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Regional projects and regenerative design redefine excellence at NSW Architecture Awards

Regional projects and regenerative design redefine excellence at NSW Architecture Awards

The New South Wales Architecture Awards announced this year’s most outstanding new architecture, setting industry benchmarks for design excellence, sustainability, and social impact. Jury Chair Bill Tsakalos said that a “striking takeaway” from the awards was “the number of regional projects that have achieved recognition at the highest level,” which ...

CommBank, NAB and resilience insurance, CapGains and renewables, ARM and Adelaide, Hassell and mixed use

Expanded resilience rating scheme can save heaps on insurance Major banks CommBank and NAB are joining other banks in the government-backed resilience rating scheme by offering cheaper insurance to certified households that have made resilience upgrades. The scheme, launched in October 2023 by the Resilient Building Council (RBC), received a ...
Victoria’s building manuals are a good start

Victoria’s building manuals are a good start

Victoria may soon be the first Australian jurisdiction to mandate the creation of building manuals, but not without caveats. Last week, the Victorian Housing and Building Minister, Nick Staikos, flagged his decision to push forward the reforms proposed through the Building Amendment (Building Manuals) Regulations 2026. Sign up for our free ...
EVs are hot but where’s the workforce?

EVs are hot but where’s the workforce?

EV sales are at record highs, but there’s an emerging and serious shortage of independent workshops, skilled technicians, training and infrastructure needed to support them. Training courses that exist are booked out. While government incentives backed an unprecedented surge in EV sales in the 12 months to 2023, when annual market share first broke ...
Why are we still preselling apartments rather than embracing a ‘build then sell’ model?

Why are we still preselling apartments rather than embracing a ‘build then sell’ model?

Moving from the popular presale model to a build then sell model would provide additional funds for the builder, increase the quality of housing, stabilise demand, increase workplace stability and encourage labour retention, writes Andrea Sharam. So why are we not using it? Spinifex is an opinion column. If you would like to contribute, contact us to ...
By 2050, many Sydney apartments built to today’s standards could be too hot for weeks at a time

By 2050, many Sydney apartments built to today’s standards could be too hot for weeks at a time

Sydney is no stranger to extreme heat. In January 2020, Penrith in Western Sydney reached 48.9°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in Greater Sydney. Now imagine Penrith in 2050: the heat lasts longer, extreme heat events happen more often, and power goes out on the hottest days because the grid can’t cope. Sign up for our free ...
Designing for Country: Planning treats habitat loss as the cost of progress. That is a choice Australia can change

Designing for Country: Planning treats habitat loss as the cost of progress. That is a choice Australia can change

Australia’s new National Environment Protection Agency begins operating this week (from 1 July 2026), the centrepiece of the biggest overhaul of Australian environmental law in more than 25 years. It will make assessment pathways faster, offset markets more efficient and approvals quicker. What it will not do is change the underlying belief that ...
SEFA in new $500 million fund; Victoria Tasmania forest woes; EU battery swaps; Deakin Uni

SEFA in new $500 million fund; Victoria Tasmania forest woes; EU battery swaps; Deakin Uni

SEFA commits $500 million to support underfunded social services Impact investor Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) has announced a $500 million commitment by 2030 and estimates it could support up to 1000 underfunded local charities, social enterprises, and community organisations. The funding will help address a structural funding gap as ...

Regional projects and regenerative design redefine excellence at NSW Architecture Awards

Regional projects and regenerative design redefine excellence at NSW Architecture Awards
The New South Wales Architecture Awards announced this year’s most outstanding new architecture, setting industry benchmarks for design excellence, sustainability, and social impact. Jury Chair Bill Tsakalos said that a “striking takeaway” from the awards was “the number of regional projects that have achieved recognition at the highest level,” which ...

CommBank, NAB and resilience insurance, CapGains and renewables, ARM and Adelaide, Hassell and mixed use

Expanded resilience rating scheme can save heaps on insurance Major banks CommBank and NAB are joining other banks in the government-backed resilience rating scheme by offering cheaper insurance to certified households that have made resilience upgrades. The scheme, launched in October 2023 by the Resilient Building Council (RBC), received a ...

Victoria’s building manuals are a good start

Victoria’s building manuals are a good start
Victoria may soon be the first Australian jurisdiction to mandate the creation of building manuals, but not without caveats. Last week, the Victorian Housing and Building Minister, Nick Staikos, flagged his decision to push forward the reforms proposed through the Building Amendment (Building Manuals) Regulations 2026. Sign up for our free ...

EVs are hot but where’s the workforce?

EVs are hot but where’s the workforce?
EV sales are at record highs, but there’s an emerging and serious shortage of independent workshops, skilled technicians, training and infrastructure needed to support them. Training courses that exist are booked out. While government incentives backed an unprecedented surge in EV sales in the 12 months to 2023, when annual market share first broke ...

Why are we still preselling apartments rather than embracing a ‘build then sell’ model?

Why are we still preselling apartments rather than embracing a ‘build then sell’ model?
Moving from the popular presale model to a build then sell model would provide additional funds for the builder, increase the quality of housing, stabilise demand, increase workplace stability and encourage labour retention, writes Andrea Sharam. So why are we not using it? Spinifex is an opinion column. If you would like to contribute, contact us to ...

By 2050, many Sydney apartments built to today’s standards could be too hot for weeks at a time

By 2050, many Sydney apartments built to today’s standards could be too hot for weeks at a time
Sydney is no stranger to extreme heat. In January 2020, Penrith in Western Sydney reached 48.9°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in Greater Sydney. Now imagine Penrith in 2050: the heat lasts longer, extreme heat events happen more often, and power goes out on the hottest days because the grid can’t cope. Sign up for our free ...

Designing for Country: Planning treats habitat loss as the cost of progress. That is a choice Australia can change

Designing for Country: Planning treats habitat loss as the cost of progress. That is a choice Australia can change
Australia’s new National Environment Protection Agency begins operating this week (from 1 July 2026), the centrepiece of the biggest overhaul of Australian environmental law in more than 25 years. It will make assessment pathways faster, offset markets more efficient and approvals quicker. What it will not do is change the underlying belief that ...

SEFA in new $500 million fund; Victoria Tasmania forest woes; EU battery swaps; Deakin Uni

SEFA in new $500 million fund; Victoria Tasmania forest woes; EU battery swaps; Deakin Uni
SEFA commits $500 million to support underfunded social services Impact investor Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) has announced a $500 million commitment by 2030 and estimates it could support up to 1000 underfunded local charities, social enterprises, and community organisations. The funding will help address a structural funding gap as ...