‘We need you’: Cook calls on private sector to suggest government land best for housing
WA Premier Roger Cook has asked the private sector for help in identifying land for possible residential use - not long after his own son found himself on the Perth rental market battlefield.
At a lunch hosted by the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s WA (UDIA) branch on Friday, Cook told the 500-strong room of Perth’s leading developers that no one should have to rely on luck when it came to housing.
WA Premier Roger Cook says no one should have to rely on luck when it comes to housing.Credit: Claire Ottaviano
“I know how hard it is for many people – In fact, my son was recently just days away from potentially moving back in with me… the owner of his rental decided to sell [and] he was given notice to vacate,” he said.
“He submitted rental application after rental application and was routinely declined; as the deadline approached, he got some good news and a friend who had bought his first home, and therefore made a rental available, was able to pass that on to him.
“I know not everyone has the same luck and frankly, I don’t want anyone to have to rely on luck when it comes to housing.
“When it comes to building more homes, meeting demand, it’s personal for me.”
He then announced a new expression of interest process for the next phase of the housing diversity pipeline developments.
“This will allow industry to identify state government lands that could be developed for housing,” he said.
“We want to use your knowledge and your expertise to release land to the market.
“Because ultimately, it’s industry that is best placed to work with us to find the land that we can put housing on the fastest.”
A rapid assessment will then take place on whether the land may be divested for housing purposes.
“That means any land holdings that are not already reserved for future schools, hospitals, road utilities, or essential civic infrastructure will now be considered for housing,” he said.
“I hope that this will lead to both the state government assets and the expertise of the industry to bring more housing into the market sooner and smarter.”
The UDIA welcomed the invitation.
“WA is in the midst of a housing supply crisis,” institute chief-executive Tanya Steinbeck said.
“The more focus and practical solutions that are put forward to address our current housing needs, the better.”
The WA institute’s data shows the number of new lots on the market is the lowest since 2006, with just 617 lots available as of March 31.
The number of lots on the market has also declined by 34.5 per cent over the quarter and dropped 70 per cent compared to the same time last year.
The drop in supply is coupled with a dramatic lift in demand.
The increase in sales over the year was an astronomical 135 per cent.