The 2008 Residential Outlook Summit was held at the Hilton in Sydney from March 30 to April 1.
Speakers included the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP and Geoffrey Booth.
The Summit picked up where last year's finished analysing global and local trends, as well as examining the hard hitting issues facing residential developers in Australia.
Some of the major themes addressed ranged from the long held view there is a land shortage to questioning targets that have been set for residential infill.
Presentations from the 2 day summit are now available to the left. Please feel free to download a copy.
Govt's Rental Assistance Scheme a "good first step"
A federal government plan to ease housing affordability stress through tax breaks to institutional investors who provide low cost rental housing has been lauded a good first step.
Property Council CEO Peter Verwer says the plan to entice large investors would see some of Australia's large pools of superannuation help build affordable rental homes for low income earners.
Mr Verwer’s comments on ABC’s Lateline program follow an announcement by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to double the Government-funded National Rental Assistance Scheme to encourage the construction of 100,000 rental properties for 20 per cent below the market value.
Please click here to stream the 4 minute Windows Media Video.
Current link between housing form and GHGs a myth
A report commissioned by the Residential Development Council debunks the myth that suburban development (detached housing) is the major contributor of residential greenhouse gas emissions.
Prepared by public policy group Wendell Cox Consultancy and using data from the Australian Conservation Foundation Consumption Atlas, the report argues suburban housing form and lifestyles typically leave a smaller eco footprint than their cross-town high density cousins.
To read the findings from the 98 page report, please download a copy here.
The Top Ten Myths and Fallicies of Urban Growth in Australia
The purpose of this document is to identify some of the issues that need to be better understood and to show where there is clear evidence to suggest that the ‘conventional wisdom’ might be little more than a myth. >>
Road to home ownership a "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
The road to home ownership is now so strewn with public policy obstacles that it's more like a Boulevard of Broken Dreams - according to a new report by the Residential Development Council.The purpose of this document is to identify some of the issues that need to be better understood and to show where there is clear evidence to suggest that the ‘conventional wisdom’ might be little more than a myth. >>
Australia's Land Supply Crisis
Supply/Demand imbalance and its impact on declining Australian housing affordability - Residential Development Council Report >>
How government charges add up to $198,000 to the cost of a new home
A study into housing taxes and red tape reveals that up to one third of the cost of a new home can be blamed on Government costs>>
Australian cities unaffordable: global survey
This global survey of housing affordability shows that Australian cities have a big problem ...>>
RDC Executive Director Ross Elliott interviewed in response to housing market figures showing a decrease in housing investment. Mr Elliott warns of a massive housing shortfall and a very real affordability crisis if government policies are not adjusted to increase supply. Watch this segment from ABC TV news -Monday, 14 May 2007.
The Government and Opposition are now competiting for hearts and minds on housing. What are the best solutions? This interview on Radio ABC612 DRIVE with RDC Executive Director Ross Elliott on 1 August 2007 discusses some of the more recent policy initiatives in the lead up to the Federal election.
Is urban consolidation all it's cracked up to be? Wendell Cox is a critic of urban consolidation and argues there's a strong link between high house prices and land rationing. Read the full transcript of the interview on ABC Radio's 'Counterpoint' program on 15 January, 2007.
Affordablehome.com.au is a website devoted to raising awareness about some of the issues causing a generational decline in housing affordability in Australia.
The website is an initiative of the Residential Development Council - the leadership group which drives national housing policy for the Property Council of Australia.
The website's aim is to serve as a central resource of information, research and opinion related to housing in Australia. It draws upon the work of a variety of kindred organisations domestically and overseas.
RBA puts rate rise on hold The Reserve Bank decided to leave the cash rate at 7.25 per cent following consecutive hikes in February and March.
15 March 2008
New Executive Director for the Residential Development Council.
The former National Deputy Director of policy for the Urban Development Institute of Australia takes over the role made vacant by outgoing Executive Director Ross Elliott.
17 April 2008: Property Council Lunch. The Future of Housing Affordability: Contributing Factors and Reform Solutions - Sofitel Brisbane
