From the CEO
It’s not easy being green. This is becoming increasingly clear as the journey towards net zero picks up the pace as does the desire from government and the private sector to tick the ESG boxes and lead the way towards a carbon free future.
I was delighted to walk through the first 9 + NATHERS star rated two storey home today in Brabham by PEET and DevelopmentWA. A beautiful home, on a perfectly oriented lot. A great way to educate consumers on the benefits of sustainable design, construction & living. Another step in the right direction done carefully and collaboratively.
As the development and construction industry in WA starts to see the light at the end of a challenging tunnel, we are faced with a freight train (powered by electricity of course) coming the other way of compliance with a soon to be endorsed Medium Density Code and revised National Construction Code Energy Efficiency provisions that both sound great in theory – no one denies the need for more sustainable homes. In practice, the industry that is responsible for actually delivering this product cannot simply swing that big green pendulum in the other direction at speed. Not to mention educate the home buyer about the need for these provisions and the associated impacts on their up front house price in an environment of record material and labour costs.
Whether it’s the desire to stop domestic gas infrastructure in new developments overnight because electricity is the only way forward or banning a black roof on all new homes because it’s low hanging fruit. There are two voices faintly heard here. The home buyer and the home builder or developer. Neither of whom should be mistaken for muppets in this transition. Being green isn’t quick and easy for all players. Then again nothing worthwhile doing ever is.
State Council nominations close soon!
Members wishing to nominate for one of the open positions on UDIA WA’s State Council have until 5pm on Monday 22 August to submit their nomination.
UDIA WA are currently calling for nominations to join the UDIA WA State Council, which sets the strategic direction and policy priorities of the organisation. It is the Council’s responsibility to ensure it governs with excellence and effectively oversees the performance of the business through the Chief Executive Officer.
There are 12 members of Council that are appointed by nomination from member representatives, with a minimum of six to be Developer Members.
Terms are two years, with the option for current Councillors to re-nominate. Nominees must have extensive experience in senior roles, with a sound understanding of corporate governance.
This year, there are four positions available for nomination with the current term expiring for Jane Bennett (CLE Town Planning + Design), Paul Morgan (PEET), Danielle Davison (Davison Advisory) and Richard Pappas (Celsius Property).
If there are more nominations than the number of positions available, a full election will be held via electronic voting. Only Developer, Associate and Life Members are eligible to vote. A Deemed Election OR General Election will then be announced on 12 September 2022.
Nominations close at 5:00pm on Monday 22 August 2022.
Click here to nominate.
Brabham Green home launch
This morning UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck was in attendance and provided a speech at the launch of the Brabham Green Homes, the first ever 9+ star two storey NatHERS accredited home in Australia.
The launch of the Brabham Green Homes Demonstration Display Home by PEET and DevelopmentWA is a positive and innovative approach to the future of housing and sustainability for our state.
UDIA WA advocates for excellence and innovation in the creation of sustainable communities, and the new Brabham Green Homes Demonstration Display Home sets a new standard for future communities in the state.
Education and choice are important when it comes to improving access and adoption of sustainable options for homebuyers. This Green Home does just that and is an important step forward for sustainable housing.
Brought to fruition by combining each parties expertise, the Project successfully showcases how sustainability can be integrated into the communities across Western Australia.
Brabham Estate is one of the future-shaping projects underway in Perth and is an illustration of how considered urban development can improve the surrounding environment, while also providing quality places for people to live, work and connect.
Unemployment rate drops again
Earlier today the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the labour force stats for July which revealed a further drop in the national unemployment rate to 3.4% with WA’s unemployment rate also dropping to 3.2% in July.
Bjorn Jarvis, head of labour statistics at the ABS said the fall in unemployment in July reflects an increasingly tight labour market, including high job vacancies and ongoing labour shortages, resulting in the lowest unemployment rate since August 1974.
“In July, there were fewer unemployed people (474,000) than there were job vacancies (480,000 in May),” he said.
With a fall in both employment and unemployment in July, the national participation rate also fell, down 0.3 percentage points from its record high of 66.8% to 66.4%. It remained 0.5 percentage points higher than before the pandemic.
In WA the participation rate increased in July 0.1% to sit at 69.4%, the highest of all the States with the 3.2% unemployment rate, the second lowest of the States behind Victoria which recorded an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
The underemployment rate in WA also dropped in July to sit at 5.4%, markedly lower than the underemployment rates recorded in the other states.
New speakers added to infrastructure line up
This week UDIA WA were pleased to announce two new speakers have been added to our upcoming Industry Breakfast that will provide a Spotlight on Civil & Essential Infrastructure.
The strategic and timely delivery of essential infrastructure is pivotal to the roll out of quality, affordable and well-planned urban development to meet the needs of a growing population.
