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ACT and Southern NSW
ACT and Southern NSW
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Earlier this month the ACT saw the commencement of the new City and Environment Directorate (CED). This new entity will take on the functions of the old Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD), Transport and City Services (TCCS) and Access Canberra.
In last year’s ACT election campaign HIA called for the creation of a housing super portfolio, arguing for the consolidation of both ministries and directorates responsible for construction activities. So we were pleased to see this view supported by the government.
The ACT has been struck with chronic delays and inefficiencies that have led to slower and more expensive building, and we believe that consolidating the decision makers and approval processes should improve transparency and provide benefits to the industry and community.
The new Directorates activities will be broken up into a number of business units including:
- Business, licensing and regulation
- Planning, development and infrastructure
- Transport and road network
- Environment, water and heritage
- City and public services
It is somewhat disappointing that this process has not progressed at a quicker pace, given these changes were foreshadowed many months ago. While the CED officially started on 1 July 2025, a number of important details around structure and leadership positions are yet to be finalised.
Responsible Ministers are Chris Steel (transport, planning and development, heritage), Tara Cheyne (city and ACT Government services) and Suzanne Orr (climate change, environment, energy, and water).
HIA looks forward to working with the new Directorate, and will advise of any further details as they become available. Find out more about the City and Environment Directorate.
Greg Weller
Executive Director
ACT and Southern NSW
Private certification a key to improved productivity for home building
“Obtaining a planning approval for a new home build adds thousands of dollars and months of delay to the home building process,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Victoria is the slowest and most expensive state for planning approvals
“Obtaining a planning approval for a new home build in Victoria takes over seven months and costs almost $20,000,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Automatic mutual recognition with JobPass
Are you registered as a builder or trade in another state? You may be eligible to carry out work regulated work in WA. Find out more about JobPass.
Land sales plummet as prices soar
“There were just 8,250 residential lots sold nationally in the March Quarter 2025, the weakest quarter of sales for Australia in 25 years,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
Spotlight
President's report
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Apprentices
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National Construction Code 2022
Keep up-to-date with the evolving changes for your region. Check out the NCC 2022 hub with all the latest info, courses and seminars.
Awards & events
2025 HIA Victorian Apprentice Awards
You're invited to a celebration of the bright future of the Victorian residential building industry!
HIA Building Women Thrive Series
Stay up-to-date professionally and get handy information for your business by attending our networking events.
Mackay Building Women Luncheon
Stay up-to-date professionally and get handy information for your business by attending our networking events.
2025 HIA NSW Webinar Hitting 7 Star; tips and tricks to get it right.
Now that the NatHERS 7-Star requirement is well underway in New South Wales, what have we learned so far?
HIA Awards
HIA Awards provide home builders and designers the opportunity to receive recognition, and showcase their work to the broader industry. Winners and finalists not only receive extensive media promotion for their business, they also get the opportunity to promote themselves as an industry leader.
2024 Award winners
Home of the Year
Winner: Classic Constructions (Aust)
Display Home
Winner: Exceed Homes and Arkitex
Spec Home
Winner: Rydgeport Constructions
Careers & learning
Learning a new skill or adding to your existing knowledge is the best way to advance your career and help reignite your passion for getting up in the morning and doing a job that you love. It's not just about what you can learn but also how you can use your new found knowledge to reach the next step in where you want your career to go.
CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
This certificate course is designed for building and construction personnel who wish to gain valuable skills as a professional builder in the low rise residential sector.
Silica Awareness
Find out more about what silica is, how to work safely with products containing silica, what tools and systems exist, as well as where to get further information
NCC 2022: AS1684 Timber Framing Changes
Gain an overview and understanding of the changes to AS1684 Timber Framing Code.
Understanding HIA Building Contracts
This workshop provides a detailed understanding of domestic building contracts, using the relevant HIA contract for your region as an example. The contract is explained in full, describing each schedule and clause.
Support for your business
Building it right
HIA’s experienced Building and planning services team can help you navigate residential building legislation and keep your project on track.
Getting approval to build
Most new homes and renovations to existing homes require a development approval (DA) before they can be built. A DA will normally be granted by the local council.
Managing your safety
We have been helping businesses like yours for over a decade by offering safety checks and site-specific safety systems designed to meet current workplace health and safety requirements.
Managing your business
HIA’s expert workplace advisors can offer you bespoke support to help you navigate the maze of compliance in the building industry.