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January 2008: 'Snap Shot' Newsletter No. 2 (Jan 2008) March 2007: New AAPC 'Snap Shot' Newsletter (PDF) September 2006: New Look AAPC March 2006: Professional Insurance; Curtin Student Award; Vale Chris Thompson August 2005: Fees & Professional Service Agreement; New Committee June/ July 2005: AAPC Launches Website; RD Taylor Award Launch September 2006New Look AAPCAfter four consecutive terms chairing the AAPC, Peter Ciemitis has decided to step aside. At the Annual General Meeting of the AAPC on June 13, 2006 the Association welcomed a new Chairman, Chris Melsom to its helm, and a new Committee comprising Kasia Betka, Chris Antill, Brian Curtis and Peter Ciemitis. The Association’s thanks go to outgoing Committee Members Candice Halleen, Samantha Thompson, Simon Bain and Colin Connor who have made valuable contributions throughout the course of the past year. A very significant acknowledgement must also be made to the practice of Robertsday, who have provided support facilities and resources to the AAPC, and particularly to Belinda Griniunas, the Association’s past Administration Officer. The Association’s contact details have now changed as well. Correspondence, emails and telephone contact to the AAPC should be made to:
Chris Melsom, Chair Australian Association of Planning Consultants (WA Division) c/- Hassell Pty Ltd, Podium Level, Central Park 152 – 158 St Georges Terrace PERTH WA 6000 Phone: +61 8 9288 8500 Fax: +61 8 9322 2330 Email: cmelsom@hassell.com.au
March 2006Professional InsurancesConsulting Planners, along with other professionals and industries in recent years have suffered the effect of rising Professional Indemnity insurance premiums. Whilst many larger consultants have taken increased insurance costs in their stride, smaller (especially sole) practices are hardest hit, and some have found their commercial sustainability jeopardized. The problem is often exacerbated by the need to maintain unrealistically high insurance cover. Planning is generally a low risk activity. Many subsequent design and construction phases typically follow plan or policy preparation, in addition to numerous checks and balances. Yet, the level of insurance typically requested by State and Local Government in issuing consulting contracts (often $10 million) is more closely aligned with higher risk activities such as structural engineering, rather than the low risk-exposure activity of town planning. The AAPC is currently reviewing planning industry insurance requirements with a view to advocating the specification of sustainable and appropriate insurance requirements in future contracts. Members wishing to contribute to the review are encouraged to contact Chris Antill.
Curtin Student AwardThis year, the Association was again pleased to present the AAPC (WA) Award for the 2005 Curtin Graduand. At a ceremony at Curtin University on February 24, Colin Connor representing the AAPC, presented Curtin Students Yuan Li and David Reynolds with the Award, for Best Planning Project in Post Graduate Diploma. The AAPC wishes Yuan and David the best in their endeavours in the planning industry.
Vale Chris ThompsonIt was with great sadness that we learnt of Chris Thompson’s passing on January 19, 2006, aged only 67. Chris was the AAPC’s immediate past Treasurer, and champion of the Association for many years. In fact, he held office and selflessly contributed to many professional bodies over the years from the RAIA and Practicing Architects Association (he was also an architect, qualified originally in NSW), Municipal Building Surveyors Qualifications Committee, the Planning Institute of Australia, through to the Board of the Patrons and Friends of the WA Symphony Orchestra; a clear passion. Many will also know Chris had an early role in Taylor McMullen Cotterell and Burrell Pty Ltd where as an Associate in the practice, he worked alongside Bill Burrell and Russell Taylor on many major projects in the northwest corridor. Chris later moved on to establish Thompson and Ong Planning Consultants with his partner, Marjorie Ong. Chris’ balanced and fair judgement will be sadly missed, as will his rounded perspective on life, his humour and his insightful wit. Farewell, Chris. August 2005 Fees Indicators and Sample Professional Service Agreement RevisedAccording to the ABS, the price of a 680g loaf of bread in 1970 was approximately 34 cents. In 2003, it was $2.77 (an eight fold increase). In fact, most household foodstuffs have increased between five to tenfold during that period. The rise in housing prices has been even more dramatic. According to Abelson and Chung, the median house price in Perth in 1970 was $17,500. In 2003, it was $205,500; a twelve fold increase. By comparison, in 1970, it was customary for Planning Consultants to charge $100 per lot for