UDIA (VIC)

UDIA (VIC) News

2014 Files

19/03/2014 Property Industry wants Railway Precinct Redevelopment Fast Tracked to Maximise Jobs
The Victorian development industry today backed the State Government's estimated $1 billion Station Precinct Enhancement Program saying more opportunities should be looked at to expand the program to boost the Victorian economy.

11/03/2014 Development Industry Welcomes Rail and Land Announcements
Certainty the Key to Building Victoria Jobs and confidence
The Victorian development industry has welcomed the announcement of major rail infrastructure for the south eastern corridor of Melbourne and the target of 50,000 new residential land allotments by the Victorian Government.

7/03/2014 Greg Hunt MP Honours Father's Green Planning Legacy
Alan Hunt, a former Minister in the Hamer Government and regarded by many as the architect of much of Melbourne's strategic planning, including the introduction of the Green Wedge strategy, was honoured today when his son Greg Hunt MP, the Federal Minister for the Environment delivered the inaugural Alan Hunt Oration in Melbourne.

5/03/2014 Time to Start Talking the Victorian Economy Up
The head of one Victoria's largest industry bodies today warned the continual talking down of the Victorian economy would cost more jobs and it is time to start taking a more positive attitude to the Victorian economy.

3/02/2014 Urban Development Institute of Australia Honours The Late Alan Hunt
Alan Hunt, a former Minister in the Hamer Government and regarded by many as the architect of much of Melbourne's strategic planning, including the introduction of the Green Wedge strategy, is to be honoured by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

13/01/2014 Development and Housing Set To Boost Employment in Victoria
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the increased building activity in Victoria will boost employment and confidence in the Victorian economy.

2013 Files

1/07/2013 Building A Better Victoria Major Key to Economic Recovery
The recent announcement of the closure of the Ford car manufacturing plant in Broadmeadows and Geelong in 2016, with the loss of some 1200 jobs directly, and the wider impact on the region and other associated manufacturing has shone the hard light of day on the economic reality and the challenges facing economic recovery in Victoria.

14/06/2013 Strong Economic Future for South East of Melbourne
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) today said that Melbourne's south east, with the municipalities of the City of Greater Dandenong, Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, located strategically between Westernport and Port Phillip, is set for a strong economic future.

22/05/2013 Long Recovery Forecast for Property Market
The performance of Melbourne's greenfield market in the March quarter of 2013 has improved slightly from its cyclically-low through late 2012. The Melbourne market remains far weaker than its peak in 2009-10 which contrasts to all other major capital cities which are now demonstrating near-peak performance.

7/05/2013 UDIA Budget Response
Targeted Use of First Home Buyer Grant in Budget to Boost Housing Starts
The targeted use of the First Home Buyers Grant of $10,000 for new homes and apartments by the Victorian Government in the State Budget would create an important economic lever to lift housing starts in Victoria, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) said today.

6/05/2013 New Planning Zones To Spark Investment and Development Interest
New planning zones announced by the Victorian Government today will provide more certainty, choice of development options and cut unnecessary red tape to create employment and economic development in Victoria, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) said today.

3/05/2013 UDIA EnviroDevelopment Certification Awarded to Burbank's Murchison Village
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) today announced Burbank's Murchison Village at Roxburgh Park has recently been awarded four leaves covering the Ecosystems, Waste, Water and Community categories.

3/05/2013 Craig Ondarchie MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier speaks at UDIA (VIC) May Luncheon
Mr Craig Ondarchie MP, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of Victoria, was the guest speaker at the UDIA (VIC) May Luncheon and outlined a number of issues and actions being taken by the Victorian Government that will assist recovery in the development industry and provide a more certain and stable structure.

1/05/2013 Development Industry Well Placed To Handle Melbourne's Population Increase
The development industry in Victoria is well placed to cope with the growth of Melbourne's population, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) said today.

28/04/2013 Victorian Government Boost to First Home Buyers Grant To Build Jobs
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the boost to the First Home Buyers Grant by $3000 to $10,000, focused on new construction and would maximise the employment potential of the industry at a time when every new job counts for the Victorian economy.

22/04/2013 Great Australian Dream Will Continue To Grow Demand in Outer Suburbs
.....Academics and other groups who constantly attack the provision for housing in fringe areas conveniently forget many families do not have a million dollars plus for a terrace home in Carlton or Fitzroy.

