This year, ambitious planning reforms began reshaping how we design and deliver places across Australia. For Ratio, it was a year of growth. We delivered projects across over 60 council areas, expanded our national presence, and deepened our capability across six disciplines.
Thank you for your partnership this year. It’s been a busy twelve months, here’s what shaped it:
Reform that changed the pace of planning (and filled our inboxes)
2025 saw further planning reform across Victoria. The State Government continued to expand its Development Facilitation Program to consider significant development proposals. There was strong focus on canopy trees and greening outcomes, alongside updated draft plans for 25 new train and tram zone activity centres. We saw changes to liquor licensing and continued work on streamlining residential planning through townhouse and low-rise code pathways and clearer standards for four-storey apartments. VicSmart pathways were expanded to include two-dwelling projects and two-lot subdivisions, which has already begun to simplify approval for smaller residential proposals.
Meanwhile, New South Wales has been through one of the biggest years of planning reform in memory. The Housing Delivery Authority introduced a ministerial pathway for housing projects over $60 million, alongside the rollout of TOD and low- to mid-rise centres that allow increased density near transport. This was reinforced by Pattern Books, creating a pathway for standardised low- and mid-rise housing to be privately certified.
Queensland progressed its own package of reforms, with changes to encourage consistent, statewide assessment rules and updates to regional plans to better align land supply, infrastructure and growth across the state.
Landscape architecture, civil engineering and new capability
One of the most exciting aspects of this year was watching our landscape architecture team thrive under the leadership of Director, Matt York, who joined the team early in the year. His show garden at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show was a proud moment for all of us, and the international projects that our landscape and waste teams are working on across Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have expanded our thinking in new ways.
We were also thrilled to launch our civil engineering team, led by Director Hugh McCormick. The team of nine have hit the ground running and are delivering stormwater infrastructure, municipal streetscapes, concept designs, and cost estimates for major clients. With their expertise, we were recently selected by Citywide Service Solutions to lead design services for the City of Melbourne Civil Infrastructure Services contract. My personal understanding of civil engineering has progressed from ‘drainage goes downhill’ to ‘drainage goes downhill, but it’s complicated.’
Projects that shaped our year
Our teams contributed to many important projects across Australia. Many of our proudest achievements in 2025 drew on multiple disciplines working together to create well-thought-out solutions, reminding us why integrated advice matters.
A few highlights stand out:
A year of outgrowing our offices (a nice problem to have)
We opened larger offices in Brisbane and Geelong, and recently added a new Adelaide office to support our growing South Australian client base. Our national capability continues to grow, and it’s been energising to see our teams working closely together across the country.
Our Cremorne office has become a genuine hub this year. We’ve hosted clients, collaborators and more than a few Friday evening gatherings as the sun sets and the city lights begin to glow. The neighbourhood around us continues to change rapidly, and we’ve enjoyed the snack benefits that come from Baker Bleu and Suupaa downstairs.
Welcoming new colleagues and celebrating careers
This year, we reached more than 100 team members at Ratio. We welcomed new Directors, including Peter Malley for Transport, Hugh McCormick for Civil, Matt York for Landscape Architecture and Ian Cady for Planning (NSW). We also welcomed many new teammates across our disciplines, each contributing to the culture and capability that make Ratio what it is.
In September, we celebrated two much-loved colleagues, Russell Fairlie and Catherine Heggen, as they stepped into retirement. Our amazing and much-loved office manager, Jo-ann Lewis, will also be retiring at the end of this year.
To farewell three longstanding team members is never easy, but we’re excited to see what this new chapter holds for each of them. Their contribution to Ratio will always be part of our story. And in my experience, when one door closes, many other doors open.
A personal note on my first full year as CEO
Leading Ratio this year has been a privilege, and I’ve learned a lot. The pace of growth, the calibre of our work and the way our people collaborate are the things that stand out when I think about our team. I’m proud of how we have strengthened our interstate presence and how naturally our teams have embraced a national mindset. I also love seeing the energy that out younger cohort bring. We have great people at all levels and the future of this company is in really good hands.
Looking ahead to 2026
Reform will continue across Australia as each state continues to reform its planning system. In Victoria, the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025 signals a continued push to streamline approvals, alongside further work to create a more consistent and transparent development contributions system.
From a transport perspective, we expect the Movement and Place framework to become increasingly integrated with urban design guidelines and embedded in activity centre planning. We also expect continued change in car parking policy, responding to larger vehicles and evolving travel behaviour.
In New South Wales, with sweeping reforms resetting the planning system this year, the stage is set for widespread implementation and associated local strategies in 2026. In Queensland, we expect the new assessment framework for renewable energy to drive clearer expectations around infrastructure, access and community outcomes, with greater emphasis on early coordination across disciplines as projects move through approval.
We are once again showing a garden at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show . We’re delivering landmark projects across the country. Our work in South Australia and Tasmania is expanding. We’re planning to grow, learn, and deliver more for the clients who make our work possible. We’ll keep strengthening our multidisciplinary capability and supporting clients as the landscape evolves.
Thank you for trusting us this year. I wish you the happiest of holidays, and a safe new year ahead.
