Pappas to head up UDIA

Richard Pappas has been appointed as president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA, as the outgoing head moves onto a national role.

Mr Pappas, managing director of Celsius Property Group, formally assumes the position today at UDIA’s AGM.

He has come into the job at a time where the industry group is expanding its remit to incorporate a broader spectrum of housing typologies.

Speaking to Business News, Mr Pappas said the member group represented the entire residential property industry rather than just land development. 

“In the past there has been a [focus on] largely greenfield development, but equally back many years ago, most of Perth's development was greenfield," he said.

“UDIA’s representation across the housing continuum comes at a time where consumers are demanding a huge variety of accommodation, housing types from social housing, key worker accommodation to affordable housing, to rental accommodation to apartments to houses.

“There is still significant demand for greenfield subdivision, and I think as Perth is maturing, we are seeing a need for more housing choice in more locations.”

Celsius Property Group is currently working on apartment projects in Subiaco and North Perth, has recently delivered townhouses in Shenton Park and Exmouth, and is working on land subdivisions in Piara Waters and Champion Lakes. 

Mr Pappas began his property career in 1998, with an earlier iteration of Celsius Property Group Investech, which then became City Life Residential.

He takes on the role as UDIA WA’s outgoing president Stockland general manager WA residential Col Dutton becomes UDIA’s national president.

The moves come at a time where the nation is experiencing a significant housing shortage and affordability crisis.

Mr Dutton told Business News his decision to take on the national position was driven by a desire to have a seat at the table federally, at a time when housing supply was desperately needed.

“There’s never been more housing focus nationally and locally, and I think its very important we have a co-ordinated approach at a federal and state level,” he said.

“Industry bodies have been really focused on how we do it better locally, but never before has there been so much focus federally.”

Mr Pappas said he intended to continue the advocacy work that Mr Dutton had done, as the organisation puts pressure on government to implement policy changes that help boost housing supply.

UDIA WA lobbied for the extension of stamp duty concession for apartments to projects under construction, as well as the build to rent land tax concessions, introduced by government.

Mr Pappas said eliminating the foreign buyer surcharge would go a long way to increasing housing supply, which would form part of the UDIA policy agenda.