-site David Williams is the Chief Executive Officer
or eliminating upfront carbon and propositions, offsets can be of the Planning Institute of Australia, which
difficult to measure and verify. represents qualified urban and regional
operational carbon) is net zero
There’s another pitfall too: they can planners across the country.
embodied carbon.
encourage building developers or
What’s net zero embodied owners to not think too deeply or
carbon building? seriously about carbon and energy
efficiency.
A net zero embodied carbon
building is one is one where upfront Reducing upfront and operating
carbon has been minimised to the emissions must remain the
greatest possible extent and where primary focus of build-environment
all remaining embodied carbon is practitioners, with carbon offsets
offset so that emissions over the serving as an adjunct.
lifecycle of the building are effectively
eliminated.
Annual Review 2019/2020 23.STANDING UP
FOR PLANNING
Staying in your suburb: The rapid spread of Covid-19 is The community is certainly yet to be
planning for a world reshaping our world hour by hour. tested on our capacity to transform
in the aftermath of Covid-19. But it
transformed by At the time of writing, the Prime is this crucial final element of social
covid-19. Minister, state premiers and territory resilience to which planners must
chief ministers have ordered a lock turn their minds. This is where the
By Audrey Marsh, Planning down of our communities. value of planning matters. Because
Institute of Australia. it is planning that has the ability
Many of us are working from home
First published 6 April 2020. and are not able to leave our houses to shape the physical and social
unless absolutely necessary. Nobody dimensions of our neighbourhoods,
knows for how long these changes cities and states.
will be in effect. You may have heard Premier
To manage threats of various kinds, Annastacia Palaszczuk tell
an entity, in this case the entire Queenslanders to “stay in your
community, needs to exhibit social suburb”. But to do so raises a host of
resilience. questions.
To crudely rephrase the work of Does a brief walk to my local shops
many academics in this space: give me access to all the necessities?
in order to be socially resilient a Do I have the phone number of
community must have the capacity the older woman up the street to
to cope, the capacity to adapt and check she is coping? Is my internet
the capacity to transform.[1] connection good enough to allow
my family to access online work and
As we work through this crisis it is school all at the same time?
difficult to determine quite where we
lie between coping and adapting. The answer to these questions
lies in the capacity of planning
The economy is headed for professionals to deliver quality
recession and Centrelink queues are communities.
heartbreakingly long. We still have
citizens aboard cruise ships floating The preservation and diversity
off the coast of foreign countries and of your local shops would have
unable to return home. Perhaps we involved the input of land use
are still learning to cope. planners driving a thriving economy.
The sense of connection with your
But we are seeing the beginnings neighbour might have involved a
of adaptation – local restaurants social planner or an urban designer
are keeping staff on by re-badging creating safe and inviting places
as takeaway venues, registration for you to casually cross paths.
systems are being established to Your ability to connect remotely
allow essential travel over now- to home or school involved
closed state and territory borders infrastructure planners ensuring
and many of us are learning the art telecommunication facilities were
of the Zoom Meeting to keep our built and maintained.
work ticking over from home.
24. Annual Review 2019/2020ADVOCACY
So if people find they can’t easily stay Of course, these are just examples
in their suburb – if Covid-19 teaches of the lessons Covid-19 might teach
us that people are not connected us about our suburbs and regions.
with their neighbours, don’t have In fact, it is likely that the lessons
easy access to local shops or their of this pandemic will not be known
online connectivity is poor – it is up for months or years. But the role of
to planners to ensure we develop planners is to understand whatever
the capacity to transform our urban lessons emerge and integrate these
and regional communities. into our practice.
We must look at our retail policy. Governments, industry and
A socially resilient community cannot organisations, like the Planning
rely on a service station to sell Institute of Australia, are currently
essentials. It requires access to a involved in discussions regarding
hierarchy of retail supported by the resilience of a different kind.
diversity of housing that makes a
local centre thrive. The tragic bushfires of this summer
just gone have spurred governments
We must look at our open space to launch inquiries asking critical
provision. A socially resilient questions about how the resilience
community cannot rely on footpaths of our houses, property and
by busy roads or overcrowded infrastructure can be strengthened.
pocket parks to walk the dog or go
for a run. It requires open space Once the worst of Covid-19 has
that has been planned, funded and passed, we should again ask
maintained to cater to a growing ourselves how resilient we were. This
community. time it won’t be about the resilience
of our property, but about the
We must look at our resilience of our community – how
telecommunications planning. A well we looked out for one another
socially resilient community cannot and how quickly we could change
have pockets of disadvantage where the way we lived.
households don’t have reliable
internet access to work or learn. And planners will then set to work,
It requires the coordination of testing our capacity to transform
government to ensure all members and using our skills to create
of our community can access the communities that can better manage
digital services they need. the threat next time around.
