From the CEO
Today UDIA welcomed a new report launched by Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA that provides a strong evidence base for committing to stamp duty reform in Western Australia.
UDIA WA have long advocated for property tax reform and highlighted the handbrake that stamp duty places on households being able to transition to appropriate accommodation that suits their current life stage without financial penalty.
In an environment where we have very little housing choice, record low rental vacancy rates, a shortfall in established residential stock and serious delays to new construction – disincentivising people to right size now and in the future has and will continue to have unintended consequences.
Unsurprisingly, the Premier was very quick to shut down the prospect of stamp duty reform in this morning’s paper, citing concerns around the impacts on house prices and affordability. This is a core piece of the evidence base that needs to be further explored.
UDIA WA continues to support the State Government in the continuation of the off-the-plan duty rebate scheme, which has had great success in encouraging purchasers to choose apartments. With a meeting of all State Treasurers with the new Federal Treasurer tomorrow, we will be watching closely the narrative that emerges with stamp duty a key item on the agenda.
What does an Institute award mean to you?
UDIA National are keen to get members’ feedback on the Institute’s state and national awards and what they mean for your organisation.
Have your say on the awards program and what goes into your decision to enter an award.
Please take 2 minutes to complete our survey. Survey closes 5pm, Friday 29 July.
Click here to complete the survey.
UDIA Welcomes national focus on solutions to housing affordability and homelessness
UDIA National welcomed last week’s meeting of Housing Ministers from across Australia with the common goal of finding solutions to housing affordability and homelessness.
UDIA has called on the Housing Ministers to make improving planning and approval systems to boost housing supply and reduce delays a top priority. The development industry continues to struggle under the weight of red and green tape which prevents a proper supply-side response to housing demand.
Measures should include investment incentives for states and territories to boost development ready land, fast track enabling infrastructure and streamline planning and approvals to reduce delays and costs for home purchasers.
“Both state and federal governments need to partner to find meaningful solutions to the challenge of housing costs, coupled with smart lending practices and incentives that blend home ownership with housing supply. In this way we can meet the demands for access to housing across the spectrum and begin to address the housing supply and affordability crisis,” said Maxwell Shifman, National President, UDIA. “Any measures which fail to address supply will fall short”.
New episode of Home in WA
This Sunday will see a new episode of Home in WA broadcast with a feature episode from UDIA WA looking at the revitalisation of Fremantle.
Fremantle has been undergoing a revitalisation in recent years and there is a lot happening from the historic Victoria Quay and the new Gage Roads brewery to many new rooftop bars, boutique hotels and residential developments. At the heart of Fremantle’ transformation is Walyalup Koort and the new cultural hub FOMO.
Our Port City of Fremantle is undergoing a renaissance with greater public and private investment in several significant sites including the waterfront, and in the heart of Fremantle. What was once known as the King Square Renewal Project – the civic heart of Fremantle has been renamed Walyalup Koort in recognition of the contribution to the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people.
To view this episode, tune into Channel 7 or 7HD this Sunday at 2pm.
Home in WA are UDIA WA’s Media Partner, if you would like to have your business featured on the show and enjoy a 10% discount off your first story, reach out to Executive Producer Ron at dingoistalent@bigpond.com.au and quote UDIA for more information.
City of Perth Mayor proposes new report
The City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has proposed a new report outlining current barriers and disincentives to increased residential development and density in the city as well as looking at the recommendations on initiatives and incentives to stimulate and accelerate residential development, which could be implemented by the city and others in the 2023/24 financial year.
UDIA WA supports the proposal for a new report as submitted by the Lord Mayor. We have congratulated the City of Perth for recognizing the value that residential development adds to the vibrancy of our places and for seeking input from the development industry on possible incentives to attract more residential development into the City.
We look forward to engaging with the City of Perth and providing our feedback to inform the potential creation of the new report.
As touched on in the Lord Mayor’s Notice of Motion, more residents in the City will improve vibrancy in the City. More people living, working and playing in the City will have a positive impact for businesses in the CBD.
We have seen how more residents within a CBD can improve local economies and bring a city to life in places like Sydney and Melbourne and other major cities around the world.
Incentives to deliver higher density residential development in the City will be welcome as UDIA will seek to work with the City of Perth on what those incentives may be.
Attracting more people to choose to live in the City will also require a level of services and amenities for residents that are comparable to the accessibility of places in the suburbs.
This was an issue that was highlighted at UDIA WA’s recent Developing Destination WA Summit, where it was highlighted that the City of Perth faces competition from the outer suburbs in terms of attracting residents to live in the CBD.
For example, attracting more families to live in the city is important for the future growth and viability of the CBD. A diversity of housing choices, as well as amenities such as schools, shops and other services that are readily available in surrounding suburbs would need to be made available to residents wanting to live in the CBD.
Builders sought for social housing builds and refurbishments
Large and small builders from all regions of Western Australia have been invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to deliver new and refurbished social housing across the State.
Successful proponents will form a State-wide panel to help boost the supply of social housing in WA, with registered builders of all sizes and from all regions encouraged to submit an EOI via Tenders WA here.
The panel will primarily support the delivery of social housing but may be expanded to include other housing programs delivered by the Department of Communities.
Both construct-only and design-and-construct projects will be available to panel members.
Builders will be asked to nominate which projects they have the capacity to deliver as part of the EOI process.
The State Government has simplified the qualifying process to enable more smaller-scale and regional builders.
For more information, click here.
