NSW/ACT President’s comment – July 2026

The first half of 2026 has confirmed what many NSW practices already sensed: the market is growing more complex and less predictable. Some practices report strong workflows, but others are contending with a declining pipeline, intensifying competition and sustained fee pressure, and the gap between stable practices and those under strain is widening.

The pressures are no longer only commercial. Regulatory obligations continue to expand, recruitment remains difficult at the experienced end of the profession, and independent technical infrastructure the sector has long relied on is now under question.

Against that backdrop, the work of the branch through the first half of the year has been about meeting members where the pressure is greatest: advocating on the issues that shape the conditions of practice, running a program that builds practical knowledge and resilience, and listening closely to what members are telling us about the market.

Advocacy

The most significant advocacy development this year was the joint statement issued with the RAIA NSW chapter on the proposed closure of the CSIRO’s North Ryde facility, where much of Australia’s fire-resistance and reaction-to-fire testing takes place. Both organisations are urgently seeking to understand the closure’s implications for national fire-testing capability, NCC compliance pathways, modern methods of construction, housing delivery and research capacity.

The branch and the RAIA NSW chapter support retaining independent fire-testing capability within NSW and across Australia, and are concerned that closure without an equivalent, fully accredited replacement presents a significant risk. The statement seeks clarification before December 2026 on the rationale for the closure, the impact on testing and certification pathways, the status of in-progress test programs, whether offshore pathways adequately cover BAL products, and the delays and costs facing manufacturers. It also raises the sector’s diminished capacity to respond to a future cladding-style crisis, the loss of expertise and equipment that would be difficult to rebuild, and flow-on effects to local manufacturing, construction cost and smaller suppliers.

ACA NSW/ACT also made a submission to the NSW Building Commission on its draft Complaints Policy, investigations approach and disciplinary guidelines. It calls for the NSW Architects Registration Board to have a clear role in any complaints process involving architects, with defined notification triggers for both the ARB and the architect concerned, and flags the flow-on implications for professional indemnity insurance. The submission argues for a single, coordinated process between the Building Commission and the ARB to avoid duplication and deliver consistent consumer outcomes, and recommends that lessons from investigations feed back into industry education. It was lodged on behalf of the branch’s 258 practice members and 2,055 staff across NSW.

Events and Programs

The events program has focused on the practical realities of running a practice: managing risk, navigating regulation, and protecting the wellbeing of the people who do the work.

In February, the branch hosted a session on decarbonisation in the built environment, presented by Jane Cassidy, Asia-Pacific Service Line Leader for Architecture & Design at GHD and Immediate Past National President of the Australian Institute of Architects. The session covered the Architecture Industry Decarbonisation Plan (2025–2050), practical approaches to carbon measurement, the shift to all-electric buildings, and strategies to meet national climate targets.

In June, the branch presented Managing Risk in Practice, with Madeleine Manousaridis, Building and Construction Senior Associate at Bartier Perry. Madeleine examined how the Security of Payment Act affects day-to-day practice, with practical guidance on managing payment rights and obligations, avoiding common dispute triggers, and resolving disputes efficiently when they arise.

The branch was also well represented at Sydney Build 2026, spending two days at the heart of Australia’s largest construction and design show. On the Construction Wellbeing Stage, ACA member Hamish Ginn, Senior Associate, People and Culture at SJB and a familiar figure in the ACA’s Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum, joined a frank panel on mental wellbeing in construction. On the second day, Sacha Anderson of ARCH joined a panel on designing with Country, exploring how architects can embed Indigenous principles into the built environment to create spaces that are culturally responsive and reflective of the communities they serve.

Pulse Check: NSW Insights

The 2026 ACA Pulse Check drew 69 respondents from New South Wales, 26 per cent of the national cohort, with a profile that mirrors the national picture: small, established firms operating primarily in metropolitan areas. Pipeline remains the central concern, with projects delayed, paused or progressing unpredictably, making resourcing difficult to plan with confidence. Competition has also shifted in character, as practices increasingly contend with larger firms operating at scale, private equity-backed practices and offshore production models, driving fee pressure and, in some cases, aggressive undercutting.

The low-to-mid-rise residential market has contracted, with activity concentrated at the affordable housing and high-end ends of the spectrum. Regulatory obligations continue to expand, particularly under the Design and Building Practitioners Act, while recruitment remains difficult at the experienced end of the profession. Taken together, the results describe a narrowing margin for error in which holding position requires constant adjustment.

Looking Ahead

The branch’s focus for the rest of the year follows directly from what members are telling us. Advocacy will remain central, with the CSIRO North Ryde matter a clear priority as the branch presses for clarification ahead of any closure. The events program will continue to build practical knowledge and support resilience, with mental wellbeing, risk and regulation carried through the second half of the year, underpinned by a commitment to reflect the conditions practices are actually navigating.