<html><body>
Dexus and Singapore sovereign wealth fund Government Investment Corporation are paying Kuwait’s St Martins Property $644 million for a half share of the Rialto Melbourne complex in a new joint venture (JV).
The incoming owners will co-control 525 Collins Street with Grollo Group, which is directed by Lorenz Grollo, son of owner, Rino.GIC
Dexus will hold a 10% share in the venture and they will be the investment manager of the JV and have been appointed as the manager of the entire Rialto Towers complex.
Dexus CEO, Darren Steinberg said, “We are pleased to continue to grow our relationship with GIC, enabling them to extend their investments into the Australian office market. In the current environment, we are focused on business continuity, and pleasingly were able to close this off-market transaction within our targeted timeframes.”
Rialto Towers is a prime-grade, 55 storey building, and is one of the largest office buildings located in Melbourne’s Central Business District.
It is well located on Collins Street with good access to transport and other key amenities.
The property is 91.7% occupied with a weighted average lease expiry of 4.6 years as at 1 March 2020. 
 
 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Dexus and GIC acquire 50% of the Rialto Towers office complex

<html><body>
Australians are among the most mobile populations in the world. More than 40% of us change address every five years, about twice the global average. Yet the level of internal migration – moving within Australia – has gone down over the past four decades.
The proportion of Australians changing state of residence <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7EPopulation%20Shift:%20Understanding%20Internal%20Migration%20in%20Australia%7E69" target="_blank">fell by 20%</a> between 1981 and 2016, particularly after 1991. Their movement between regions within states – between, say, Brisbane and Mackay – <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7EPopulation%20Shift:%20Understanding%20Internal%20Migration%20in%20Australia%7E69" target="_blank">dropped by a whopping 25%</a>.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/323130/original/file-20200326-168918-jmxrg6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/323130/original/file-20200326-168918-jmxrg6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/323130/original/file-20200326-168918-jmxrg6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Data: ABS Census of Population and Housing, 1981-2016, Author provided
The decline in migration is a feature of a number of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.routledge.com/Internal-Migration-in-the-Developed-World-Are-we-becoming-less-mobile/Champion-Cooke-Shuttleworth/p/book/9781472478061" target="_blank">advanced economies</a>, including the United States. Policymakers have been concerned this trend heralds a less flexible economy where workers do not move to regions with jobs. If that’s the case, it could prolong recessions and reduce growth.
So why are Australians moving less? Several factors might help explain it.
<h2>Australia is getting older</h2>
Population ageing is one of the main explanations because older people move less than young people. It’s enough to account for 20-30% of the decline in internal migration in Australia.
However, the increase in the share of mobile groups – such as renters, tertiary-educated people and recently arrived immigrants – has <a href="https://qcpr.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/qcpr_working-paper_kalemba-et-al-2020.pdf" target="_blank">fully compensated</a> the downward effect of population ageing. This means the net effect on migration levels of changes in the composition of the Australian population is close to null.
So the decline is not the result of overall changes in population composition. It is the result of deeper behavioural changes. People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are simply moving less today than in the past.
<h2>Working arrangements have changed</h2>
Information and communication technology and the changes in working arrangements brought by the internet are often thought to have contributed to lower migration levels. But, the proportion of individuals who telework remains small. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aude_Bernard/publication/339899498_Decline_in_internal_migration_levels_in_Australia_Compositional_or_behavioural_effect/links/5e6b3077a6fdccf321d93834/Decline-in-internal-migration-levels-in-Australia-Compositional-or-behavioural-effect.pdf" target="_blank">Only 5%</a> of the Australian workforce worked from home at the 2016 census.
