From the CEO
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a topping out ceremony with Built, Sirona Urban and MaxCap Group of UniLodge Perth Central.
The 30 level, 736 bed purpose-built student accommodation project will be finished just in time for the opening of the ECU City Campus at a cost of $145 million. It’s a cracking project, that will revitalise the eastern end of the CBD and provide a desperately needed boost to housing supply.
I have had lengthy discussions with university stakeholders about the populist and misguided political agenda targeted at restricting the number of international students coming to Australia to study. Little has been done to better understand the intended or unintended consequences of such a policy on the viability of our tertiary institutions or filling the gaping void in many university-qualified professions that we rely on. It is literally a life or death conversation when it comes to training more doctors, psychiatrists and allied health professionals.
As of September 2024, Australia hosted approximately 1,018,799 international student enrolments. Not all of these enrolments translate to physical presence or requiring housing, but lets assume for the moment that they all do. As of June 30, 2024, Australia’s total population was approximately 27.2 million. While specific data on the adult population (aged 18 and over) is not provided in the available sources, we can estimate this figure. Historically, adults constitute about 75% of Australia’s total population. Applying this percentage, the adult population would be approximately 20.4 million.
With 1,018,799 international student enrolments as of September 2024, this represents roughly 5% of the estimated adult population.
Politicians will always look for something or someone to blame for the failings of successive governments to adequately prioritise and fund housing supply across the continuum. But students? Please. And in an environment where our skills shortages are so acute, we cannot appropriately staff our hospitals or schools. It’s laughable if it wasn’t so serious.
Here’s a novel idea that no one has ever mentioned before (not). How about linking our migration & population policy settings to housing & infrastructure policy and don’t make a single move in any of those areas until a full and complete picture is understood of the consequences.
Utopian perhaps. Impactful? Without question.
Tanya Steinbeck
UDIA WA Chief Executive Officer
IWA State Infrastructure Strategy Workshop
This Wednesday, UDIA WA Executive Director Sarah Macaulay participated in the first of two Infrastructure WA workshops which will help inform the early stages of the development of WA’s next State Infrastructure Strategy.
A broad range of government and non-government representatives, from across various sectors, were involved. The focus of this session was on exploring four potential plausible future scenarios around two mega-trends of world order and energy transition. We explored our thoughts around the potential causes, characteristics of the operating environment across various dimensions including built form, society, the economy, energy and the environment, and implications for infrastructure within a 2050-time horizon.
While high-level, this was a useful exercise to highlight some of the key considerations around opportunities and challenges within the complex housing demand and supply ecosystem. We look forward to participating in the next workshop and helping to shape the focus areas and options, etc.
Meeting with Hon. Neil Thomson MLC
On Tuesday, Executive Director Sarah Macaulay and Policy Officer Isaac George hosted a meeting with the Hon. Neil Thomson MLC in his capacity as Shadow Minister for Environment; Planning and Lands.
Topics for discussion included UDIA WA’s priorities for the state election and understanding greater details of Liberal policies announced to date. This included the development of a strategic plan for the Swan Coastal Plain including a fund for offsets, the expansion of the Infrastructure Development Fund to further drive housing choice and supply, strategic planning for both infrastructure and future development and, ensuring the impact of any policy change is viewed through a housing affordability and delivery lens before being implemented.
We thank the Hon. Neil Thomson for his engagement with UDIA WA regarding the many crucial matters for the industry within his shadow portfolio.
WA has strongest economy in Australia
Commonwealth Bank have released their quarterly CommSec State of the States Report. For the second quarter in a row, WA sits in top spot as the country’s strongest economy, just sitting ahead of Queensland and South Australia.
The individual economies of each State and Territory have slowed overall as consumers respond to higher borrowing costs and price pressures. However, each economy has been supported by strong job markets and population growth despite inflation.
Across eight key economic indicators, WA ranks first for retail spending, relative unemployment, relative population growth, housing finance and dwelling starts. South Australia ranks first in economic growth, Victoria leads on construction work done, and the Northern Territory is investing the most in equipment.
View the full State of the States Report.
Vale Bill Burrell
It is with sadness that UDIA WA learned of the passing of Taylor Burrell Barnett founder and former Director, Bill Burrell, earlier this month. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.