Audrey Marsh is a Senior Policy and
We must meet the challenge of Campaigns Officer at the Planning Institute
ensuring every suburb, town, of Australia.
regional community and city is
socially resilient.
[1] M Keck and P Sakdapolrak, What is social
resilience? Lessons learned and ways forward,
Erdkunde, 2013, 5-19
Annual Review 2019/2020 25.PLANNING NATIONAL EVENTS PIA QLD Awards for Planning Excellence Dinner 2019 PIA ACT Awards for Planning Excellence 2019 PIA SA Awards for Planning Excellence 2019 PIA NSW Awards for Planning Excellence Ceremony 2019 26. Annual Review 2019/2020
EDUCATION
Planning is a complex With catastrophic bushfires and The profession’s ability to discuss
profession involving COVID-19 this year, it has been current Planning news and views
more vital than ever to ensure the was also missed during lockdown.
many diverse areas profession remains connected, PIA started a LinkedIn group for
of knowledge. Its shares experiences and maintains members called ‘PIA Commons’.
practitioners grapple access to high quality, relevant PIA Commons is an online space
with issues ranging professional development. to share news, discuss industry
from the theoretical, In the second half of 2019 PIA’s
updates and access free webinars
strategic and practical from experts.
professional development offerings
right down to the nitty- continued to grow including state A total of 1239 PIA members access
gritty, including place- conferences and award celebrations. and interact with the content on PIA
making at the town and Little did we know that these would Commons. This includes:
city levels. be among the last large face-to-face » PIANews – twice weekly media
opportunities for the profession to briefing, summarising the
The profession has responded come together. By the end of March planning news of the day;
to global change, the growing 2020, Australia went into lockdown
complexity of our built environment, to try and manage the COVID-19 » PIATalk – thought-provoking
changes in community expectations pandemic. ideas and perspectives to discuss
and regulations that are continually with your fellow planners; and
being reviewed and/or amended. In response to this and to ensure the
safety of our members, PIA ceased » PIALearn – free lunchtime
Managing the challenges of natural all face-to-face educational training webinar from a leading Planning
disasters and overnight changes in and social events. expert every Wednesday.
communities from pandemics has
dramatically underlined the need for Our staff then took on the The 2019/20 term has also offered
planners to adapt and forge ahead. monumental job of moving the same PIA’s continuing professional
high-quality training opportunities development program to help refine
Planners need to be aware of these to an online platform to continue to or upgrade the skills of planners in
developments, and to be equipped support members. six key practice areas:
with the necessary skills and
The lockdown of Australia meant
» Professionalism and integrity;
knowledge to enable them to take
advantage of new opportunities and the usually connected and » Understanding, interpreting and
openings. collaborative Planning profession using spatial thinking;
was left in isolation during this
PIA’s commitment to ensuring the uncertain period. To counter this, » Using a creative and integrative
Planning profession is equipped to PIA instigated virtual ‘coffee catch approach, drawing on a range of
meet all planning contingencies is ups’ which have been accessible disciplines and methods;
long-standing, and we are always to everyone within the Planning
looking to improve and refine how » Communicating and engaging
profession. These free online
our members can acquire the with stakeholders;
meetings enabled Planners to have
expertise they need to advance a short catch up with peers to regain » Understanding and working with
their careers and contribute to the and share their connections. Six planning frameworks; and
reputation and good standing of the hundred and eighty-one Planners
profession. took up this opportunity to connect » Developing and applying
during the first half of 2020. technical knowledge.
Lifelong dedication to skill
development in these practice
areas helps create great planning
outcomes.
Annual Review 2019/2020 27.You can also read