Join the discussion at this UDIA industry breakfast to unpack the current challenges facing infrastructure planning and delivery, particularly given the current backlogs due to high demand for new homes, materials and labour shortages.
- How are these key infrastructure providers addressing current challenges and planning for future pressures?
- How can we ensure the strategic delivery of essential infrastructure to greenfield and infill developments to keep a lid on housing affordability?
- How can we achieve better coordination in relation to infrastructure roll out?
Featuring keynote presentations and an interactive Q&A panel session with key civil and infrastructure service providers:
Book your spot here but be quick as registrations close on Wednesday 24 August.
Our thanks go to Technology Partner NBN for supporting this event.
UDIA in Action
UDIA’s Liveability Committee met this week to discuss a number of key issues and challenges, most notably the implications regarding the adoption of the draft medium density housing code. The committee also discussed the development of a Housing and Land Supply Monitor and the launch of a pilot of the program in WA.
UDIA’s Built-Form Advisory Group has also been busy this week, providing input into the UDIA National policy position statements on Build-to-Rent and Affordable and Social Housing. The Group is also currently preparing a pre-budget submission outlining the positive social and economic impacts of the ‘Off-the-Plan Duty Rebate’ scheme.
Progressing the Mid-Tier Transport debate
Last week UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck was interviewed by both Channel 7 and Channel 9 regarding the recently announced call for a Mid-Tier Transport Strategy.
UDIA WA have been working closely with a consortium of local governments calling on the State Government to implement and fund a Mid-Tier Public Transport strategy that would better connect METRONET train stations with activity centres, employment hubs and other core amenities.
The consortium is working towards identifying potential future transit corridors in the Perth metropolitan area, conducive to mid-tier public transport. By identifying the corridors earlier, local governments can forward plan and tailor their Local Planning Schemes to ensure key mid-tier transport routes – and land allocation – are factored into urban design and land use planning.
Click here to view one of the Channel 7 segments.
API Magazine’s Q2 Property Sentiment Survey.
This week the Australian Property Investor Magazine released the results from its Q2 Property Sentiment Survey, which delivers the thoughts and predictions from its readership around the nation’s real estate market.
From 1 July to 1 August, 557 respondents to the API Magazine survey delivered their verdict on the state of the property market, encompassing a wide range of issues and market variables.
The report is the culmination of the survey responses provided by API Magazine’s readers in the second quarter of 2022. It uncovers their audience’s property market sentiment and concerns, 12-month predictions and buying intentions, and reveals changes based on historical survey results.
To view the report, click here.
Come work with UDIA
UDIA WA are on the search for two new members to join our team in the heart of Subiaco.
The roles we are currently advertising for are an Executive Director – Strategy & Policy (more info here) and an Industry Education Officer (more info here).
In addition to the perks of working in the heart of Subiaco in an incredible team environment, UDIA offers flexible working options, regular team social events and an opportunity to get to know our awesome office pup Gracie who is a joy to be around.
For more information, click on the above links or reach out to udia@udiawa.com.au with any questions.
Date set for opening of METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link
This week the State Government announced the $1.86 billion METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link is set to begin operations on 9 October.
This opening date announcement comes as testing and commissioning enters its final stages, with driver training now underway.
The METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link, to be known as the Airport Line when it opens, is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments, and will be the first passenger rail line to Perth Airport.
The project will deliver three new train stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central and High Wycombe, increasing public transport options for Perth’s eastern suburbs and foothills area.
This will support domestic and international tourism by improving access between the city and Perth Airport, and create new residential and commercial opportunities around Redcliffe and High Wycombe Stations.
It’s anticipated an average of 20,000 passenger trips will be made each day on the new rail line in its first year of service, increasing to 29,000 by 2032.
The Airport Line will be supported by an enhanced bus network connecting surrounding suburbs to the new train stations, adding an additional 26 new buses to the network, as well as 1.7 million annual bus service kilometres to the Transperth network.
Site selected for Western Australia’s new Aboriginal Cultural Centre
It was announced this week that a Terrace Road site is the preferred location for the new Aboriginal Cultural Centre for Western Australia.
The site was chosen primarily because of its connection to the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan), Heirisson Island (Matta Gerup) and Kings Park (Katta Koomba), which are places of cultural significance to Noongar people.
The Whadjuk Cultural Authority representatives on the Aboriginal Cultural Centre Steering Committee were asked to consider six different locations near the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan). The selection of the site went through an extensive cultural investigation and consultation process, which has been endorsed by the wider Whadjuk reference group for the project.
The Whadjuk Cultural Authority representative group is made up of six members of the Noongar community; three men and three women who were selected by Whadjuk Elders.
