From the CEO
Tonight it will drop down to 7 degrees.
As an industry, we create homes for people. We must never underestimate the social, emotional and financial wellbeing that a home provides. As we must not underestimate the trauma in ones life when a roof over your head is taken away. In my time working at the Department of Communities for both social housing & remote Aboriginal communities, my eyes and heart well and truly opened to the circumstances of our most in need and the impact on their livelihoods.
As of December last year, 514 people were sleeping rough in Perth and Fremantle and a further 566 were in temporary arrangements such as couch surfing or sleeping in overcrowded accommodation. They are men, women and children and come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Many who are homeless say they never thought they would be in that position.
I am so proud to say that as of this afternoon, our UDIA WA team participating in tonight’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout has raised over $46,000 to help eliminate homelessness. To Richard Pappas from Celsius for bringing the team together – thank you. To my other fellow team members Tiffany Allen, Jane Bennett, Jeremy Cordina and Brenton Downing, I’m privileged to share this experience with you all. To those of you who have donated, you are part of creating a brighter future for hundreds of people. If you have the capacity to donate, there is still time and you can do that here.
To see the end to homelessness seems like a dream to most. However as Billy Cox, the legendary bass player for Jimi Hendrix says – “Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone.” Tonight I will be proud to be well and truly out of mine.
Latest HPSS released
UDIA WA are pleased to release the latest edition of the UDIA Urbis Home Purchasing Sentiment Survey (HPSS).
In partnership with Urbis, the fourth edition of Perth Home Purchasing Sentiment Survey offers insight into how 503 people aged 21 years and over, view the current market.
This survey is undertaken on a biannual basis to provide a clear image of current and future market sentiment. We hope this information will support both UDIA’s advocacy priorities and our members’ understanding of the present market.
To read the latest edition, click here.
1 week left to nominate for the awards
There is just one week left to ensure your project is included in the 2022 UDIA WA Awards for Excellence with nominations set to close on Friday 1 July.
Each year our Awards program showcases the very best people and projects from across Western Australia and this year looks to be no different.
With categories ranging from Small Scale Development to High Density Development, Diversity in Development to Environmental Excellence, there is a category for every type of project.
The winners of each category may also be in the running for the National Awards for Excellence which next year will be presented in Perth at the 2023 National Congress so a perfect opportunity to celebrate the very best WA has to offer.
Make sure you project is in the running by starting your nomination here and for more information about the different categories available, click here.
Team UDIA set for Vinnies CEO Sleepout
This evening UDIA WA’s team are to set to brave the elements as they take part in this year’s Vinnies Australia CEO Sleepout.
The UDIA WA team includes UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck, CLE Town Planning + Design Managing Director Jane Bennett, Parcel Property General Manager Land Jeremy Cordina, Celsius Land Managing Director, Brenton Downing, Celsius Property Group Managing Director Richard Pappas and Construction Training Fund CEO Tiffany Allen.
While the sleepout is happening tonight, there is still an opportunity to support their efforts by donating here.
Last chance to register
Registrations for UDIA WA’s one day summit Developing Destination WA close tomorrow and session tickets are available for anyone who is unable to attend the full day.
- Morning session tickets (10:00am-1:30pm) include morning tea & coffee and a buffet lunch.