20/03/2013 Victorian Government Urged To Borrow For Infrastructure
The Urban Development of Institute of Australia (Victoria) has called for the Victorian Government to encourage Victorians to invest in infrastructure through Government Guaranteed Bonds and also borrow funds to implement major infrastructure projects to stimulate employment and the economy.

12/03/2013 Regional Victoria to become the Lungs of Melbourne
Regional Victoria will become the lungs of Melbourne providing a release valve to take the increasing population pressure off Melbourne and its expanding fringe suburbs, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

8/03/2013 UDIA Celebrates Development Industry Excellence
The 2013 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) National Awards for Excellence were announced last night in Melbourne.

5/03/2013 Stopping Australia Becoming A Nation of Renters
One of Australia's leading property policy experts has called for a new approach by the Federal Government to deal with the national housing affordability crisis to stop Australia becoming a nation of renters and boost the economy by offering new home buyers free blocks of land for ten years.

5/03/2013 National Land Supply Report Shows Why Housing Must Be a Federal Government Priority
The Urban Development Institute of Australia has today released the annual UDIA State of the Land Report which provides the most comprehensive annual assessment of land supply in Australia's capital cities. UDIA is the peak industry body for the urban development industry and its 2013 State of the Land Report issues a damning verdict on the land supply situation in Australia.

2/03/2013 Melbourne The Centre of National Population Debate Next Week
Next week Melbourne will become the centre of Australia's population debate with political heavyweights from both sides of politics taking part in 'Population Vision For A Nation', the national congress of Australia's peak development organisation, the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

20/02/2013 Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) Backs Growth Area Councils on Federal Funding
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) has backed calls by the local councils in the growth areas for the Federal Government to provide $100 million in low cost loans and grants as a priority in the May Federal Budget.

13/02/2013 No Surprise in $10 Billion Infrastructure Tag for Growth Areas
First home buyers carrying the burden of infrastructure cost
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said it was not surprised by the estimated $10 billion price tag to provide new education, health and transport needs for growth area councils, adding the areas have been in 'catch up mode' for at least ten years.

1/02/2013 UDIA Victoria Backs Call for Government to Borrow
Executive Director of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) Tony De Domenico today supported the call by leading Australian Economist Hans Kunnen, Chief Economist, St. George Banking Group and Bank of Melbourne, for Governments to fund urgently needed infrastructure.

1/02/2013 Australia has the capacity to borrow more
"Australia has the capacity to borrow more while keeping its debt-to-GDP ratio at low levels and thus maintain its AAA credit rating," Hans Kunnen, Chief Economist, St. George Banking Group.

31/01/2013 Housing and Infrastructure Policies on the Agenda of National Housing Development Conference in March
The announcement yesterday of the Federal Election date of 14 September 2013 by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has heightened the importance of all parties to articulate their policies on housing and infrastructure funding, one of the major areas of job creation, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

14/01/2013 Rudd to Speak at National Population Conference
Australia's former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, will be a keynote speaker at the National Conference of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

2012 Files

7/12/2012 UDIA 2012 Awards Recognise Outstanding Standard of Residential Development in Victoria
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the winners of its annual Awards for Excellence for 2012 reflected the high standard of planning and construction in residential communities throughout Victoria.

4/12/2012 Housing Affordability and Infrastructure on National Agenda
The Federal Minister for Housing, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor; Matthew Guy, Victorian Planning Minister; Ian Walker, Queensland Planning Reform Minister; Mark Birrell, Chairman of the Port of Melbourne and Daniel Grollo, CEO of Grocon will be key speakers at the Urban Development Institute of Australia's National Conference on Australia's Population in March 2013.

28/11/2012 Melbourne New Land Market - "The New Normal"
The UDIA presentation looks at the external and internal factors influencing the performance of the Melbourne market with the aim of better understanding what Melbourne can expect going forward. The presentation uses the findings from the National Land Survey Program (NLSP) September 2012 Quarter Results - Melbourne Chapter.

28/11/2012 UDIA Releases 10 Point Plan for Victorian Housing Recovery
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today called for the establishment of a Housing Affordability Commission to review all proposals from government affecting land and housing costs as part of a ten point plan to restore affordable housing in Victoria.