Perhaps more significant is the increase in dual-income households. They now account for two-thirds of couples compared with 56% in 2001. Because these couples find it more challenging to jointly relocate than traditional male-breadwinner families, this shift <a href="https://qcpr.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/qcpr_working-paper_kalemba-et-al-2020.pdf" target="_blank">explains about 10%</a> of the decline in interstate migration in Australia.
Despite these transformations, the mix of reasons for moving hasn’t changed over the past 15 years. Australians still move mainly for family and work reasons.
So, what is going on?
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/323142/original/file-20200326-168889-xy3fj2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/323142/original/file-20200326-168889-xy3fj2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/323142/original/file-20200326-168889-xy3fj2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Authors’ calculations using Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey data, Author provided
<h2>Place attachment plays a part</h2>
In the United States, this downward trend has been linked to “<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/psp.670" target="_blank">rootedness</a>”, the idea that individuals have become more attached their families and communities and are therefore less inclined to relocate.
Such concepts are difficult to measure and quantify. Yet a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/psp.2225" target="_blank">2019 study</a> showed that Australians with strong place attachment and social networks are less likely to migrate, particularly over long distances. But it is not clear how place attachment has changed over time and whether it has contributed to the decline in internal migration.
<h2>Young people are staying put</h2>
We know young people are moving less than they used to. In 2017, <a href="https://theconversation.com/over-50-of-young-australian-adults-still-live-with-their-parents-and-the-numbers-are-climbing-faster-for-women-120587" target="_blank">56% of Australians below the age of 30</a> were still living at home compared with 47% in 2001. Explanations for this trend include increasing housing costs and delayed union formation.
The consequences not only bring down current migration levels but also in the future. This is because <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/psp.2286" target="_blank">migration is self-reinforcing</a>: having moved in the past increases the chances of moving again. So, young adults who are staying put now are less likely to move later because they have not been exposed early in life to the challenges of relocating.
This means the level of migration in Australia is likely to remain low, but this downward trend may level off as we have seen in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378437119316875" target="_blank">United States</a>.
<h2>Is this new low a problem?</h2>
There is no evidence Australians are less willing to relocate for their jobs, so this downward trend should not have major impacts on the economy.
What is more concerning is <a href="https://qcpr.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/qcpr_working-paper_kalemba-et-al-2020.pdf" target="_blank">some groups have been affected</a> more than others, particularly those in part-time work and in low-paid sectors such as retail and trade. These workers are less mobile than in the past and their share in the workforce has increased.
Individuals with limited resources face <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/38220" target="_blank">greater difficulties</a> in being mobile, particularly when faced with rising housing costs and stagnant wages. We need to ensure Australia does not evolve toward a two-tier migration system, in which some can afford to move and others are “trapped”. This could, in the long term, reinforce socio-economic inequalities.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/133767/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/aude-bernard-316886" target="_blank">Aude Bernard</a>, Lecturer, Queensland Centre for Population Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sunganani-v-kalemba-997197" target="_blank">Sunganani V. Kalemba</a>, PhD candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australians-are-moving-home-less-why-and-does-it-matter-133767" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Australians are moving home less. Why? And does it matter?

