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ASIC has warned Australian investors considering establishing their own self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) to be aware of the potential risks and downsides of such a strategy.
They said many Australians set up SMSFs that are inappropriate for their circumstances.
ASIC has identified eight "red flag" situations which, together or in part, would make it extremely unlikely for an investor to gain any advantage from using SMSFs to create and safeguard their intended retirement lifestyle.
Australian Tax Office figures reveal that as at 30 June 2019, there were 599,678 SMSFs in Australia holding nearly $748 billion in assets, making total assets held in SMSFs larger than those in either industry ($719 billion) or retail ($626 billion) funds.
ASIC Commissioner Danielle Press said, "ASIC believes that consumers are all too well aware of the potential benefits that might stem from using a SMSF, but are not equally alive to the considerable risks and responsibilities that come with the deal.
"SMSFs may be an attractive option for investors wanting more control over their superannuation investment strategy, but it requires real skill, care and diligence to manage your own superannuation. SMSFs are not for everyone simply because not everyone can meet the significant time, costs, risks and obligations associated with establishing and running one."
ASIC previously tracked and analysed member experiences in using an SMSF, and whether advice providers were complying with the law when providing personal advice about setting up an SMSF (refer Background). The research identified the "red flag" indicators that suggested when an SMSF may not be appropriate for an investor.
"Our research found that SMSFs are not suitable for members with a low fund balance, particularly where they have limited ability to make future contributions. This is important because consumers starting off with a low balance need to be aware that they may not be in a better financial position in the future by holding an SMSF compared with investing in an APRA-regulated fund," Ms Press said.
ASIC"s research also found that SMSFs are not an appropriate investment option for people who want a simple superannuation solution, particularly if they have a low level of financial literacy or limited time to manage their own financial affairs. On average, SMSF trustees spend more than 100 hours a year managing their SMSF.
"Where people have limited investment decision-making experience or prefer to delegate decision-making to someone else, they should carefully consider if an SMSF is right for them. As the trustees of their own fund, SMSF investors must remember that they are responsible for their fund"s compliance with the law, even if they pay a professional to help," Ms Press said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

ASIC identify the 8 red flags of SMSF's

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The ATO are set to seize the personal finance data of more than 200,000 Airbnb homeowners in an attempt to crackdown on tax avoidance.
"Airbnb is currently under legal notice by the Australian Taxation Office to share information concerning your hosting activity from the period from 1 January to 30 June 2019," an email sent out to Australian members of Airbnb.
The move comes after the ATO suggested they believe there are a number of people not reporting their income. 
“We believe some people using sharing-economy platforms are failing to report their income, ­either on purpose or because they assume their level of activity constitutes a hobby and doesn’t require reporting,” the ATO advised.
“We also seek to identify taxpayers who use sharing-economy rental platforms as a way to disguise their property as being genuinely available for rent by listing the property but not responding to enquiries.”
Names, addresses and emails are all expected to be given to the ATO, as well as personal finance such as online banking, payments, booking dates and gross income.
The information gathered will start from the financial years 2016-17 and run to the current financial year.
Airbnb have recently announced the <a href="/news/airbnb-short-term-rental-rules-in-new-south-wales-get-closer">new draft rules for their hosts and guests</a> which includes an online list of banned members, as well as a three strikes and you're banned policy.
 
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Airbnb to hand over letting details to ATO

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A Victorian era family home in Mont Albert, Victoria has sold for $2,356,500.
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-mont+albert-132092154" target="_blank">99 Victoria Crescent </a>in 735 sqm of landscaped gardens achieved well above its $1.9 million and $2.09 million guide.
It comprises four bedrooms, formal sitting room, family living/dining zone, stone kitchen, and sun-drenched alfresco.
<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/2019/10/9/mont%20albert%202.jpg" alt="">
Other features include self-cleaning pool, high ceiling, gas fireplace, remote-control gate and off-street parking. 
<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/2019/10/9/mont%20albert%203.jpg" alt="">
The home is located within close proximity to schools, retail-restaurant precincts, trams and train stations, parklands and EastLink freeway.
Walter Dodich and Steven Rod of Kay &amp; Burton Hawthorn secured the sale. 
