From the CEO
WA is suffering from a longer, deeper and more complex health crisis than ambulance ramping.
It’s called Dutch Disease. In economics, “Dutch disease” refers to a phenomenon where a boom in one sector of an economy, typically a natural resource sector like oil or gas, leads to a decline in other sectors, like manufacturing, due to a currency appreciation that makes other exports less competitive on the international market; essentially, a country becomes too reliant on its resource-rich sector, harming its overall economic diversification.
As we kicked off our annual Development Conference overlooking Busselton jetty this morning, WA’s Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken presented both the stark reality and the global opportunity we have to MWAGA (Make WA Great Again). The global shift towards bringing back manufacturing capability and capacity to homelands is the antidote to a country and more specifically, a State that is suffering from a severe case of Dutch Disease. In terms of manufacturing, we are back to producing what we did at the time of federation.
WA is the only place in the world that has the most elements of the periodic table in the ground. In a geopolitical environment or ‘polycrisis’ that places energy, food and water security at the top of the priority list, we couldn’t be better placed to leverage our natural assets. Downstream processing and the energy transition aren’t the only opportunities, add to that 3D printing housing, education, biotech, defence, technology and more.
In the words of our first keynote speaker, Steve Sammartino – it’s not about this OR that. It’s about this AND that. Combined with a good dose of courage, we could even have a cure.
Urban Intelligence
UDIA WA’s latest edition of the Urban Intelligence for February 2025 is now available exclusively to UDIA WA members.
Download the latest edition including:
- UDIA Land Snapshot data
- Residential Property Market & Residential Construction data
- Broader Economic Trends including Population, Employment and Retail Trade data
State Conference
UDIA WA’s annual State Conference kicked off last night in Busselton with a welcome event at Shelter Brewing, located on the stunning foreshore. Conference delegates had the chance to network before settling into the plenary conference sessions commencing this morning at the Hilton, with a keynote address from Futurist Steve Sammartino.
Steve provided insight into the very real impact that AI is having on business and society, changing the way we operate at a fundamental level. While Steve is a futurist, much of what he outlined in terms of rapid technology and innovation shifts, is happening now and will continue to evolve in the next few years.
One of Steve’s key messages is that if we can build cars in factories, why not homes?
The second session for the morning carried on the disruption theme, with Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken outlining WA’s energy transition and the need for WA to diversify our economy. As one of the top 10 most simplified economies in the world, we are carrying a lot of risk and reliance on China.
Another economic diversification opportunity in WA is AUKUS, and the other major industries emerging in the South West Metro corridor, which was explored in our first panel session.
Our afternoon speakers will drill further down into sustainability and environmental management in the face of continued urban growth, and we are looking forward to finishing the day’s proceedings with a walking tour around the City of Busselton.
Follow us on our socials, including LinkedIn and Facebook to view photos and regular updates from the conference.
Developing the Future of WA
Keep your eyes peeled for the latest edition of The Urbanist magazine landing in our member’s inbox tomorrow! This quarter’s edition looks into the future of development for Western Australia – exploring the opportunities and challenges facing our industry in 2025. Launching today at our annual State Conference, the articles feature many of the guest speakers and panelists from the event, and allows all our members to learn more about what is being discussed at conference over the next two days.
The Future of Land Buying
Building a dream home starts with finding the perfect block of land. However, the traditional land-buying process can be complex, time-consuming, and often frustrating. Enter LandNow, a platform designed to streamline the land acquisition journey for builders seeking suitable blocks for their clients.
LandNow is revolutionising the way land is discovered, evaluated, and secured, offering a suite of features that simplify and accelerate the entire process.
Visit Landnow to read the full article.
Don’t miss an election promise!
Launched last week, the UDIA WA State Election Commitment tracker is available to industry to stay up to date with all the election commitments made by all major parties in the lead up to polling day on 8th March.
Updated with the new promises made over the last week, including Labor’s promise to implement a $50m Housing innovation program, the tracker provides a list of the commitments made to date, by the Labor Party, Liberal Party, Nationals and Greens.
View the UDIA WA State Election Commitment Tracker.
Last chance to secure tickets to UDIA’s National Congress!
Tickets close Friday 7 March to UDIA’s 2025 National Congress and Gala Awards Night!
Taking place from 17 to 19 March at the Star in Brisbane, National Congress gives you an unparalleled opportunity to learn from international and local industry experts and connect with like-minded professionals.
Boasting over 30 speakers, the packed program features presentations from National President Col Dutton, CoreLogic’s Eliza Owen and Richard Temlett, Julie Bishop, CEO of BuildSkills Australia Brett Schimming, and others.
Don’t miss your chance and register to attend National Congress for 2025!
