News Articles for Urban Development Institute of Australia WA

Off-the-plan apartment buyers in Western Australia will receive a 75 per cent rebate on stamp duty for the next two years, capped at $50,000, under a stimulus package unveiled by the state government today that has been roundly welcomed by the development industry.

Western Australia's peak property industry groups have called for the establishment of an independent body to decide how local governments manage developer contributions.

Wholesale changes to Western Australia's planning system, including a reduction in the number of development assessment panels, a more streamlined Western Australian Planning Commission, and standardised local government regulations have been welcomed as a boost to housing affordability and a catalyst for greater diversity of housing choice across the state.

Future high-density development in Subiaco will be clustered along main roads in close proximity to the suburb's town centre and train station, with new planning guidelines endorsed by council this week.

The state government says it will fix a planning loophole that enabled small housing subdivisions in WA to be built without connection to telecommunications infrastructure.

The state government will not consider pausing or scrapping its surcharge on foreign property purchasers, despite a sharp reduction in sales to offshore buyers and growing scepticism around whether revenue will meet projections.

Property Council of Australia WA executive director Sandra Brewer and Urban Development Institute of Australia WA chief executive Tanya Steinbeck join Damian Stone to discuss the recent state budget, property industry initiatives to promote gender diversity, and whether the property industry has an image problem.

WA BUDGET: Property industry lobby groups have urged the state government to use its more favourable budgetary position to provide more stimulus to the housing sector.

The developer behind the Red Castle and Bottleyard apartments complexes has been forced into liquidation, the latest victim of difficult conditions in Western Australian property.

Perth's Yagan Square, developed by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, won two awards at last night's UDIA National Awards.

SPECIAL REPORT: Battered by the biggest downturn to hit the property sector in decades, WA land developers remain in survival mode as they await an expected recovery.

A Perth media group has unveiled a partnership with a Chinese streaming platform to enhance WA's trade relationship with the People's Republic.

Business groups have welcomed a bill introduced by the state government today to establish the advisory body Infrastructure WA.

New rules will soon apply to high-density developments across the Perth metropolitan area, including minimum apartment sizes, guidelines around tree retention and natural light, and how projects integrate with the wider neighbourhood.

There will be a big reduction in the Reserve Bank of Australia's official cash rate in the next year or two, according to investment analysis Jonathan Pain.

Infrastructure Australia has identified 16 priority projects for Western Australia, highlighting several major differences with the state government's priorities, including the Morley-Ellenbrook line.

Property industry bodies say it is local governments, not development assessment panels, which need to eliminate uncertainty in the planning process.

The state budget will be in surplus in 2019/20, according to Premier Mark McGowan, while a $421 million expansion of the Keystart program for first homebuyers and a move to reduce red tape will be two new policies to support the local economy.

Property industry bodies have congratulated the McGowan government on passing the Strata Titles Amendment Bill 2018 through Parliament, which it says will bring a range of benefits for strata living arrangements through better regulation of strata managers and improved dispute resolution processes.

The McGowan government will introduce its levy on foreign buyers of residential property after the WA Greens and One Nation parties supported the plan.

BGC Development's Westin Hotel and Hibernian Place development was picked as the top project in Western Australia in this year's Urban Development Institute Australia WA awards.

SPECIAL REPORT: New retail property developments are driving offerings that capitalise on lifestyle needs, but five of the biggest projects are yet to push the button.

New land sales in Perth have increased for the third straight quarter, according to new data out today, with the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA saying the results reflect rising confidence in the local market.

Property executives John Gelavis and Allison Hailes have both left their respective roles this week, with Mr Gelavis selected to head the Master Builders Association of WA.

Growth in population and jobs are two factors that will lift the volume of residential greenfields land sales, a recent industry event has heard.

Following the rejection of an initial proposal late last year, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority has given 3 Oceans Property the green light to progress its twin-tower mixed-use development on the corner of West Coast Highway and Scarborough Beach Road.

The Perth property market has recorded an increase in the price of new land sold and strong growth in land under construction in the March quarter, however annual data in a new report out today shows the market still has a long way to fully recover.

A Singaporean investment manager has bought the Sunmoon Boutique Resort in Scarborough for $8.3 million, with plans to transform the property into one of Australia's first build-to-rent projects.

While the push for more urban infill across Perth is nothing new, the state government has lifted its game today with the release of Western Australia's largest collection of infill opportunities to market, calling on the private sector to help achieve its vision.

State government revenue will be boosted by several policy measures announced today, including increased cost recovery from the mining, maritime and justice sectors, removal of the resource sector's exemption from a training levy, and an increased levy on foreign property buyers.

Alternative construction materials are attracting more interest in WA.

A disconnect between urban infill ambitions in WA and the sector's ability to deliver is hindering the development of medium-density projects.

SPECIAL REPORT: Rita Saffioti is stamping her mark on the transport, lands and planning portfolios she took on last March, initiating a number of major reviews and appointing several industry figures to key roles.

Alkimos Beach and Elizabeth Quay have won top honours at the Urban Development Institute of Australia's national awards for excellence, presented in Melbourne last night.

Sustainability-driven land developments are taking shape across Western Australia, but only five projects have achieved the top six-leaf EnviroDevelopment certification.

David Caddy will apply his more than 40 years of planning and leadership expertise to his new role as chairperson of the state's planning commission.

The property sector has been given its first taste of the latest changes to the state's planning systems, with experienced town planner and urban designer Evan Jones revealing his initial ideas at a recent Urban Development Institute of Australia event.

Signs of recovery across Perth's property market continue to emerge, with the latest figures from the Urban Development Institute of Australia showing land sales were up 4 per cent for the December 2017 quarter.

Building approvals in Western Australia have dropped to the lowest levels in 16 years, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, while a new housing affordability survey has labelled the Perth housing market ‘severely unaffordable'.

SPECIAL REPORT: LandCorp is boosting land supply across Perth's established suburbs, but it's just a small step towards achieving long-standing goals for urban infill.