From the CEO

As we head towards a historic moment for Perth, holding the AFL Grand Final in what is a world-class piece of infrastructure in Optus Stadium, we should be proud of the outstanding quality & experience this sporting and entertainment facility provides the people not only of our State but of our entire country and beyond.

UDIA WA’s core policy platform is built around the Economy, the Environment and Liveability. One could argue that as a city and a State we are travelling pretty well across those key themes in many ways. A linchpin that pulls these three areas together is infrastructure at a State, regional, sub-regional and local level. Therefore it is critical that we ensure the planning, coordination, funding and delivery of infrastructure at all levels is at the very least done, but ideally done exceptionally well.

This week we finalised our submission in response to the release of the Draft State Infrastructure Strategy. The key message for IWA is the need for far greater alignment between land use planning and public infrastructure. We support the concept of an “urban consolidation action plan”, however iterate that population growth cannot be supported by infill development alone and that leading infrastructure will still be needed to support urban expansion areas across the State. Partnership with the private sector is critical and we acknowledge the extensive collaboration undertaken by IWA on the journey thus far.

For those of you taking a well earned break for school holidays, enjoy and stay safe. For those of you lucky enough to have a seat at the Grand Final this weekend, go the Doggies!

Get involved with the UDIA WA action

UDIA WA is delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2022-23 terms of the Institute’s Standing Advisory Groups and Other Committees

Standing Advisory Groups were endorsed in 2021 as part of a revised governance structure and will serve to bring together technical experts from the UDIA membership to offer detailed operational level input into the objectives covered under the three Strategic Committees, which are the Economic, Environment and Liveability Committees.

UDIA WA is calling for leaders from across the industry, from a diverse range of skills and backgrounds, to come forward, nominate and play a role in shaping the future of development in Western Australia.

Positions are available in the following Strategic Working Groups and Committees:

Standing Advisory Groups:

  • Built Form
  • Climate Change
  • Community Education & Engagement
  • Industry Workforce
  • Infrastructure
  • Land Use Planning
  • Regulation & Taxation
  • Urban Water

Other Committees:

  • Diversity
  • Outlook

For more information, read the nomination kit here and to nominate, click here.

Nominations close at 5.00pm, Friday 15 October 2021.

Three key Ministers headline unmissable UDIA luncheon

The three key Ministers integral to delivering land and housing in Western Australia will present to a special UDIA WA industry lunch event on 12th November.

The Delivering Housing Choice luncheon will focus on the recent formation of the Ministerial group dedicated to unlocking land and housing supply, chaired by the Hon. John Carey MLA, Minister for Housing; Local Government which has elevated this critical issue with a new level of Cabinet collaboration.

In this exclusive lunch event, you will hear from Minister Carey along with the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, Minister for Transport; Planning & Ports and the Hon. Tony Buti MLA, Minister for Finance; Lands; Sport and Recreation; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests on their priorities in delivering places to live, work and play and how a whole-of-government approach is already delivering dividends to the people of Western Australia.

This event is sure to sell out so make sure you book today to avoid disappointment.

More information here.

Thanks to our event sponsors Satterley, Business Events Perth and our networking partner JDSI Consulting Engineers.

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available, please contact kdewar-matusik@udiawa.com.au to discuss further.

Infrastructure key to Perth’s future growth

This week UDIA WA lodged a new submission in response to the Draft State Infrastructure Strategy, Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow.

Within the submission we acknowledged the widespread consultation already undertaken as part of the preparation of the draft Strategy, as well as the stakeholder roundtables, in which UDIA participated, that have recently been undertaken to test the draft and help frame the 10-year infrastructure plan.

Whilst UDIA WA is supportive of the principles underpinning the draft Strategy, we offered a range of advice to further improve it and deliver the best possible outcomes for Western Australia in the delivery of well-planned and affordable infrastructure.

Within this we suggested broadening the Strategy’s objectives to foster private sector and Federal Government infrastructure investment; alignment with Infrastructure Australia and adopting a place centred approach through collaboration; and the establishment of a Growth Areas Team and Housing Supply Advisory Group.

In addition, we provided specific comments on a number of the recommendations within the strategy to ensure that best value and ‘place-based outcomes’ are achieved through the infrastructure planning and delivery framework.

UDIA will continue to work in partnership with Infrastructure WA and will keep members updated on further updates and outcomes. To read the submission in full, click here.

Are you ready for IMPACT?

Tickets for the inaugural The Urbanist IMPACT FORUM are being quickly snapped up with this thought provocative development forum set to change the urban development landscape, have you got your ticket for IMPACT yet?

The fantastic speaker line up will be headlined by inimitable Holly Ransom, Founder and CEO of renowned consulting firm Emergent.  Holly will be joined by an impressive line up of innovative thinkers who will present their most thought-provoking ideas to the WA development industry.

From redefining our contributions to community, to the use of autonomous electric vehicles in our suburbs, this event will explore a diverse range of ideas and concepts that could fundamentally influence or change the way that Perth evolves over the next 30 years.

This event will truly change your view of the urban development landscape and is the must attend event for thought leaders in our industry.

View the full list of speakers and book your place, here.

DWER Consultation: Discussion paper and Draft EP (Cost Recovery) Regulations 2021

UDIA is seeking feedback from members to inform a submission on the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s recently released consultation discussion paper Implementing cost recovery for Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and draft Environmental Protection (Cost Recovery) Regulations 2021.

The pricing model has been developed by the Department to implement fees and charges for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, and will apply to the referral, assessment and implementation of all proposals considered under Part IV, Divisions 1 and 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The consultation period closes on Friday 22 October, with more information available here.