subdivision design and approval. Thirty years later, commonly charged rates had scarcely doubled, whilst planning approvals processes have grown to a complexity unimaginable in 1970. The AAPC has responded to calls from members to examine and report on the present level of planning industry costs. The examination, undertaken by an AAPC working group, and circulated throughout the Association’s full membership for input and critique, has found that planning costs have increased significantly in the last few years. For example, it has found the typical industry planning cost for subdivision is now in the order of $350 per lot, whilst structure planning has also seen a notable rise, to $250 per lot (…increases which are still moderate in relation to 1970’s planning charges). The reason for such increases in costs is quite evident. The tasks undertaken by Planning Consultants are not just more varied requiring a greater spread of knowledge and expertise but are more difficult and onerous as new layers of policy, legislation and practice emerge and community expectations and knowledge grows. The results of the examination, which deals with a diverse set of planning activities, is presented as a tabular set of Fees Indicators which form “Schedule E” on the sample Professional Service Agreement on this website. The Fees Indicators represent a useful reference point, particularly for the preliminary estimation of planning costs by practitioners. It must be emphasised here that fees charged by Australian Association of Planning Consultants members are a commercial matter between the member and their clients and are outside of the AAPC’s jurisdiction. The marketplace determines rates and ensures fees remain competitive, and the Fees Indicators should not be misconstrued in any way as prescribing fee scales. Detailed information can be found on the Appointing Consultants page>>>
New Financial Year, New Committee The AAPC continues to attract passionate and inspired planners. We would like to welcome our new Management Committee; Peter Ciemitis (Chair), Colin Connor (Treasurer), Chris Antill, Candice Halleen, and incoming Committee members Simon Bain, Samantha Thompson and Chris Melsom. We also extend appreciation and thanks to outgoing Committee Members; Scott Kerr, Denise Morgan and Kasia Betka. Thank you all. June/ July 2005 RD Taylor Award LaunchOn the 21st of June, the AAPC launched the 2005 Russell Taylor Award. The AAPC recognises excellence in planning through the annual presentation of the Russell D. Taylor Award – one of the state’s most significant urban design awards. “While other urban design awards celebrate organisations or businesses, the annual RDT Award is unique in that it is solely awarded to individuals, recognising an individual’s contribution to the WA landscape, whether urban or rural, a single project or spanning an entire geographical location”, said 2004 Award Convenor, Kasia Betka. It is named after the late Russell D. Taylor, a town planner and designer who was noted for his passionate support of social and land use issues and who worked extensively around WA, from driving the first peg for a standard gauge railway through the Avon Valley in 1961, to completing urban development studies for parts of Papua New Guinea in the 1970’s. Russell was the founder of Taylor Burrell Barnett and cornerstone of town planning in WA in the 1960’s and 1970’s. The intention of the Award is to:
The award is open to all members of PIA and will be made to the planner(s) actually doing the work. Client and corporate bodies are not eligible for this award. The award, therefore, is to be in acknowledgement of planners’ design efforts. The project need not be implemented. In addition to self nominations, other forms of nomination such as nomination by third party are also encouraged. The nominations will be judged by an independent judging panel of experts on design in urban and rural environments, that will consist of persons external to AAPC but who have experience in related areas. The winner/s of the 2005 Award will be presented at the State Planning Conference. Some of the Key dates are as follows: Nominations open: 21 June 2005 Nominations are now invited for the AAPC Russell Taylor Award for Design
Excellence. Follow this link for additional information and full nomination criteria>>>
AAPC Launches WebsiteOn 4th June 2005 the Australian Association of Planning Consultants (WA) launched its "preliminary" website. The main purpose of the site is to present some information about the AAPC and list contact details for all member practices. It is planned to expand the scope and functionality of the site over time, in particular to post information likely to be of interest to members and those seeking to engage the services of a planning consultant. |
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