UDIA Urbis Dashboard up and running – access market leading industry data
UDIA WA members now have unparalleled access to market-leading development industry data due to our exclusive arrangement with Research Partner Urbis.
UDIA Member companies can receive access to the quarterly UDIA WA Urban Development Index new land sales information via the Urbis Loop platform, allowing you to access and analyse the full suite of UDI data that has been provided to members for over 20 years via a more user-friendly platform.
On top of access to UDI data, we are also delighted to offer our members limited access to Urbis’ Apartment Essentials Dashboard.
Through the new interactive dashboard, UDIA Members will have the ability to personalise UDI data according to their individual business needs and explore information at a local government level and for particular quarters with ease.
Members are requested to contact UDIA at udia@udiawa.com.au to nominate up to three (3) company representatives to access* this exciting new initiative.
Information required for each nominated representative:
- First name
- Surname
- Member company name
- Position title
- Email address
*Please Note: this access is in addition/ separate to the UDIA WA member portal. All users of that system will continue to retain access as per normal.
Countdown to the Federal Election: UDIA National campaign update
The Prime Minister has announced the federal election will take place on Saturday 18 May, just 4 weeks away. UDIA National will continue to advocate on your behalf to support our election campaign ‘Building a Liveable Future for all Australians’.
We’re calling on all sides of politics, regardless of who is in power after the election, to make an urgent commitment to addressing the key issues impacting liveability in our cities.
UDIA is a trusted government advisor and we are working closely with both sides of government to leverage our expertise for the benefit of our nation.
Our election campaign is addressed under 3 key themes:
Don’t Kill the Market:
- Maintain negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
- Use a range of measures to broaden the overall taxation funding base to protect struggling home buyers from bearing the burden of additional fees and charges.
- Incentivise the states to move away from stamp duty to increase efficiencies of the market.
Keep Australia open for Business
- Ensure Australia remains able to grow through targeted skilled migration and settlement programs.
- Establish regular population forecasts and a national Strategic Population Plan to better inform strategic land-use and infrastructure plans.
- Use data to inform a national Strategic Population Plan that forecasts infrastructure and housing requirements to accommodate population growth.
Build a more connected Australia
- Federal government to set up an ‘Infrastructure Accord’ where major parties agree to permanently insulate the identification, funding and delivery of significant infrastructure from partisan politics.
- Focus on targeted infrastructure projects to ensure services are delivered where housing is being developed.
- Long term infrastructure planning and delivery needs to be completed in consultation with the industry.
On the lead up to the federal election, we’ll be highlighting these recommendations to all sides of politics at every opportunity.
Our unique insights and expertise, drawn from our members across the nation, ensure UDIA is an authoritative and informed voice in relation to these important issues.
UDIA election updates are on the campaign website www.udiacampaign.com.au
If you’re not doing so already, we ask that you follow UDIA National’s social media pages and also share each of our posts to help us spread the word about our campaign and our strategic thinking to your networks.
- LinkedIn: UDIA National
- Facebook: @UDIANational
- Twitter: @UDIANational
UDIA continues to lead conversation around infill development
UDIA WA was pleased to provide a forum to discuss the critical importance that early community engagement plays in progressing quality infill development in appropriate areas on Friday at our Industry Luncheon “The Challenges of Change”.
Featuring scene setting presentations from engagement specialist Joel Levin from IAP2 and Bentley Community Liaison Committee Chair Ian Carter AM, the event also included a panel discussion with Mayors Penny Taylor (City of Subiaco); Sue Doherty (City of South Perth); Max Hipkins (City of Nedlands); along with Stockland’s Grant Shepherd and consultant Len Kosova.
UDIA firmly believes that positive community engagement and clear policy is the key to achieving successful infill development that meets the needs of current and future residents in Perth while providing industry with much needed certainty.
Given the state government’s infill targets and leadership in pursuing greater urban consolidation, there is no doubt that many local governments are feeling the pressure of delivering on those targets.
The panellists discussed how to address the disconnect between what residents want and what is beneficial for future generations, which can be difficult to balance. There is also a common problem of the vocal minority in local areas putting up resistance to change, when it is the silent majority that might be welcoming it.
It was agreed that one of the key elements to achieving quality design outcomes is to ensure that there is a clear vision in place for an area from the outset. The Mayors suggested that earlier engagement from industry with local councils would assist in moving the process forward and avoiding surprises.
As UDIA has noted over the years, where there has been a failure to clearly articulate a plan, this has created uncertainty for the community and the development industry alike which leads to poor outcomes.
UDIA is keen to continue a positive dialogue around how we are planning and delivering infill projects and engaging with the community to achieve a shared vision.
