UDIA hosts Built Form Roundtable
Yesterday, UDIA hosted a Built-Form Roundtable, bringing together the Minister for Housing and 26 developers to discuss the current and emerging issues and challenges facing built-form development.
The Institute thanks the Minister for taking the time to directly engage with UDIA members and we look forward to further collaboration with the Government to ensure that investment in built-form development is an attractive proposition and is able to support WA jobs.
UDIA also wishes to thank Harvis for kindly sponsoring this event.
UDIA & Australian Property Institute Valuation Roundtable
Members and representatives from UDIA and API met this week to discuss issues surrounding valuations and the impact of the HomeBuilder and Building Boost stimulus programs.
UDIA greatly appreciates the insight provided by API members into the valuation process and we look forward to further working with the API to ensure that as many Western Australians as possible are able to benefit from the government stimulus packages.
UDIA & DWER meet to discuss the Waterwise Perth Action Plan
UDIA WA’s Urban Water Committee met with representatives from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation this week to discuss the implementation of the Waterwise Perth Action Plan with a specific focus on Action 22 – Government to set clear criteria for classifying ‘good practice’ waterwise urban development.
UDIA greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback and explore solutions to achieve the goals of the Action Plan and we look forward to further engagement with the Department.
Purchaser Sentiment Survey overview
Following the recent release of the UDIA/Urbis Home Purchaser Sentiment Survey, UDIA WA has published an overview of the key statistics to provide members with clear insight into the findings.
The survey provides insight into how 500 people aged 21 years and over viewed the current market between 6-14 July 2020. We hope to continue to undertake these surveys biannually in order to provide a clear picture of market sentiment moving forward, it follows the same survey being completed in Sydney in July 2019 and May this year.
This information will assist our members in understanding the current market while supporting UDIA’s advocacy priorities.
According to the report 48% of people are positive about purchasing a home in the current market. The sentiment survey also clearly reflects the positive impact of recent federal and state government stimulus measures, increasing the likelihood of buying for 17% of people surveyed.
You can view the overview publication here.
UDIA National submits State Budget Submission
Earlier this week UDIA National officially submitted its Federal Pre-Budget Submission ahead of the deferred budget due out in October.
The submission commends the Government’s world-leading economic management through the COVID-19 pandemic while suggesting further actions to continue to grow the economy.
The submission focuses on three core themes:
- Making new residential construction a public policy priority due to the economic significance of the sector;
- Prioritising policies that both help with the economic recovery, and provide lasting benefits well beyond the period of the pandemic; and
- Prioritising policies which help cut red and green tape, transform inefficient and inequitable taxes and secure better dividends from infrastructure investment.
These focuses align with the Policy Priorities UDIA National released at the start of the year and build on the advocacy work that has been and will continue to be undertaken throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Progress on new planning regulations to cut red tape
Last Friday UDIA WA welcomed the announcement from Planning Minister Rita Saffioti around the proposed regulatory changes designed to streamline the State planning system, cut red tape and support Western Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
According to the announcement, amendments to local planning regulations will expand exemptions for many small residential and non-residential projects, including extensions and renovations to existing homes.
Proposed changes may include removing the requirement for some planning approval, the introduction of improved change of use, and parking requirements for small businesses in certain locations.
Key proposals in the draft Planning and Development (Local Planning Scheme) Regulations 2015 Amendments include:
- removing the need for planning approvals across local government for a number of different types of change of use applications, for example to establish a café or restaurants;
- a broader ‘deemed-to-comply’ check for single residential dwellings;
- a limit of only one further request for additional information from local governments for applications that do not require public consultation or referral;
- consistent public consultation requirements for complex development applications;
- reduce holdups in the referral process to ensure a development application proceeds in the event timeframes are not met or responses are not received, and applications are determined based on the information available at the conclusion of the referral period;
- new exemptions from planning approval for small projects such as site works, cubby houses, signage and water tanks;
- online publication of planning documents, removing the requirement for presentation of hard copies in a physical location;
- introduction of a single process for structure plans and precinct structure plans; and
- introduce clear and consistent calculation of cash-in-lieu options for car parking as part of a planning application.
UDIA WA is preparing a submission in response to the proposed amendments. Anybody wishing to provide comment can send through to policy@udiawa.com.au by 11 September.
Awards for Excellence Nominations now closed
On Monday nominations officially closed for the UDIA WA 2020 Awards for Excellence ahead of judging commencing next month.
This year’s awards were delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but that has not stopped an incredible number of nominations for this year’s awards.
Attention now turns to the judges who will assess and visit each project before deciding on the winners in each category who will be crowned at the UDIA WA Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner.
The Gala Dinner, held at Crown Perth, is industry’s night of nights and is an unmissable event in the calendar as we come together to celebrate the best of the best in the West.
Tickets for the Gala Dinner are now on sale and can be purchased, here.
UDIA on the search for new talent
UDIA WA recently posted a new job advert for an Executive Manager Business Development to join the team.
