Ethos Urban

Today, we mourn the loss of our dear friend and former colleague John Henshall. As the founder of our economics practice at Ethos Urban, John was a true pioneer in urban and regional economic analysis. His vision, intelligence, and passion shaped our field and laid the foundation for our team’s success. Over more than four decades, John made an extraordinary contribution to the industry, and his legacy endures not only in his work but in the countless lives he touched. He nurtured, taught, and mentored many within our business – including fellow Economics Directors – with his characteristic warmth, good humour, and unwavering commitment to building better communities. Our thoughts are with John’s family and friends, and with our own Economics team, who held him in the highest regard. Vale, John Henshall 🕊️

We’re proud to announce that Ethos Urban has been recognised as a nominee in multiple categories at the upcoming 2024 Planning Institute of Australia Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence! 🏆 Performance & Innovation in Development NEXTDC Technology and Innovation Precinct – Fortitude Valley 🏆 Wendy Chadwick Young Planner Bursary Meg Luton PIA (Assoc.) 🏆 Young Planner of the Year Lucy O'Malley MPIA These prestigious awards celebrate planners' achievements, recognise standout projects, and highlight the critical role planning plays in shaping our communities. We are thrilled to have our team and projects recognised, reaffirming our dedication to advancing the profession and delivering better urban outcomes. Winners will be announced on Friday, 8 November – World Town Planning Day. Good luck to all the nominees! 🎉 #PIAQldAwards24

Ethos Urban is seeking a Partnerships & Event Lead to join our dynamic Marketing & Communications team! 🎉 Full-time and based in Sydney, this role is key to enhancing our brand visibility, establishing thought leadership, and driving business growth through exceptional client and partnership development events across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (with occasional travel required). If you have experience working in a B2B, professional services environment, excel in communication, have a keen eye for detail and are ready to make an impact in the urban built environment, we want to hear from you! 🌟 📩 Apply now and be part of Ethos Urban's mission to create a better urban experience! https://lnkd.in/embr-sHh #B2B #EventManagement #Partnerships #Marketing #Hiring #Property #clientrelationships #businessdevelopment

Insightful discussion at Colliers "Navigating the Future of Housing in NSW" Breakfast Event! Yesterday, we heard from industry leaders key challenges and solutions 💡 to boost NSW's housing 🏠. Fabulously moderated by Joanne Henderson, Head of Research at Colliers International, the expert panel offered the following recommendations: 🔑 Yvette Carr, Director of Planning at Ethos Urban, emphasised the following potential levers the government could pull to boost feasibility and housing supply/capacity: - streamline development approvals, reducing timelines from 9-18 months to 6-12 months to boost development feasibility. Without intervention, it's possible that NSW will only reach 40% of its Housing Accord target. - Implementing the mid-rise housing and TOD reforms without delay (although arguably those reforms do not go far enough). - Suspending new infrastructure charges to incentivise development in the short term (drawing on research from the PCA). - Use of CDC approvals to fast-track apartment development, particularly in areas like TOD precincts where growth is planned and expected. - Incentivising land lease and seniors housing to boost supply for our ageing population and free up existing supply for families. - Reducing external DA referrals and centralising DA assessments in growth areas/precincts, at least in the short term. - Simplifying our overly legalistic planning system as too often projects get caught up in legalities rather than merits. 🔑 Andrew Cooper, Executive General Manager at Landcom, highlighted: - Land costs have increased 57% over the last 5 years, and a balanced regulatory framework is needed to accelerate development. - Solutions include adopting scalable, repeatable modular housing designs, similar to Victoria, and investing in long-term skilled labour through apprenticeship programs and competitive wages. 🔑 Grant D'Arcy, General Manager of Sydney & Major Projects at Richard Crookes Constructions, addressed the financial pressures on developers, with construction costs for mid-rise projects rising by 29%. Homes that once cost $450k to build now cost $800k, amplifying the housing affordability crisis. 🔑 David Roberts, Global Head of Real Estate Strategy at Macquarie Asset Management, discussed rising interest rates, inflation stabilisation, and the critical need for government incentives to unlock capital from superfunds for housing investment. While demand is there, investment capital is lacking. The panel shed light on the complex interplay between rising costs, regulatory challenges, and labour shortages, underscoring the need for both immediate and long-term innovative solutions in housing delivery. Thank you to our friends at Colliers for hosting such a timely ongoing discussion on a challenge that requires bold, sustainable adjustments! Elise Yang #HousingNSW #UrbanPlanning #AffordableHousing #Construction #RealEstate #PropertyDevelopment #NSWplanning

