The UDIA WA 2026 Awards for Excellence are now open for entry
The prestigious UDIA WA Awards for Excellence program has maintained the status of one of WA’s most respected and valued industry awards for over 30 years.
Specifically developed by, and for, the development industry and judged by highly respected, independent industry professionals, the Awards recognise excellence and innovation across Western Australia.
Winners’ trophies are displayed with pride in boardrooms and display cabinets across the State as a tangible sign of excellence and achievement.
In 2026, the program now spans 16 categories ranging from masterplanned communities and residential subdivisions through to apartment living and urban renewal.
The program also highlights the people and organisations that help shape thriving communities, with industry awards including Diversity in Development and Local Government Authority of the Year.
Each year, the awards program attracts more than 50 entries from across the state, and this strong level of participation reflects the pride our members take in their projects and the value the industry places on recognising outstanding work.
Enter the Awards and have your project, team or individual celebrated at the 2026 Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner with over 500 influential development industry professionals and dignitaries.
Key dates:
- Awards submissions open: 12 March 2026
- Awards submissions close: 19 June 2026
- Site visits & judging: 21 July – 14 August 2026
- UDIA WA Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner: 12 September 2026
Learn more about the Awards for Excellence or make a nomination.
Rethinking Density draws a crowd
Over 400 guests joined us at Crown for our first industry breakfast for 2026 featuring a keynote presentation by Deputy Premier and Treasurer the Hon. Rita Saffioti this morning. The focus of the Deputy Premier’s presentation was around housing choice and what the State Government has implemented to support the delivery of more housing supply in infill areas through initiatives such as the Build-to-Rent Kickstarter Fund, the Infrastructure Development Fund and the Housing Innovation Fund.
Further to the initiatives already underway, the Deputy Premier announced this morning the extension of the off-the-plan (OTP) stamp duty concession for another two years to 30 June 2028 and the increase of concession thresholds to $800,000 and $900,000 respectively. The scheme will also be expanded to include survey strata projects so is now available for apartments, townhouses, villas or units. The changes are directly off the back of recommendations made in UDIA WA’s Pre Budget Submission, and the Deputy Premier was keen to reinforce that the State Government is primarily focused on supply side initiatives rather than feeding any further demand, with further housing supply initiatives likely to be announced in the lead up to the State Budget in early June.
In welcoming the changes, UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck said the initiative is an important action in support of downsizers and those seeking smaller or more compact housing options to suit their needs.
“The OTP stamp duty concession incentivises the purchasing of apartments and other grouped dwellings such as townhomes, which opens up more choice for buyers,” Ms Steinbeck said.
“If we are serious about consolidating Perth’s urban growth and supporting more infill development, then we need these types of measures that will drive demand for more medium and higher density housing.”
“A concession for off-the-plan unit purchases supports freeing up larger and typically underoccupied housing, while helping projects sustain consistent sales momentum from launch through to completion.”
Following the Deputy Premier’s presentation, she was joined for a dynamic panel session with Linic Group Director Philip Lin and Keystart’s Chief Customer Officer Liam Loan-Lack.
The discussion was focused on further ways to facilitate the viability of medium and high-density projects to get more homes on the ground, with Mr Loan-Lack highlighting Keystart’s new product offerings including the Urban Connect Shared Equity and Modular construction home loan. He also advised that Keystart would continue to work with industry and government to develop further initiatives to support housing delivery. Mr Lin praised the WA planning system as one of the best in the country and highlighted the importance of initiatives including the IDF and the off-the-plan concession in supporting the viability of more medium and high-density projects. He also reinforced the importance of early community engagement on infill projects to understand local community expectations and deliver what the community needs.
The key message from the presentation and panel session was the importance of delivering housing choice and the willingness to work together across government and private industry, to deliver the homes that West Australians need.
Thank you to event sponsors DevelopmentWA, Summit Modular, and Urbis for supporting this fantastic event and we look forward to welcoming guests at our upcoming industry luncheon featuring greenfield market insights with Colin Keane this May. More details here.
Read UDIA WA’s media statement regarding the off-the-plan announcement.
View photos from the breakfast.
State Conference showcases Bunbury
UDIA WA’s sell out annual State Conference was held in WA’s ‘second city’ of Bunbury in the state’s south last month, attracting a dynamic group of delegates from private industry, local and state government to learn and network.
The theme for this year’s conference was The Future is Now, which reflected the urgency of addressing the current housing supply crisis, with an eye to delivering housing that is future ready.
Read a full summary of UDIA WA’s 2026 State Conference.
The latest edition of The Urbanist is out now for members
Exploring the theme “delivering the housing we need now, and for our future”, the latest edition of The Urbanist is available for members right now.