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
COVID-19 is, without a doubt, a disruption and game-changer at the same time. There are many uncertainties at present, and quite a few “doom and gloom” stories on a collapsing economy and being on the brink of a recession. There is no denying that many Australian small businesses and individuals are experiencing the brunt of it, from loss of income to having to close their businesses.
Fiscal policy, in the form of stimulus, is critical at this point, as it allows for the society to access immediate funds. Monetary policy can assist, however given that there are no legal requirements in Australia for banks to follow, plus the notion of interest capitalisation (which will cost those with loans more later on), it is a band-aid solution at best. The Australian Government has rapidly introduced a number of financial stimulus packages, targeting those who will be impacted the most.
COVID-19 is a world-wide phenomenon. The measures taken to contain the virus, as well as assistance to prop up the economy, differs from nation to nation. An analysis of the G20 countries, plus Iran, have revealed that at present Australia’s fiscal policy puts us in a strong place to ride out COVID-19.
<img class="richtext-image full-width" src="https://www.prd.com.au/media/images/PRD_Research_-_Table_1_-_Developed_Counties_Co.width-800_peM6O8C.png" alt="Fiscal Apr 2020 Table 1 - Developed Counties Covid-19" width="800" height="316">
1. Against other developed countries, Australia’s stimulus package as a % of 2019 GDP (14.4%) is on the higher end, above United States and Canada, and significantly higher than our neighbours New Zealand.
2. From a Stimulus per Capita perspective Australia is in a strong position, whereby our per capita stimulus is only second to Germany. We are well ahead.
3. Factoring in the number of jobs lost and stimulus package as a % of 2019 GDP, Australia has a strong ability to provide financial assistance, and in some instances more favourably. 
<h4>How does Australia compare to other G20 countries regarding the loss of unemployment/support for loss of income? (note: all monetary amounts are in the native country’s currency)</h4>
Currently Australians who have lost their employment or have lost partial income can access a number of government fiscal assistance, providing they can satisfy all of the requirements both on a personal and business level. These payments include (but not limited to): JobKeeper Payment ($1,500/fortnight), JobSeeker Payment ($550/fortnight), and Coronavirus Supplement ($550/fortnight). How does this compare with other countries?
United States of America - $1,200 government cash check for all residents. Individuals individuals who earn $75,000 in adjusted gross income or less would get direct payments of $1,200 each, with married couples earning up to $150,000 receiving $2,400 -- and an additional $500 per child. The payment would scale down by income, phasing out entirely at $99,000 for singles and $198,000 for couples without children.
<ul>
<li>
United Kingdom - The government would give grants to cover 80% of a worker's salary of up to 2,500 pounds a month if businesses kept them on as staff.</li>
<li>
Turkey – Relief for pensioners, with an increase in retirement salary to Turkey Lira 1,500</li>
<li>
South Korea - During the period of business absence, 70% of the average wage must be compensated. The employees are subject to the provision of ‘allowances’ under the Labor Standards Act</li>
<li>
South Africa – South African Rand 500 a month until July as part of COVID-19 measures</li>
<li>
New Zealand - Wage subsidies &amp; leave payments to employers, however, there is yet an announcement for extra unemployment benefits</li>
<li>
France - Under the "partial unemployment" scheme, employees should apply for state benefits which provides them an allowance and that employers are banned from firing them.</li>
<li>
Germany - Claim “Kurzarbeitergeld” scheme benefits or “short-work money" for temporarily laid-off workers</li>
<li>
Indonesia - Social safety net programs to help about 70 million underprivileged citizens</li>
<li>
China, India, Canada, Italy, Iran, Japan, Mexico - Claim regular employment insurance and/or unemployment benefits</li>
<li>
Argentina - Pandemic Unemployment Support for laid-off and self-employed workers, and Job Seekers' Benefit for already unemployed individuals</li>
<li>
Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia – Unable to find precise information at this time, although some news websites have indicated that government assistance is currently being planned</li>
</ul>
It is not surprising that developed countries within the G20 have a more comprehensive and structured financial stimulus policy compared to developing nations. South Korea seems to lead the developing nations in their response to the loss of employment due to COVID-19.
Australia presents a comparable financial stimulus package to other developed nations, and in some cases more advanced. It is extremely substantial compared to developing countries.
<h4>Key Message</h4>
The world as we know it currently does not exist – it is in a pause. COVID-19 and the hard-hitting economic impact it brings is not exclusive to Australia, and nor are business closures and job/income losses. It is a tough time for many across the globe. To date Australia has suffered a loss of 750,557 jobs – which is extremely significant, especially in such a short period of time. Other countries, as per known data, have also suffered job losses, some to the extremes of over 1 million people in Germany and over 38 million people in India. 
At this crucial time, perspective is everything. On a micro / inward within Australia scale we may feel that the government’s fiscal policy, in the form of economic stimulus, is imperfect. In fact, ALL government policies are imperfect, as it is designed to be efficient (maximum result with minimum resources) and effective (maximum results with a minimum amount of time) at the same time. If we choose to look on a macro / worldwide comparison however, we can see that Australia’s fiscal policy is substantial and puts us in a strong position to ride out COVID-19. 
<img class="richtext-image full-width" src="https://www.prd.com.au/media/images/PRD_Research_-_Table_2_-_G20_Countries_Covid19.width-800_2jcCZ6n.png" alt="Fiscal Apr 2020 Table 2 - G20 Countries Covid19" width="800" height="410">
Dr DIASWATI MARDIASMO is the Chief Economist at PRD Real Estate 
</body></html>

