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Let the summit begin! After much political ado and media hype, 100 of Australia’s big business, union and industry power brokers will sit down with the federal government on Thursday to nut out potential answers to the nation’s economic challenges.On the agenda for the two-day Jobs and Skills Summit at Canberra’s Parliament House are key issues including the labour shortage, skilled migration, training, growing productivity, sustainable wage growth and the future of the enterprise bargaining system.&nbsp;Pulling no punches will be the building and construction industry, which has shouldered much of the responsibility for shepherding the economy through the pandemic and underpinning its recovery.As the industry frontman for some of the country’s leading construction and infrastructure contractors, the opportunity is certainly not about to be wasted on Australian Constructors Association chief executive Jon Davies.“I am the holder of a golden ticket, so to speak, and I will be there … [but] it's not like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where you can bring your grandpa along with you to hold your hand,” he muses.Indeed, the invitation-only event to be hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers is the hottest ticket in the country right now.&nbsp;Not one to sugar-coat the state of play in the construction sector, Davies has a clear focus on the summit outcomes needed for what he describes as “a really important industry with very significant problems”.Australia’s construction sector generates $360 billion in revenue, producing 8 per cent of its GDP and is the third largest industry by number of employees.But with soaring materials and construction costs and facing a 105,000-construction worker shortfall it is buckling under enormous pressure with a growing list of builders going to the wall.Davies says there will be a lot of industrial relations talk at the summit but the other major focus will be “how do we deal with the capability and capacity issues that the economy is currently facing?”.<div id="6fSzwA2IDIJnzBFuMxBnjo"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7jYwFDK2KAsJuQzJQO1gtc/7741e53038306fff0793addc273ea19b/jon_and_tom.jpg" alt="Jon and Tom [+] jobs" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7jYwFDK2KAsJuQzJQO1gtc/7741e53038306fff0793addc273ea19b/jon_and_tom.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Australian Constructors Association chief executive Jon Davies and Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest. </div></div>“As we know, the construction industry is really struggling in this respect,” he says.And while he says reforms such as improved training as well as raising the cap on the numbers of skilled migrants allowed into Australia are a positive step with widespread support, much more is needed.“Skilled migration and training alone are not going to fix the problems the construction industry has.“Training always takes time … and the gloss has now come off Australia as a destination for skilled migrants because we’ve had floods, we’ve had bushfires, we’ve got high cost of living and we’ve had some of the world's longest Covid lockdowns.”Throwing another significant spanner in the works is Australia’s critical housing supply shortage with rental vacancies at historic lows.Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest says with planning approvals in free-fall the Jobs and Skills Summit must ensure that any reforms leading to an increase in population are supported by a boost in housing supply.“Governments have to be able to chew gum and skip rope at the same time,” he says. “We need the population increase to fill those skill gaps and alleviate some of those cost pressures on construction … but they've got to live somewhere.“This is where it comes down to the state planning systems. They need to ramp up those approvals so the private sector can do what it does best and provide additional housing.”<div id="1ntJVPV3YMi00EMnmNqogI"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1uFHud0vCPayuyXz81KUsj/a08f78eb7133de2a731bce4bf4071252/Untitled_design__99_.jpg" alt="KDL Property Avaline DA hero" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1uFHud0vCPayuyXz81KUsj/a08f78eb7133de2a731bce4bf4071252/Untitled_design__99_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A render of KDL Property's Avaline development: governments must work together to solve the issues and the summit is a good place to start, says managing director Kent Leicester. </div></div>Queensland-based KDL Property Group managing director Kent Leicester agrees and believes if the accommodation crisis is not addressed it will put the brakes on the nation’s economic recovery.&nbsp;“A common problem for many development and construction companies is we can’t get enough workers because of that perfect storm of events that we have dealt with over the past couple of years,” he says.“A way forward will be boosting the workforce with increases in skilled migration if the federal government lifts the current cap on its permanent migrants.“But a problem we have for all incoming workers is being able to provide them with accommodation near project sites, and as is widely known there are simply not enough rental properties available and those that are on the market are priced out of many people’s reach.“We need federal, state and local governments to work together to find some solutions to this problem and the Jobs Summit is a good place to start.”Davies says he will be using his summit ticket to push for what he deems to be a “silver bullet” that will ensure the nation's record pipeline of projects can be delivered—a government mandate on improving the industry's “pretty woeful” productivity through a rating system for all commonwealth-funded projects.<div id="3PxzucmVkKTDkzQIKdcbZx"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2KUd2wQEJOlx05CQDZVFsr/2e07e742db3541c702cf1adac1de610c/1200x-1.jpeg" alt="Working on the productivity of the construction industry is cruicial, says Davies." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2KUd2wQEJOlx05CQDZVFsr/2e07e742db3541c702cf1adac1de610c/1200x-1.jpeg"></picture><div>▲ Working on the productivity of the construction industry is cruicial, says Davies. </div></div>The sector employs one in 10 workers in Australia and yet its productivity growth lags other major industries by 25 per cent, according to a recently released ACA paper.Davies says by leveraging its “buying power” through the funding it grants to the states for construction of infrastructure, the federal government could “drive improved outcomes, particularly in respect to productivity … but also the culture of the industry”.“One area where our industry is grossly under-represented and that could help with the capability and capacity issue is women [who make up only 12 per cent of its workforce] … but to get more women into our industry we’ve got to address the culture problem.”At the summit, Davies also will be calling on government to “lead the way” in driving much-needed change to the industry’s crippling underlying lack of financial sustainability.“They are by far the biggest client in the construction industry, therefore, they can really lead positive change in the industry if they choose to do it,” he says.“Because we operate on such wafer-thin margins it doesn’t take much to really cause the industry problems. We’re taking on far too many risks for far too low a profit margin and that really needs to change if the industry is to become more sustainable.“Given the size and importance of the industry, it really is incumbent on the government to do something to fix these problems.“Improved productivity, increased sovereign capability and capacity, more sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders, improved culture, diversity and inclusion. These are all things everyone agrees on and that can be driven by the federal government … [and] a process like this could really significantly accelerate reforms in these areas.” <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

