The Federal Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong should be
implementing a coordinated approach to Australia's building and
planning legislation which includes the research and risk assessment
of the Australian Insurance Industry.
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal
Australian Institute of Architects today said that a national
overhaul of the current building and planning programs should be a
priority as housing and commercial building is a foundation stone of
Australia's economy.
Managing Director of Archicentre
Robert Caulfield said, "climate change, which is predicted to
increase temperatures, tidal flows and the intensity of storms,
provides the Federal Government with a clear and present danger to
some current building industry standards.
Image right: Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of
Archicentre
"Current structural performance of domestic homes and commercial
buildings in relation to performance in higher and intense winds
should be under review, including research into the best type of
roofing material and structure to handle the increased number of
more intense storms.
"The influence of climate change on the weathering or durability
of materials, especially those of the structural nature, should be
part of the review."
Mr Caulfield said that given the intensity of the storms and the
safety of people being threatened the development of a Safety Pod in
homes to provide families with a sanctuary in violent storms could
become an outcome of a review of building regulations.
"The insurance industry whose business is to estimate risk and
insure people against damage should be an integral part of the
review as they will have a global view and substantial research
which will be more advanced than governments.
"It is vital that this review commence immediately and is done at
a national level to overcome the confusion of State regulations."
Mr. Caulfield said that the 2020 Summit revealed Climate Change
as the big issue. We believe that all Minister's for Climate Change
in every State should commence a review of relevant building and
planning regulations.
