UDIA In Action
We are very pleased to welcome a new team member this week! Kelly Dewar-Matusik joins us as Executive Manager Strategy and Business Development and she is keen to meet many of our members in the coming weeks. More information about Kelly and her extensive industry background can be found in the news below.
Despite the public holiday on Tuesday, it has been another busy week for the UDIA team as we dive into 2021. CEO Tanya Steinbeck featured on ABC radio yesterday morning to discuss infill development and the importance of delivering quality medium and high-density projects in the right areas. The debate around infill development continues to rage in our middle ring areas and UDIA is a strong supporter of positive dialogue and greater community education on the key issues.
Two new sub-committees met for the first time, the Asphalt Alternatives and Infill Development & Alternative Planning/Engineering approval process sub committees provide an excellent opportunity to make progress on two key issues for our members and we look forward to keeping members informed.
Our Policy team are also getting ready for the next round of policy committee meetings which kick off next week with our Environment, Infrastructure and Urban Water Committees all meeting.
UDIA welcomed the launch of the Invest and Trade WA website this week, designed to maximise WA’s proposition as a key place to invest. The Premier launched the site, stating that it will assist in diversifying our economy and creating jobs for the future. Attracting investment in WA was a key message in UDIA WA’s State Election campaign launched late last year.
#liveworkinvestWA provides key recommendations to government in order to ensure that WA’s development industry can continue to play a critical role in fostering WA as an attractive place of choice to live, work and invest For more information, click here.
UDIA WA welcomes new team member
We are very pleased to welcome our new Executive Manager – Business Development to the team! Some of our members may recognise Kelly Dewar-Matusik given her over 15 years of industry experience in WA including in the fields of sponsorship, client relationship management, direct sales (B2B & B2C) marketing and negotiation.
Kelly has a strong association with the land development and construction industries having worked previously at both the Master Builders Association of WA and the Property Council of Australia. Kelly’s strong understanding of relationships and the mutual success required to succeed in business has been pivotal to her career success. She looks forward to meeting you in the coming weeks.
Review of Environment Laws released
Earlier today Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley released Professor Graeme Samuel’s review of Australia’s Environment Laws which calls for significant reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC).
In releasing the review, Minister Ley said Professor Samuel AC has put forward far reaching recommendations aimed at delivering a sensible and staged process of change, and it is important to canvass these fully as we confirm our reform agenda.
UDIA National provided feedback to Professor Samuel during the review process and will continue to work collaboratively with the Government as the detail of the recommendations are acted upon.
For more information, read this media release from Environment Minister Sussan Ley and to read the report in full, click here.
Invest and trade in WA
UDIA WA welcomed the announcement earlier this week of a new website to promote Western Australia both interstate and overseas as a world-leading investment and trade destination.
Invest & Trade WA has been launched as part of the WA Government’s economic plan to diversify the economy and create jobs. The site will act as an online gateway to showcase the State’s unique investment and trade opportunities to potential investors and buyers.
The website profiles the State’s key industries including mining and mining equipment, technology and services; energy; primary industries; defence industries; tourism, events and creative industries; international education; and health and medical technology.
A section named ‘WA business connect’ provides information and resources for WA businesses aiming to become investor ready or seeking information on commencing or expanding their export capability.
Resources launched as part of the Invest and Trade WA website include eight new market outlooks which provide local businesses with valuable information on emerging international investment and trade opportunities in the State’s priority markets.
Also featured on the website is the Investment and Trade Plan 2020-21, which outlines the Government’s approach and proposed initiatives to strengthen WA’s investment and trade outcomes.
To view the new Invest and Trade WA website and to access its resources, click here.
A key pillar of UDIA WA’s State Election Campaign is highlighting Western Australia as the place to live, work and invest and we support this initiative from the State Government that promotes the excellent investment opportunities in our state. For more information on our #liveworkinvestWA campaign, click here.
New pilot program to employ mature-age apprentices and trainees
In a bid to improve the employment of mature-age apprentices and trainees in the building and construction industry, the State Government has launched a new $3.4 million pilot program to enable employers of new mature age apprentices to receive additional support for employing a mature-age apprentice or trainee.
This is on top of the standard Construction Training Fund (CTF) grants and is based on the annual gap in the award rate for mature-aged apprentices.
The new pilot program will help alleviate some of the additional wage costs faced by employers who might be considering a mature-age apprentice.
The program includes the construction trades of brick and blocklaying; carpentry and joinery; civil construction (Certificate III traineeship); concreting; painting and decorating; plastering; plumbing and gasfitting; roof plumbing; wall and ceiling fixing; and wall and floor tiling.
Tree canopy grant program to help combat urban heat
It was announced this week that local governments in Perth and Peel will be able to access grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 to support tree-planting activities that help increase urban tree canopy cover and improve biodiversity in local communities as part of efforts to reduce urban heat.
In addition to tree planting, funding is also available for supporting infrastructure, such as tree pits, soil improver, irrigation, drainage and vertical guards for tree protection and growth.
Increasing tree canopy cover is becoming increasingly important as we see rising temperatures associated with climate change.
The program is an initiative under the Waterwise Perth Action Plan, which sets the direction for transitioning Perth to a waterwise city, and for creating cool, liveable and green communities.
Grand plan to revitalise CBD
This week the Liberal Party of WA released details of their plan to revitalise the Perth CBD and triple the residential population of the City of Perth from 30,000 to 90,000 by 2050.
At the heart of the plan is sinking the railway between the Mitchell Freeway and Thomas Street, a move which would free up land for a new major residential and commercial property development precinct, allowing a greater diversity of housing choices closer to the city.
While the costs for the plan are yet to be revealed, they are planning to partner with the private sector through Public Private Partnerships to deliver the project and it is intended that the project will be completed in 2029 in time for Western Australia’s bicentenary.
Managed aquifer recharge
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has updated its policy on managed aquifer recharge (MAR).
The new policy – Managed aquifer recharge in Western Australia (2021) replaces Operational policy 1.01 – Managed aquifer recharge in Western Australia (Department of Water, 2011) and earlier practices for MAR operations adopted by the department. It should be used in conjunction with the department’s new guideline – Water and environmental considerations in Managed Aquifer Recharge operations in Western Australia (2021).
The MAR policy and guideline provide a management framework for MAR operations under the current water and environmental legislation in Western Australia. They include useful information to assist with establishing a MAR project, while ensuring the environment, water users and public health are protected.
For more information, click here.
COVID-19 support package end dates
With a number of COVID-19 support initiatives set to wind up in the coming months the Small Business Development Corporation has put together a list of COVID-19 support packages and their end dates to ensure small businesses do not miss out on support packages they may be eligible for.
The list is as follows:
Commercial Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 extension period 28 March 2021
WA commercial tenancy code of conduct provisions 28 March 2021
Land Tax Assistance for Landlords grant applications 28 March 2021
JobKeeper Payment 28 March 2021
JobSeeker Payment (expanded eligibility and coronavirus supplement) 28 March 2021
SME Guarantee Scheme – phase 2 30 June 2021
Early access to superannuation 30 June 2021
Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy 30 September 2021
JobMaker Hiring Credit 6 October 2021
For more information, click here.