PropTech Hub WA hosts second industry summit
An emerging space in Perth’s CBD, PropTech Hub WA has played host to WA’s second Industry Summit with major leaders in the property and construction sector.
Named the Enconyx Christmas In July Industry Summit 2022, it saw presentations and input from various property and construction related businesses and associations in WA with a keynote speech from UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck.
Officially opened by the charismatic Hon David Scaife MP for Cockburn and City of Perth Councillor Rebecca Gordan cutting the red ribbon, which has become a custom at PropTech Hub WA events.
A clear theme throughout the day was an emphasis on technology and for innovators to continue finding solutions to challenges.
General Manager of PropTech Hub WA Ash, said “industry are coming to us for two reasons, to solve problems that they are facing and to pull in innovation that increases competitive advantages”.
PropTech Hub WA has a full event calander, membership options, it’s own Radio Show broadcasted on DRN1 Radio and soon releasing PropTech TV Show Perth.
“We have world-wide acknowledgement that PropTech Hub WA offerings is unique, and nothing compares in any other country,” Ash said.
“Building capability into our WA Industry is what will make a significant difference in years to come.”
Hon David Scaife said “Innovation in this industry is paramount and the McGowan Government is doing everything it can to deliver on its social housing target”.
City of Perth Smart Cities Manager John Hawke said “we have operating technology in Perth that no other capital city in Australia is using, and it makes a huge difference in our smart city property technology (PropTech) capability”.
For more information on PropTech Hub WA, please visit here.
Enhanced worker attraction and local training supporting WA’s strong economy
The State Government has launched a new Skilled Migrant Employment Register to attract workers to key industries, helping to deliver the skilled labour needed to support Western Australia’s strong economy and jobs market.
The free register can be accessed through the Migration WA portal and has been designed to support skilled migrants to settle in WA while giving employers visibility of new talent.
The register will also support regional employers by linking migrants who indicate preferred employment in regional areas to employment opportunities in country WA.
In addition, six more building and construction occupations have been added to WA’s Skilled Migration Occupation List to support the continued high level of activity in the sector.
These include project builders; surveyors; building inspectors; building and engineering technicians; roof tilers; and air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics.
New statistics also show the State Government’s efforts to rebuild the training sector over the past five years are delivering strong results, including in building and construction.
There are now more than 10,000 building and construction and electrical apprentices and trainees currently engaged in WA – an all-time record.
Overall apprenticeship completions rose from 3,166 in 2020 to 4,046 in 2021 – a 28% increase.
The new statistics show strong increases in building and construction and electrical apprenticeships and traineeships, including:
- building and construction apprenticeship commencements have increased by more than 150% – up from 1,065 in May 2020 to 2,708 in May 2022;
- electrical apprenticeship commencements have nearly doubled over the past two years – from 1,146 in May 2020 to 2,232 in May 2022;
- the number of building and construction apprentices in training has increased from 2,583 in May 2020 to 4,558 in 2022 – a 76% increase; and
- the number of electrical apprentices in training has increased from 3,377 in 2020 to 4,872 in 2022 – a 44% increase.
There have also been significant increases in those undertaking apprenticeships for electrical mechanics and gas fitting, bricklaying, carpentry and joinery.
For more information and to access the migration portal visit here.
RBA Minutes
This week the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released the minutes from its July Monetary Policy Meeting where it raised the cash rate target by a further 50 basis points to 1.35%.
The minutes include the detailed reasoning behind the rate rise as well as an insight into the future of the cash rate.
To view the minutes, click here.
Western Australia steps closer to registration of building engineers
The State Government has approved the preparation of new regulations to register building engineers as part of a reform package to improve regulation of Western Australia’s building industry.
WA’s first ever engineer registration scheme is expected to involve around 900 building engineers.
Registration is designed to provide greater accountability and consistency of engineering services while improving public safety and consumer protection, as well as increasing professional recognition of building engineers.
A regulatory impact statement supporting the registration is available on the Building and Energy website.
The regulations are the first part of the McGowan Government’s suite of reforms aimed at modernising and improving WA’s building regulatory framework in response to recommendations from the national Building Confidence Report.
Following public consultations, recommendations are also being finalised on changes to the approval processes for residential and commercial buildings, as well as the registration of builders and related occupations.
The engineer registration scheme addresses the Building Confidence Report’s first three recommendations.
The registration scheme is expected to increase building compliance, reduce rectification costs, increase public confidence in the building industry and provide a formal recourse process for substandard engineering work.
Discussions with peak engineering associations and further consultation with industry will take place as the regulations are prepared. A code of conduct will also be introduced to ensure that building quality, standards and integrity are met.
City of Wanneroo Local Planning Policy Update
On 12 July 2022, the City of Wanneroo Council adopted proposed changes to its Local Planning Policy 4.21: Coastal Assets for the purposes of public consultation.
The policy provides guidance on the type and location of proposed permanent and temporary assets that the City will consider within the foreshore reserve.
The changes are not considered to be significant and include the following:
- Inclusion of a new objective to deliver accessible and user friendly facilities and spaces;
- Inclusion of new clauses which consider asset materials, universal access and asset handover requirements to be consistent with existing City standards;
- Updated terminology to be consistent with current State and local policies and guidelines; and
- Minor rewording and reformatting to improve the overall legibility and functionality of the policy.
The draft revised Policy can be viewed on the City’s website here, and any public comments may be lodged via the online submission form here, on or before 4 August 2022.
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.