The Future of Affordable Housing
Fri
9
Fri 9 Oct 4:00 PM
Online via Zoom
General Admission
150 Mins
October
Housing affordability and construction productivity are two of the most debated topics in our industry today.
Are our current urban planning strategies actually delivering the housing we need, or are we overlooking fundamental issues?
Is the solution to keep making Sydney and Melbourne denser, or is the low-density linear development along the Gold Coast/Tweed, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast corridor a better model? The solution proposed by the Whitlam government in the 1970s was the development of regional cities, including Albury/Wodonga and Monarto; is it the right time to revisit this model?
How can Engineers, Architects, and Builders collaborate to improve the construction industry, particularly in delivering affordable housing?
Mecca is pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar, "The Future of Affordable Housing," where we will investigate these critical questions.
We have brought together a panel of economists, architects, planners, and builders to challenge existing industry narratives and explore:
Dates: Friday October 2, 2026 & Friday, October 9, 2026
Times: 4.00PM - 6.30PM
CPD hours: 5 (5 formal points)
Speakers:
The sessions will look closely at regional housing markets, their strengths and weaknesses, the systemic barriers they face which are preventing the right mix of housing and what local leaders are doing to fix the market failures.
$375 including GST includes CPD certificate and recording of both sessions
Are our current urban planning strategies actually delivering the housing we need, or are we overlooking fundamental issues?
Is the solution to keep making Sydney and Melbourne denser, or is the low-density linear development along the Gold Coast/Tweed, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast corridor a better model? The solution proposed by the Whitlam government in the 1970s was the development of regional cities, including Albury/Wodonga and Monarto; is it the right time to revisit this model?
How can Engineers, Architects, and Builders collaborate to improve the construction industry, particularly in delivering affordable housing?
Mecca is pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar, "The Future of Affordable Housing," where we will investigate these critical questions.
We have brought together a panel of economists, architects, planners, and builders to challenge existing industry narratives and explore:
- How did we get here? - Population growth and construction reforms over the past 30 years
- Rethinking Urban Development: Is the path forward increased density, or should we revisit established regional development models?
- What can we learn from other countries in how they manage housing development - case study of New Zealand
- The Reality of Delivery Costs: Moving beyond the headlines to understand the true costs of modern construction."
- Proposed solutions - Lowering the cost of apartments, methods of design & construction, Intergenerational living, changes to planning, etc
Dates: Friday October 2, 2026 & Friday, October 9, 2026
Times: 4.00PM - 6.30PM
CPD hours: 5 (5 formal points)
Speakers:
- Cameron Murray, Fresh Economic Thinking
- Noura Thaha, Associate Principal, Group GSA
- Stephen White, Director Planning Urbis
- Lindsay Clare, Clare Design
- Kim Houghton, Economic Solutions (Regional Housing Issues in Australia)
- John Byrne, Byrne Urban Design
- Geoff Hanmer, Architect & Lecturer at UTS
- John Baker, Founding Director, BKA Architecture
The sessions will look closely at regional housing markets, their strengths and weaknesses, the systemic barriers they face which are preventing the right mix of housing and what local leaders are doing to fix the market failures.
$375 including GST includes CPD certificate and recording of both sessions
October