Western Australia's peak development body has convened a major summit to address the infrastructure logjam crippling the state's housing supply, identifying strategic enabling works as the key to unlocking tens of thousands of new lots.
The Infrastructure Bottleneck
On November 13, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA brought together key government agencies, utility providers, and industry leaders for its Infrastructure Summit. The central challenge was the coordinated delivery of essential services like power, water, and roads to land already zoned for urban development.
While not a glamorous topic, this enabling infrastructure is fundamental. Without it, zoned land cannot be brought to market, causing long delays in new home construction and intensifying affordability pressures across Perth and regional areas.
A $421 Million Solution
The summit provided an update on progress since the late 2024 release of UDIA WA's Growth Areas Infrastructure Requirements Report. That landmark report identified that a strategic investment of approximately $421 million was needed to unlock land capable of accommodating up to 90,000 new homes.
The critical growth areas identified were:
- North Ellenbrook
- Bullsbrook
- East Wanneroo
- East Wellard
- Mundijong
The required infrastructure includes wastewater pump stations, power substations and feeder networks, and vital road and intersection upgrades.
Collaboration for Timely Delivery
The report's findings directly influenced the State Government's election commitment to establish the $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund. This fund supports housing development in growth corridors by allocating money to agencies like Western Power and Water Corporation.
While the fund is a positive step, the development industry continues to face significant delays. The core issue remains coordination across multiple government agencies to ensure infrastructure is planned, funded, and delivered at the right time to catalyse development.
The Infrastructure Summit served as a crucial platform for open discussion, fostering a shared commitment between government and industry to find practical, coordinated solutions for getting homes built faster.