Fiscal policy is in place for Australia to ride out Covid-19: PRD

<html><body>
With #StayAtHome and social distancing now becoming a way of life, an increasing number of people are relying on the internet for work, education and entertainment.
This has placed greater demand on our network infrastructure, reducing the <a href="https://www.nbnco.com.au/utility/glossary-of-terms" target="_blank">bandwidth</a> available for each user, and is leaving people frustrated at seemingly slow internet speeds.
While internet service providers such as TPG or Telstra may not be able to instantly respond to these changes, there are a few tricks you can use to boost your home internet’s speed.
<h2>Why is your internet slow?</h2>
There may be many reasons why your internet speed is slow. Internet use requires a reliable connection between your device and the destination, which may be a server that is physically located on the other side of the world.
Your connection to that server could pass through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_to_live" target="_blank">hundreds</a> of devices on its journey. Each one of these is a potential failure, or weak point. If one point along this path isn’t functioning optimally, this can significantly affect your internet experience.
Web servers in particular are often affected by external factors, including <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-botnet-to-malware-a-guide-to-decoding-cybersecurity-buzzwords-77958" target="_blank">Denial of Service (DOS)</a> attacks, wherein an overload of traffic causes congestion in the server, and impedes proper functioning.
While you may not have control over these things from your home network, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options to improve your internet speed.
<h2>Wifi signal boost</h2>
The <a href="https://kb.netgear.com/235/What-is-a-wireless-access-point" target="_blank">access point</a> (wireless router) in your home network is used to connect your devices to your internet service provider. Most access points provide a wireless signal with limited channels, which can suffer interference from nearby signals, like your neighbour’s. A “channel” is a kind of virtual “pipe” through which data is transferred.
Although your devices are designed to avoid interference by switching channels automatically (there are usually 14 available), it may help to check your router settings, as some are set to a single channel by default. When trying different options to reduce interference, it’s advisable to select <a href="https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/why-channels-1-6-11" target="_blank">channels 1, 6 or 11</a> as they can help to minimise problems (for 2.4GHz wireless).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/324761/original/file-20200401-23130-molfs4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/324761/original/file-20200401-23130-molfs4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
This diagram shows the frequency and channel distribution for 2.4GHz. <a class="source" href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/344491/an-update-on-creative-commons-licensing?cb=1" target="_blank">Rob/Stack Exchange</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA</a>
<h2>What else can you do?</h2>
There are further things you can try to improve your wifi signal. If your router supports 5GHz wifi signals, <a href="https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/how-change-wi-fi-channel-3325316/" target="_blank">switching to this</a> can provide a faster data rate, but over shorter distances. Reposition your router for best coverage (usually a central position).
The difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz wifi signals is they have different data transmission speeds. While 5GHz can transfer data faster (with 23 available channels), 2.4GHz provides a wider range. If you want speed, go for 5GHz. For better coverage, choose 2.4GHz.
Some domestic appliances can cause interference with your router. It’s worth checking if using your microwave oven, cordless phone or baby monitor affects your connection, as they may be using the same frequency as your router.
Using a <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/wireless-witch-how-to-place-a-wireless-extender" target="_blank">wifi extender</a> can help with coverage by boosting or extending the signal.
<h2>Viruses and malware</h2>
To avoid computer viruses, make sure you regularly check for updates on your devices and use antivirus software. It’s also worth rebooting your router to clear specific malware (malicious software designed to damage your device or server), such as <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-actions-disrupt-advanced-persistent-threat-28-botnet-infected" target="_blank">VPNFilter</a> – a malware that <a href="https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2018/06/vpnfilter-malware-still-making-waves/" target="_blank">infects more than half a million routers</a> in more than 50 countries.
You should also check the following:
<ul>
<li>
does your router need to be replaced with a newer model? This may be the case if it has been used for many years. Newer models support enhanced functions and faster internet speeds
</li>
<li>
is the <a href="https://techterms.com/definition/firmware" target="_blank">firmware</a> of your wireless router <a href="https://windowsreport.com/update-router-firmware/" target="_blank">updated</a>? You can do this by visiting the device manufacturer’s website. This will help fix problems and allow additional functionality. It’s unlikely this update is done automatically.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Planning your internet usage</h2>
If multiple people are streaming video at your home, which often requires <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/mar/13/covid-19-could-cause-permanent-shift-towards-home-working" target="_blank">ten times the daytime demand</a>, a limited internet connection will soon be fully used.
Try to plan your and family members’ online activities around peak times. Before the pandemic hit, most internet usage was likely oriented around the early evenings, after close of business. With the shift to remote working and schooling, more internet access is likely during the day, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/mar/13/covid-19-could-cause-permanent-shift-towards-home-working" target="_blank">with a 10% usage increase overall, and a 30% increase at peak times</a>.
Outside your home, connectivity is likely to be on a “best effort” plan, which shares a fixed bandwidth with other users. In other words, your mobile internet bandwidth is shared with others in your area when they access the internet at the same time. A shared bandwidth results in slower individual speeds.
You can’t control how many people access the internet, but you can manage your own internet activity by downloading large files or content overnight, or outside of peak hours (when there is less traffic).
<h2>How to improve your ISP’s network issues</h2>
While you can try to fix issues and optimise the setup inside your home, unfortunately you can’t really influence network performance outside of it. Thus, contacting your internet service provider’s call centre and seeking support is your best option.
All of the above considered, it’s important to remember that when using the internet, we’re sharing a limited resource. Just like buying pasta or toilet paper, there are many who need it just as much as you, so use it wisely.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-jin-kang-903030" target="_blank">James Jin Kang</a>, Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-haskell-dowland-382903" target="_blank">Paul Haskell-Dowland</a>, Associate Dean (Computing and Security), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank">Edith Cowan University</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-boost-your-internet-speed-when-everyone-is-working-from-home-135313" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