Few sectors are suffering more than the building and construction industry in the post-Covid landscape nor have as much riding on real solutions from this week’s Jobs and Skills Summit… 


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The NSW government has announced a dramatic new plan to redevelop an area over the rail lines at Sydney’s Central Station into a new high-density precinct that would bring thousands of extra workers and residents to the southern end of the CBD.The masterplan for the 24ha site will include up to 15 new buildings that will range in height from four to 34 storeys, and house offices, hotels, apartments, restaurants and bars, and a variety of other community and cultural spaces.The site will also have 60,000 sq m of open space in the form of three new parks, a major public square and several plazas.The government estimates the precinct will take about 10 to 15 years to complete, but when finished will be a major destination for global companies, major hotels and retailers.“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine this iconic part of our CBD and transform it into world class precinct of shops, restaurants, office spaces, parkland and additional housing,” said Premier Dominic Perrottet.“It will be a major job-generating project and will inject further local and global business investment into the Sydney CBD.”<div id="l0vmi8ftn2n9Ek8C16IgK"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6pTwPK5iXORfjUN5tOyppT/98fe65c7e534b8e50011c8d5ee6d3393/3.jpg" alt="Renders of the planned redevelopment of the Central Station precinct in Sydney." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6pTwPK5iXORfjUN5tOyppT/98fe65c7e534b8e50011c8d5ee6d3393/3.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The 24ha site will include up to 15 new buildings. </div></div>The announcement comes as an area next to Central Station is already being turned into a technology hub that will include companies such as Atlassian, Afterpay, Canva, ROKT and Safety Culture.Work has <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/work-begins-on-aud1-4bn-atlassian-sydney-headquarters" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/work-begins-on-aud1-4bn-atlassian-sydney-headquarters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just started on Atlassian’s $1.4-billion headquarters</a> in the tech hub—a 39-storey hybrid timber tower, which is tipped to become the tallest of its type in the world.The redevelopment of the Central Station precinct has been praised by planners and others in the industry who say it will be crucial to Sydney’s ability to continue attracting investment and growing the city’s economy.“This kind of place is critical to the future of Sydney,” said<a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/urbis-cities-kate-meyrick" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/urbis-cities-kate-meyrick" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Urbis director Kate Meyrick.</a>It would “gift to Sydney the same type of opportunity as London’s Kings Cross rail yards”, she said, which would allow the precinct to attract “a number of enlightened, high-value businesses that help to bring energy to our economy and community.“In a new knowledge economy these kinds of places are very valuable and important.”The location on top of one of the busiest stations in the city, as well as next to major bus routes and the light-rail line, made it one of the most connected parts of the city and a natural ‘gateway’, she said.<span class="mce-preview-object mce-object-iframe" contenteditable="false" data-mce-object="iframe" data-mce-p-allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-p-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-E4J-czh1jQ?rel=0"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-E4J-czh1jQ?rel=0" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>Chief executive of The Committee for Sydney Gabriel Metcalf agreed the location made sense for such a large project.“If you believe, as we do, that Sydney’s growth should be concentrated around public transport, then Central Station is one of the best places to go big.”However, he said the real test would be whether the specific plan could “resolve the public realm issues of such a complicated site, with level changes and lots of passenger movements, to make it feel like a nice place to be. Over-station developments are notoriously tricky.”The masterplan for the site includes 515,000 sq m of internal space across all the buildings, of which 52 per cent would be devoted to office space.There would also be 850 new homes, with 15 per cent of those reserved for affordable housing, and a further 15 per cent for ‘diverse housing’, such as build-to-rent and student accommodation.Chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (NSW) Steve Mann said they supported the Central Station Renewal plan, and praised the government for improving it since they took part in a workshop with the government in April.<div id="3oFGxcgSzNobDOCbwjfmD5"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4C4wsK3xTaHgl2uC0JaG74/213d8117a35503154c65a539db0264b9/2.jpg" alt="Renders of the planned redevelopment of the Central Station precinct in Sydney." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4C4wsK3xTaHgl2uC0JaG74/213d8117a35503154c65a539db0264b9/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The masterplan is&nbsp; a chance to “heal” that part of the city, according to the NSW cities minister. </div></div>But he said it still was not ‘ambitious’ enough, given the location of the site.“The site has the capacity to deliver much more than the proposed 850 dwellings,” he said.“This would mean more opportunities for housing across the entire spectrum. More affordable housing, more student housing, more housing for young professionals and families and more opportunities for downsizers in one of the most accessible locations Sydney has to offer.“A genuine commitment to mixed-use transit orientated development (TOD), that enables people to live and work in the heart of the city will activate the space and create vibrancy, and lead to a Central Precinct that Sydney can be proud of and one that matches the other great central stations of the world.”Infrastructure, cities and active transport minister Rob Stokes said the new precinct would also be a chance to “heal” that part of the city, which had been “torn apart since the railway divided Surry Hills from Ultimo back in 1874”.Several over-rail connections, including a Devonshire Street bridge, would be built linking the precinct to surrounding neighbourhoods, he said.“The masterplan celebrated the heritage of the precinct while also offering a grand new public square, three new parks, new community, social services hubs as well as at least 30 per cent affordable and diverse housing to better meet the needs of all sections of the community,” Stokes said. &nbsp;<hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

