HAMES SHARLEY, A LEADING INTERNATIONAL DESIGN PRACTICE, RECENTLY SURVEYED DEVELOPERS IN NSW ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT FROM AN APPROVALS SYSTEM. NOT SURPRISINGLY THEIR COMMENTS RESONATED WITH THE EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The seven priorities are: 1. More community involvement in broad planning policy, and less ability to object to projects, provided they comply with the […]
THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A MORATORIUM ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WESTERN POWER’S COLLECTION OF THE TAX ON CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. Sometimes common sense does come into play, even in the frantic lead up to the State Budget. The State Government has announced a moratorium on the implementation of Western Power’s collection of the tax on […]
IN JUST OVER A WEEK A 13.9% LEVY WILL BE INTRODUCED BY WESTERN POWER TO COVER THEIR INCOME TAX LIABILITY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THEM FOR FREE. THE ROLE OF WESTERN POWER IS TO TRANSPORT ENERGY AND DEVELOPERS ROUTINELY BUILD AND GIFT TO WESTERN POWER THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED TO SERVICE ELECTRICITY […]
UDIA NATIONAL CONGRESS WAS HELD RECENTLY IN BRISBANE AND ALWAYS DELIVERS THOUGHT PROVOKING DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. THIS YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION AND MY “PICK OF THE CROP” WAS THE FORMER CHIEF URBAN DESIGNER FOR THE NEW YORK CITY. ALEXANDROS WASHBURN PROVIDED SOME REALLY INTERESTING INSIGHTS. 1. To have a successful project you need to align […]
MOST OF YOU WILL HAVE HEARD OF LEARNED HELPLESSNESS. THAT IS WHEN YOUR BELOVED TEENAGER SUDDENLY FORGETS HOW TO MAKE TOAST OR PUT WASHING IN THE LAUNDRY BASKET BUT CAN MASTER THE MOST COMPLICATED NEW TECHNOLOGY. OR THE PARTNER WHO SUDDENLY “UNLEARNS” HOW TO DO ROUTINE TASKS. AT THE OTHER END OF THE SCALE IS […]
ONE OF THE VERY OBVIOUS CHANGES OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES HAS BEEN THE PROPORTION OF THE LOT TAKEN UP BY THE DWELLING. Analysis of Landgate data shows that since 1993 the size of residential dwellings has grown from 25 percent as a proportion of the lot, to 41 percent. This is mainly due to […]
ACCORDING TO ABS DATA, OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSEHOLDS HAD A HIGHER LEVEL OF NET WEALTH THAN THOSE THAT RENT. With households in Perth having, on average, net property assets of $420,700, it is clear that property continues to underpin wealth accumulation throughout people’s lives, whether it is through the family home or other real estate investments. […]
UDIA SUPPORTS THE ORDERLY ROLL OUT OF LAND FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT. HOWEVER IT RECOGNISES THAT, IN A PROPONENT DRIVEN SYSTEM, THE LAND OWNERS MAY NOT WANT TO, OR BE ABLE TO, DEVELOP WHEN IT IS THEIR “TURN.” When the major strategic planning strategy, Directions 2031, was first being developed under the then newly elected Barnett […]
The argument about whether or not environmental initiatives undertaken by developers resonate with buyers, and are useful selling points, has been around for some time. SMR’s “What Home Buyers Want” survey conducted across 20 residential estates, sheds some light on the subject, but also poses more challenges for developers. There are many excellent examples where […]