From the CEO
Well they say that a week is a long time in politics, as it also appears true for us in the development industry. UDIA WA hosted our sold out Development Conference last week, hearing from some fantastic speakers including Diane Smith-Gander AO, Grant Dusting from McCrindle, Ministers Saffioti and Whitby and the awe-inspiring human rights lawyer and advocate, Rabia Siddique. I’ve been actively listening to all of your feedback thus far and whilst COVID-19 has inevitably and unfortunately impacted some of our delegates, the consensus is that overall it was a great conference. My sincere thanks go to our event sponsors DevelopmentWA, Lendlease, TBB and Western Power for their valued support and best wishes for a speedy recovery to those recovering from COVID.
This morning UDIA National launched the annual State of the Land Report, which revealed that the Perth land market recorded an annual total of 8,360 sales at an average of 697 lots per month which is 24% above the 7-year average monthly rate. Perth new unit sales transactions for 2021 were up 17% from 2020 and on the decade average. Across the country, greenfield lot sales across all combined capital cities recorded significant & unprecedented 40% annual volume uplift.
As our members know all too well, sharp rises in construction costs, materials and skills shortages are adding significant price pressure to the cost of a home across the country and Perth is not immune. UDIA’s immediate focus is on doing everything we can to mitigate the impact of these challenges as we eagerly anticipate any changes in population now that we are open to the world. Everyone needs a place to call home and we need to work with all stakeholders to make sure that becomes a reality no matter what your housing choice.
UDIA welcomes Katie Liew
This week UDIA WA are pleased to welcome Katie Liew as the newest member of the UDIA WA team, taking on the role of Policy and Research Officer.
Katie is a Certified Practising Accountant by qualification with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Business Law) and has worked the majority of her career in the mining sector including at Chevron and Rio Tinto. She is the recipient of a number of scholarships for programs including Curtin Ignition, Centre for Social Impact, Leadership WA and the Westpac Foundational Leader Program.
She also founded The Underground Collaborative, an organisation that provides employment to empower and educate women and young people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
We are looking forward to working with Katie on a range of advocacy and research projects.
State of the Land released
Earlier today UDIA National hosted the first UDIA TV event for 2022 to release the latest edition of UDIA’s State of the Land report.
This comprehensive review of the greenfield and multi-unit apartment market provides key stats from across Australia’s six major cities/areas South East Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and the ACT.
With thanks to State of the Land research partners CoreLogic and Research4, the latest edition of the report highlights the current state of the market around the country as well as providing a National overview.
For more information and to download the latest edition, click here.
Thanks to State of the Land Major Sponsor NBN and Supporting Sponsor Biggin & Scott Land.
National Congress
The exclusive Members Only Promotional Offer Tickets for the first in-person UDIA National Congress since 2019 ends tomorrow.
The National Congress is set to be held at the Hyatt Regency Sydney on Wednesday 25 May and Thursday 26 May and will be expertly MC’d by Ticky Fullerton from The Australian.
This year’s Congress will feature Dr Parag Khanna, Luci Ellis, Professor Greg Clark, Todd Sampson and many more.
To book your ticket and for more information, click here.
Western Power CEO steps down
This week Western Power announced its CEO Ed Kalajzic has resigned, with his last day with Western Power being Friday 18 March.
Mr Kalajzic has accepted an opportunity outside the business, which it is understood will be announced shortly.
Executive Manager Asset Operations Sam Barbaro will be acting CEO from 19 March while the Western Power Board begins the process of looking for a new CEO.
UDIA WA wishes Mr Kalajzic all the best for his new role.
A full announcement and more information can be found here.
The Urbanist #1 2022
At the end of last week UDIA WA were proud to launch the first edition of The Urbanist for 2022.
This latest edition of The Urbanist focuses on the theme Invest West, looking at all of the incredible aspects that make WA THE place to live, work and invest.
We are delighted to feature an exclusive interview with Tattarang and Minderoo Foundation CEO Andrew Hagger as he details his ambitions for Western Australia and how Tattarang are looking to focus most of their efforts in our great state.