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Mont Albert Victorian-era home surrounded by landscaped gardens sold 

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An 1897 Victorian residence in Prahran, Victoria has hit the market with a price guide between $3.1 million to $3.3 million.
It has been listed via expressions of interest by Tim Brown from Castran Gilbert South Yarra and Andrew Smith from Kay &amp; Burton. 
Perched high on its original bluestone foundations, the double storey home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-prahran-132058986" target="_blank">29 Woodfull Street </a>comes with two levels.
The ground level comprises a central hallway leading to formal dining room, separate family zone opening to garden, Miele kitchen, study, and wine cellar.
<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/2019/10/9/prahran%202.jpg" alt="">
The upstairs features master bedroom with ensuite, two further bedrooms and central family bathroom.
Other highlights include designer Articolo lights, open fireplaces, established landscaped gardens and off-street parking.
<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/2019/10/9/prahran%203.jpg" alt="">
The home is located just moments from Orrong Park. 
The expressions of interest campaign for the property closes October 29.
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Prahran 1897 trophy home hits the market 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia has one of the most sophisticated water markets in the world, particularly notable for the ways in which government can return water to the environment.
Water markets allow the return of this water through two main mechanisms. The first is buybacks, in which the government purchases water licences directly from willing irrigators via an open tender process.
The second involves subsidising irrigation infrastructure on (and off) farms to improve water efficiency, with a percentage of the assumed water savings being transferred to a licence held by the government.
However, open tender buybacks essentially <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/murray-darling-basin-deal-caps-water-buybacks" target="_blank">stopped in 2014</a> in favour of infrastructure projects. This was due to the widespread belief that buybacks were inflating the price of water and causing economic hardship in rural communities.
Our research, published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928765518304585" target="_blank">Resource and Energy Economics</a>, set out to test this assumption of the impact of water recovery on water markets. We found that water scarcity (due to seasonal change or water allocation reductions) had far more influence on water prices than government water recovery. In fact, voluntary, open tender buybacks are the most cost-effective and low-risk option for increasing river flow.
By ignoring this option, we are hamstringing Australia’s ability to flexibly cope with drought conditions and long-term climate change.
Lessons from 20 years of data
My colleagues and I wanted to understand the impact of government water recovery on the Murray-Darling Basin’s water markets. To do so, we needed to understand the dynamics and drivers of the markets both before and after buybacks began.
We looked at monthly prices over twenty years in the Goulburn catchment in Victoria (<a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/managing-water/water-markets-trade/interstate-water-trade" target="_blank">1A Greater Goulburn</a>) - both for permanent water markets (where a water licence is permanently transferred) and temporary ones (a seasonal transfer of water).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/295324/original/file-20191002-49365-xmv3hp.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/295324/original/file-20191002-49365-xmv3hp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The drivers of water market prices in temporary and permanent water markets are different, but market dynamics are similar: market volatility shocks go from prices to volumes.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/295325/original/file-20191002-49404-n8hk9p.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/295325/original/file-20191002-49404-n8hk9p.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Temporary water trade is driven by water scarcity, caused by factors such as seasonal fluctuation in water allocated to licences and the weather. Conversely, permanent water trade is influenced by a combination of past prices and temporary water prices.
What about government intervention?
We found no evidence that government water recovery influenced water prices in either market in a statistically significantly way.
However, we did find that increases in the amount of water recovered by the government reduced the volume of temporary water traded. This is probably due to the fact that many irrigators who sold water to the government had been <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1759-3441.12038" target="_blank">selling surplus temporary water</a>, and this volume was then taken out of the market.
We also found that government water recovery increased the volatility of temporary market prices and volumes, signalling potential increased risk and uncertainty for irrigators engaging in temporary water markets.
These results are significantly different to previous estimates by consultants, some of which suggest government buybacks cause <a href="http://rmcg.com.au/app/uploads/2017/01/Basin-Plan-Impact-GMID_Final_14-October-2016.pdf" target="_blank">temporary water market prices to double</a>.
Our findings contradict this. Our results are in line with and reinforce other peer-reviewed economic literature, which has shown buyback of water entitlements had <a href="https://mdbrcsa.govcms.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3846/f/mdbrc-submission-professor-sarah-wheeler-sa.pdf?v=1527826747" target="_blank">far less impact on rural communities than commonly claimed</a>.