The project will now be progressed through further engagement with the newly elected Directors and cultural advice committee members of the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, established under the South West Native Title Settlement.
Extensive State-wide consultations with Aboriginal people and communities will also commence to help shape the vision and key functions of the Centre.
It is anticipated the Centre will be opened in 2028.
Respondents shortlisted for WA’s first ground lease build-to-rent development
This week, Housing Minister John Carey announced the consortiums shortlisted to develop Western Australia’s first Build-to-Rent (BTR) project utilising a ground lease.
In an attempt to respond to the current heated construction market and the private rental shortage, BTR is designed to deliver social, affordable and market rental housing on a government-owned site.
The State Government released an expression of interest for the development in April 2022, which resulted in a competitive and diverse range of proposals from the sector and led to three consortiums being shortlisted.
The consortiums are led by three of WA’s key Community Housing Providers:
- Community Housing Ltd;
- Housing Choices Western Australia Ltd; and
- Foundation Housing Ltd.
The Smith Street site in Highgate will be made available to the successful provider under a long-term ground lease and will deliver approximately 100 new rental dwellings, of which approximately 30% will be allocated to those on the public housing waitlist.
The community housing sector plays a vital role in driving outcomes in WA’s social and affordable housing system.
Further information can be found here.
Landmark Middleton Beach hotel concept images unveiled
First concept images and designs for the $30 million hotel at Middleton Beach in Albany were unveiled this week.
The hotel, to be delivered by Pacifica Ausglobal, will bring new amenity, drive tourism and create local jobs and further economic opportunities for the region.
The concept for the waterfront hotel is planned to feature 66 suites, with ground floor food and beverage facilities for local residents, visitors and hotel guests to enjoy.
Pacifica Ausglobal has been refining the design based on feedback provided by the Government’s State Design Review Panel.
The Panel is working with Pacifica on key design components of the project including building height in relation to Mt Clarence and Middleton Beach, parking, place activation and its contribution to a successful beachfront public realm.
Final changes to the design will be made following the second design review and once endorsed by the State Design Review Panel, will be submitted to the City of Albany as part of the development approval process.
The public will then have the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed design.
Subject to development approval, works are anticipated to commence on the new hotel in early 2023 and will create up to 180 new jobs.
The Middleton Beach Hotel will be located opposite Duettes – six unique townhouses which mark the first stage in a purpose-designed, medium density, mixed-use development by the State Government in regional WA.
Partnership opportunity with UDIA WA
UDIA WA have put together a range of new partnership packages to enable you to share the incredible work you do with the UDIA WA membership and wider development industry.
The below packages provide you with a presence in UDIA WA’s quarterly thought-leadership publication The Urbanist and the upcoming edition of the UDIA WA 2022 Awards for Excellence Winners Showcase magazine which highlight the best and brightest people and projects in the urban development industry at the moment (Click here to view last year’s Winners magazine).
Both publications are distributed in hard copy on high-quality glossy paper to every UDIA WA member company with a fully hyper-linkable digital version emailed directly to over 4,000 individual members on the UDIA WA mailing list and distributed across the UDIA WA social media channels with an audience of over 14,000 followers.
As an added extra the packages include banner adverts within our Urban Express newsletter. This weekly communique is the industry’s go-to for the latest information and is emailed directly to our entire member mailing list providing you with an excellent opportunity to extend your campaign across our advertising platforms.
With only a limited number of packages available, now is the time to partner with UDIA WA. Get in touch with Communications Officer Chris Thurmott at cthurmott@udiawa.com.au for more information on the packages and to secure your spot.
UDIA Online Access Code
UDIA WA are pleased to share a new Corporate Accommodation Rate Code for our members to receive 15% off accommodation with Crown Perth.
To access the discounted rates simply book via the Crown Hotels website and quote our Corporate Access code urband3357 in the promotional code field to receive your negotiated corporate rate.
Full instructions can be found here and for more information and T&Cs, click here.
Expressions of interest for mentor program with first year Curtin Property students.
The Property Education Foundation are seeking expressions of interest for mentors who would like to be involved in a program that will be embedded into the assessment structure of the Introduction to Property Markets unit.
The commitment from mentors would include:
- A one-hour session where they will be introduced to the Introduction to Property Markets unit, the role of a mentor and to sign a consent form
- Liaising with students via email to arrange a suitable time and place to meet
- Meet for one hour with 3 and 4 students (simultaneously) in a public space, eg a café
- Following the meeting, provide brief feedback to the Unit Coordinator on student interactions.
- This is likely to take place in August/September 2022.
For more information or to submit an Expression of Interest, reach out to Tanya Steinbeck at tsteinbeck@udiawa.com.au.