As Joel Levin said, there is no point in undertaking consultation that is not meaningful and honest regarding where the community has a say and what influence they can have on the final project or plan so we need to start early and be honest and meaningful in our engagement.
Final approval for Nedlands planning scheme complete
Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has provided final approval to the new City of Nedlands Local Planning Scheme No. 3 (LPS 3).
According to the state government, with this approval, the City of Nedlands has the ability to guide development outcomes in Nedlands by preparing appropriate local planning instruments that align to LPS 3, in consultation with the community.
The plan will restrict further density on many suburban streets, focusing it in activity centres to protect the character of the suburb.
It also addresses community feedback to retain the character of heritage streets, leaving about 75 per cent of the City of Nedlands area completely unchanged.
More details here.
Precincts next in line of planning priorities
The next policy in line for release from WAPC will be the Precinct Design policy, confirmed this week by WAPC Chairman, David Caddy. The Precinct Design Policy will apply to areas that require a high-level of design focus due to their complexity, whether this is due to mixed use components, higher levels of density, an activity centre designation or character and/or heritage value. The UDIA continues to push to prioritise the Medium Density Design Code, which is currently being scoped. It’s unlikely we will see a Design Code out for advertising until late this year.
Coasting towards trouble
The UDIA expressed serious concerns to WAPC this week regarding the interpretation and application of the SPP 2.6 State Coastal Planning Policy. The number of members now impacted from a shift in the reasonable application of the policy is steadily increasing, just like the coastal setbacks. The UDIA was told the policy is on the growing priority list for review.
Housing Industry Forecasting Group
Alongside a range of other industry stakeholders, UDIA took part in the Housing Industry Forecasting Groups mid-year review of dwelling commencement forecasts for 2018-19, and 2019 and 2020 financial years. A wide range of property market indicators were examined and number of challenges currently facing the development industry discussed. UDIA will provide members with an update on the Group’s revised forecasts which are anticipated to be published in the coming weeks.
PEF: Internship program: expressions of interest called
An opportunity is open for UDIA members to provide work experience for property and property related students via the Property Education Foundation (PEF) internship program.
This program is gathering momentum and is much sought after by university students looking to kick off a career in the property industry.
The Curtin students will be available to undertake the internship during their semester break from 24 June – 26 July 2019 (5 weeks).
If your organisation is interested in supporting an intern as part of the program, please advise us of the following information:
• the number of students you would like to take per week
• the number of days a week the intern(s) can attend your organisation (name the days if not 5 days a week)
• the number of weeks you can accommodate the intern (s) (dates of the weeks)
As it is necessary for the students to obtain insurance cover from Curtin University, the enrolment process takes 2 weeks, so it would be very much appreciated if willing organisations can provide the above information by the end of May to udia@udiawa.com.au
When the student roster is completed, the relevant intern CVs will be provided to your organisation’s contact person.
Vehicular Access: Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas
UDIA has made a submission on the Draft Element 3 – Vehicular Access: Guidelines for Planning in Bushfire Prone Areas, outlining our reasons for not supporting the proposed amendments.
In brief, our concerns are in relation to the lack of transparency and stakeholder consultation in developing the amendments; the unreasonable bias toward bushfire response objectives only; lack of practicality and negative impact on housing affordability and lack of clarity and the likelihood of inconsistent application.
Given our significant concerns, UDIA has requested that the Department work with all stakeholders including the development industry to ensure that Element 3 of the provide for far more practical vehicle access requirements.
Our full submission with more detail around our recommendations can be downloaded here.
Design WA Stage One – Stakeholder engagement survey
The Western Australian Planning Commission and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is seeking feedback on the stakeholder engagement process of Design WA Stage One.
The information collected via the survey will help the government understand how effective the post-launch stakeholder engagement has been and if there’s anything else that can be done to assist in the lead up to implementation.
It will also inform the communication strategies for future campaigns including the next stages of Design WA.
More information and the survey here.
Mandogalup Improvement Plan for future development
The State Government has released an Improvement Plan to progress planning for the Mandogalup area.
Establishing the Improvement Plan facilitates assessment of development scenarios – rural, urban and industrial. This work will be crucial for defining a statutory and strategic framework that will enable the WA Planning Commission to assess future land use proposals.
Stakeholder engagement with landowners, local government, industry and peak bodies will be undertaken and form a major part of delivering the framework, which will be based on detailed investigations, technical reports, and structure planning.
Outcomes of the investigations will feed into the preparation of an Improvement Scheme, which will inform and provide the WA Planning Commission with direct authority over the area’s land use and development.
More information is available here.