From the CEO
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Legitimate skepticism about the bias and political influence over mainstream media reporting is on the up around the world. And for good reason in many cases. Distortion of the truth to fuel division and advance individual or corporation agendas is not new. However, we live in an online world where the competition for clicks and limited advertising dollars is ruthless. So stretching reality is often a way to get our attention.
I present to you Exhibit A. Published today on Perth Now (Western Suburbs), the headline reads “High-rise apartments in Wembley and City Beach to skip Town of Cambridge scrutiny“. Reading further, the article states “Both developments are likely to dodge council scrutiny because the Cambridge council is not scheduled to hold a decision-making meeting until after the State Development Assessment Unit closes public consultation on them.”
This reads as though the Town of Cambridge have been blindsided, not consulted nor given sufficient opportunity to make a submission or provide any comment on the proposal. Perhaps you may read it differently.
Here’s the facts as I can see it. Regarding the City Beach DA, the Town was consulted by the proponent in July 2024, September 2024 with a site visit then through subsequent correspondence up until mid-November 2024. The SDAU is now publicly advertising the proposal where all ratepayers (and Councillors) are free to express their views for 30 days. The Town is given 60 days to provide a submission. The fact that the Town’s formal Council meeting isn’t until after public consultation closes does not mean they are not able to provide comment.
Another inconvenient truth is that the Town of Cambridge Local Planning Scheme No. 1 was gazetted in 1998 and is now over 25 years old. The Town moved to update the scheme in 2023 which is still yet to be approved, though no changes in density were proposed for this strategic infill location despite having the established infrastructure and amenity and a crippling housing supply shortage. Therefore it is unsurprising that the proponent chose the Significant Development Pathway.
Retaining the character of the local area is important, so is accepting that we are in 2025 – not 1998.
Tanya Steinbeck
UDIA WA Chief Executive Officer
Working with Government to improve housing supply
On Wednesday, UDIA WA’s CEO Tanya Steinbeck and Executive Director Sarah Macaulay attended an engagement session with representatives from Commonwealth Treasury, as well as the WA Housing Supply Unit, key Government agencies and other industry bodies to discuss what can be done to increase well located housing supply in WA.
Commonwealth Treasury has appointed a National Housing Delivery Coordinator, Ms Tess Pickering, to improve local engagement on the National Housing Accord and work alongside the Council of Federal Financial Relations to identify priority solutions.
It was a constructive discussion of challenges and potential solutions from an industry perspective. UDIA WA’s insights and proposed solutions aligned with the intent of our State Election Platform and were focused around opportunities for Commonwealth assistance to address the challenges of cost of capital, cost of construction/labour and cost of/commitment to infrastructure to accelerate supply across the housing continuum.
We understand the insights gathered through these workshops, which are being undertaken in each State, will inform the preparation of Commonwealth Housing Delivery Plans that will outline priority Commonwealth and State place-based interventions.
ABS data reveals welcome increase in housing commencements
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 22 January reveals a welcome 4.6% increase in dwelling commencements. However, quarterly figures show that Australia is still 28% behind the housing starts needed to reach the National Housing Accord target set in 2022.
“Now more than ever, Australia’s political leadership needs to accelerate housing delivery with initiatives that not only build on affordable and social housing commitments, but also boost median priced housing for all Australians,” said Oscar Stanley, National Vice President, Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).
A key consideration for the Government is that 97% of the Accord target relies on the private sector to close the gap and deliver the required dwellings.
UDIA are advocating for the following measures:
- Incentivise homes for all Australians through tax credits to take the burden of housing delivery off Government and encourage construction of median priced houses by the private sector.
- Offer the Housing Accord bonus incentives upfront so that States and Territories can leverage critical housing supply.
- Establish a $5bn Federal Government fund dedicated to enabling infrastructure to unlock housing in areas of low supply.
- Streamline and incentivise planning timeframes to boost productivity.
- Address the shortfall of skilled construction labour we require to boost our industry’s ailing capacity to meet the Housing Target demands.
“While we are currently facing an ever-increasing housing supply gap across Australia, we require all levels of Government to prioritise implementing bold initiatives such as these to enable industry and build the homes Australians deserve,” said Mr Stanley.