How to boost your internet speed when everyone is working from home 

<html><body>
<h4>National Australia Bank is the latest lender to announce changes to help Australians impacted by COVID-19, dropping its Low Rate Classic Card by 100 basis points to 12.99%.</h4>
It also announced other support measures including waiving late payment fees and reducing the minimum monthly payments on all cards for the next three months.
NAB joins at least six other lenders that have announced support to credit card customers including the Commonwealth Bank. Westpac and ANZ have not announced specific measures for credit card customers.
Despite some lenders announcing credit card support, credit card holders are still the hardest hit as lenders hold onto rate cuts.
Since the GFC in 2008, the cash rate has fallen by 6.5 percentage points to 0.25%, while standard credit cards have increased by 1.37 percentage points on average, and low rate cards have increased by 1.22 percentage points (according to RBA data analysed by Finder).
While the cash rate has been falling since 2011, standard credit cards have increased on average by 0.25 percentage points, and low rate cards fell by just 0.26 percentage points. This is compared to the cash rate falling by 4.50 percentage points since November 2011.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/4/6/Finder%201.png" alt="">
Bessie Hassan, Money Expert at Finder said, “While it’s great to see more help by our big banks and other lenders, it’s only a short term fix for a major debt issue in Australia."
“We currently have a combined $48.7 billion in credit card debt and this number is expected to rise as millions of Australians are being financially impacted by the coronavirus."
“The Finder app shows that Australians are spending more money using their credit cards while paying less of the balance off. This is a worrying trend. Short term relief is a great start but cardholders need to remember that it’s not free money and they will need to pay it back eventually."
“With insights from the Finder app also showing Australians have spent an extra $13.5 billion in March alone from panic-buying, now more than ever we need to control our spending."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/4/6/Finder%202.png" alt="">
“If you do have credit card debt that you’re struggling to pay off, interest-free balance transfers could still be a better value option than relying on your lender’s relief package. Download the Finder app and it will work out how much you can potentially save with a balance transfer," Hassan concluded.
</body></html>

