ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES COMBINED WITH SOLAR PANELS MAY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR PEAK LOADS. The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems, otherwise known as solar panels, is growing rapidly with 93,914 systems connected to the Western Power electricity grid. As of September 2011 Mandurah had installed the most systems (3507) followed by Canningvale […]
RESIDENTIAL LAND SALES IN PERTH REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE THE PEAK OF NEW DWELLING DEMAND IN EARLY 2006 The largest developers in Perth recorded a 23.4 per cent rise in land sales over the December quarter and 77 per cent more sales over the year. Urban Development Institute of Australia (WA Division) CEO Debra […]
RE-SELLING OF VACANT LAND BECAME A KEY FEATURE OF THE MARKET DURING THE PERIOD OF STRONG PRICE GROWTH IN 2003 TO 2006, BUT SINCE THIS TIME THE RETURN ON SPECULATIVE LAND PURCHASES HAS CONSIDERABLY DECLINED. Land speculation is a risky investment but when the Perth residential land market was experiencing strong demand and price growth […]
THE RENTAL SQUEEZE AND THE PREDICTION BY THE ANZ THAT WESTERN AUSTRALIA WILL BE SHORT 90,000 DWELLINGS BY MID THIS DECADE MEANS THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING REMAINS A KEY ISSUE FOR THE STATE Whilst welcoming the announcement today by Minister Redman and Minister Day on the new partnership between the Department of Housing and […]
GIVEN THAT TODAY IS AUSTRALIA DAY, IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE AND THINK ABOUT HOW OUR URBAN ENVIRONMENT REFLECTS WHO WE ARE. UDIA recently published an article by Michelle Cramer, National Portfolio Leader in Urban Development with Hames Sharley, on the “Australian Sameness,” the proliferation of […]
THE URBANISATION OF POPULATIONS AROUND THE WORLD IS CREATING CHALLENGES FOR BOTH CITY PLANNING AND THE DETERIORATING ECONOMIC BASE OF REGIONAL TOWNS. Having recently returned from New Zealand it is clear that they too are facing this global phenomenon. It is projected that nearly ninety percent of New Zealand’s total population growth to 2026 will […]
THE PREMIER’S STATEMENT THAT THE BIGGEST PRESSURE POINT IS ON THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE RENTING ACCOMMODATION OR YOUNG PEOPLE RENTING ACCOMMODATION FAILS TO ADDRESS THE BROADER ISSUE OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY “We have had dire predictions by one of Australia’s leading banks that Western Australia will have a shortfall of 90,000 homes by the middle of […]
RENTAL PRESSURE AND DECLINING MORTGAGE COSTS DROVE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2010 Data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today show dwelling starts in the September quarter 2012 increased a seasonally adjusted 23.6 per cent to 5,166, its highest level since December 2010. UDIA (WA) CEO Debra Goostrey […]
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 2012 WAS THE MOST ACTIVE YEAR FOR FIRST HOME BUYERS SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S TEMPORARY STIMULUS ENDED IN 2009 Figures published yesterday show that the number of First Home Owner Grants (FHOG) paid in Western Australia increased 28 per cent to 17,171 in 2012. “Throughout 2011/12 first home buyer momentum drove the […]