From the CEO
Unprecedented is a word that has been used extensively since COVID-19 entered our lives. In a macro-economic sense, our keynote lunch speaker Jonathon Pain last week reinforced that there is no precedent in history in terms of what we have experienced. Whilst we have experienced abnormality in every way over the last couple of years, Jonathon believes that the world is now moving towards some sense of normality in terms of monetary policy.
The US Central Bank are expected to aggressively raise rates this year, perhaps up to seven times. Financial markets will have to reset in response and there will be asset price implications as a result. Here in Australia, rates are expected to rise shortly after the Federal Election in May. Geopolitically, Jonathon’s view is dire. As we watch Russia slowly infiltrate the Ukraine, the events in Eastern Europe are a potential signpost for Beijing and Taiwan.
So what does all this mean for us here in WA? A very uncertain environment globally, interest rate rises and the inevitable impacts of COVID finally hitting us as we open our doors to the world. At UDIA, we are focusing on what we can control and what we can effectively influence to ensure we can deliver housing supply in the short, medium and longer term. Our policy priorities will be released next week for the year ahead, with a targeted action plan coming shortly after on dealing with the immediate issues around capacity, capability and cost.
The UDIA WA Council and team are working hard to deliver greater certainty to our members in a very uncertain world. My thoughts are with members & their families who have been impacted directly by COVID and wish you a rapid return to good health.
The need for normality
UDIA WA were delighted to hear the thoughts and insights from economic guru Jonathan Pain during our first Industry Luncheon for 2022 last Friday, wherein he detailed the necessity for a return to normality this year.
With WA’s borders set to reopen on Thursday 3 March, it will be the first time since the start of the pandemic when life and travel between all States within Australia will be back to a form of normality with quarantine-free travel once again permitted.
Mr Pain said we now need to see more normality in the fiscal markets as he predicted at least four interest rate rises this year, following in the footsteps of the US Central Bank which he suggested could see as many as seven interest rate rises.
To read the article in full, click here.
Housing Diversity Pipeline launched
At the end of last week UDIA WA welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Housing; Lands Hon. John Carey MLA and Minister for Planning Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA calling for Registrations of Interest (ROI) to develop mixed tenure housing developments on government land.
Dubbed ‘lazy land, the State Government is labelling it the first tranche of a ‘Housing Diversity Pipeline’ with 12 government owned landholdings adjacent to METRONET stations and transport corridors included in the land they are seeking ROI from private and not for profit sectors.
Ten sites are located throughout metropolitan Perth and two located in regional WA.
Following the announcement the Government released Early Tender Advice (ETA) for a pilot project that would see the former Stirling Towers site on Smith Street in Highgate transformed into a build-to-rent development.
Stirling Towers is a social housing complex constructed in 1970 consisting of one 12-storey tower and one three-storey tower, and more than 90 social housing units.
The Smith Street Build-to-Rent project would seek to replace the existing towers with a modern mixed-tenure residential development offering social, affordable and market-price rental apartments, with integrated asset and tenancy management services provided under a ground lease with a CHP.
As our members will be aware, UDIA has consistently highlighted concerns around housing supply in the short and medium term including our “Housing our Community” report released last year that made several recommendations for addressing looming housing supply shortages.
While the Institute has congratulated the McGowan Government for undertaking a detailed review of their landholdings that can be offered to the private and not for profit sector to deliver housing choice in partnership with the government, it is important to note that this as one part of addressing housing supply in the medium and longer term.
According to the State Government, they will be open to innovative ideas including build to rent, ground leasing of the land, and will be requesting a variety of housing types.
The ROI process will help to identify potential development partners.
After this stage, a more targeted expressions of interest process will follow to facilitate the actual approvals and support for the new development.
Registrations of interest can be made online here by Friday March 18, 2022.
The nominated sites are:
- Albany Highway, Kelmscott
- Merrifield Avenue, Kelmscott
- Zebina Street, East Perth
- Cecil Avenue, Cannington
- Future High Wycombe Station Precinct, High Wycombe
- Thomas Street, West Perth
- Gwenyfred Road, South Perth
- Brearley Avenue, Redcliffe
- East Street, East Fremantle
- Smith Street (Stirling Towers), Highgate
- Brown Street, Busselton
- GreenView Estate, Kalgoorlie
Border reopening date confirmed
Last Friday Premier Mark McGowan officially announced WA’s border would re-open on Thursday 3 March, ending around two years of WA being cut off from the rest of the world.
The announcement of a new date provides certainty for a number of businesses with the hope access to interstate and international workers will help to alleviate the current skills shortage within WA.
For more information about the re-opening and the requirements for incoming arrivals, click here.
EnviroDevelopment Showcase
At our industry luncheon on Friday, UDIA was pleased to present Rivermark by Hesperia with their certificate confirming a six leaf certification under EnviroDevelopment.
Rivermark is a leading example of a project that is proactively addressing sustainability in order to preserve and regenerate a wonderful stretch of our Swan River while also providing a range of benefits to the future local community.
This is the first masterplanned residential development that Hesperia has delivered to the market here in WA and the first EnviroDevelopment certification for the company, so we are really pleased to have them on board.
In conjunction with presenting the new certification, UDIA WA also launched a new magazine that showcases excellence in EnviroDevelopment.
The EnviroDevelopment certification scheme is a scientifically-based branding system designed to make it easier for purchasers to recognise and select more environmentally sustainable homes and lifestyles.
The magazine features several EnviroDevelopment projects from around the country that are raising the bar in relation to environmental sustainability. It also includes key insights into gaining EnviroDevelopment accreditation and the advantages it can have for your business.
