Monday 2 November 2009
ONE of Australia's leading environmental architects today said
rapid change was required in the way we build and renovate
properties and prepare for disasters.
The principal of Ecotect-Architects and Order of Australia
recipient Mr Garry Baverstock said the increase in reported
property damage due to bad weather reaffirms the need to change the
way we build structures and prepare for catastrophes.
"The west coast of Australia has been hit by ongoing severe
storms this winter while fires, droughts, floods and dust storms
have affected central and eastern Australia not to mention the
tsunami that devastated some Pacific Island nations recently," said
Mr Baverstock.
"Most houses and buildings in Australia will not withstand
ongoing storms, extreme cyclones, heavy rain, hail, fires, floods,
earthquakes, tsunamis and tornados.
"With climate change now in action we need to implement adaptive
practices which means changing the way we live and fast!" said Mr
Baverstock.
Mr Baverstock said many new houses and commercial buildings did
not comply with sustainability principles and people should feel
short-changed if problems occurred in their homes within ten
years.
"The tie-down on roofing needs to be more solid, windows need to
be stronger and homes should be designed to complement the
surrounding environment," he said.
"Houses should be built to last at least three generations and
the integration of climate sensible principles, passive solar
design, natural vegetation and waterways is vital," he
said.
He said investing extra money up front to construct a durable
home or other building is cheaper to maintain in the long run and
won't fly away in a storm.
Mr Baverstock said the federal government had introduced a
uniform building code for all states and territories but it failed
to include comprehensive sustainable best practice benchmarks.
"The legislation that guides building practices in this country
needs to be reviewed and amended to comply with the impact of
changing weather patterns and sustainability principles," he
said.
"I'm aghast that developers can still carve up land without
taking into account the northern orientation of each lot, rising
sea levels and necessary waterway and vegetation corridors.
"While the government has made initial changes we have a long
way to go before our homes and buildings will be able to sustain
battering caused by harsh weather," he said.
Mr Baverstock said people keen to live in durable homes should
tell their architects, drafts people, builders and local councils
to adopt sustainable building policies and designs.
He said at least 80 per cent of people in Australia lived along
coastal strips and this made them more vulnerable to the impacts of
climate change.
"If enough people place pressure on builders and local councils
then building codes will change," said Mr Baverstock.
.../ Ends
Further Information
Mr Garry Baverstock: Tel: 08-9286 3811 or 0419 965227
(Journalist) Jacinta Goerke: Tel: 0412
338813