NAB the last of the big four to announce credit card support: Finder.com.au

<html><body>Despite spending more than $320 billion in response to COVID-19, experts say even more money will be needed from the government, according to the latest Finder survey. Results from the <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/rba-cash-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey™</a> this week, show that experts and economists are unconvinced that the federal government’s stimulus packages will be sufficient to see the country through to the end of the year. Three-quarters (73%, 16) of respondents said they expect another stimulus package will be needed.  A similar number (75%, 15) who weighed in on the Australian shares market, expect it to fall further this year. Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder, said as hard as it is to believe, 16.4% of the country’s nearly $2 trillion GDP may still not be enough. “If the aim is to build a bridge to the other side of this crisis, there might still be some materials that need to be purchased. “On top of trying to close the gap, this pandemic has created, the near-40% loss in value of Australia’s share market may not be over just yet.  “With the full effects of coronavirus still to be understood, expect the high volatility we have seen in the shares market of late to continue for months.” Cash rate to stay put, but QE on cards All 23 economists and experts surveyed expect the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to hold the cash rate at 0.25% on Tuesday. “Most economists highlighted that the RBA will treat 0.25% as if it is 0% and have no appetite to cut further.  “This leaves only one effective tool in the RBA’s armoury: quantitative easing,” Cooke said. Quantitative easing (QE) is a process where the central bank creates new cash to decrease, or ease, the cost of borrowing. In Finder’s December 2019 survey, nearly half (46%) of experts predicted it was likely we’d see QE in 2020, well before there was any concern of a global pandemic or a lockdown.  RBA governor Phillip Lowe insisted at the time that the federal bank had “no appetite” for QE. Shane Oliver of AMP Capital said history has shown the folly of going to negative interest rates in other countries. "0.25% has long been identified by the RBA as the lower bound.  “There is little benefit to be gained by going to zero or negative based on the experience of Europe and Japan," Oliver said. Economic Sentiment Tracker  Results from Finder’s Economic Sentiment Tracker, which gauges five key indicators – housing affordability, employment, wage growth, cost of living and household debt – dropped to new lows across most metrics. Cooke said negative sentiment on household debt, wage growth and employment are at 62%, 86% and 100%, respectively. “The sentiment on employment is our first-ever 100% negative response on any economic metric. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a sledgehammer to the economy, and there is no end in sight,” he said <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EkKquNOhes7Tm1rEIH4TFfqG7gKfRn233LzWKxxaIRJXA-ImJe6d6KF7EGwabJCLcn9OQG0GrB6ASTYvrYvnrKH7SF_TFwrgf2jpizHNlXOWHmWnd8FAExFiYndLN7H4_8L6Hjao" width="602" height="387" data-imagetype="External"> Cooke said there was one result that portends good news for homebuyers. “The social gathering restrictions have had a large positive effect on housing affordability. “With estate agents obliged to take viewings by appointment only, and auctions forced online, downward pressure on the housing market is inevitable.  “With both fixed and variable rates at record lows, anyone who has a deposit saved up right now could be in a very powerful position.” The rise in positivity around housing affordability – at its highest level since last June – has pulled the average of positivity across all five metrics higher than last month. “Before the pandemic hit, the worry was that housing prices were continuing to rise even as wages, household debt and cost of living didn’t improve.  “Now, after a global business disruption unrivalled in recent history, the cost of housing might just come back into sight for some Aussies looking to buy,” Cooke said. <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QYdBAIcGt_SVYh6Bc-ixcBeeNpaIlPnjBzGbuvmBOPXlXRoqJhZtwY_hbG5PBkmVpSky4kpLBbnJEbAqPxSadD0IAD8NxBxouhp8y2nKXur0bWsqP0MeOfsyrhSGxmARElDpIcEC" width="602" height="399" data-imagetype="External"> <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Nn1XHJFGWvNg2nZlmyxjukWBdAKyluQlFllWabQWb53kZ2ib9gOy0ZQEkRVYuil9Rlxr-bc6WCU2Um_hRp722YTcHoEBzec_PXZ61XbJqfH5H9zGd6PM8QWlJBOzRMsCsEkNizs7" width="602" height="404" data-imagetype="External"></body></html>

Experts forecast more economic stimulus and ASX falls: Finder.com.au

<html><body>
A Camillo, West Australia mortagee home has sold for $235,000.
The sale price is slightly less than sought as the home was listed for $245,000
The house last sold for $200,000 in 2008.
Shane Denniston of The Professionals is marketing the property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-camillo-132875758" target="_blank">39A Westfield Road</a>.<a class="agent-info__name sc-kpOJdX khYtfc" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/agent/shane-denniston-236716?cid=agent-profile-page%7Cbuy:pdp:contact-side-panel"> </a>
The five bedroom, two bathroom house is set on a 773 sqm block.
The abode was built in 1986 and is according to the listing, "a handy man's dream, with work to be completed throughout the home."
It holds an outlook over Westfield/Heron reserve and is close to both the train station, and Kelmscott shopping centre.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a house in Camillo is $215,000 according to CoreLogic data.
</body></html>

