Developed over the past seven years in conjunction with all levels of government, the community and the residential development industry, the Australian Model Code for Residential Development (AMCORD) is a national resource document. It gives practical advice to Council planners, elected members, industry practitioners and professionals on better methods and practices to achieve good urban design.
AMCORD is a working document presented in the following separate volumes.
- Document 1 – a model for designing and assessing proposed residential developments.
- Document 2 – on alternative approaches to good quality and flexible urban design.
Under the Local Government Development Program (LGDP) the National Office of Local Government (NOLG) has funded State and Territory Planning Departments (except Victoria and the Northern Territory) to adopt AMCORD performance based planning principles as the basis for their residential codes.
The projects will include the following specific outputs.
- A State/Territory edition of AMCORD: either a mandatory code or as advisory guidelines.
- A framework within which Local Government can integrate AMCORD principles.
- A marketing and educational program targeted at the housing industry, Local Government and practitioners.
A concurrent project is being undertaken by the Royal Australian Planning Institute (RAPI). It has been funded to produce national education and training modules for use by Council staff, professionals, industry groups and tertiary students involved in design, development and assessment of residential projects. The modules are to be based on the development and implementation of performance based residential development codes, in particular AMCORD, and will incorporate both a ‘trainers manual’ and a ‘user’s guide’.
The project will be linked with other educational activities, being pursued by States, Territories and Local Government, aimed at enhancing skills of all involved in residential land development. It is estimated that the models will be available for use by the end of July 1996.
AMCORD advocates a flexible approach to urban development that uses performance based guidelines to achieve creative and innovative urban planning and residential design. It recognises that attractive and functional residential developments that incorporate a range of affordable housing options are necessary to create cohesive urban environments.
By adopting AMCORD, State, Territory and Local Government can provide a more flexible regulatory environment for a more competitive housing and development industry.
