From the CEO
Christmas and the end of the calendar year is a time of reflection, giving & gratitude. Looking back over 2022, there is much to be proud of and thankful for as a team and as an industry in what has been an incredibly challenging time for many.
We are blessed to live in one of the greatest cities in the world, with one of the strongest economies in the world. Whilst we have not escaped the perfect storm of construction industry constraints around costs & skills, we have a State Government that listens and responds to industry. The announcement on Sunday of the lifting of Keystart purchase price caps is one of many examples of this and I was most pleased to see that our Ministers for Housing and Planning respectively kept their portfolios in yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle.
As we put the finishing touches to our State Budget Submission for the State Government to consider for 2023-2024, we remain focused on the provision of adequate housing supply across the continuum and the lead infrastructure that is required to facilitate it. Ensuring policy and regulatory settings facilitate not constrain supply is always on the agenda, as is ensuring we have a single source of truth of just how much housing we need, where and when.
As I talk to many of our members, there is an unsurprising sense of fatigue heading into the break and our UDIA team here are no different. We are all very much looking forward to some time out to recharge our batteries for a busy and exciting year ahead. On behalf of Sarah, Toby, Katie, Claire, Georgia, Gemma, Chris and our office doggo Gracie, we wish you and your families a safe and happy festive season. May you all receive your Christmas wishes and enjoy giving the true gift of the season – the most precious resource we have, time, with those who matter to you the most.
Keystart limits increased
This week UDIA WA welcomed the announcement by the Premier and Minister for Housing that Keystart home loans are now available for properties worth up to $560,000.
The increased property limits are sensible given the current cost of housing and is something UDIA WA has been advocating for to offer homebuyers more choice and better access to low deposit loans in order to get their foot in the home ownership door.
UDIA appreciates that the State Government has listened to industry and listened to consumers and made these changes accordingly.
With the average price of a house around $540,000 in broader Perth and values much higher in inner and middle ring suburbs the increased limits will provide buyers a greater range of affordable housing options to assist them in getting on the property ladder.
The additional benefit is it will enable more people to get into homeownership and away from the rental trap. Keystart is such an important mechanism to assist potential home buyers into home ownership faster.
Today’s changes in conjunction with previously implemented measures such as the Urban Connect Home Loan, specifically aimed at purchasing in infill areas, are a step in the right direction.
The Urbanist Live
UDIA WA are proud to release the latest episode of our special inclusion and diversity series of The Urbanist Live.
In this episode The Urbanist Live host and UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck talks to Barb Bynder and Farley Garlett from Karrda and Chris Brady from DevelopmentWA about the award-winning Aboriginal Development Manager Program at Subi East by DevelopmentWA.
The project was recently awarded one of the coveted Judges Awards at the UDIA WA 2022 Awards for Excellence and this episode delves into the details of what makes this such an incredible project.
One of the key phrases that comes out of the podcast is how Subi East is an exemplar of Reconciliation in Action and provides a fascinating insight into effective engagement with Traditional Owners of the land.
The episode can be listened to here.
Planning for School Sites Policy released
This week saw the release of Operational Policy 2.4 Planning for School Sites, which is designed to guide the location and selection of development sites for new Government and private schools across Western Australia.
According to the Government Statement releasing the policy it is designed to deliver a contemporary approach to planning for future Government and private schools, ensuring a more transparent approach to cash in lieu arrangements, and enables childcare facilities to be co-located.
The policy requires school sites to be strategically located – with a minimum of three street frontages – and must consider bikes, scooters, and other transport modes to improve neighbourhood traffic networks and road safety.
Sites must also be large enough to cater for childcare or education support facilities where required.
UDIA will be studying the policy and comparing it with the submission we lodged on the draft policy.
For more information and to view the policy, click here.
Engagement with the Growth Areas Perth and Peel (GAPP) Councils
Last Thursday UDIA attended a meeting of the GAPP Councils to brief the CEOs on UDIA’s draft position statement discussion paper on Development Contributions Plans for residential development.
The paper outlines potential opportunities seeking to simplify the delivery model, encourage consistency across local governments, improve delivery timeframes for community infrastructure and improve the management of DCPs.
UDIA’s Development Ready Pipeline (DRP) project was also a key topic of discussion. The CEOs welcomed this and further engagement on these items, including involvement in the first DRP Outlook Forum in February 2023.
Cabinet reshuffle
This week WA Premier Mark McGowan announced a Cabinet reshuffle in which he welcomed new Cabinet Ministers Wanneroo MLA Sabine Winton and South-West region MLC Jackie Jarvis to replace the departing Alannah MacTiernan and Dave Kelly.