This is partly because government buybacks simply do not create large enough changes in the amount of seasonal water available to affect prices, given that variability. A 1% increase in water buybacks caused a 0.1% drop in temporary water volume traded. In addition, farmers are very good at adapting to changes in water, and have a number of strategies and options available to them in most years.
Unfortunately, commonly held perceptions about the impacts of buyback on rural communities and water markets has had serious policy ramifications.
Irrigation schemes are not enough
As noted earlier, buybacks are now off the table. Funding for water recovery is now directed exclusively to infrastructure projects, which are deficient in a number of key respects.
Since water buybacks started in 2008, A$2.5 billion has been spent to recover 1,227 gigalitres of water licences. At the same time, A$3.9 billion has been spent so far on things like lining channels and building dams, which has saved <a href="http://www.agriculture.gov.au/water/mdb/progress-recovery/progress-of-water-recovery" target="_blank">695 gigalitres</a>.
Water recovery by infrastructure schemes now cost at <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-resource-100517-023039" target="_blank">least three times</a> as much as buybacks per megalitre recovered. These infrastructure projects <a href="https://theconversation.com/paddling-blind-why-we-urgently-need-a-water-audit-122118">may not</a> return as much water to the environment as assumed, while they also also create the risk of <a href="https://wentworthgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Requirements-for-SDL-adjustment.pdf" target="_blank">environmental harm</a>.
Irrigation infrastructure <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/I7090EN/i7090en.pdf" target="_blank">subsidies</a> can also expand total irrigation areas and increase water use, and encourage a conversion from seasonal crops to permanent plantings such as orchard trees. These permanent crops demand a fixed amount of water every year, making farms less adaptable in the face of drought and climate change.
How did policy get this wrong?
The results of our water market study show that there are key differences between high quality, peer-reviewed economic science on the one hand, and short-term consultancies and people’s perceptions on the other.
High quality economic science takes time, expertise and requires reputable, consistent and long-term datasets that control for the myriad of influences on economic change. Short-term consultancies and inquiries (such as the Northern Basin Review) are often rushed, not representative and are often not based on reliable datasets.
Inquiries also often amplify the voices of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026483771630401X" target="_blank">lobby groups and the people who are most aggrieved</a> by water recovery, while other voices – floodplain irrigators, indigenous representatives, irrigators who want water reallocated to the environment – may be <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/the-thirsty-giants-killing-our-rivers-20190411-p51d4j" target="_blank">silenced</a>.
There are currently two inquiries looking at <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/focus-areas/inquiries/inquiry-into-murray-darling-basin-water-markets" target="_blank">water markets</a> and <a href="https://www.basin-socio-economic.com.au/" target="_blank">socio-economic conditions in the basin</a>. It is vitally important they capture all voices equally and are supplemented by independent, high quality analysis.
If we can’t understand the real drivers of change in the Basin, we can’t identify the best options for improving the social and economic health of its communities – particularly in the face of drought and climate change.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/124491/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;">
Sarah Ann Wheeler, Professor in Water Economics, University of Adelaide.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/scarcity-drives-water-prices-not-government-water-recovery-new-research-124491" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Scarcity drives water prices, not government water recovery: Sarah Ann Wheeler

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GUEST OBSERVATION
A Hong Kong student holding a sign detailing the protesters’ demands from the government.
There have been many explanations for the turmoil in Hong Kong, which is now heading toward its 16th weekend. However, the powerful links between the economic and political elites in the city and the grossly inadequate system of governance they preside over are too often ignored.
In explaining the source of Hong Kong’s unrest, many leaders have predictably blamed the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3017180/former-hong-kong-leader-tung-chee-hwa-blames-liberal" target="_blank">teaching of liberal studies in schools</a>. The notion that students should gain a critical understanding of politics and society – not to mention actively participate in these – is simply too much for those who believe they must make the big decisions.
On the other side, the ire of many protesters is overwhelmingly directed toward China and the Hong Kong government, particularly Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Lam’s actions – first disappearing and then reappearing with equal measures of bureaucratic steeliness and obstinacy – have only made matters worse, as have the actions of a police force once revered by many as “Asia’s finest” and the posturing of Chinese forces.
