State Government of Victoria

Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics lending indicators for October 2020 shows loan commitments for the construction of new dwellings rose by 11.5 per cent. 
The October result once again broke the monthly record achieved in September for the highest amount of new loan commitments recorded since 2002, when data of this kind was first collected.

First home buyers continue to lead these numbers with owner occupier first home buyer loan commitments increasing by 3.4 per cent in October to reach 13,481. This is more than 30 per cent higher than in any pre-COVID month since 2009.

However, Westpac's Matthew Hassan said housing finance approvals came in a little softer than expected, the total value of new loans rising just 0.7% vs expectations of a 2% gain.

"The underlying tone from the detail was still strong with the main downside surprise relating to a bigger than expected COVID-related decline in Victoria that will reverse in coming months and approvals across the rest of Australia posting another robust rise to historical highs," he said

An example of a townhome eligible for HomeBuilder is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-townhouses/ramley-residence-2-6-ramleh-road-reservoir">Ramley Residence</a>.

Located at 2-6 Ramleh Road,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-townhouses/reservoir-vic?source_news_article_id=29007&amp;ref=news_body_link">Reservoir VIC 3073</a>,&nbsp;the development has townhomes starting from $689,000.

"Today’s outcome is yet another endorsement of the effectiveness of HomeBuilder in protecting the jobs of the one million Australians in our construction sector and driving our comeback from the COVID-19 recession," commentary from the ABS found.

"Housing Industry Association new home sales data for October 2020 that shows new home sales were 31.6 per cent higher in the three months to October when compared with the same time last year."

"ABS building approvals data for October 2020 showed approvals for private sector houses rose for the fourth consecutive month, and are at the highest recorded level since February 2000, with 10,692 approvals."

"Australia has recorded a ten-year high for first homes buyers in the last quarter, according to the latest REIA's The Housing Affordability Report."

As a result, the Morrison Government has announced HomeBuilder will be extended until 31 March 2021. For all new build contracts signed between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021, eligible owner-occupier purchasers will receive a $15,000 grant; and the property price caps for new builds in New South Wales and Victoria will be increased to $950,000 and $850,000 respectively.

In addition, the construction commencement deadline will be extended from three months to six months for all eligible contracts signed on or after 4 June 2020.

Find more HomeBuilder eligible property,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/guides/buy-now-save-20-urban-listings-eligible-for-the-25000-homebuilder-grant">Buy now + save: 20 Urban listings eligible for the $25,000 HomeBuilder Grant</a>.

Loan commitments for the construction of new dwellings rose by 11.5 per cent, ABS data shows.

urban.com.au

HomeBuilder is driving Australia's residential construction comeback

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One of the world’s more unique International design competitions - The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) 2018 - has come to Melbourne.

Sponsored by the State Government of Victoria, the competition opened in early January but was officially launched on Saturday, Feb 10th as part of  the Sustainable Living Festival, Melbourne. LAGI 2018 invites teams of artists, architects, designers, scientists, engineers, and others to submit proposals for a large-scale and site-specific public art installation that generates clean energy.

Submissions are due by May 6, 2018.

The competition takes place every two years in a different site around the world, in 2018 the design site is the St Kilda Triangle, which has a colourful history. Previous LAGI cities include Santa Monica, Copenhagen, New York City and Dubai / Abu Dhabi. 

Key project partners include the City of Port Phillip, Federation Square, Carbon Arts and Climarte.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/solar_cloud_lagi_2016.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Solar Cloud (LAGI 2016) by Gabriel Muñoz Moreno (Social Cooperation Architects). Image : LAGI"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="409" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/solar_cloud_lagi_2016.jpg?itok=qEayhpOH" title="Solar Cloud (LAGI 2016) by Gabriel Muñoz Moreno (Social Cooperation Architects). Image : LAGI" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Solar Cloud (LAGI 2016) by Gabriel Muñoz Moreno (Social Cooperation Architects). Image : LAGI</figcaption></figure>Land Art Generator installations are works of public art that:

<ul>
<li>Capture energy from nature and cleanly convert it into electricity</li>
	<li>Pay back their environmental footprint and construction cost by producing kilowatt-hours of energy that offset existing uses</li>
	<li>Create a unique experience for the public and stimulate an increase in visitors to the site (power plants as tourist attractions!)</li>
	<li>Create places for leisure and learning</li>
	<li>Do not negatively impact the environment</li>
	<li>Increase livability of communities</li>
</ul>
Innovators design public artworks that integrate renewable energy technology with the potential to power hundreds of homes, engaging the public in a shared vision of the beauty of our post-carbon future.

