Following the design December announcement, UTS has just submitted the Frank Gehry-designed project to the NSW Department of Planning, a key milestone in the design and construction process.
Over the past month, the project team has been busy preparing the submission, known as an Environmental Assessment Report, which was due to be put on public exhibition.
Pending feedback from the Department, stakeholders and members of the public, UTS hoped to have planning approval for the building sometime after July 2011.
However, following the new NSW Premier's announcement that he will repeal the current planning system, UTS is awaiting further clarification as to how and when the project will be assessed.
Meanwhile, the project team has been busy refining the design to suit UTS Business School requirements and those of the UTS model of learning.
On the construction front, UTS expects to announce the appointment of a pre-construction services contractor for the building before the end of April.
The pre-construction services contractor is essentially a builder who will work closely with the project team to ensure that the project can be constructed on-time and on-budget.
ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS
- This project was to be assessed under NSW planning legislation known as Part 3A, short for Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
- The new NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has stated that he will repeal the Part 3A planning process, meaning that Master Plan projects will be subject to a new planning process in the near future.
- UTS is awaiting clarification from the NSW Department of Planning as to how the current application for the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building will be assessed.
TIMELINE
- March 2011 – project submitted to the NSW Department of Planning.
- July 2011 - planning approval anticipated.
- August 2011- final design approved.
- February 2012 - construction commences.