Throughout this edition we feature a variety of influential voices and respected experts as we look to delve into what makes WA great.
Key contributors to this edition include:
- Premier Mark McGowan
- Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken
- The Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLA
- John Langoulant
- Gerry Matera
- Renee Gumina
This edition is exclusively available to UDIA WA members and can be read here.
UDIA WA to partner with Home in WA again in 2022
UDIA WA are delighted to announce we will once again be partnering with Home in WA in 2022, following our successful first year with the program.
Broadcast weekly on Channel 7 from May, the program is the longest running local ‘home ideas’ series dedicated to info and ideas for your home in Western Australia.
During 2021 UDIA WA utilised our partnership to highlight the incredible work ongoing in the development industry each and every day and we are looking forward to doing so again in 2022.
Headed up by Ron Reddingius, Home in WA is set to embark on its 23rd year and Ron and his team are taking bookings for the new series commencing in May. For more information or to book one of the highly coveted spots, email dingoistalent@bigpond.com or call Ron on 0417 279 103.
For a full recap of UDIA WA’s Home in WA episodes, head to our YouTube channel here.
UDIA National TV | Housing Affordability with Jason Falinski MP
Tuesday 15 March will see the next episode of UDIA TV with UDIA National hosting Jason Falinski MP to discuss Housing Affordability.
Federal MP, Jason Falinski’s inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply, promises to shake up the way Government and the construction industry delivers housing over the next decade.
This episode of UDIA National TV will see a special presentation from Jason Falinski, Federal MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue.
Hear first-hand his Housing Affordability and Supply Report recommendations that address the obstacles contributing to the affordability crisis and what can be done to boost housing supply.
Mr Falinski will provide an analysis of the inquiry’s recommendations into changes to tax, regulation and housing delivery initiatives, in the week that the report is presented to Parliament. Find out direct from the source what it means for your business and our industry over the next decade.
For more information and to register, click here.
Thanks to nbn for sponsoring this episode.
WGEA Review Report
At the end of last week the WGEA Review Report was released which proposes ten recommendations to accelerate progress on gender equality in workplaces and streamline reporting for employers to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
The headline recommendations are:
- Recommendation 1: make it easier for employers to report to WGEA and improve WGEA’s data collection by enabling WGEA to use data employers have already provided to government, and investing in a way to assist employers to extract other data from their own employer systems using a digital solution. It is proposed that a new Gender Data Steering Group led by senior officials will oversee research and stakeholder consultation to drive this work.
- Recommendation 2: publish organisation gender pay gaps at an employer level – not just at an industry level as currently happens – to accelerate action to close them.
- Recommendation 3: bridge the ‘action gap’ with new gender equality standards that set targets by requiring large employers (500 or more employees) to commit to, achieve, and report to WGEA on measurable genuine targets to improve gender equality in their workplaces.
- Recommendation 4: reduce the regulatory burden for employers by replacing and refining particular ‘pain point’ questions in the WGEA reporting components including removing the ‘reporting levels to CEO’ question.
The ten recommendations outlined in this report will both enhance the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 and make it easier for employers to report to WGEA.
Substantially reducing the reporting regulatory burden for employers will free them to take action on the identified gaps and opportunities and help them accelerate progress on gender equality in their workplaces. The recommendations will boost WGEA’s capacity – as an influencer, educator and regulator – to assist employers accelerate gender equality in their workplaces.
For more information and to view the report, click here.
New role advertised: Lecturer in Property, Curtin University
Do you have passion to teach the next cohort of property students? Do you have industry experience that you would like to bring to our Property Investment and Development major?
Curtin University are seeking a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (Teaching Academic) to commence by June 2022 to join their small, award-winning property discipline.
Their courses are accredited by both the Australian Property Institute and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and they bring property education excellence and industry experience into the classroom. With strong links with the local property industry, they are very successful in connecting students to industry to enrich the learning experience.