Camillo, WA mortgagee home sold for minor profit

<html><body>
A Gawler West, South Australia, mortgagee home has sold for $115,000 after an unsuccessful auction in early February.
It was listed with a $115,000 - $125,000 price guide.
Ken Loft of Harcourts marketed the three bedroom, one bathroom house.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-gawler+west-132764986" target="_blank">19 Mulga Street</a>, the abode was built in 1975.
Set on 471 sqm, it positioned in the heart of Gawler West.
It last sold for $56,000 as part of a multisale by the SA Housing Trust in 2002.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
To learn more about Gawler West, click here.
</body></html>

Gawler West, SA mortgagee home sold after unsuccessful auction

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion,” wrote Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations (published in 1776), “but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.”
With the coronavirus crisis, though, Australia’s competition watchdog has decided a little more conversation is in the public interest.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is lightening up on its normal competition rules by giving interim authorisation for competitors to cooperate.
On Wednesday the regulator <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/nbn-co-telcos-to-coordinate-on-demand-surge-and-consumer-support-package" target="_blank">authorised the NBN Co</a> and the five biggest telcos (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone Hutchison, TPG and Vocus) to “work together to take measures necessary to keep Australia’s telecommunications networks operating effectively”.
On Tuesday it <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/medicine-wholesalers-to-co-operate-on-access-to-pharmaceutical-products" target="_blank">authorised wholesalers of medicines</a> “to co-operate to facilitate distribution of essential medication and pharmacy products.
On Monday it <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/banks-authorised-to-co-operate-on-loan-relief-and-services" target="_blank">authorised banks</a> "to co-operate to provide supplementary relief packages for individuals and businesses”.
And last week it <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/public-registers/documents/Interim%20Authorisation%20Decision%20-%2023.03.20%20-%20PR%20-%20AA1000477%20Coles%20%26%20Ors.pdf" target="_blank">authorised the major supermarket</a> chains (Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA/Metcash) to coordinate their activities to ensure the supply of retail products, particularly those in short supply.
What is cartel conduct
Normally a competition watchdog guards against any collaboration or collusion between competitors. There are hefty fines and even criminal penalties to deter competitors talking to each other.
<a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/anti-competitive-behaviour/cartels">Cartel conduct</a> – agreements to fix prices, share markets, rid bids or control the amount of goods and services available to buyers – is arguably the biggest threat to a well-functioning competitive market.
Rather than competing on product quality, price and service, cartels maximise profits by agreeing to charge consumers more, pay suppliers less and putting the squeeze on other competitors. Competition officials have described cartels as “<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_00_295" target="_blank">cancers on the open market economy</a>”.
But these are not normal times. The normal behaviour that allows markets to function has been thrown into flux. Panic buying of toilet paper, hand sanitiser, pasta and other staples has led to significant supply shortages. Video conferencing and streaming has led to a surge in broadband data use.
In these “unprecedented circumstances”, the watchdog has decided the benefits of permitting competitors to cooperate to secure the supply of essentials goods outweigh the risks.
Different times, different conditions
History shows cartel conduct is tempting to companies in hard economic times. In fact, it’s even tempting to regulators.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/325142/original/file-20200403-74889-r5xbsg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
 A 1933 US Postage stamp commemorating the National Recovery Administration established under National Industrial Recovery Act. <a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_Deal_N.R.A._3c_1933_issue_U.S._stamp.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA</a>
In 1933 the United States legalised cartel conduct with the National Industrial Recovery Act. The intention was to assist recovery from the Great Depression. Agreements to restrict output and fix prices were seen as a short-term solution to keep businesses afloat. It has since been argued the US law <a href="https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&amp;context=yjreg" target="_blank">actually slowed the recovery</a> by converting “otherwise competitive industries into highly regulated, cartelised, and often inefficient industries”.
The US government’s mistake is not one the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is making.
Its interim authorisations allow officials from the regulator and the federal government to monitor discussions. Every arrangement must be approved by the regulator. Everything is “out in the open”, eliminating a key feature for any cartel arrangement to succeed – secrecy.
Conditions now are also very different to those in 1930s America.
Then the issue was over-supply. Now it’s mostly a problem of undersupply, due to demand surges.
This is not a situation in which supermarkets, pharmaceutical companies and broadband providers have anything to gain through restricting supply.
They might have an interest in increasing prices. But the competition watchdog has expressly forbidden talk about retail prices.
A tight leash needed
European regulators are taking a similar approach to Australia. The European Commission <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/competition/ecn/202003_joint-statement_ecn_corona-crisis.pdf" target="_blank">has declared</a> it will not actively intervene against “necessary and temporary measures” to avoid supply shortage:
“Considering the current circumstances, such measures are unlikely to be problematic, since they would either not amount to a restriction of competition […] or generate efficiencies that would most likely outweigh any such restriction.”
Even so, there are risks. There are anti-cartel laws for good reason. The longer competitors spend working together, as Adam Smith noted, the greater the risk of conspiracy.
The competition watchdog will need to keep talks on a tight leash. Apart from price, it needs to ensure companies do not share information about operations and processes that would allow them to act independently in a mutually beneficial manner. This would give us exactly what cartel laws are meant to stop – higher prices.
Australia’s competition watchdog is arguably better equipped for this task than its European counterparts. But with more industry requests for competitors to cooperate likely, it will need to stay vigilant, making full use of its powers to monitor talks and ensure cooperation only goes on for as much, and as long, as absolutely necessary.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/135303/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sven-gallasch-1014219" target="_blank">Sven Gallasch</a>, Lecturer in Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767" target="_blank">Swinburne University of Technology</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/look-whos-talking-australias-telcos-banks-and-supermarkets-granted-exemption-to-cartel-laws-135303" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Look who's talking: Australia's telcos, banks and supermarkets granted exemption to cartel laws