As part of the reshuffle Sabine Winton will be Minister responsible for Child Protection, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, Community Services, and the new portfolio of Early Childhood Education – highlighting its importance as a dedicated portfolio.
Farmer and businesswoman Jackie Jarvis will be Minister responsible for Agriculture and Food, Forestry, and Small Business.
The two new Ministers build on previous changes to the Cabinet team, resulting in a total of seven new Ministers since the 2021 State election.
Roger Cook adds the Hydrogen Industry portfolio to his responsibilities.
After nearly 10 years in the Education portfolio – including six years as Minister for Education and Training – Sue Ellery will now take on the portfolios of Finance, Commerce, and Women’s Interests.
Tony Buti will take on the Education portfolio, in addition to Aboriginal Affairs, and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests.
Simone McGurk takes on the portfolios of Training, Water, and Youth.
Don Punch adds Regional Development to Disability Services, Fisheries, and Seniors and Ageing.
Reece Whitby adds the Racing and Gaming portfolio to Environment and Climate Action.
The evolution of the digital economy as an economic enabler will see Stephen Dawson appointed as Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, along with Emergency Services, Medical Research, and Volunteering.
The new Parliamentary Secretaries will be Jodie Hanns, Dr Jagadish (Jags) Krishnan, Meredith Hammat, Pierre Yang, and Hannah Beazley.
UDIA were pleased to see the Housing and Planning Ministers retained their portfolios and we look forward to continuing our strong and collaborative relationship with both Ministers.
Unemployment rate steady
Unemployment statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released today have found the unemployment rate across the country to be unchanged from the October figure.
Nationally the unemployment rate remained unmoved at 3.5% and it was a similar story in WA with the unemployment rate sitting at 3.5% for another month.
The underemployment rate dropped 0.1% in WA for November to sit at 5.6%, the second lowest of the states which out participation rate remained steady at 69.1%.
Population growth
Australia’s population grew by 1.1% the year ending 30 June 2022, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The population as at 30 June 2022 was 25.98 million people, following an increase of 290,900 people.
There were 306,500 births and 182,100 deaths registered in Australia during the year. Natural increase during this period was 124,400 people, a decrease of 10.8% from the previous year. This decrease was driven by the increase in deaths (16,500 or 10.0%).
There were 395,000 overseas migration arrivals and 224,100 departures during the year ending 30 June 2022, resulting in net overseas migration of 170,900 people. Net overseas migration increased by 255,800 persons compared to the previous year. This was driven by an increase in overseas migration arrivals (170.5%) with departures decreasing slightly (-3.0%).
WA recorded the second highest population increase in percentage terms as it finished 30 June 2022 with 1.3% more people than at the same time the year before. Queensland was the only State or Territory with a larger percentage increase.
WA added a further 35,000 residents to its population with natural increase the major contributor to population change in WA, while net interstate migration was the major contributor to population change in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory and net overseas migration was the major contributor to change in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Certificate IV Course – Enrolments for February 2023 Intake Now Open
UDIA are pleased to announce Enrolments for our next intake of the BSB40920 Certificate IV in Project Management Practice, Specialising in Property Development course are now open.
BSB40920 Certificate IV in Project Management Practice, Specialising in Property Development is the only nationally-recognised qualification of its kind that teaches the project management competencies unique to the property development industry.
The course has been written by UDIA NSW in partnership with its members and vocational education experts. The course teaches the critical skills of project management such as identifying project scope, managing time, cost and quality, contract negotiation, team engagement and stakeholder communication.
The qualification is delivered over 18 weeks through a blended method of online self-directed learning and regular tutorials. Upon achieving a competent result for all course units of competency, graduates will attain a BSB40920 Certificate IV in Project Management Practice, Specialising in Property Development issued by our RTO, McMillan.
For more information and to register your place, click here.
Hard copies of The Urbanist sent out
Keep an eye out for hard copy of the final edition for 2022 of UDIA WA’s flagship magazine The Urbanist, which has been posted out to members this week.
This edition is focused on themes that will be explored at the UDIA National Congress here in Perth in 2023.
We are also pleased to feature a cover story including an interview with Federal Minister for Housing the Hon. Julie Collins on the implementation of the Housing Accord and broader issues of housing supply and affordability.
To read this edition, visit here.
Community Benefits Contibution – Have your say
The Town of Mosman Park has prepared a draft Local Planning Policy No. 32 – Community Benefits Contribution – Mixed Use Development and Apartments and is seeking feedback from industry.
The purpose of the policy is to create a statutory framework for the assessment of community benefit proposals and provide guidance to proponents regarding the types of community benefit that may be incorporated as part of significant development proposals.
The consultation for the Policy will run from the 10th of December through to the 4th of February.
For more information, click here.