The position forms part of the leadership team and directly contributes to the UDIA’s strategic outcomes, which include growing the revenue of the organisation to deliver a wide range of valued services to the property development industry and achieving strong member support, satisfaction and retention.
If you know of somebody who would be the perfect fit for UDIA WA team, please send them this link for more information.
Our thanks go to Longreach Recruitment for managing the recruitment process.
Last chance to register for lunch with the Minister
Registrations for our next Industry Luncheon featuring Planning Minister Rita Saffioti discussing the imminent release of the Medium Density Design Code close tomorrow.
This event is a critical opportunity to hear about how the new code will provide more guidance and certainty around delivering medium-density product and help improve consistency in decision making across local government in relation to medium-density housing.
While we are seeing an increase in diversity of housing product on the market, Perth still has a way to go and UDIA is keen to see the State Government further support the delivery of quality medium-density housing with the finalised code.
Following the Minister’s presentation there will be an interactive Q&A panel discussion facilitated by Jane Bennett, Director of CLE Town Planning & Design, with the Minister & industry leaders including Nathan Blackburne, Managing Director – Cedar Woods and Dale Page, Director of Planning & Community Development – City of Joondalup.
For more information and to register, click here.
Our thanks go to event sponsors CLE Town Planning & Design, JDSI, James Hardie and Western Power.
Enrolments in the UDIA Professional Development Program open
There is just one month left to enrol for the October intake of the UDIA Professional Development Program. This six-day program is perfect for anybody looking to expand their knowledge around operating effectively in out local residential development industry.
Throughout the course participants will learn to define and manage projects, while becoming familiar with terminology from the broad range of disciplines and concepts involved in property development.
Led by experienced presenters from the WA property development industry, the course provides practical lessons on how to manage the project life-cycle and understand the principles of commercial awareness, time, quality and cost.
Delegates can choose to just complete the modules that best apply to them or enrol in the full 6 day course.
The UDIA Professional Development Program is aligned to the BSB51415 Diploma of Project Management delivered by Swinburne University of Technology.
This means that upon completion of the full six-day course, participants may submit their portfolios of evidence and apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), to be awarded the Diploma of Project Management delivered by Swinburne.
Enrolments for the October intake close on Friday September 25.
For more information, click here or contact events@udiawa.com.au.
Bridge over the Swan River announced
On Wednesday, the State Government announced a new bridge spanning the Swan River will be constructed.
The $60 million new bridge is designed to take pedestrians and cyclists off the heritage-listed causeway bridge and will be at least 6 metres wide with dedicated cycle and pedestrian lanes.
The bridge will comprise two river crossings measuring 250 metres on the Victoria Park side and 140 metres on the City of Perth side – connected by a 270 metre path through Heirisson Island. It will also have around 2.8 metres more clearance over the river than The Causeway.
A construction date is still to be set; however the aim is for the bridge to be built by Western Australian companies using Western Australian materials.
Regional Land Supply Assessment
The Western Australian Planning Commission have released its latest Regional Land Supply Assessment for Karratha as part of its Urban Development Program.
Regional Land Supply Assessment reports provide an assessment of the stocks of land available for residential, industrial and commercial purposes, and identify key land use planning and infrastructure provision required to meet demand across selected regional centres.
The latest assessment forecasts a project population in the Karratha Urban Area to be 19,705 by 2031, up from the 17,102 estimated population in June 2019.
The assessment finds there are sufficient stocks of existing and planned residential land in the Karratha urban area to address the current investment cycle and into the long term.
For more information and to see the assessment in full, click here.
UDIA requests for feedback
UDIA is working on submissions and responses in relation to the following. Members are encouraged to provide feedback and comments to inform our submissions to policy@udiawa.com.au by the specified dates below:
R-Codes Interim COVID-19 Review (here), closes September 10th – Public consultation also opened today on revisions to the R-Codes state planning policy to expedite approvals for single houses, multiple and grouped dwellings, and smaller structures such as patios, carports, decks and sheds.
Proposed amendments to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 here – DUE 18th September 2020
WAPC Draft Operational Policy 2.4 – Planning for School Sites (here), closes 5pm 19th October – review has been an opportunity to improve strategic school site planning, address known issues on locational and physical site requirements for schools, and provide clarity and transparency on the methodology and application of developer contributions for public primary schools.
Site Security Update
Building and Construction industry crime continues to fall for PACT Site Security members with illegal rubbish dumping topping reports so far this month.
Offenders dumped numerous car parts on a site in Burns Beach Estate which was witnessed by a member of the public. Information supplied to investigators resulted in the removal of the car parts and offenders receiving an infringement from City of Joondalup Rangers.
In Catalina Estate Mindarie two BGC sites had household furniture dumped, both offences again witnessed by a member of the public. The offending vehicle was followed to a residential address nearby, and details of the incident and offenders have been supplied to the City of Wanneroo Rangers for removal of rubbish and appropriate infringement to be issued.
To reduce the impact of crime and illegal rubbish dumping report all incidents here.