Source ABS, UDIA
When Tech Transforms an industry
Over the last two decades, industries of all kinds have experienced technology-led innovation and disruption on a grand scale. While examples like Uber, Carsales.com.au and Booking.com have all become so familiar to us now, these were groundbreaking advancements that drastically altered consumer expectations, and how industries operated.
Convenience and efficiency are the key drivers of these changes, which enable consumers to access far greater transparency and visibility through real-time data and the democratisation of information.
But while travel, taxis and selling cars have all been transformed by these centralised platforms, the Greenfield property industry has been immune – until very recently with the launch of LandNow.
Visit Landnow to read Shaira Sexison’s full post.
EOI to open for community housing providers
Expressions of Interest will open on Tuesday 28 January 2025 for community housing providers (CHPs) to own and operate new affordable and social housing to be delivered in partnership with the State and Federal Governments.
The State Government is seeking submissions from community housing providers to own and operate 13 build-to-rent projects that will be built on Government-owned land. Part of an initial investment of $443 million, the projects will create up to 1000 social and affordable homes that will be delivered in partnership with the State and Federal Government through Housing Australia. Once completed the community housing sector will be pivotal in the ongoing operation and management of the developments.
“We are working right across Western Australia, and the rest of the country to help people into secure and safe housing – because everyone deserves that,” said Federal Housing and Homeless Minister Claire O’Neil.
DevelopmentWA will construct the developments to a minimum of Silver Livable under the national Livable Housing Design guidelines and a 7-star NatHERS energy and thermal efficiency rating, with successful CHPs to benefit from 25 years of operational funding support provided by Housing Australia via quarterly availability payments.
Expressions of interest close at 2pm Western Standard Time on Friday, 7 March 2025.
For more information visit: https://developmentwa.com.au/projects/residential/community-housing-operator-eoi/overview
Peak into the future with Steve Sammartino
Described as Australia’s leading futurist, Steve Sammartino is a keynote speaker you do not want to miss. As February rapidly approaches, Steve will be presenting the keynote address at this year’s UDIA WA Annual Development Conference joining our lineup of fantastic speakers and panelists. He brings a blend of expertise, passion and creativity that shines through the content he creates, as he brings to life his vision for the future.
Steve is a tour de force in the field of technology, having been immersed in computational intelligence systems since the age of 10. He is an expert in the world of AI and leverages his experience to expound on its profound implications for business and society. Among his recent projects Steve cofounded Macro3D – a robotics company built on the idea of delivering 3D printed homes. In August of 2023, Macro3D completed their first printed home fueling their ambitions to create and deliver the first ‘fully AI home’ utilising technology to rethink the future of housing.
Under the conference’s theme Developing the Future of WA, Steve will draw on his expertise and experience to take a close look at Industry & Economic disruptors. He will provide an outlook on what the future holds, exploring what the major innovations and changes will be, examining the impact of their disruption on both industry and community.
Secure your place at the Annual Development Conference.
To learn more about Steve Sammartino and his work, visit his website.
Special thanks to session sponsor Construction Training Fund for their support of the conference.
First train on the tracks of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link
Perth’s east-west line linking Thornlie to Cockburn has reached a major milestone with the running of the first test train on 20 January. The test marks the start of the testing and commission program evaluating that all infrastructure and systems are operating effectively allowing trains to run safely, efficiently and smoothly.
Connecting the Armadale and Mandurah lines together, the Thornlie-Cockburn link includes upgrades to the Thornlie and Cockburn stations along with the addition of new stations at Nicholson Road and Randford Road. The delivery of the new line aims to support growth and accessibility across the south-eastern suburbs by providing access to employment, unlocking long-term housing development opportunities in Canning Vale, and provide a direct line for Mandurah Line passengers to Perth Stadium Station for the first time.
When completed, residents will have a 26-minute journey to Perth from Nicholson Rd Station and a 29-minute journey from Ranford Rd Station.
“METRONET is reshaping Perth, providing great new amenities for the community and delivering the transport infrastructure needed to keep our city moving and growing,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
The METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link is scheduled to open in mid-2025.