A Rewarding Tenure as UDIA WA President
Last week I handed over the reins of President of Urban Development Institute of Australia WA (UDIA WA) to Grant Shepherd, marking the end of a rewarding two years leading the state’s peak body for the property development industry. It seems quite remarkable that 5 years has already passed since I first joined the UDIA WA council.
Given the private industry delivers over 95% of new homes in WA, yet relies heavily on government approvals and partnerships, much of my tenure has been defined by our response to addressing the ongoing housing supply crisis. This crisis has made it increasingly difficult for Western Australians to find homes that meet their needs, whether they are renting or buying.
Over the past two years, we have seen the average price of new land in Perth rise from $257,500 to $380,800 and the median price of established homes increase from $585,000 to $810,000. These sharp increases have significant social impacts and are clear symptoms of constrained supply amid high demand.
We have also seen the rental market remain extremely tight, with a current vacancy rate of just 1.3% and the median weekly house rent up to $736.
Throughout this period, UDIA WA has focused on supporting the private sector to deliver the housing WA needs whilst also partnering with government to provide feedback and suggestions on housing policies. Leading up to the 2025 State Election, our election campaign reinforced how government and industry must work together to boost housing delivery in both Perth and the regions. This included outlining urgent actions to address the current crisis and build a more sustainable housing supply pipeline. Our key recommendations to government centred around three themes: making housing delivery easier; keeping costs down; and planning for our future housing needs.
We welcomed several post-election initiatives aimed at enabling housing delivery and increasing access to homes, whether in the rental market or through home ownership. These included increased and targeted funding for enabling infrastructure and unlocking the potential of State Government-owned land for new housing.
New incentives have also been introduced to support the development of more diverse housing types, including townhomes and apartments. While there’s more work to do, these measures are big steps in the right direction.
For buyers, support has grown with the expansion of the Federal Government’s First Home Guarantee Scheme and the State’s higher stamp duty thresholds that better reflect today’s property prices, helping more first home buyers into the market.
We have also been working on building up the consumer information on the UDIA WA website, including a Housing Choice video series showcasing different housing options for different lifestyles.
Throughout my Presidency, I have remained focused on how UDIA WA can support the industry in delivering housing across the continuum, ensuring more Western Australians can access the homes they need.
Our advocacy, education and connection through events would not be possible without the dedication and support of our council and committee system, which continues to be a cornerstone of the Institute’s work. Thank you to the over 150 passionate and knowledgeable industry professionals who generously volunteer their time and expertise.
I’m also extremely grateful for the amazing support of my fellow Councillors, the UDIA WA Executive, our broader membership and the small but mighty UDIA WA team led by Tanya Steinbeck.
Finally, I would like to thank my amazing Celsius team and family at home for affording me the time to fulfil the role of President.
There is still much to be done, and I look forward to seeing UDIA WA’s progress under Grant’s leadership, together with the ongoing contributions of Celsius and myself. If you are interested in finding out more about what it means to be part of UDIA WA feel free to reach out to me anytime.
All the very best
Richard