Thank you for the opportunity to serve as acting President while Alison Radford is overseas.

This is an exciting time for landscape architecture and design in South Australia.  AILA SA welcomed the announcement late last year, to establish an Integrated Design Commission (IDC) to ‘shape our metropolitan area and its future, to enhance its vibrancy, preserve its liveability, and enshrine its sustainability’.

It is exciting that Tim Horton has been appointed as the first commissioner. I understand that Tim will start in July with the commission hopefully up and running later this year. The commission structure also includes advisory roles for other design professionals including landscape architects. AILA SA looks forward to supporting and working with the commissioner including involvement in the establishment of the IDC.  See letter from AILA SA attached.

As we all know landscape architects can have both a unique and collaborative role in contributing to the development of the city and the environment with creative visions and innovative urban design solutions.

At a recent meeting for the Adelaide City Council’s Integrated Design Strategy, members Kevin Taylor, Warwick Keates, Alun Chapman and myself were invited to participate along with ACC’s own David Chick. The presence of five LA’s is surely a good omen for the important roles of landscape architects in this exciting ACC initiative which has timely synergies with the IDC.

I hope all members have seen the release of the Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga Urban Regeneration Project masterplan for public consultation. This project is long overdue. It is very exciting that the possibility now exists for the transformation of this space into the most significant public space in Adelaide. If you haven’t already, use this link.

On 10 May Paul Thompson presented his lecture “Plants for Conditions or Conditions for Plants”. This was attended not only by AILA members and University of Adelaide students but also TAFE horticulture students, members from the SA Garden History Society and Mediterranean Plant Society and staff from the Adelaide Botanic gardens. Thanks to Heath Edwards for helping on the night and Kate Cullity and Kevin Taylor for hosting Paul. Paul’s lecture is available at online - click here.

AILA and AIA co hosted Richard Weller’s talk on 13 Thursday May 2010. Thanks to Graeme Hopkins for liaising with Tim Horten and the AIA.

The Executive Committee is starting to think about the Quiz Night and the AILA Awards committees. If you would like to be involved in these committees please make contact in the first instance with Carina Green (carina.g@tcl.net.au) or Janelle Arbon (Janelle.a@swanburypenglase.com)

Members are reminded that Form is always looking for contributions. If you have something you would like to write or themes, ideas, pictures or initiatives you think are interesting to our members and to demonstrate the abilities of our profession, please contact Ben Willsmore who liaises with Adelaide Review on the Institutes behalf. Ben can be reached at bwillsmore@hassell.com.au or 0457 098 124.

Tanya Court
Acting President
June 2010

On Thursday 8th July, IPWEA, the Stormwater Institute of Australia, AILA and AIA present a seminar showcasing the WSUD initiatives of the recent Adelaide Zoo redevelopment.

See attached flyer for more information.  

For the diary.

As part of the University of Adelaide’s Speaker Series Chris Sawyer from Site Office in Melbourne will be speaking on 18 August at the University of Adelaide, Flentje Theatre, 6.00 pm.

Check out. http://www.siteoffice.com.au/

Earn CPD points!

The ACNU Conference and Master class was held at the University of South Australia in late April.

The New Urbanist movement evolved in the 1980's in the United States, but the term was first coined by Peter Katz in his book entitled The New Urbanism – Towards an Architecture of Community, published in 1994.

He described that ‘New’ meant a ‘renaissance’ or rebirth of traditional urbanism (built form) to replace urban sprawl.

See attached for Heath Edwards' report on the conference proceedings.