<html><body>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Herron Todd White, Australia’s largest independent property valuation and advisory firm, said easier access to existing equity in homes and investment properties would help ease financial pressure for Aussies during the COVID-19 crisis.
Gary Brinkworth, CEO of Herron Todd White, said both the government and regulators must urgently work with financiers to unlock this source of stored wealth and help struggling individuals and businesses through this unprecedented time.
“If ever there were a time to help Aussies get access to their stored-away property wealth, it’s during the Coronavirus emergency.
“The integrity and discipline of the current lending system can be preserved and leveraged to help property owners through this challenging period.
“We believe the time to act is now, to provide additional liquidity to eligible property owners to help them navigate these uncertain times, creating an opportunity to survive this downturn and establish a strong position which will help contribute to the economy.”
Mr Brinkworth said the COVID-19 crisis had highlighted how some Aussie property owners were ‘asset rich, cash poor’ and providing the ability for many property owners to access the equity in their assets is a clear way to not only survive the uncertainty of the next few months but position property owners to bounce back quickly.
“As property professionals, we realise the level of equity drawdown and the impact on property values due to COVID-19 will need to be part of the discussion, but it’s ludicrous to not have this conversation in the current climate.
“There’s an important role valuers will play in preserving the integrity of the financial system while unlocking additional liquidity during this challenging period. As such, we will be supporting our clients and our industry body, the Australian Property Institute, in their efforts to put this initiative front and centre.”
Mr Brinkworth said from his discussions with industry associates, finance providers seemed ready to act swiftly in making equity available to owners.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
“This kind of industry support and through Government incentives and the cooperation of the different stakeholders, should allow us to realise the potential of this initiative at a time when people need it most”.
Mr Brinkworth said the nation’s strong real estate sector had been a leading source of wealth building through decades of sustained value growth.
He said under normal circumstances equity was a wealth buffer for owners to reinvest or live on in retirement, but it should now be drawn upon as a financial safety net.
“We are calling on the government and regulatory bodies, to work together to make this possible, to encourage property owners to leverage their equity’.
Main Photo:<a href="https://theinsideinvestor.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/equity_release.png" target="_blank"> Equity Release/The Inside Investor</a>.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Property valuers call for equity release to ease financial burden amid COVID-19 pandemic: HTW

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Staff reporter

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News