Indeed, the sum total of these efforts has been a <a href="https://theconversation.com/hong-kong-protesters-dont-identify-as-chinese-amid-anger-at-inequality-survey-suggests-122293" target="_blank">hardening localist identity</a> that has become more apparent among the protesters as the unrest has continued.
Moreover, mutual animosity has grown to such an extent that backing down by either side would seem unlikely. Indeed, for the last few weeks it has been much easier to imagine escalation than the opposite.
Decline without hope
However, the most likely explanation for the unrest lies not in the education curriculum or Beijing’s influence over the city, but rather the nature of Hong Kong government and society itself.
Despite the way the Hong Kong government markets itself to the world – emphasising the rule of law and promoting the city’s high-quality business environment – the city has actually been in decay for decades.
Firstly, Hong Kong has been subject to the “hollowing out” processes that have plagued many former industrial economies – a situation in which industry leaves and nothing replaces it.
Importantly, this has been coupled with an inability of those at the top end of town to recognise the vast inequalities this has contributed towards. According to government statistics, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2097715/what-hope-poorest-hong-kong-wealth-gap-hits-record-high" target="_blank">Hong Kong’s wealth gap hit a historic high</a> in 2017, with the wealthiest households earning 44 times the poorest.
For many here, life is experienced in the form of <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Social-mobility-the-key-to-addressing-Hong-Kong-discontent" target="_blank">stalling or declining social mobility</a>, sky-high housing prices (<a href="https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2182980/nothing-be-proud-hong-kong-tops-table-worlds-most-expensive-housing-market" target="_blank">the most expensive in the world</a>), dire air quality, crumbling infrastructure (the subway system and airport being the only exceptions), highly uneven <a href="https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/12/15/lets-criticise-the-inequality-at-the-core-of-our-education-system-not-just-the-symptoms/" target="_blank">education</a> and <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335269901_Poverty_affects_access_to_regular_source_of_primary_care_among_the_general_population_in_Hong_Kong" target="_blank">health services</a> (<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/02/health/hong-kong-world-longest-life-expectancy-longevity-intl/index" target="_blank">despite the trumpeted statistics</a>), and lack of decent public spaces.
Long delays to move into public housing are the norm. “<a href="https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/06/17/video-hong-kongs-box-like-nano-flats-tight-squeeze-young-professionals/" target="_blank">Nano apartments</a>” smaller than a parking bay are the only housing option for many, with many flats in the city housing multiple generations of families.
Young Hong Kongers who have been raised on the city’s golden age stories of tycoons like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-li-ka-shing-became-the-richest-man-in-hong-kong-2015-6" target="_blank">Li Ka Shing</a> (known here affectionately as “Superman”) also face depressing futures in low-paying service jobs.
Moreover, higher education hasn’t helped young people secure higher-paying jobs. One <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2178402/hong-kong-university-graduates-take-home-less-pay" target="_blank">recent survey found</a> that average graduate salaries are significantly lower than they were in 1987.
While market fundamentalists like Milton Friedman <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqh0zXSd4vc" target="_blank">famously heralded</a> the entrepreneurialism of Hong Kong. In reality, it’s laissez-faire for the top end of town, and colonial-era bureaucracy for the rest. Young people contemplating opening a business face oligopolies, rapacious landlords eager to gain from the first signs of success and, in some sectors, rigid government regulations.
Making matters worse, anything vaguely progressive in a redistributive sense is often dismissed by anti-government protesters as too narrowly focused on economic factors at the expense of democratic reforms.
Much like the United States, which has become a positive reference point for many protesters, a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps individualism prevails in Hong Kong.
Frustratingly, rather than taking aim at the tycoons and conglomerates that dominate the economy, or the property developers and landlords who control the housing market, the main target of the protesters has been the government.
And the protesters don’t condemn the government for protecting the elite’s economic interests to the exclusion of many Hong Kongers, but rather for implementing the will of Beijing.
Why protesters aren’t focusing on economic elites
Indeed, even after some of the richest people in the territory voiced support for the government in <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3026960/casino-queen-pansy-ho-makes-pro-beijing-case-hong-kong" target="_blank">recent weeks</a>, very few in the protesting camp have turned their anger towards the city’s economic elites.