- SESSION 1: Bringing the City of Lights to Life
- Bringing the City of Lights to Life – Peter Lee, Principal – Hassell
- Elizabeth Quay & Yagan Square Revitilisation – Matt Ryan, Executive General Manager Planning & Transition – DevelopmentWA
- Revitalising the CBD – Dale Page, General Manager, Planning & Economic Development, City of Perth
- SESSION 2A: Curating Landmark Destinations to Live, Work and Play – Burswood Peninsula
- The Revised Masterplan for Burswood Park – John McGrath, President, Burswood Park Board
- The Jewel is the Crown; World Class Resorts & Entertainment – Lonnie Bossie, Former CEO – Crown Perth
- Creating a Vibrant Riverside Precinct – Anthony Vuleta, CEO, Town of Victoria Park
- The Burswood Crystal Lagoons Concept – Jayson Miragliotta, Managing Director, Urbaniche
- SESSION 2B: Curating Landmark Destinations to Live, Work and Play – Cottesloe
- Transforming the OBH – Gavin Hawkins, Managing Director, Edge Visionary Living
- Reimagining Foreshore Hospitality – Andrew Hagger, CEO, Tatterang & Minderoo Foundation
- SESSION 1: Bringing the City of Lights to Life
- Afternoon session tickets (2:00pm-5:00pm) include afternoon tea & coffee and networking drinks at The Merrywell post event.
- SESSION 3: Making the South West Sing
- Smiths Beach Project – Anneke Brown, Tourism and Hospitality Consultant
- Witchcliffe Ecovillage – Mike Hulme – Director, Sustainable Settlements P/L
- Busselton Foreshore Redevelopment – Paul Needham, Director – Planning and Development Services City of Busselton
- SESSION 4: Pathways to A Progressive State
- Planning Reform – David Caddy, Chairman, WAPC
- Tourism WA; Promoting WA as a place to live, work & play – Renata Lowe, A/Executive Director for Destination Development – Tourism WA
- State Government Policy; facilitating economic diversification, population growth, jobs & investment – Simone Spencer, Deputy Director General, Strategy and International Engagement – Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
- SESSION 3: Making the South West Sing
This carefully curated a one day summit will explore the new projects and precincts that are shaping our city and State as a place of choice to live, work, play and invest.
It is an excellent opportunity for delegates to delve into the detail and learn how some of our most iconic destinations are being reimagined for the future.
To join us for what will be an incredible spectacle of ideas for the future of WA, click here.
Our thanks go to Industry Partner DevelopmentWA for supporting this event.
Australian cities fall in latest Global Liveability Index
With the majority of the world finally emerging from COVID-19 related lockdowns and restrictions the latest edition of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index has seen a number of Australian capital cities fall through the rankings.
In last year’s report Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne all featured in the Top-10 most liveable cities in the world, however in this year’s report Melbourne was the only Australian city to retain its status in the top-10.
Perth, which came 6th in 2021, dropped 26 places to sit 32nd on the list behind Adelaide in 30th (having dropped 27 places) and Brisbane in 27th (a 17-place drop from last year).
Major cities in New Zealand also suffered in this year’s report with Wellington recording a 46-place fall from 4th in 2021 to 50th this year and Auckland, which came out on top in 2021, dropping 33 places to sit in 34th spot.
In analysing the falls experienced by Australian and New Zealand cities this year the report said:
“Both countries benefited in early 2021, when covid vaccines were scarce: their closed borders kept cases down, keeping liveability high. Auckland actually came top of the early 2021 survey. However, this changed as a more infectious covid-19 wave struck in late 2021, which made closed borders less of a defence. Although New Zealand’s lockdowns ended in December, before our survey period, its cities no longer have a covid advantage over well-vaccinated European and Canadian cities. In Australia, some states were slower to lift restrictions than others. As a result, Perth and Adelaide have lost ground since last year, and Melbourne is once again Australia’s highest-ranked city. Adjusting policy dynamically will remain key to staying on top.”
Top of the tree this year was Vienna, returning to the position it held in 2018 and 2019 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Last year UDIA WA looked at the reasons why Vienna is seen as one of the most liveable cities in the world in our International Study Tour edition of The Urbanist. You can read this article here.
UDIA in Action
This week the Climate Action Standing Advisory Group welcomed a presentation from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), with an update on the sectorial emission reduction strategies and other relevant policy work regarding climate action. The Advisory Group are also working on the Climate Action Position Statement.
The Liveability Strategic Committee continue to work on the Medium Density Housing Code for submission on Friday.
