UDIA WA RAP Event
UDIA WA is proud to support reconciliation in Australia this week, on National Reconciliation Week, and every week through our Reconciliation Action Plan.
While it is important to take intentional and consistent action to progress reconciliation, this week is an opportune time to highlight how far we have come, and what more needs to happen as we move forward – bridging now to next. To mark the week, commencing on Tuesday 27 May, members of the UDIA WA team attended the annual Reconciliation WA breakfast event attended by over 1000 people.
Hosted in Walyalup at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal, the significant event featured keynote addresses from ‘the father of reconciliation’ Patrick Dodson and young leader Tremane Baxter Edwards. The Premier also addressed the crowd, announcing the landmark WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, which was met with a standing ovation.
On Wednesday, UDIA WA in partnership with DevelopmentWA, hosted a knowledge sharing event, focused on advice for starting or advancing Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) in businesses and organisations involved in the property development industry.
DevelopmentWA CEO Dean Mudford outlined the latest iteration of their Stretch RAP and UDIA WA RAP Chair Jane Bennett presented UDIA’s journey to date in developing and implementing our first REFLECT RAP.
Respected Elders Dr Barbara Bynder and Farely Garlett were extremely generous with their knowledge and advice for businesses in regard to early, meaningful and successful engagement with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal stakeholders. Barbara’s son, Michael Bynder Matters also shared his experience in the development of cross cultural mapping.
Les Oakley and Sharon Nynette from DevelopmentWA also provided informative presentations on the benefits of a place based approach and the organisation’s new engagement strategy respectively.
The afternoon was rounded out by a study tour visiting Subi East Noongar Six Seasons Bidi and Yagan Square.
A huge thank you to the presenters and attendees for joining us and we hope to offer more opportunities for knowledge sharing with our members in the future.
View UDIA WA’s Reflect RAP here.
End of Financial Year Sale Now on!
Close the 24/25 financial year on a strong note by furthering your professional development with UDIA WA Educate.
As we come to the end of the financial year, UDIA WA is offering exclusive discounts on all courses being run in the month of June. Whether you’re a member or a non-member, this is one deal not to be missed.
Register by close of business Friday 6 June to receive 10% off all June courses!
View our courses running through June, including our Medium Density 1-Day Course and our brand new Sales & Marketing 101 online sessions.
Nominate a project, team or individual for the 2025 Awards for Excellence
Do you have a project, team or individual worthy of recognition?
For thirty years, the UDIA WA Awards for Excellence has provided the ultimate opportunity to showcase the incredible efforts of the development industry in Western Australia. Whether you’ve delivered a game-changing development, led a high-performing team, or know someone driving industry innovation — we want to hear from you.
Make sure your project is among those getting recognised but be quick as entries close on 30 June.
Registrations are also open for the Gala Dinner on Saturday 13 September, get your tickets here.
Pushing ourselves for a cause
The Push-up challenge is about to begin for 2025, and the UDIA WA team have all signed up to push (up) ourselves through June to help raise awareness, and funds, for mental health in Australia.
The target is to complete 3,214 pushups (or similar exercise) each across 23 days representing the 3,214 lives lost to suicide in Australia during 2023.
Keep an eye out across our socials as the team gets fit for a good cause.
Support the team! Funds raised will go towards supporting the important work done by Lifeline.
Read more about The Push-up Challenge.
UDIA WA Member Briefing: Plant the Future Community Pocket Forest Planting Day
UDIA and Carbon Positive Australia invite you and your family to experience the remarkable impact of Community Pocket Forests firsthand at our exclusive industry showcase during the school holidays. Together, we will plant Western Australia’s FIRST and largest Community Pocket Forest within a new housing estate!
As development industry professionals, you’re constantly seeking solutions that differentiate your projects while meeting sustainability goals. Community Pocket Forests offer a unique approach that transforms small urban spaces into thriving native ecosystems.
Enjoy refreshments, planting activities, and inspiring conversations as we explore ways to grow greener, more sustainable communities – together.
This event is free of charge for UDIA WA members only. Spots are limited and Registrations close COB Friday 04 July unless sold out prior.
Register for the member briefing.
Work with Defence Housing Australia
Defence Housing Australia are seeking expressions of interest for their Build to Lease Program to supply a mixture of apartments and townhouses in Rockingham.
The Build to Lease Program provides an opportunity for industry to work with DHA to bring a minimum of 450 newly constructed, high-quality properties to our portfolio in Rockingham. Expressions of Interest are invited from interested parties active in development, construction and/or sale of new apartment and/or townhouse projects to investors. DHA is not looking to purchase properties or contract builders to construct properties as part of this procurement process.
For more information, download all relevant documents from AusTender or visit Defence Housing Australia.
Submissions close at 3:00pm AEST Thursday 19 June 2025.
Growing Perth’s Tree canopy
New data released this week by the State Government, shows Perth and Peel’s tree canopy coverage is at 22%, which is a small increase from 21% in 2020. The data collected is used to map the varied vegetation across the city, shaping planting efforts and helping support the growth of existing trees.
Environment Minister the Hon. Matthew Swinbourn said, “urban forests are essential natural assets for our cities – improving biodiversity, protecting wildlife habitats and supporting the wellbeing of our communities.”
The state government plans to roll out several new initiatives including urban greening grant funding, a native tree planting rebate program called ‘Treebate’ and a $7.2 million Tree Recovery package to address losses caused by the polyphagous shot-hole borer.
View the Better Urban Forrest Planning – Perth and Peel dashboard.
Preserve Perth’s tree canopy during development
Hosted at the WACA Ground on Thursday 19 June, Treenet are presenting the AS4970 Seminar. Spend the session understanding how the implementation of AS4970 will help retain and manage trees around Perth while also supporting urban development.
Learn from Dr Greg Moore OAM, he has an interest in arboriculture and has contributed to the development of Australian Standards in pruning, protection of trees on development sites and amenity tree evaluation.
Walk away with an improved understanding of:
- the benefits and legal obligations associated with the use of this Australian Standard
- the knowledge of the tools and resources available to your profession to achieve better tree retention outcomes
- challenges and successes implementing AS4970 by examining case studies from around Australia