THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRIORITISING THE AIRPORT TRAIN LINE AND MAX LIGHT RAIL OVER THE NORTHERN EXTENSION AS WELL AS THE TRAIN LINE TO ELLENBROOK AND THE “KNOWLEDGE ARC” LIGHT RAIL PROJECT, HIGHLIGHTED THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLANNING. The major transport decisions around rail (both light and heavy) fall into three […]
ON TUESDAY THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF THE BLUE PRINT FOR PLANNING REFORM: “PLANNING MAKE’S IT HAPPEN PHASE II” WAS RELEASED. IF FULLY IMPLEMENTED, IT WILL REDUCE TIMELINES AND RELIEVE SOME COST PRESSURES IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. In the first round of planning reform, the “model conditions” which are applied to subdivision applications were reviewed […]
THE FINAL REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC REGULATION AUTHORITY (ERA) INTO MICROECONOMIC REFORM WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK WITH A MYRIAD OF RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH NOW HAVE TO BE ASSESSED BY GOVERNMENT AND SORTED INTO THOSE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THOSE TO BE REJECTED AND THOSE THEY WILL CONSIDER SHOULD THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT BE FAVOURABLE. Amongst the braver decisions […]
UDIA UNDER TAKES AN INDUSTRY SENTIMENT SURVEY WHICH COLLATES THE OPINIONS OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THE SECTOR ABOUT THEIR WORKLOADS, THE APPROVALS SYSTEM AND THE OUTLOOK FOR THE MARKET. Compared to the two recent surveys, which were extremely bullish, the sales growth outlook is weaker. In April 2013 75% of respondents believed that there would […]
THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SECTOR IS CONTINUING TO MOVE STRONGLY WITH THE NUMBER OF LOT SALES IN UDIA’S WEEKLY SNAPSHOT TRENDING UPWARDS. FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS SALES HAVE BEEN SITTING AT OR ABOVE TREND, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR JULY WHEN THE COLD WEATHER TENDS TO DAMPEN THE ENTHUSIASM FOR HOUSE HUNTING. The effect […]
THE REVISION OF THE STATE PLANNING POLICY (SPP) FOR PLANNING FOR “BUSHFIRE RISK MANAGEMENT” WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING, AND THAT IS PROVING TO BE THE CASE. SUBMISSIONS ON THE SPP CLOSE ON THE 25TH JULY WITH THE FEEDBACK REQUIRED ON THE MORE DETAILED GUIDELINES BY 1 AUGUST THIS YEAR. The catastrophic fires in […]
LIVING CLOSE IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE CLOSE TO? FOR SOME PEOPLE IT WILL BE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, FOR OTHERS IT IS THE BEACH OR THE SWAN RIVER BUT FOR EVERYBODY THERE ARE INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE MARKET. Last week I took a drive up to Alkimos to check […]
THIS WEEK MARKED THE INTRODUCTION ON NEW STAMP DUTY EXEMPTION THRESHOLDS FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS. FROM THE 1ST JULY ONLY PROPERTIES PRICED UNDER $430,000 WILL RECEIVE THE FULL STAMP DUTY EXEMPTION, WITH CONCESSIONS PHASING OUT AT $530,000. NO CHANGES WERE MADE FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS OF NEW HOUSE AND LAND PACKAGES, WITH EXEMPTIONS FOR LAND […]
THE STATE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL EXAMINE EXISTING AND FUTURE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COASTAL SETTLEMENTS TO “ALLOW MORE WEST AUSTRALIANS AND TOURISTS ACCESS TO OUR MAGNIFICENT COASTLINE.” The new “Coastal Towns and Settlements Cabinet Subcommittee” will investigate the development and revitalisation of priority coastal settlements and examine future coastal sites, particularly on the south […]