State-wide panel to be established for new builds and refurbishments
At the end of last week Housing Minister John Carey announced a new State-wide builders’ panel will be established to speed up the delivery of new and refurbished social housing across the State.
The measure is the latest in a number of reforms implemented by the Housing Minister to help boost the supply of social housing as fast as possible across the State.
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 opportunities will be available for those appointed to the panel, and builders will be asked to nominate their capacity to deliver as part of the panel procurement process.
Successful proponents that nominate for construct-only opportunities will be engaged to construct dwellings from an existing suite of designs. For design-and-construct opportunities, successful proponents have the opportunity to work with an architect to develop appropriate designs.
To encourage participation, particularly for smaller-scale and regional contractors, the process for qualifying for the panel will be simplified.
Successful proponents will not be required to submit pricing until they are allocated a project through the panel.
The expression of interest will be advertised on Tenders WA in early July. Builders of all sizes and from all regions are encouraged to respond to the Request for Expressions of Interest process when launched.
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.
WA Parliament passes law removing duplicate certificates of title
The Transfer of Land Amendment Bill 2021 (Bill) has today passed through Parliament, marking a significant milestone to further streamline conveyancing in Western Australia.
The new legislation will improve and streamline conveyancing in WA, modernise and future proof Landgate’s operations, and allow for greater use of electronic communication to simplify land transactions.
These reforms are part of the Government’s priority to cut red tape, simplify and streamline processes, and has the potential to deliver time and cost savings for landowners and mortgage holders across the State.
The Bill amends three key areas of the Transfer of Land Act 1893, enacting legislative change to:
- Remove duplicate certificates of title from WA’s titling system;
- Enable the electronic service of notices to further modernise and future-proof the administration of the land registry; and
- Clarify the definition of counterpart documents, improving mortgage processing and enforceability.
Every certificate of title for land ownership in WA is registered and guaranteed by the State Government through its central, digital land title register.
A duplicate certificate of title is a paper version of this original, digital title.
Duplicate certificates of title only reflect what the original title looked like at the date and time the paper duplicate was issued. As certain interests in land have never been recorded on a duplicate certificate of title, they do not always reflect the same completeness of information the original does.
Duplicate titles have been optional in WA for over 25 years, and their use has declined to the point where 99 per cent of property transfers in 2021 involving a mortgage did not have a duplicate issued.
The removal of duplicate certificates of title is part of the State Government’s ongoing advancement of electronic conveyancing within WA, in consultation with conveyancing and financial services industries.
Landgate will engage with industry and stakeholders to assist them to prepare for the retirement of duplicate certificates of title, which will come into effect following that engagement.
Information about this legislative change is available at www.landgate.wa.gov.au
Time running out to book in for module 4
Taking place on Monday 27 June the fourth module in our 6-Day Professional Development course is ideal for anybody looking to understand more about translating planning to practice and building the developing.
From insights into civil construction and engineering to working with local government, utilities and servicing, this module takes you through the practicalities of building the development.
Registrations for module four close on Friday 24 June. For more information on this module and to register, click here.
Join UDIA WA’s RAP Working Group – call for EOI
UDIA WA recently established a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group to assist the Institute in providing leadership to the broader urban development industry in respect to reconciliation and more meaningful engagement with the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we and our members operate.
The Group will soon commence a series of engagement meetings and consultation with relevant stakeholders so that we can listen and learn in order to develop our first ‘Reflect’ RAP in partnership with members of the Aboriginal community.
Currently our RAP Working Group is made up of two members from UDIA WA Council, two UDIA WA staff members and two members from the UDIA WA Diversity Committee. We are now seeking two further members from the broader UDIA WA membership.
If you have background, experience and/or expertise relevant to the development of a RAP, we would love to hear from you. Please send expressions of interest to join the working group to Gemma Osiejak: gosiejak@udiawa.com.au.
Please include a brief overview of your relevant experience to date. We aim to appoint two new members prior to the next working group meeting on Thursday 21 July. Contact Gemma with any queries related to the working group.