The review of strata and community title legislation in the three eastern states continues to put a focus on the changing circumstances that reflect the dynamic nature of our industry. 

The new legislation introduced in Victoria is reflecting the growth of high density residential developments, while the NSW legislation is updating the growth trend for community titled complexes. 

These changes, together with the review being undertaken by the Queensland Government of the BCCM Act reflect the growth and maturity of the industry. 

A recent request by Griffith University through its Service Industry Research Centre team is seeking help from our members and their owners to be part of a significant research program seeking to better understand the key industry drivers. 

It is a further pointer to the interest and importance being shown for the future of the industry. 

The Griffith team hosted the inaugural three day conference Strata and Community Title in Australia for the 21^st Century in 2005 and will be staging a second national conference in October 2007 to further engage the industry in managing its growth in a better informed and professional manner. 

In ensuring that we develop a responsible and properly balanced industry serving all key stakeholders, it is important there is a gathering of the real facts and that the industry users are researched from time to time to ensure the decision makers at all levels are not relying on “gut” instinct or anecdotal evidence.

There is far too much at stake for all parties in all industry sectors to rely solely on statistics and submissions from the vocal stakeholders. 

The industry is now significantly mature at all levels for the detailed type of research planned by The Griffith University team to probe in some depth, the thoughts and experiences of the mature and diverse sector of owners who live and invest in holiday and residential strata and community titled schemes.

As Professor Chris Guilding of Griffith points out, during the next decade many more people will be following the example of the current owners and invest or live in a strata property in Queensland. 

The response from the 7000 people being targeted in the research should provide the industry with a new bank of knowledge and will add to the research process for future legislation. 

We at QRAMA believe this survey, which is seeking to gauge the unit owner satisfaction levels and explore the main factors affecting satisfaction levels, will be ground breaking. 

There are so many people who want to know about the nature of the Australian unit owner experience.

The comprehensive questionnaire asks owners some detailed questions on all aspects of unit ownership and unit living and also the depth of their interest and involvement in the administration and management of the scheme. 

From a professional manager’s point of view, we at QRAMA will be very interested in the response of owner involvement in the work of their committees and their interest in the annual general meeting and other aspects of the administration. 

In this era of transparency, accountability and corporate governance, there is still significant concern by managers in the lack of understanding and comprehension by owners and investors of how the industry operates and its accountability processes. 

We hope the survey will generate a genuine interest amongst unit owners to better understand how the legislation operates to ensure the smooth and harmonious running of the industry. 

With the Government forecasting a dramatic increase in the number of Queenslanders investing and living in strata and community title schemes, especially in south east Queensland, this survey may well determine the need and direction of a far broader education program for owners and investors.  

When the industry and the Government are able to get new comprehensive industry research, the future policies for the industry may be even more focused on ensuring that all stakeholders can work together for mutually beneficial outcomes. 

QRAMA hopes for a high response rate to the research and that its outcomes can determine new levels of achievement and another milestone in the progress of the industry.