The Biggest Challenge Facing Strata Isn't Funding. It's Information.

Six years ago, I bought an apartment in one of Sydney's beautiful suburbs.

At the time, my career had already spanned more than 25 years in technology, digital transformation, infrastructure, vendor management, and large-scale operational projects. I thought I had seen every challenge a modern organisation could face.

Then I discovered something entirely new: strata.

One day I was simply an apartment owner. The next day I found myself helping make decisions that affected an entire community.

A Role Few Owners Truly Understand

Like many owners, I initially viewed strata as something that simply operated in the background. Quarterly levies were paid, meetings happened occasionally, and decisions somehow got made.

Six months after moving in, I attended an AGM out of curiosity. Attendance was low. By the end of the meeting, I had joined the committee.

That experience quickly taught me how difficult committee roles actually are. Volunteers are often expected to make decisions involving engineering, building maintenance, legal obligations, safety, compliance, contractor management, budgets, and long-term planning without specialised expertise in many of those areas.

The Problem Isn't Funding

Over the following five years, I became heavily involved in improving our building. Drawing on my professional background, I started reviewing contractor proposals, project scopes, and supplier quotations.

What I discovered was concerning.

Many Owners Corporations spend significant amounts of money without access to the information needed to properly assess proposals, evaluate long-term value, or determine whether recommended works represent the optimal solution.

Once we adopted a more structured approach to planning, procurement, and project evaluation, everything started to change.

From Reactive to Strategic

Our Capital Works Fund began to grow. Instead of reacting to problems as they emerged, we started planning strategically and investing in long-term outcomes.

One of our first major projects was a sustainability programme that replaced outdated lighting with LED lighting and intelligent sensors. The estimated payback period was approximately two years.

That success created momentum for further innovation.

A Challenge Shared By Many Communities

As our building evolved, owners and committees from other strata communities began reaching out for advice.

Most were facing the same challenges:

• Confusing contractor proposals
• Rising maintenance costs
• Increasing insurance premiums
• Limited visibility of building systems
• Capital expenditure planning challenges
• Uncertainty around sustainability investments
• Lack of independent technical expertise

The Real Challenge Facing Strata

When committees have access to quality information, they make better decisions. Better decisions create savings. Savings create opportunities. Opportunities create better places for people to live.