7/11/2012 Peak Australian Industry Body Warns on Housing Shortage and Affordability
National President of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Julie Katz, has warned of the need to plan ahead to overcome the shortage of houses being built in Australia and the need to put housing affordability on the National Agenda with all levels of Government.

5/11/2012 Governments Need to Get Housing Supply on Political Agenda
The Urban Development Institute of Australia Victorian Executive Director, Tony De Domenico discusses the major issues of housing affordability and lack of infrastructure funding in the face of Australia's rapid population growth, which is the theme of the UDIA National Conference in March 2013.

19/10/2012 UDIA Backs Federal Treasury Forecaster on Housing Recovery
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today backed the comments of the Federal Treasury's top forecaster, David Gruen, over the important role of the housing industry to keep the Australian economy ticking over as coal and iron ore contributions fall.

10/10/2012 Melbourne Traffic Jam Highlights the Importance of the Fringe and Regional Development
The recent closure of the CityLink Burnley and Domain Tunnels, resulting in traffic chaos throughout Melbourne, has highlighted the importance of developing employment centres in the fringe suburbs and regional Victoria, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) said today ahead of its State Conference in Geelong.

9/10/2012 Victorian Property Industry Focuses on Geelong
The City of Geelong will be the focus of the Victorian Property Industry when the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) holds its State Conference in Geelong on Thursday.

1/10/2012 Victoria Cannot Afford to Miss Planning Reform Opportunity
Victoria cannot afford to miss the window of opportunity of planning reform being undertaken by the Victorian Government if the State is to retain and strengthen its economic base, employment opportunities and build sustainable communities in the future, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Victoria said today.

13/09/2012 Chinese Investment would Help Boost Jobs in Development Industry
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) - Victoria, today said increased Chinese investment in infrastructure and the property sector could help build consumer confidence in the Victorian property market with increased infrastructure and home building.

7/09/2012 Heart and Soul of North Growing Stronger
Media personality and President of North Melbourne James Brayshaw is celebrating his Club's growth after another successful year.

3/09/2012 Federal Government Should Support Law of the Land
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today called for all industry bodies and businesses that believe in the principle that our laws are to be abided by and are not beyond any individual, any business or any union, to write to the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Cabinet to immediately support the rule of law in Australia.

21/08/2012 Should Australia Double Its Population in Another 45 Years?
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the rapid growth of Australia's population, which is expected to double in 50 years, should be part of the National Debate for the next Federal election because of the failure of governments to keep up with current infrastructure and services.

8/08/2012 Melbourne Traffic Congestion and Public Transport
Neil Smith, with 37 years experience in transport and is the Director of Australia's largest privately owned transport company, Transit Systems, addressed the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) August Lunch and delivered a speech - "Public transport - getting it right".

2/08/2012 Housing Values Maintained in Victorian Market
The value of housing in Victoria, which has risen 125% in some areas in the past ten years, reflects the solid economic conditions which underpin the Victorian housing market, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

30/07/2012 Urban Development Institute of Australia Awards Recognise Leaders in Victorian Property Industry
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) has honoured three outstanding contributors to the industry at its annual dinner on Friday evening at Crown to raise funds for the Ardoch Youth Foundation.

24/07/2012 Development Industry Digs in for Ardoch Youth Foundation
The development industry in Victoria is set to dig in for the 14th year in support of the Ardoch Youth Foundation at its annual Dinner on Friday night at Crown.

16/07/2012 UDIA Video Newsbreak
Tony De Domenico, Executive Director, UDIA (VIC) talks about developing Melbourne's sustainability at the Hunt Club in the City of Casey.

11/07/2012 Housing Finance For New Dwellings in Victoria Surged 30% in May
Housing finance for owner occupation of new dwellings in Victoria surged by 30.2 per cent in the month of May and since the start of 2012, housing finance for new dwellings is up by 52.4 per cent according to the latest ABS figures released today.

6/07/2012 Melbourne Outer Suburbs Offer Home Buyers Choice
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the future planning of Melbourne needed to offer a choice of housing options for home buyers ranging from high rise apartments to more affordable housing and lifestyles in the growing suburbs of Melbourne's fringe.

2/07/2012 Fisherman's Bend Announcement Game Changer for Melbourne
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today welcomed the announcement of the largest urban rezoning in Australia's history for Fisherman's Bend as a game changer for the future of Melbourne.