📊 Insights from the Property Council NSW Data Centre Event   The Ethos Urban team including Josh Maitland, Claire Burdett, Christopher Curtis (Goody) and Paul Altree-Williams, attended the recent Data Centres Industry Breakfast, where industry experts Simon Kearney, Matthew Madden, Shalini Lagrutta and Mark Tallentire discussed trends and challenges shaping the data centre landscape. Key takeouts:   ➡️ Cost Trends • Rising Costs: Data centre construction costs rose by 6% in 2023 and are projected to increase by 9% between 2023 and 2024.   ➡️ Market Dynamics • New Market Opportunities: With traditional data centre markets reaching capacity, power availability is now the decisive factor driving the emergence of where new markets should be established globally. • Australian Market Trends: ○ Sydney remains Australia’s strongest market, but Melbourne is rapidly evolving into a hub for machine learning and is expected to overtake Sydney in megawatt capacity within two years. ○ Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland rank among the top 15 most expensive cities globally for delivering data centres.   ➡️ Challenges and Solutions • Power Availability: ○ A critical challenge for operators, emphasising the natural synergy between data centres and power infrastructure. • Supply Chain Issues: ○ Workforce expertise, manufacturing delays, and grid infrastructure investment are affecting supply chains. ○ With NSW SSDA assessment times > 18+ months along with community groups becoming more vocal and aligned, gaining approvals in a timely manner in NSW is significantly contributing to the delay in rollout of new sites. ○ While the planning permit process is still a key risk in Melbourne, Ethos Urban has a track record of obtaining planning permits for Hyperscale Data Centres in Melbourne in much shorter timeframes than Sydney.                                 With evolving demands and regulatory complexities, navigating the development landscape requires integrated expertise. Ethos Urban’s multi-disciplinary team brings together knowledge to help projects move efficiently through approvals and towards delivery. If you’d like to discuss how we can assist with your project, reach out to our team.

We’re Hiring at Ethos Urban! Join Our Team! We are excited to announce two fantastic opportunities to grow with us. If you’re ready to make an impact in a dynamic, high-performing organisation, one of these roles might be the perfect fit for you: 📌 Principal – Design Are you a skilled urban designer with experience working on diverse projects across the public or private sectors? This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a strong industry network who is ready to lead projects, shape innovative design solutions, and mentor others. In this role, you will: ▪️ Lead moderate to large scale projects as a Project Manager and be able to provide oversight of multiple projects while developing the skills of others. ▪️ Develop client relationships and improve the overall client experience. ▪️ Develop your consultancy and project management capabilities and enhance your ability to work with relevant policy and legislation, as well as understand and address contemporary issues within the urban development industry. ▪️ Gain a broader skillset through collaboration with planners, economists, social planners, project managers and community & stakeholder engagement professionals. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gAPMhNvG 📌 Administration Support Officer This is a hands-on role where you’ll support the smooth running of our operations, working closely with the NSW team. If you enjoy multitasking, have excellent communication skills, and thrive in a dynamic environment, we’d love to hear from you. In this role, you will: ▪️ Provide administrative support, including booking events and travel. ▪️ Assist with proposals and project tasks. ▪️ Manage in-house events and support reception duties. ▪️ Be a point of contact for both internal teams and visitors. 👉 https://lnkd.in/g6Kq8vA9 Here at Ethos Urban, we have a vibrant, enthusiastic and highly skilled team of professionals that love what they do. We are 100% all in - continually looking to improve, chipping in to help each other reach industry-leading outcomes for our clients. If this sounds like a journey you wish to be a part of, tap the links to find out more. #Hiring #UrbanDesign #AdministrationSupport #JoinOurTeam

