Identifying Strata Climate Change Stakeholders

Studying the impacts and challenges of climate change for strata and community title buildings involved identifying the key stakeholders.  That has allowed us to interview and survey the right people, develop profiles for each category and think about their interests, needs, skills, weaknesses and abilities.

So, how are they and why do they matter?

Developers - are a key stakeholder group since they create strata and community title buildings so have significant influence on location, configuration, design, features and quality which are probably the most significant things affecting building resilience.

Government - are also a key stakeholder for similar reasons to developers.  They also have significant influence over building location, configuration, design, features and quality through planning and other controls.  But Government also has other interests, including regulating the operation of strata and community title buildings for their lifetime and dealing with the immediate and longer term effects of emergency weather events.

Owners & Executives - are the key stakeholder in this study since they own and run the strata and community title buildings and therefore make all the decisions.  But, perhaps more importantly owners pay for the effects of climate change on buildings: either as levies to repair and upgrade them; or as increased operating and insurance costs; or by suffering rental and value losses.

Strata Managers - play a vital role in strata and community title building operation since apart from providing contracted administration services they are key influencers of owner behaviours and can identify key issues, educate stakeholders about options and become champions for initiatives.  Conversely they can easily impede building adaptation due to lack of awareness, resources and/or motivations.

Resident Managers - like strata managers, resident managers have a key influencer role in strata and community title buildings.  But, because they operate on site and have more intimate understanding of the buildings, they are the frontline of building management, upgrades and emergencies and so are often best placed to know and assess what is [and is not] needed.

Sinking Fund Forecasters - as the industry sector advising strata and community title buildings about the need for future building repair, maintenance and replacement, sinking fund forecasters have good knowledge of the physical needs and shortcomings of the buildings.  That places them in a key position to also assess and factor in climate change impacts, adaptation options and funding possibilities that go beyond routine works.

Insurers - as the last place strata and community title owners look to if climate change damages or destroys their building, insurers are a critical stakeholder in the sector strategies for strata and community title buildings to adequately cope with the impacts of climate change.  The increased frequency of extreme weather events and consequent crises in strata insurance cover have highlighted the significance of insurance and the fragility of this 'last resort' protection.  So, the future role of insurance and insurers in strategies for strata and community title building to deal with climate change induced weather damage and deterioration needs careful consideration.

By considering the impacts, options and realistically achievable changes from the perspectives of each of these stakeholders groups, the research hopes to find mutually acceptable and beneficial solutions to the challenges faced by all strata and community title stakeholders in dealing with climate change.