Mr Burrell was a very well-respected planner who, throughout his career, had a significant impact on the planning and development industry in Western Australia. He was a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and recipient of the WE Bold Medal, involved in significant projects including Port Coogee, Mindarie Keys, and the Village at Wellard.
TBB Practice Fellow Lex Barnett has written a tribute to Bill on the TBB website that can be read here, including information about the funeral and memorial function for any of our members that knew or worked with Bill.
Registrations for tours of Elysian by Celsius close Monday!
Situated on the doorstep to Kings Park, Elysian Subiaco is Celsius’ newly completed project with 34 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments at the southern end of Rokeby Road. Crafted by MJA Studio, Elysian draws on Subiaco’s historic architectural character combining timeless architecture, elegant interiors and generous outdoor spaces to create a seamless design that will age gracefully over time.
Join UDIA WA and Celsius on this exclusive first look at the completed project and hear about the highlights and learnings throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Get in quick before registrations close Monday – book your place on a tour!
Improving Perth’s Tree Canopy
The City of Vincent are seeking public feedback on proposed changes to their Tree of Significance Policy. The policy seeks to combat the loss of Perth’s already small tree canopy and improve Vincent’s urban canopy as well as advocate for improved urban greening and environmentally sustainable design through new development.
The Policy review aims to increase the number of nominations to the tree of significance registry by:
- Removing nomination costs
- Making it easier for landowners to nominate a tree for inclusion in the Inventory
- Expanding the range of incentives
- Simplifying maintenance of registered trees.
Consultation on the proposed changes closes Friday 14 February.
Have your say on the City of Vincent’s Tree of Significance policy.
Eager to improve and increase Perth’s small tree canopy, the City of Bayswater, in partnership with Emerge Associates and Greening Australia, have begun work establishing a new urban forest at Riverside Gardens supported by $1.8 million in State Government funding.
The project aims to enhance the natural environment, boost tree canopy, reduce groundwater usage, improve habitats for birds and other species, and increasing native vegetation.
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said, “among the many environmental advantages are the reduction of the urban heat island effect, providing a home for native fauna, and improving air, soil and water quality.”
Expected to be completed in 2026, the two-stage project will occupy six hectares of open grassland and will feature a mixture of large trees, vegetation, turf and landscaping; new paths and trails; sheltered picnic tables and benches; drink fountains, a bird waterer, bird and bat boxes, and turtle hides.
As part of efforts to improve Perth’s green spaces, WALGA will be hosting their third annual Urban Forest Conference 2025 bringing together Government, industry and community leaders to discuss ways to provide resilient and equitable urban forests for communities.
UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck will be participating as a panelist to discuss how threats to urban forest resilience should be addressed and we look forward to keeping members informed on any relevant discussion at the forum.
City of Joondalup are seeking Community Consultation
The City of Joondalup is seeking feedback on a draft new Residential Development Local Planning Policy. The policy has been drafted in response to the release of the updated Residential Design Codes Volume 1.
The draft new Residential Development Local Planning Policy will replace the City’s current Residential Development Local Planning Policy and Development in Housing Opportunity Areas Local Planning Policy. The Policy includes provisions applicable to residential development in the City of Joondalup both inside and outside of Housing Opportunity Areas.
The City is seeking feedback from the development industry.
Further information is available via the ‘Community Consultation’ section of the City’s website joondalup.wa.gov.au.
All submissions must be in writing and be received by Thursday 20 February 2025.
$700 million upgrade to the Kwinana Freeway
On Tuesday this week, the State and Federal Government announced a joint investment of $700 million to upgrade the Kwinana Freeway as part of supporting future projects like Westport, growing industrial areas and Defence Assets.
The $350 million investment from each government will be used to widen the freeway, aiming to ease congestion, improve commuter safety and improve the efficiency of moving freight by increasing capacity by 50% along the upgraded sections.
“Western Australia is an economic powerhouse, and we want to make sure we are investing in future job creating projects like Westport, while still delivering the immediate congestion benefits for commuters now”, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
This new funding builds on the previous $67 million joint commitment towards planning and scoping of landside enabling infrastructure for the Westport project.