📢 Welcome Daniela Vujic!   We are excited to welcome Daniela Vujic as our newest Director of Planning. A recognised leader in logistics, Daniela brings 20+ years of experience across both public and private sectors, further strengthening Ethos Urban’s planning expertise across key sectors including transport, logistics, and industrial.   Daniela is recognised for her expertise in strategic and statutory planning. She has managed major state-significant infrastructure projects from the environmental assessment phase through to operation, offering practical insights into the complex challenges of urban development.   Daniela’s proven leadership in technical team management and stakeholder engagement is equally impressive. She previously served as General Manager of Planning at macroplan, and held senior roles at Transport for NSW, NSW Ports, and Sydney Ports Corporation, advising on high-profile rezonings, development proposals and environmental frameworks.    “Daniela’s deep expertise in strategic and statutory planning, coupled with managing complex infrastructure projects, positions her as a leading expert in the industrial and transport sectors,” said Mark Stefanac, CEO of Ethos Urban. “Her leadership will bolster our strong capability in the industrial, transport, and logistics sectors, ensuring we continue to provide exceptional support to our clients on their most ambitious projects.”   Join us in welcoming Daniela as she steps into her leadership role within our Sydney Planning team.   #UrbanDevelopment #Planning #Transport #Industrial #TeamEthosUrban #Logistics

Navigating the Future of Housing in NSW   We're excited to see Yvette Carr, Director of Planning at Ethos Urban, on an expert panel at Colliers next week, discussing the future of housing in NSW. With over 15 years' experience in planning approvals, due diligence, and policy, Yvette’s background in both Planning and Law gives her a distinctive perspective. She has led projects across residential, commercial, education, and seniors living sectors, with a growing focus on manufactured home estates and land lease developments.   The panel will explore housing supply challenges and strategies, with insights into the Housing Australia Future Fund's $500 million annual commitment.   Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with industry leaders from Landcom, Ethos Urban, Richard Crookes Constructions, and Macquarie Group.   📅 Date: Tuesday 22 October, 8:30am - 10am 🎙 Moderator: Joanne Henderson, Head of Research at Colliers 🎤 Panellists: Andrew Cooper, Yvette Carr, Grant D'Arcy, David Roberts   Register now 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gpEFKQJS

Now Hiring: Senior Urbanist We are excited to announce an opportunity to join our team as a Senior Urbanist - Social Strategy & Engagement. If you’re passionate about social impact, urban change, and working in a dynamic, collaborative environment, this could be the perfect next step in your career! 📌 Senior Urbanist - Social Strategy & Engagement Are you an experienced social planning and community engagement professional? In this role, you will lead on key deliverables such as social impact assessments, social infrastructure studies, social research and measurement, community and stakeholder engagement strategies as well as local and state government strategies. You’ll work alongside multidisciplinary project teams, including planners, urban designers, and economists, to deliver high-impact urban projects. With opportunities to manage junior staff and shape project outcomes, this role is perfect for someone looking to grow their leadership and project management skills. Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gggKSHJP #HiringNow #JoinOurTeam #SocialStrategy #CommunityEngagement #SeniorUrbanist #UrbanDevelopment

Navigating the New State Significant Rezoning Policy Last week, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, unveiled the new State Significant Rezoning Policy, designed to streamline the rezoning process in support of the NSW Government’s ambitious target of delivering 377,000 new homes by 2029. At Ethos Urban, we’ve thoroughly reviewed the policy:   **Key Benefits** 🔹 Fast-tracked approval for projects aligned with State priorities, allowing quicker delivery of housing and economic opportunities. 🔹 Direct recognition of State government objectives, bypassing local government delays. 🔹 Developments focused in growth-ready areas with established infrastructure, promoting sustainable expansion.   **Opportunities** 🔹 The policy promises greater certainty for developers, particularly for state-significant proposals. 🔹 A focus on efficient infrastructure use, enabling projects to thrive in areas ready for growth.   **Challenges** 🔹 No pathway for proponents to nominate sites, limiting flexibility for private developers. 🔹 The lack of legislative amendments may lead to ongoing delays and uncertainty in the rezoning process. 🔹 Pathway clarity issues could affect long-term effectiveness and project certainty.   Read our full analysis of the New State Significant Rezoning Policy 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g3Wv_hr2 At Ethos Urban, our expert team of planners, economists, social strategists, urban designers, and engagement practitioners is ready to help you navigate these complexities. If you’d like to understand how this policy could impact your project or portfolio, reach out to discuss how we can support you in engaging with the DPHI. Benjamin Craig, Paul Altree-Williams, Schandel Fortu, Nina Macken, Matthew Thrum