This fact speaks to the power of the founding myths of modern Hong Kong and how the city’s rich made good. There’s a certain reverence for the city’s tycoons that persists here, along with a lack of class consciousness and an ingrained ideological hostility towards anything vaguely left-leaning politically.
Moreover, while universal suffrage is a key part of the demands made by protesters, this overwhelmingly relates to the selection of the chief executive, not the structure of the government itself.
For instance, under an anachronistic colonial arrangement known as the “<a href="https://thediplomat.com/2016/09/what-exactly-is-hong-kongs-legislative-council/" target="_blank">functional constituencies</a>”, a host of economic sectors (such as the financial services, real estate and tourism) gain political representation in the Legislative Council at the expense of citizens.
Crucially, too, little effort has been made to explain why universal suffrage would be so important in Hong Kong beyond thwarting China’s influence. This has limited the formation of lasting coalitions within the protest movement that could rally around the idea of using increased political power to resolve pressing social issues.
Combined with some protesters flying American, British and colonial flags and waving pictures of US President Donald Trump on top of a tank, the movement often appears to be erring closer towards being just another form of reactionary populism.
Rebuilding hope and the city
The fact that young people are grappling with forging a more positive future is to be admired. However, for Hong Kong to have any reasonable future, the city requires nothing short of large-scale economic and political transformation.
Universal suffrage is one part of this, but in isolation it is insufficient. The question for Hong Kong is whether the protesters and other members of society recognise what needs to be done in a holistic sense and can pull together to make it possible.
In a city characterised by vast inequalities in economic and political power, this challenge is nothing short of revolutionary in the genuine sense of the word.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123866/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;">
Toby Carroll, Associate Professor, City University of Hong Kong.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/hong-kong-is-one-of-the-most-unequal-cities-in-the-world-so-why-arent-the-protesters-angry-at-the-rich-and-powerful-123866" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why aren’t the Hong Kong protesters angry at the rich and powerful? Toby Carroll

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The number of homeless defence veterans in Australia is far bigger than previously thought, according to a new study.
Our <a href="https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/research-and-development/homelessness-amongst-australian-veterans-summary" target="_blank">research</a> puts the figure at almost 5,800 veterans experiencing homelessness in a 12 month period.
Veterans are also more likely to be homeless than other people in the Australian community.
We found the homelessness rate for veterans who recently left the ADF was 5.3% – significantly higher than the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4159.0Explanatory%20Notes12014?OpenDocument" target="_blank">1.9% for the general population</a>.
A lack of data
Before the release of this estimate, an accurate number of homeless veterans in Australia was not known, and estimates varied widely. That is because there is limited national data available to count homeless veterans.
Prevalence rates are typically calculated by dividing the number of people with a specific characteristic (such as not having a secure home) by the total number of people in the population of interest (such as veterans).
This method is not possible in Australia as there is no data set that defines the veteran population. We do not even know how many veterans there are in Australia, because reliable data of serving personnel is only available from 2001.
One previous attempt at determining prevalence of homelessness among veterans was the Veterans at Risk report in 2009, funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). This relied on census data (which does not identify veterans) and produced an estimate of around 3,000 homeless veterans.
Another <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/ADF_Mental_Health/Report">attempt</a> was made by DVA in 2016. No information was provided on how it estimated there to be around 200-300 homeless veterans throughout Australia.
This knowledge gap was a concern for government policymakers as well as veteran advocates who have been calling for further research and an increased service response for years.
Without a baseline count, they are unable to determine whether veteran homelessness is increasing, plan an appropriate service and policy response, or assess the effectiveness of any interventions.
It is therefore vital to establish a more robust estimate.
How we came up with our estimate
Our estimate is obtained from survey data representative of all veterans who left regular Australian Defence Force (ADF) service between 2010 and 2014.
The survey was done as part of the DVA and Defence Department-funded <a href="https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/research-and-development/social-research/transition-and-wellbeing-research" target="_blank">Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme</a>. This is the most comprehensive study in Australia that examines the impact of military service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving personnel.
The survey was completed by 4,326 men and women who left the ADF in the five-year time period. The results were weighted to represent the entire population of Australian Defence Force personnel that left between 2010 and 2014.
We used the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ definition of homelessness. This classifies as homeless anyone who is sleeping rough, couch-surfing, or living in emergency or temporary accommodation such as shelters.
