Page 19 - Climate Control News Magazine

In Focus
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
The changing colours of this lighting structure between two apartments buildings in Western Australia created by Ronstan Tensile Architecture.
The 356 Collins Street Foyer, Melbourne is an example of a building that will impacted by the proposal.
Perth City Council building.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Inside Melbourne’s Crown Casino
president, Trent Dutton, said the proposal will have a significant impact on industry and it's all negative.
“We have seen very little technical data to sup- port the proposal and we suspect that limited as- sessment has been made of the economic impact of the change on our industry,” Dutton said.
He is also concerned about the impact it will have on his own company Rubidium Light, a lighting design and engineering company head- quartered in Brisbane.
“Government intervention could end up making all of the places where we like to live, work and play, become dull, uninspiring and unproductive,” Dutton said.
“Australia’s lighting engineering and design sector has some of the most talented people in the world. Governments should be cultivating this industry, not jeopardising its future.”
Under the new proposal, the vast majority of previously-allowable decorative lighting will be subject to additional compliance requirements.
“Decorative lighting refers to much of the lighting that makes buildings’ exteriors and in- teriors attractive, interesting, warm and invit- ing,” he said.
“These changes in practice mean that much of the decorative lighting that gives character to buildings, like hotel foyers, shopping centre displays and car showrooms may simply disap- pear from 2019 onwards.”
Crossley said he expects a lot of the design work will now be put in the 'too hard basket'. He said Australian design will regress to an ugly emphasis on function over form.
Worst of all, Crossley said the proposed re- strictions were only put to industry by the fed- eral government at the tail end of a two year consultation period.
“This is a sucker punch to an industry that should be the darling of government,” Crossley said. “We’re calling on the responsible Ministers to intervene and prevent this disastrous proposal from being enacted.” ✺
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
AUGUST 2018
19