13/06/2012 UDIA Welcomes Certainty in Victorian Planning
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the release of details for the future planning of Melbourne's Growth Corridors will provide a much needed confidence boost to the new housing market and investment in future residential and commercial development.

8/06/2012 Sensible Coastal Planning a Win for the Community
Coastal communities will benefit from the new planning guidelines announced by the Victorian Government which provides for a sensible approach to the risks of rising sea levels, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

23/05/2012 42% drop in Growth Area land sales over the past twelve months
The Victorian property development industry is in for a tough fight to maintain investment and jobs in the next three years, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

24/04/2012 Development Industry Well Placed to Handle Regional Population Expansion
The development industry in Victoria is well placed to handle the long term population growth in regional Victoria, which is forecast to rise from 1.5 million to a projected 2.3 million by 2051, in a report titled Victoria in Future 2012 released by the Victorian Government today, according to the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria).

20/04/2012 Time's Up for Canberra Green Tape Hoax
Industry Backs Abbott Approach on Planning
Executive Director of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria), Tony De Domenico today backed the Federal Opposition's policy to simplify planning in Australia by handing the responsibilities to State Governments.

12/04/2012 Timetable needed for COAG Red and Green Tape Cut
Everyone talks about cutting red and green tape. Today's economic climate requires urgent action to an agreed timetable to protect jobs and expand economic activity. The Big Question is When will the Red and Green Tape cutting take place?

5/04/2012 Only 24% of First Home Grants Spent on New Homes
Only 24% of the taxpayer funded First Home Buyer Grants over the past 10 years in Victoria have been used for the construction of new homes, according to a Department of Planning and Community Development Newsletter Research Matters.

3/04/2012 Cardinia Lakes Receives Environmental Certification
Executive Director of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, UDIA (VIC), Tony De Domenico, has announced 'Cardinia Lakes,' the 700 lot residential lifestyle project by Peet Limited near Pakenham, has received official certification as an UDIA EnviroDevelopment in two elements: ecosystems, and community.

3/04/2012 EnviroDevelopment Certification Announced for Peet's Limited Craigieburn Project
Executive Director of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, UDIA (VIC), Tony De Domenico, has announced 'Aston', a 1,700 lot residential lifestyle project by Peet Limited, at Craigieburn has received certification as a UDIA EnviroDevelopment in three elements: ecosystems, water and community.

2/04/2012 Building Victorian Jobs with First Home Buyers Grants and Interest Rate Cut
First home buyer grants should be limited to the building of new homes to maximise the employment potential of the taxpayer grants, the Urban Development Institute of Australia said today.

15/03/2012 Property Industry Hits Back Over ‘Fat Estates’
"Laying an obesity epidemic on the doorstep of the development industry is bizarre."
Housing estates being built throughout Victoria embedded health and recreation needs within their planning and design, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

10/03/2012 Victorian Medium Density Takes Off Two UDIA National Awards
A Melbourne medium density project, 'The Garden House' by Piccolo Developments Pty Ltd (VIC), has been recognised as a leading edge project at the 2012 Urban Development Institute of Australia's (UDIA) National Awards, announced last night in Perth.

8/03/2012 Population Continues to Drive Victorian Land Development Market in Urban Growth Corridors
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) has today released its annual State of the Land Report which provides the most comprehensive assessment of land supply in Australia's capital cities.

28/02/2012 Wetlands of the West Launch a Great Success
The first stage of the UDIA (VIC) programme 'Living with the Wetlands' was launched on Friday 24 February 2012 by Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage in the Alamanda wetlands at Point Cook.

24/02/2012 Development Industry Launches Wetlands Campaign
Greg Hunt, the Federal Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage today will launch an awareness campaign aimed at promoting the vital role of new wetlands in urban environments.

23/02/2012 Carbon Tax Cost Shown On All Energy Bills
The Urban Development Institute of Australia today said the cost of the carbon tax must be clear on the energy bills of all Australian home owners and business to ensure public confidence in the billing system and the economy.

21/02/2012 Coalition Deregulation Taskforce to be told Green Tape Costing Jobs in Property and Building Industry
"...bureaucracy hiding behind a decision to ban a project with a couple of hundred jobs on the hope a Growling Grass Frog will hop by one day, or an Orange Bellied Parrot might fly over in the next few years."