<blockquote>
Designers and creatives have a critical role to play in the global response to climate change. By bringing art and culture into the development of new energy installations, we can help to bridge the gap between the existing technological solutions and the massive popular movement that is required to invest in their implementation.

-  Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry, LAGI Directors
</blockquote>

By thinking creatively about the design of new energy landscapes, and celebrating the beauty of the solar, wind, and other clean power installations that are such an important part of the solution, LAGI is inspiring people everywhere to get behind the great energy transition.

<blockquote>
When it comes to renewables, it would be good to have some more input from artists, from creative thinking people, who can show attractive visions. Who can show that to take climate change seriously it not about gloom and doom—it can be a positive vision. It can create beauty. It can create something that all of us would like to be a part of.

- Connie Hedegaard, former European Commissioner for Climate Action, 2014 LAGI design competition in Copenhagen.
</blockquote>

The Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning (DELWP), Victoria is setting an example for the world with a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. Melbourne, already one of the most sustainable cities in the world, is targeting net-zero by 2020.

The Victoria State Renewable Energy Action Plan outlines the steps that the government is taking to ensure a smooth and equitable transition to a thriving post-carbon economy. LAGI  2018 forms part of that vision within the context of Action 13 - Supporting important artistic and cultural sustainability events.

Following the close dates, multiple public exhibitions, publications, and events will bring the ideas to the public in Melbourne, surrounding cities, and the world.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/lagi_2016.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cetacea (LAGI 2016) by Keegan Oneal, Sean Link, Caitlin Vanhauer, Colin Poranski Image : LAGI"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="175" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/lagi_2016.jpg?itok=jNgubzDh" title="Cetacea (LAGI 2016) by Keegan Oneal, Sean Link, Caitlin Vanhauer, Colin Poranski Image : LAGI" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Cetacea (LAGI 2016) by Keegan Oneal, Sean Link, Caitlin Vanhauer, Colin Poranski Image : LAGI</figcaption></figure><h2>LAGI 2018 Timeline</h2>

<ul>
<li>January 5, 2018 - LAGI 2018 competition opens and design guidelines are available</li>
	<li>April 15 - End of question &amp; answer period. Answers will be posted to the LAGI website.</li>
	<li>May 6 - Competition closes at 23:59 (11:59 pm) GMT</li>
	<li>June - Selection &amp; jury process</li>
	<li>July - Winners &amp; shortlisted participants contacted</li>
	<li>October - Award ceremony, exhibition, and book launch held at Fed Square in Melbourne, Australia. Satellite exhibitions and workshops will be programmed throughout St Kilda, the City of Port Phillip, and the State of Victoria.</li>
</ul>
<h2>LAGI 2018 Jury Panel</h2>

<ul>
<li>Guy Abrahams - CEO &amp; Co-Founder  CLIMARTE</li>
	<li>Charles Anderson -  Senior Lecturer, Landscape Architecture, RMIT University | Director, CAStudios / SAALA</li>
	<li>David Brand - City of Port Phillip Councillor | Architect</li>
	<li>Elizabeth Corr - NRDC Manager, Art Partnerships &amp; Events, Natural Resources Defense Council</li>
	<li>Simon Corbell - Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate</li>
	<li>William L. Fox - Director, Center for Art + Environment, Nevada Museum of Art</li>
	<li>Jill Garner - Victorian Government Architect</li>
	<li>Dr Beatriz Cristina Maturana - Founder of Architects for Peace | Academic Director at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Chile</li>
	<li>Kim Herforth Nielsen - Founder and Creative Director, 3XN Architects</li>
	<li>Sharon Pollard - General Manager Operations, Federation Square</li>
	<li>Martijn Wilder AM - Partner, Baker &amp; McKenzie</li>
</ul>
<h2>Prizes</h2>

<ul>
<li>
FIRST PLACE - submission  will be awarded $16,000 USD</li>
	<li>
SECOND PLACE submission will be awarded $5,000 USD</li>
</ul>
One representative of the first and second place winning teams will be flown to Melbourne, Australia for the award ceremony and exhibition opening.

Links: <a href="http://landartgenerator.org/competition2018">http://landartgenerator.org/competition2018.html</a>

Lead Image: 'Beyond the Wave'  by Heerim Architects &amp; Planners
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