National awards reflect diverse WA property industry

As we collectively navigate the housing crisis across the country, in Western Australia the property industry continues to deliver quality homes and communities that meet the needs of a growing and diverse population.

To that end, there were four Western Australian winners announced at the recent UDIA National Awards for Excellence held at a gala event in Adeliade, that reflect the quality and diversity of the Western Australian property market.  

The UDIA awards program highlights the very best in urban development across the country, reflecting the consistent commitment from our industry to innovate, collaborate and deliver communities that genuinely improve people’s lives.

Western Australia’s winners represent the diversity of projects and teams operating in the local market, which is good news for new home buyers seeking housing choice and a home that suits their individual household needs.

Growing seniors living market 

One of the standout winners was Providence Lifestyle Group’s Piara Waters Lifestyle Village, which took out the Senior’s Living category. This is a project that captures what modern community living can look like for residents over 55 years of age.

Featuring 244 architecturally designed homes nestled within a master planned, walkable community, this unique resort offers an alternative to traditional retirement living, one centred on independence, health and meaningful social connection.

From the moment residents and visitors arrive at Piara Waters Lifestyle Village, they are embraced by a strong sense of community and spirit that defines the development.

Every home in the resort includes solar panels, battery storage, an inverter, and smart metering, all connected to an embedded microgrid that delivers 8kWh of free electricity daily.

Providence Lifestyle Group has advised that many residents report zero or minimal energy bills, with additional savings from waived network service charges.

The Piara Waters community also promotes low-emission living, offering electric share bikes, a shared EV, fast charger, two community buses, and even two community buggies, ‘Freddie’ and ‘Elton’.

Features such as a cinema, dog park, community gardens, a fire pit overlooking the lake, and lawn bowls also encourage active, social living and a vibrant lifestyle.

Significant trees have also been retained around the village, providing an instant sense of place and amenity, including Wilson, a majestic 100-year-old fig tree that proudly towers between the resort’s entrance and the clubhouse.  An existing wetland has also been transitioned into a feature lake, which accommodates the Lakehouse.

Sustainability still a priority

Featuring one of Australia’s most sustainable two-storey homes, a developer backed multi-million dollar Innovation Fund, restored wetlands and a $13,000 sustainability incentive for buyers, winner of the UDIA National Sustainability Award, Brabham Estate by DevelopmentWA, Peet and Perron Group sets a high standard in sustainable development.

The Innovation Fund represents an unprecedented commitment to driving meaningful change within the development industry, operating as a revolving investment vehicle, with proceeds from successful innovations being reinvested into future initiatives.

The fund has been strategically deployed across transformative initiatives, with the flagship Green Homes Display alone representing a $500,000 investment that continues to deliver returns through community education and market influence.

For local households, Brabham’s sustainability efforts also include supporting homebuyers to reduce their own energy footprint through Brabham’s Better Life Bonus. This program offers new purchasers up to $13,000 in sustainable inclusions, such as solar PV systems, energy-efficient lighting, and smart home technology, helping to make sustainable living more accessible and simultaneously reduce household energy costs.

Brabham’s Constructed Wetland system, within the suburb of Brabham, is another considerable innovation, transforming 4.2 hectares of degraded agricultural land into a thriving, functional ecosystem, setting a new benchmark for integrated urban infrastructure.

The system was purpose-built to deliver water quality treatment, flood detention, and ecological restoration. The Brabham wetlands system also connects residents with nature, providing them with a unique green space to enjoy.

The developers have also supported collaborative community initiatives with the City of Swan, including Eco-Fest, promoting sustainable living; Repair Café, encouraging reuse; and a Living Sustainably in Brabham workshop series.

Brabham has truly cemented its place as one of Western Australia’s most sustainable and liveable new communities.

Innovation in affordable housing

DevelopmentWA was recognised for their commitment to delivering affordable housing options to those that need it, winning the Affordable Housing category for their Karda Way at OneOneFive Hamilton Hill project.

The new OneOneFive precinct is transforming the former Hamilton Senior High School site south of Perth, into a vibrant, sustainable residential community.

Initially designed as affordable housing with a focus on aging in place, the homes at Karda Way were acquired by the Department of Communities for social housing.

The project has delivered 12 quality affordable new homes built by Dale Alcock Homes and is part of DevelopmentWA’s new Built Form Program to help meet Government targets for affordable and social housing.

Constructed using timber frame, a natural carbon store, the wall frames were prefabricated in a warehouse in Welshpool and erected onsite via crane in a few days.

The total build time was 10 months to practical completion. This construction method reduced the typical build timeframe by six months or more compared to double brick constructed homes.

Designed by Perth architects, Whitehaus, the homes follow repetition of design, resulting in cost and construction time savings.

From the compact, climate responsive design and prefabricated framed construction techniques through to inclusion of net-positive solar energy systems, the project presents a showcase of practical construction economies as well as efficient lifecycle and operating costs.

The site design responds well to the local context, working with the natural contour of the land and featuring the retention of a significant Tuart tree that contributes to the local sense of place.

Karda Way provides an excellent catalyst for future development of this type in Perth and beyond.

Diversity in the development industry

Finally, the team from Zenith Energy were recognised for their leadership in diversity and inclusion, winning the Diversity in Development Award.

Zenith Energy has demonstrated outstanding leadership in embedding diversity across its values, operations, and partnerships. The company has also established Australia’s first engagement agreement between an Independent Power Producer and a First Nations group for an off-grid project.

The agreement with Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation led to the creation of Tjiwarl Katu Power, a majority First Nations-owned joint venture delivering energy services on Tjiwarl Country.

Western Australia’s strong showing at the National Awards highlights a property market that continues to innovate despite broader housing challenges, offering encouraging signals for new home buyers.

Collectively, these projects point to a diversifying market with strong potential for growth.

UDIA WA has just opened nominations for the state level Awards for Excellence. Winners from the state level awards are eligible for the National Awards.