For more information about EnviroDevelopment, get in touch with udia@udiawa.com.au.
To read the new magazine, click here.
National Congress
Tickets for the first in-person UDIA National Congress since 2019 are set to go on sale from next week and to celebrate Launch Week there will be an exclusive Members Only Promotional Offer.
The National Congress is set to be held at the Hyatt Regency Sydney on Wednesday 25 May and Thursday 26 May and will be expertly MC’d by Ticky Fullerton from The Australian.
Keep an eye out for registration details to come through next week including the members only offer.
State Conference next week
UDIA WA are looking forward to welcoming our members to the picturesque Bunker Bay next week for the 2022 Annual Development Conference.
This year’s conference is set to hear from a variety of key contributors including Diane Smith-Gander AO, Rabbia Siddique, the Hon. Rita Saffioti, the Hon. Reece Whitby, Aaron Morey among many others. For a full list of speakers, click here.
We will also launch our 2022 Policy Priorities document at the conference, which once again focuses on our three key advocacy pillars Economy, Environment and Liveability and lays out the framework for the next 12 months.
We will also be launching the next edition of our highly popular thought-leadership publication The Urbanist, which this time will focus the theme of Invest West highlighting all the aspects that make WA THE place to live, work and invest.
To read previous editions of the magazine, click here.
A Liveability Framework to improve real life impacts for higher density homes
The SBEnrc project team have now finalised the Liveability Framework for Medium to High-density Social and Affordable Housing, to be used to develop project and precinct-based, value-focussed standards and targets to drive adoption of better outcomes and promote community acceptance of delivering whole-of-life solutions.
The Final Industry Report and six minute video are now available at the following links, along with all the accompanying research reports:
All reports and presentations can be accessed here, the Final Industry Report can be accessed here and the video can be accessed here.
Further information regarding this research can be obtained by contacting: Sacha Reid (Project Leader) s.reid@griffith and Judy Kraatz j.kraatz@griffith.edu.au.
Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package
Earlier today Premier Mark McGowan announced the introduction of a Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package following an increase of Omicron COVID-19 cases and the return of COVID restrictions at the start of the week.
To assist small businesses with cash flow and to support safe trading, this new package includes up to $6,000 in rent relief, outdoor dining and entertainment support grants and further funding for business counselling services.
For more information, click here.
Strong demand drives new land release at Crossroads Industrial
Seven new lots have been released at DevelopmentWA’s Crossroads Industrial estate in response to strong demand, which has seen previous stages sold out.
The first new industrial lots in Stage 4 are now available by pre-sale, opening up new business opportunities in Perth’s highly sought after south-eastern corridor.
Stage 4 lots at Crossroads Industrial are sized from 2,061square metres to 3,628sqm and are fully serviced with power, water, sewerage and broadband network access. They can be amalgamated to suit individual business needs and maximise flexibility for buyers.
The development of up 1.7hectares of new industrial land at Crossroads Industrial is expected to unlock $7.6 million in private investment and create 75 jobs during and after construction.
For more information on Crossroads Industrial Estate, visit here.
Updated requirements for entering UDIA WA office
As Perth, Peel and beyond begin to experience an increase in Omicron cases due to community transmission, it is more critical than ever to ensure that UDIA WA takes all the necessary steps to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.
The WA State Government has mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for many Western Australian workplaces. Further to consultation and endorsement from UDIA WA Staff and Council, UDIA WA has implemented a new COVID-19 Vaccine Policy that requires all workers and visitors to be fully vaccinated prior to entering the workplace premises in Subiaco. This means that all personnel conducting work at the UDIA WA workplace must have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
From 31 January 2022, all visitors to the UDIA WA workplace (Level 1, 3 Wexford Street, Subiaco) will be required to allow a staff member from UDIA to sight their vaccination status or proof of exemption. Anyone who doesn’t show evidence when requested will be denied entry.
In line with Western Australian government health directions, our event venues could also start to introduce mandatory entry requirements.
Crown Perth have stated that as of 31 January 2022 all visitors (aged 18 years and over) to the Casino and Pearl Room and visitors (aged 16 years and over) to all other venues including hotels, Crown Spa and events and conferencing facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Crown Perth will request official proof of vaccination or medical contraindication certificate for guests wishing to gain access to these venues. Entry will be denied if official proof of vaccination or a medical contraindication certificate cannot be presented.
Please ensure you keep an eye on our event pages for any venue entry mandates and proof of vaccination requirements.
Please note that in line with the State Government policy, the requirement to manage the COVID-19 vaccinations for your organisation’s personnel solely resides with your organisation.
Further information from the State Government can be accessed via the following link here.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at udia@udiawa.com.au.
Access to UDIA WA website changed
Access to the UDIA WA website recently changed as part of our aim to provide exceptional member services.
UDIA WA has invested in new technology that will integrate our member database with our website and online event registration capabilities with our new UDIA WA online Community Portal providing our members with seamless, integrated services and up to date information at the click of a button.
As part of the change all login details for the website were removed and each member organisation’s Key Representative was granted access initially and the Key Representative can now provide access to a further 2 representatives for their organisation.
All the necessary information was emailed to Key Representatives last week and can be accessed here for more information.
Once active the UDIA WA Community Portal includes exclusive member only access to:
- Urban Express weekly news
- The Urbanist quarterly magazine
- The Urban Development Index quarterly market update
- The Urban Intelligence economic data report
- UDIA WA Members Directory listing details of all UDIA WA members
- UDIA WA Diversity Toolkit
- Relevant governance documents including the UDIA WA Annual Reports and Constitution
- Ability to update you and your organisations details
For more information or any queries, email membership@udiawa.com.au