In this position, you will make a significant contribution to teaching students. You will support curriculum development and deliver high quality and innovative teaching in the area of property/real estate to ensure that Curtin property students graduate with the knowledge and skills required for their future careers.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Density My Way survey
Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) are calling on participants to undertake its new Density My Way survey.
In the coming decades, many Australian neighbourhoods will need to become denser to accommodate projected increases in population. However, there are often community concerns about urban densification. This survey seeks to understand what forms of urban densification you would support in your neighbourhood.
For more information and to complete the survey, click here.
New wage subsidy to support record WA infrastructure investment
A new $32.4 million wage subsidy will create 300 new jobs for apprentices and trainees with Group Training Schemes in Western Australia’s in-demand building and construction sector.
The Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy will provide small and medium-sized enterprises with access to 150 additional and highly subsidised apprentices and trainees in 2022 to work on State Government projects.
A further 150 highly subsidised apprentices and trainees will be made available in 2023.
The GTO Wage Subsidy will help to ensure WA’s longer-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the construction sector with more apprentices and trainees, who are vital for building a diverse and skilled workforce.
It will assist the building and construction sector to continue supporting apprentices and trainees through their training, while keeping the State’s Asset Investment Program rolling and responsive to industry needs.
The wage subsidy covers the average estimated award wage payable to apprentices and trainees in the building and construction sector, for the period of time the apprentice or trainee remains actively employed in a training contract.
More information, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Jobs and Skills WA website here.
Small and medium-sized enterprises can contact their local GTO or visit here to find out more about the subsidy.
Updated requirements for entering UDIA WA office
As Perth, Peel and beyond begin to experience an increase in Omicron cases due to community transmission, it is more critical than ever to ensure that UDIA WA takes all the necessary steps to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.
The WA State Government has mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for many Western Australian workplaces. Further to consultation and endorsement from UDIA WA Staff and Council, UDIA WA has implemented a new COVID-19 Vaccine Policy that requires all workers and visitors to be fully vaccinated prior to entering the workplace premises in Subiaco. This means that all personnel conducting work at the UDIA WA workplace must have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
From 31 January 2022, all visitors to the UDIA WA workplace (Level 1, 3 Wexford Street, Subiaco) will be required to allow a staff member from UDIA to sight their vaccination status or proof of exemption. Anyone who doesn’t show evidence when requested will be denied entry.
In line with Western Australian government health directions, our event venues could also start to introduce mandatory entry requirements.
Crown Perth have stated that as of 31 January 2022 all visitors (aged 18 years and over) to the Casino and Pearl Room and visitors (aged 16 years and over) to all other venues including hotels, Crown Spa and events and conferencing facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Crown Perth will request official proof of vaccination or medical contraindication certificate for guests wishing to gain access to these venues. Entry will be denied if official proof of vaccination or a medical contraindication certificate cannot be presented.
Please ensure you keep an eye on our event pages for any venue entry mandates and proof of vaccination requirements.
Please note that in line with the State Government policy, the requirement to manage the COVID-19 vaccinations for your organisation’s personnel solely resides with your organisation.
Further information from the State Government can be accessed via the following link here.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at udia@udiawa.com.au.
Access to UDIA WA website changed
Access to the UDIA WA website recently changed as part of our aim to provide exceptional member services.
UDIA WA has invested in new technology that will integrate our member database with our website and online event registration capabilities with our new UDIA WA online Community Portal providing our members with seamless, integrated services and up to date information at the click of a button.
As part of the change all login details for the website were removed and each member organisation’s Key Representative was granted access initially and the Key Representative can now provide access to a further 2 representatives for their organisation.
All the necessary information was emailed to Key Representatives last week and can be accessed here for more information.
Once active the UDIA WA Community Portal includes exclusive member only access to:
- Urban Express weekly news
- The Urbanist quarterly magazine
- The Urban Development Index quarterly market update
- The Urban Intelligence economic data report
- UDIA WA Members Directory listing details of all UDIA WA members
- UDIA WA Diversity Toolkit
- Relevant governance documents including the UDIA WA Annual Reports and Constitution
- Ability to update you and your organisations details
For more information or any queries, email membership@udiawa.com.au