Newsletter – Urban Taskforce

Tale of how two Town Hall plazas are dividing the harbour city | The Daily Telegraph | 18.09.26

The City of Sydney’s $150 million plan to develop Town Hall Square...

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 18 September 2026

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 18 September 2026 In this edition…...

Media Release | Minister Scully calls in Town Hall Square - we can breathe a sigh of relief | 18.09.26

CEO of the Urban Taskforce Australia, Tom Forrest, today strongly supported...

Australian Property Development Costs: Why New Housing Is Getting Harder to Deliver | Aussie Real Estate Podcast | 18.09.26

With the development sector facing tough challenges, including navigating...

Media Release | Urban Taskforce supports most of the Immigration changes announced by Minister Burke | 17.09.26

CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia, Tom Forrest, today congratulated Minister...

Embattled builder seeks to avoid liquidation | ABC Radio Sydney: Drive with Thomas Oriti | 08.09.26

Bathla has been given a two-week lifeline from lenders as the developer...

Potential flow-on effects of builders collapse | ABC News Breakfast | 08.09.26

Embattled builder Bathla has been given a two-week lifeline from lenders...

Media Release | ABS approvals data - while some councils abrogate their responsibility on housing - NSW Government steps up | 08.09.26

CEO of the Urban Taskforce, Tom Forrest, said today that Sydney councils...

Major builder’s collapse threatens to cripple Sydney housing pipeline, expert warns | The Daily Telegraph | 05.09.26

There are fears property developer Bathla’s $3.4 billion collapse...

Media Release | Kanofski Report into Housing Australia says Canberra Bureaucracy is putting HAFF funded housing delivery at risk | 04.09.26

CEO of the Urban Taskforce, Tom Forrest, said today that a new Report prepared...

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 4 September 2026

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 4 September 2026 In this edition…...

Draft Planning for Bushfire Protection 2026 | 03.09.26

I write in response to the public exhibition of the Draft Planning for...

Media Release | ABS housing approvals data: It’s official - things are bad | 01.09.26

Urban Taskforce Australia CEO, Tom Forrest, said today that the ABS approvals...

Construction businesses falling into insolvency | ABC 702 Sydney | 31.08.26

Around 1,500 construction businesses fell into insolvency last financial...

Media Release | Urban Taskforce says Ryde’s IHO on TG Millner is the height of hypocrisy | 31.08.26

CEO of the Urban Taskforce, Tom Forrest, said that Ryde Council has no...

Mass exodus from building industry as 1500 firms shut across NSW | The Daily Telegraph | 30.08.26

Development industry leaders warn projects in Sydney are being bogged down...

Sydney developer’s $3.3b collapse sparks ‘contagion’ fears across housing sector | Sydney Morning Herald | 30.08.26

There are fears developer Bathla’s $3.3 billion collapse could have...

Parking slashed for new developments in Sydney's Inner West | 2GB Sydney | 28.08.26

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest was interviewed on 2GB’s Afternoons...

Parking slashed for new developments in Sydney’s Inner West | Sydney Morning Herald | 28.08.26

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald’s...

Media Release | Housing Australia underwrites interest rate risk | 27.08.26

CEO of the Urban Taskforce, Tom Forrest, said today that the announcement...

Funding for affordable housing gets tick of approval | Australian Conveyancer | 25.08.26

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest was quoted in the Australian Conveyancer,...

Media Release | H.A. funding for more social and affordable housing will underwrite market housing viability | 25.08.26

CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia, Tom Forrest, today welcomed the latest...

Media Release | NHSAC belatedly acknowledges the obvious - Housing Accord targets will be missed | 21.08.26

CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia, Tom Forrest, said today that nobody should...

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 21 August 2026

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 21 August 2026 In this edition…...

Proposed Amendments to Planning Controls for Cumberland City | 17.08.26

I write in response to the proposed amendments to planning controls for...

The Sydney Plan | 7News | 13.08.26

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest has told 7NEWS the NSW Government’s...

Media Release | Sydney Plan requires doubling the current new homes completions rate | 13.08.26

CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia, Tom Forrest, said today that the long-awaited...

Urban Taskforce welcomes Opposition's call to reduce red tape on construction | ABC News Radio

Urban Taskforce Australia CEO Tom Forrest was a guest on ABC News Radio...

Media Release | Urban Taskforce welcomes Senate’s Interim Report: Housing | 11.08.26

The Senate’s latest report on housing is a welcome addition to the ongoing...

Media Release | Town Hall Square a costly vanity project | 11.08.26

City of Sydney Council’s plans to demolish seven buildings to create a...

Media Release | Now is not the time to tinker with LMR reforms | 07.08.26

The middle of a housing supply crisis is not the time to be changing reforms...

Media Release | Urban Taskforce thanks Simon Draper and welcomes Michael Coutts-Trotter | 07.08.2026

Simon Draper‘s contribution to the reform and facilitation of housing in...

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 7 August 2026

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 7 AUGUST 2026 In this Edition… Now...

Developers abandon projects amid warning Australia is becoming a ‘nation of renters’ | The Australian | 05.08.26

Urban Taskforce Australia Acting CEO Paul Waterhouse has warned the impact...

Media Release | Building Bill is a welcome blow to ambulance-chasing lawyers | 05.08.26

Acting Urban Taskforce Australia CEO, Paul Waterhouse, welcomed the passing...

Improving Development Assessment | 04.08.26

I write in response to the Department’s discussion paper on Improving Development...

Draft Strathfield Resilience Strategy 2026-2036 | 04.08.26

I write in response to the draft resilience strategy for Strathfield Municipal...

Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy – Stage 2 | 02.08.26

I write in response to the Planning Proposal, draft Development Control...

Minimum Tax on Discretionary Trusts | 31.07.26

Urban Taskforce Australia understands that the Federal Government intends...

Media Release | Urban Taskforce welcomes Wilton water works | 31.07.26

Stage 2 of the delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure for the...

Media Release | ABS housing approvals data: positive signs, but still ground to make up | 30.07.26

Acting Urban Taskforce Australia CEO, Paul Waterhouse, has welcomed today’s...

Standard and Model Conditions of Consent: Explanation of Intended Effect | 30.07.26

I write in response to the Explanation of Intended Effect for Standard...

Media Release | 30 years of feasible housing? Great! First convince councils! | 29.07.26

The NSW Government’s new announcement that councils will have to plan and...

Media Release | Urban Taskforce agrees with PC: default to “yes” on housing supply | 28.07.26

Acting Urban Taskforce Australia CEO, Paul Waterhouse, says that the Productivity...

Woollhara Affordable Housing Policy | 26.07.26

I write in relation to Woollahra Council’s draft affordable housing policy,...

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 24 July 2026

URBAN LIVING NETWORK | 24 JULY 2026 In this edition… 1. Local government...

Media Release | Bondi Junction Masterplan shows how vision can unlock housing | 22.07.26

Urban Taskforce Australia Acting CEO Paul Waterhouse said Waverley Council’s...

Media Release | Local government incentives are the right move for housing supply | 21.07.26

Acting Urban Taskforce Australia CEO, Paul Waterhouse, said that the NSW...

Lane Cove Draft Planning Agreement | 21.07.2026

I write in relation to Lane Cove Council’s proposed Planning Agreements...

Lane Cove Affordable Housing Policy | 21.07.26

I write in relation to Lane Cove Council’s draft affordable housing policy,...