Response 914154835

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Understanding and quantifying the problem

8. Do you agree that the problem is adequately established?

Please select one item
Yes
No

9. In general, do you agree the Consultation RIS adequately describes the extent of these problems?

Please select one item
Yes
No

10. The impact of a lack of accessible housing on equity, dignity and employment outcomes is difficult to fully measure. How does a lack of accessible housing contribute to these issues?

Please describe how and to what extent:
The public is unaware of the unsuitability of housing for infirm or disabled people.

11. Are the assumptions made to estimate the costs to the community from a lack of accessible housing (set out in Appendices A to H) appropriate?

Please select one item
Yes
No

12. What other information could be used to estimate the costs associated with a lack of accessible housing to make estimates more reliable?

Please provide your response below:
To convert a standard home usually requires major structural work to achieve access.

13. Do you have information about the type and cost of home modifications that are made to improve the accessibility of a home?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If yes, please provide sources below:
I quoted $115k to convert a home unit to Platinum level.

14. In your opinion what is main contributor to a lack of uptake of universal design principles in new dwellings:

Please select all that apply
buyers failing to think about their future accessibility needs
volume builders being reluctant to deviate from standard plans
other barriers
If other barriers exist, please describe these below:
Lack of education of home builders of the impact of a disability can have on their lifestyle.

Objectives of intervention and Options

15. Of the options considered by the Consultation RIS, select from the list below those that are feasible:

Please select all that apply
Status Quo: No change to the NCC.
Option 1: Accessibility standard, broadly reflecting LHDG silver standard, in the NCC applying to all new Class 1a and Class 2 buildings.
Option 2: Accessibility standard, broadly reflecting LHDG gold standard, in the NCC applying to all new Class 1a and Class 2 buildings.
Option 3: Accessibility standard, broadly reflecting LHDG gold standard (with some platinum features), in the NCC applying to all new Class 1a and Class 2 buildings.
Option 4: Accessibility standard, broadly reflecting LHDG Gold standard, in the NCC applying to all new Class 2 buildings only.
Option 5: A subsidy program to encourage additional availability of accessible rental properties.
Option 6: An enhanced approach to voluntary guidance, which includes turning the current proposals into a non-regulatory ABCB handbook and other measures to encourage additional uptake of universal design principles, including: a search engine for dwellings certified as complying with the LHDGs and provision of information at the point of sale.

16. Are there other feasible regulatory or non-regulatory options with the potential to meet the objective that should be considered?

Please select all that apply
Applying the accessibility standards to only residential Class 1a (single detached house, row house, town house, terrace house or villa unit) or Class 2 (multi-storey residential) buildings?
Applying the accessibility standards to only a proportion of residential Class 1a (single detached house, rowhouse town house, terrace house or villa unit) or Class 2 (multi-storey residential) buildings?
Applying a different combination of the LHDG elements?
Applying a subset of the LHDG elements (e.g. step-free entry, wider doorways only)?
Another option?
Please provide additional information to support your response (for example, how these options would be delivered in practice) below:
All new housing should be at least wheelchair accessible in wet areas

17. Which of the options, in your opinion, have the ability to meet the objective? (select all options which in your opinion can meet the objective from the list below)

Please select all that apply
Status quo
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5
Option 6
Other Option

18. Are there any less intuitive or unintended consequences likely to arise from the adoption of any of these options?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If yes, please elaborate below:
Resistance from able bodied persons to buy an accessible home.

19. Which option is your preferred option?

Please select one item
Status quo
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5
Option 6
Other Option

Estimating the cost of the proposals

20. Are the scenarios of possible impact (as described in the DCWC report) broadly representative of the scale of adjustments required to comply with the proposed accessibility standards (Options 1-3)?

Please select one item
Yes
No

21. For each of the building types, are the weighted average cost estimates broadly representative of the additional construction costs to comply with the proposed accessibility standards (Options 1-3)?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If no, please clearly describe which classification of building and Option your comment relates to and if you can provide evidence to inform the weightings:
Costs do not reflect reality

22. Do you agree with the approach taken to valuing the opportunity cost of the additional space required?

Please select one item
Yes
No

23. Are additional excavation costs likely to be required in order to provide homes that comply with the regulatory options (Options 1-3)?

Please select one item
Highly unlikely
Unlikely
Likely
Highly likely

24. Are the excavation cost estimates presented in table 5.12 reasonable?

Please select one item
Yes
No

25. Are there any other costs (e.g. transition costs) not identified for builders to transition to a new accessibility standard under the regulatory Options (Options 1-3)?

Please select one item
Yes
No
If yes, please describe the costs, their extent and who they apply to below:
Time and cost of preparing documentation $2k

Estimating the benefits

27. Are the assumptions relating to the occupation of accessible housing by owner occupiers and renters over time reasonable?

Please select one item
Yes
No

28. Do you agree with the assumption of the extent features are currently not provided in new dwellings?

Please select one item
Yes
No

30. Where dwellings have some accessibility features but not others, would this reduce the size of the problem?

Please select one item
Yes
No

31. Do you agree with the assumption that additional features required under accessibility standards in Option 2 and Option 3 would increase the number of beneficiaries compared to Option 1?

Please select one item
Yes
No

32. To what extent would better information provision and promotion of an enhanced non-regulatory approach (Option 6) be effective in encouraging the voluntary uptake of universal design principles in new dwellings?

Please select one item
Not effective
Somewhat effective
Very effective
Unsure
Please describe the extent this would be effective and your reasoning below:
Public needs to be made aware of the shortcomings of the built environment should they become disabled