The NSW government has announced a dramatic new plan to redevelop an area over the rail lines at Sydney’s Central Station...

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One of Australia’s best-known luxury wilderness resorts, Cradle Mountain Lodge in northern Tasmania, has been put up for sale with hopes it will fetch about $100m.The lodge, which was opened in 1971 as accommodation for fishermen and bushwalkers, has 86 cabins and suites on a 11.4ha landholding on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.The listing by the owner, listed funds manager Elanor Investors Group, follows Elanor’s recent refurbishment of the lodge, which is about a two-hour drive from Launceston, and comes at a time when domestic tourism in Australia is undergoing a resurgence.The lodge is operated under Accor’s Peppers brand. Its accommodation spans contemporary cabins through to luxury suites, while guest facilities include an award-winning restaurant, tavern bar and bistro, alpine spa, as well as conference and event facilities. The lodge can be sold with vacant possession.“After recently completing an extensive $10-million refurbishment program, we have received several off-market approaches by parties interested in acquiring the resort, prompting us to formally take Cradle Mountain Lodge to market,” Elanor Investors Group head of hotels, tourism and leisure Marianne Ossovani said.<div id="5OXi2LTMigSP5GDjz247Bc"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5FajN3ktEIzVmeWbDRyCZ9/f8dcd454ae03e352d6e5302ebf8b4605/cradlemtnroom-mid.jpg" alt="cradlemtn2 mid" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5FajN3ktEIzVmeWbDRyCZ9/f8dcd454ae03e352d6e5302ebf8b4605/cradlemtnroom-mid.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The interior of one of 86 cabins and spa suites in the recently refurbished lodge. </div></div>The lodge operates on a “paddock to plate” philosophy and sources most of its produce from within a 160km radius. Guests are drawn to the spectacular scenery and walking tracks in the nearby national park, as well as its unique flora and fauna.The region’s tourism industry also stands to benefit from the Cradle Valley Tourism Development Plan, which is backed by state and federal governments and projected to increase visitor numbers by about 40,000 annually.“Cradle Mountain Lodge is a significant tourist drawcard for domestic and international travellers,” CBRE Hotels’ Wayne Bunz said. He is handling an international expression-ofinterest campaign on behalf of Elanor Investors Group. Submissions are open until October 21. “More and more travellers are seeking out destinations with a focus on eco-tourism, health and wellness and sustainability, and are willing to pay a premium for these experiences,” Bunz said.<div id="6I0dTZ6wjMs72kzk5Ks2mj"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6RelynGetBSvfmBCOOAkAA/37176acaef19d1fd7b507c21dbbe4dd1/TAS_HOT_Cradle_Mountain_Lodge.jpg" alt="The lodge was established in 1971 and is now operated by Peppers." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6RelynGetBSvfmBCOOAkAA/37176acaef19d1fd7b507c21dbbe4dd1/TAS_HOT_Cradle_Mountain_Lodge.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The lodge was established in 1971 and is now operated by Accor’s Peppers brand. </div></div>“Opportunities to purchase once-in-a-generation assets like this are scarce, especially given the capital appreciation and proven income flow that will make this trophy asset even more attractive to investors.”This listing follows the sale of several islands off the coast of Far North Queensland with eco-tourism potential.&nbsp;Annie Cannon-Brookes, wife of tech billionaire Mike, <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/tech-billionaire-dunk-island-atlassian" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/tech-billionaire-dunk-island-atlassian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bought the abandoned tropical Dunk Island resort</a> several months ago for about $25 million.And Twiggy Forrest’s Tattarang <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/twiggy-forrest-buys-lizard-island-for-42m" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/twiggy-forrest-buys-lizard-island-for-42m">bought Lizard Island for $42 million</a> in late 2021.

One of Australia’s best-known luxury wilderness resorts, Cradle Mountain Lodge in northern Tasmania, has been put up for sale.