Unpack the challenges facing the delivery of affordable and appropriate housing to suit the growing needs of our communities and examine the importance of architecture that responds to the climate while also prioritising the human experience with articles featuring:
- An exploration of Perth’s future growth that balances new growth areas and infill with Rothelowman Principal Kylee Schoonens and Urbis Director Megan Gammon
- Reflections from 2025 UDIA WA Awards for Excellence Women in Leadership and Young Leaders Award Winners Tamara Vreeken and Kasia Majewski
- Insights from Lucy Shea (Partner, Clayton Utz) and Jason Hick (Director, Emerge Associates) examining Federal environmental reforms
- A case study of Hesperia’s Botonia Park that redefines sustainable living
- A re-imagining of high-density architecture as places that breathe in our cities with Koichi Takada
This edition also features Op Eds from Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience; South West the Hon. Don Punch, MLA and Sergio Famiano
Read the latest, and past editions, of The Urbanist.
Rawlinsons Cost Data Subscription Platform
Exclusive UDIA Member Offer – Save an additional 12% off introductory pricing!
For over 40 years, Rawlinsons (W.A.) has supported the Australian property and construction industry with trusted construction cost data. For UDIA members navigating feasibility pressures, funding scrutiny and rapidly shifting market conditions, confidence in your numbers has never been more critical.
The new Rawlinsons Cost Data Subscription Platform brings together decades of benchmarked construction intelligence into one modern, web-based system.
At the centre of this offering is Estimator Suite+, the most comprehensive subscription, providing full access to both Domestic and Commercial cost data, plus complete historical cost data back to 1983.
With more than 22,000 nationally indexed cost items covering all Australian regions, it delivers structured, consistent breakdowns suitable for feasibility studies, concept design cost planning and detailed BOQ pricing.
For developers, the historical data component is a powerful differentiator. Access to cost information spanning four decades supports escalation modelling, trend analysis, benchmarking and evidence-based forecasting. Whether preparing funding submissions, assessing acquisition viability or stress-testing project feasibility, Estimator Suite+ provides defensible, data-backed insight.
Used by quantity surveyors, builders, developers and government agencies nationwide, Rawlinsons Cost Data remains Australia’s most trusted authority.
Exclusive UDIA Member Offer: UDIA members receive a 12% discount on Rawlinsons Cost Data subscriptions, valid until 31st March 2026. Learn more at https://www.rawlhouse.com.au/publications/pricing and contact UDIA for your unique discount code.
Committees In Action
UDIA WA’s Community & Consumer Conversations Committee, chaired by Kris Nolan, convened for the first meeting of 2026 last week to confirm strategic priorities that will guide the work of committee members over the next two year term, with a focus on improving the reputation of the development industry across the community and advancing community engagement practices to better understand community expectations around urban growth and development.
The committee will focus on four key areas including improving the reputation of the development industry across the community; positioning UDIA WA as a one stop shop for consumer information supporting new home buyers; undertaking effective community engagement to better understand community sentiment; and produce information to support our members in best practice community engagement.
Working groups will be established across these four key areas to progress actions and we look forward to sharing progress as we move forward. In the meantime, members can view the Community page on our website to see the range of information already available, including our Housing Choice Video Series.
Last week UDIA WA’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group also had their first meeting for the year, chaired by Jane Bennett. Discussion focused on key actions from UDIA WA’s endorsed Reflect RAP that will be prioritised over the coming months, with the group looking to host two roundtables later in the year to facilitate discussion around Aboriginal procurement and employment. The group will also be supporting events and initiatives during National Reconciliation Week, with the theme ‘All in for Reconciliation’. Find out more about this year’s theme and what it means here.
If you or someone from your organisation is interested in finding out more about UDIA WA’s RAP or would like to join the working group, please contact Gemma Osiejak: gosiejak@udiawa.com.au
Working with WA’s Aboriginal Heritage Legislation
UDIA WA’s Working with WA’s Aboriginal Heritage Legislation will be running on 7 May 2026. First launched in 2024, the one-day course unpacks the obligations for the development industry under Western Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage legislative and policy framework.
Suitable for anyone involved in the urban development planning, design, and/or approvals processes, Working with WA’s Aboriginal Heritage Legislation guides participants through landowner obligations, how to comply and considerations for project feasibilities and timeframes; how to assess and minimise risk of harm to Aboriginal heritage; and how to undertake business and consultations in a sensitive, respectful, and appropriate manner, including how and when to best engage with Aboriginal people during the development process.
Develop with confidence and respect, celebrating WA’s rich Aboriginal heritage.