15/02/2012 Business Welcomes Victorian Government Action on Building Industry Job Strategy
It is estimated over $1.5 billion worth of investment and ultimately jobs are being held up in a paralysed planning system.

10/02/2012 Nearly 25% of a House and Land Package are Taxes and Charges
Nearly 25% of the cost of a house and land package is in federal, state and local government taxes and charges.

30/01/2012 Boost to Land Supply in Latrobe Valley a Major Plus
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today welcomed a boost to land supply with the rezoning of 228 hectares of residential land by the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, in the Latrobe Valley including Moe, Churchill, Newborough, Morwell and Traralgon.

13/01/2012 Federal Government Double Dip Tax Proposal
With the Federal Government already receiving $23,500 tax on a $200,000 housing block in Victoria, attempts to charge over $89,000 for the processing of environmental submissions by the Department of Environment for housing developments is unjustified, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) said today.

12/01/2012 Development Industry Wetlands Protect Port Phillip Bay
New wetlands developed as part of Melbourne's new housing developments play an important role in helping protect water quality in Victoria's creeks, rivers and ultimately Port Phillip Bay, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) said today.

3/01/2012 Government Land Tax Slug $341 a Month for 25 Years
New home buyers can pay $341 a month for twenty five years, including $56,220 interest at 7.5%, on a block of land costing $200,000, just to cover Government taxes and charges as Australia's housing affordability has hit an all time low.

2011 Files

14/12/2011 UDIA calls for all Political Parties to Renew Focus on Housing Affordability
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), the peak body for Australia's development industry, which directly accounts for 7.3% of Australia's GDP and 9.1% of the Australian workforce, has called for an urgent focus on housing affordability.

1/12/2011 UDIA 2011 Awards for Excellence Reflects High Standards of Residential Development in Victoria
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said the winners of its annual Awards for Excellence for 2011 reflected the high standard of residential development in Victoria.

16/11/2011 "Tell him he's dream'n - A Twelfth of an acre!"
The planning objective of greater density on the fringe is resulting in an erosion of sustainable family product and a proliferation of smaller lots which will struggle to accommodate families over an extended period of time, Director of the National Land Survey Program Colin Keane said today.

16/11/2011 Housing Affordability Hit by Upfront Infrastructure Costs
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) today said too much burden is placed on new home buyers by state and local government.

9/11/2011 Governments should put Housing on War Footing
The Urban Development Industry of Australia (Victoria) today said Governments at all levels should treat the provision of housing in Australia as a war effort to provide the next generation with an opportunity to own a home at an affordable price.

6/11/2011 Urban Development Industry Backs New Suburb at Casey
The Urban Development Industry of Australia (UDIA) today welcomed the approval of a new 6000 lot residential suburb at Clyde North within the City of Casey.

4/11/2011 Intrapac Receives Environmental Certification for Somerfield Project
Executive Director of UDIA (VIC), Tony De Domenico, today announced 'Somerfield', a 1,700 lot infill development by Intrapac, located at Keysborough 25 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, has received official certification as an EnviroDevelopment in three elements: ecosystems, water and community. It is the first development to receive EnviroDevelopment certification under the new UDIA national standards.

21/10/2011 ABS Report confirms regional and country living boom
The latest ABS figures showing that Melbourne's rapid growth of the last decade is set to continue making Melbourne the fastest growing city in Australia has confirmed Regional Victoria will become the lungs of Melbourne.

14/10/2011 Bendigo Business Identity to Chair UDIA Northern Victorian Chapter
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) has announced that well known Bendigo business identity Damien Tangey, the head of Birchgrove Property, will chair the UDIA Northern Victorian Chapter.

14/10/2011 Top Environmental Credentials Announced for 'Evergreen Waters'
Creating green healthy environments will continue to underpin major design elements of future housing developments, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) said today.

5/10/2011 UDIA says Energy and Water Costs Boost Green Housing Development
Creating green healthy environments will continue to underpin major design elements of future housing developments, the Urban Development Institute of Australia Victoria said today.

19/09/2011 Home Buyers Ultimately Pay for Planning Delays says UDIA
The Urban Development Industry of Australia (Vic) today said critics of the Victorian Government plan to expedite cases through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAT) were attacking housing affordability and employment opportunities of thousands of Victorians.