Upcoming submissions

UDIA WA are working on a variety of submissions, which members are encouraged to submit feedback on to ensure your voice is heard on the respective matters.

We are seeking feedback on the following submissions:

  • NCC 2022 public comment draft (Stage 2): Proposed amendments to energy efficiency and condensation technical provisions (available here; submissions close 17 October 2021)
  • DWER Consultation draft: Native Vegetation Policy for WA (available here; submissions close 25 October 2021)
  • Draft SPP 2.9 Planning for Water and Planning for Water Guidelines (available here; submissions close 15 November 2021)

To have your say on any of the above, email policy@udiawa.com.au

Chance to be included in The Land Report

UDIA are proud to once again partner with The West Australian to produce The Land Report, a special liftout that provides land and homebuyers with an insight into the current state of the land market in WA, including the latest market data and analysis.

The upcoming edition will be published in The West Australian on Saturday October 23 and will be read by an audience of 459,000 readers with plenty of opportunities for UDIA members to feature an advert and advertorial in this edition.

For more information click here or to book, email maddisen.booth@wanews.com.au

The Urbanist tackles climate action

UDIA WA are excited to reveal the next edition of The Urbanist will be delivered to members next week. This edition focuses on climate action in relation to the urban development industry and broader environmental sustainability.

We are very pleased to feature an exclusive interview with the Minister for Environment, Climate Action and Commerce the Hon. Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA. The Minister outlines the State Government’s aspirations regarding their target of net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050.

We also explore the role of landscape design at a regional, project and lot level in relation to achieving positive climate and environmental outcomes along with other topics such as adaptive reuse, the rise of ESG and local government action.

UDIA’s EnviroDevelopment program is an important tool in promoting and supporting the development industry’s innovation and environmental sustainability initiatives, including in relation to climate.  In this edition we sit down with the National Chair of the EnviroDevelopment Board, Sarah Macoun to discuss why she is so passionate about the program.

We hope you enjoy this edition when it reaches you.  In the meantime, you can read previous editions of The Urbanist here.

DevelopmentWA appoints a business with 65,000 years of experience

As part of specialist planning and urban design consortium ‘Team Agile’, DevelopmentWA has appointed Aboriginal business Nyungar Birdiyia to its Planning and Urban Design Panel.

Led by respected Elder, cultural custodian and educationalist Neville Collard, Nyungar Birdiyia is pioneering new ways of integrating Noongar values and interests into the DNA of WA’s infrastructure and placemaking culture.

Co-founded with internationally-renowned postcolonial writer and public artist, Paul Carter, Nyungar Birdiyia is committed to building collaborative opportunities between cultures, communities and government.

Leading the ‘Team Agile’ consortium is Insight Urbanism, whose director, Brett Wood-Gush said Nyungar Birdiyia’s work with METRONET, where they provided a suite of Noongar Cultural Context Documents and engagement guidelines impressed them.

“Previously, Neville and Paul produced great outcomes at Yagan Square and Scarborough beach,” Mr Wood-Gush said. “So, we were delighted that they wanted to partner with us. To our knowledge, this is the first time any Government agency has been able to appoint an Aboriginal business in this particular way.”

Mr Wood-Gush sees many synergies of approach.

“Our view is that inclusive outcomes have inclusive beginnings: ensuring the best place-making knowledge is recruited up front ensures procurement and design trajectories that are resilient because collectively owned We understand DevelopmentWA is actively building capacity to partner with Traditional Owners to deliver critical projects benefiting all Western Australians. Working with Nyungar Birdiyia, we are delighted to be able to contribute to this,” he said.

Nyungar Birdiyia’s executive director, Neville Collard, captured the spirit of the collaboration in saying “Be generous with the people you’re working with – it’s important that we work together.”

DevelopmentWA (through its foundation agencies LandCorp, MRA etc.) have a long history of working with Aboriginal Communities and Aboriginal Businesses across WA.

The General Procurement Direction 2021/08 – Aboriginal Procurement Policy also drives this approach in Government Procurement. For more information, click here.

RBA release minutes from monetary policy meeting

This week the Reserve Bank of Australia released minutes from the September Monetary Policy Meeting wherein they decided to maintain the cash rate target at 10 basis points; maintain the target of 10 basis points for the April 2024 Australian Government bond and purchase government securities at the rate of $4 billion a week.

In considering the policy decision, members observed that the Australian economy had considerable momentum prior to the outbreak of the Delta variant of COVID-19. Business investment had been picking up and the labour market had strengthened, with the unemployment rate falling further in June. However, despite the strong economic and labour market outcomes, wage and price pressures had remained subdued.

In addition the Board discussed the Bank’s arrangements for Exceptional Liquidity Assistance (ELA), which was prompted by ongoing developments in the international regulatory architecture, where it has become increasingly common for central banks to provide more detailed information on ELA arrangements to assist banks in their contingency planning.

To read the minutes in full, click here.

Frasers Property Australia announce the Greensheet

The Greensheet is Australia’s first full publicly-shared list of building materials and is set to be launched at an event on Thursday 30 September.

The Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre is the first retail development in the world to achieve Living Building Challenge® Petal Certification – which requires all materials used in the construction to be vetted for ingredients, toxicity, air quality impacts, embodied carbon, sourcing locations, and for items such as timber, responsibility of supply.

The Greensheet is being shared to encourage project teams all over the world to help continuously improve the construction materials supply chain, because together, as an industry, we are greater than the sum of our individual project parts.

Join Stephen Choi (Living Building Challenge Manager, Frasers Property Australia), Laura Hamilton-O’Hara (Chief Executive Officer, Living Future Institute of Australia), and special guests, to learn more about the Greensheet, how you can use it, and what it means for the property industry nationwide.

For more information, click here.