We <a href="https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/health%20and%20wellbeing/research_dev/socialresearch/homelessness-aus-vet-its-correlates-adf.pdf">found</a> around 5.3% of these veterans reported they had been homeless within the past 12 months.
To calculate the prevalence of homelessness we extrapolated this proportion to the total population of veterans who enlisted after January 1, 2001, and were discharged sometime between 2001 and 2018.
The veteran population total is 108,825, so taking 5.3% of this figure gives us an estimate of 5,767 of veterans who were homeless within a 12-month period.
This extrapolation reasonably assumes the homelessness rate is similar between veterans who transitioned from Regular ADF service between 2010 and 2014 and the total population of veterans (2001-18).
Both groups fall within the cohort described as contemporary veterans by the DVA. These veterans have seen military operations from 1999 onward and often share features of recent service, such as the impact of multiple deployments in smaller contingents and the use of new technologies.
While the 12-month homelessness rate for veterans (5.3%) and the general Australian population aged over 15 (1.9%) were calculated using different techniques, the comparison shows veterans are overrepresented in the Australian homeless population.
The best estimate, so far
We believe our method provides the best estimate to date of homelessness among veterans in Australia, but it is still likely to be an underest.
Homeless veterans are an extremely hard group to reach. It is likely that many potential survey participants who were homeless at the time the survey was conducted, did not complete the survey.
Our estimate also excludes all those who served in the ADF prior to January 1, 2001. Older veterans such as those who served in Vietnam do experience homelessness in Australia, but the prevalence among this group is unknown.
As part of our research, eight of the 29 homeless veterans we interviewed were aged over 55, with the oldest being 74. US <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15457118" title="Perceived relationship between military service and homelessness among homeless veterans with mental illness">research</a> says there is often a long time lag between transition from military service and becoming homeless.
Lest we forget
Our research puts a new number on the problem. We still do not know whether veteran homelessness is increasing over time, but the broader context of <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/2049.0Media%20Release12016">homelessness increasing throughout Australia</a> suggests this may be the case.
As <a href="https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/remembrance-day">Remembrance Day</a> approaches, and Australians prepare to thank our military men and women for their service, we suggest that attention should also turn to addressing this national shame.
Our research also identifies ways that service responses can be improved. It will require a great deal of will and significant funding to address what has until now been an underestimated problem.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123695/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;">
Fiona Hilferty, Senior Research Fellow, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW. 
Ellie Lawrence-Wood, Senior Research Fellow in Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Adelaide. 
Ilan Katz, Professor of Social Policy, UNSW.
Miranda Van Hooff, Director of Research Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Adelaide.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/5-800-defence-veterans-homeless-in-australia-thats-more-than-we-thought-123695" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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5,800 defence veterans homeless in Australia, that’s more than we thought

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
If family members are in a nursing home, it’s difficult to know if they’re getting the care they need. Here are some ways to find out.
If you’ve read the headlines about poor standards in Australia’s nursing homes, it’s only natural to be concerned about your own family or friends in residential aged care.
For instance, there was <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-12/bupas-aged-care-homes-failing-standards-across-australia/11501050" target="_blank">news in recent weeks</a> that 45 of 72 Bupa nursing homes in Australia had failed to meet all health and safety standards, with 22 putting residents at “serious risk”.
Then there are the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-22/first-fortnight-of-hearings-for-royal-commission-wrap-up/10837116" target="_blank">harrowing stories of neglect and abuse</a> coming from the <a href="https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/" target="_blank">Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety</a>, which is due to release an interim report by the end of October.
So, how do you check if your loved one’s nursing home is really up to scratch? How do you interpret audit reports about residents’ health and safety? And how else could you find out if your mum or dad’s nursing home lives up to the promise of its marketing brochures?
Who keeps an eye on nursing home standards?
Every nursing home in Australia receiving government funding is assessed and accredited by the <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au" target="_blank">Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission</a>. Assessments are conducted every three years or more often if there are concerns.
Commission staff check if each nursing home meets eight <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/Aged%20Care%20Quality%20Standards.pdf" target="_blank">minimum standards</a>. These include whether residents are treated with respect, the nursing home is providing safe and effective clinical care, and staff have adequate qualifications and training to do their jobs.
Commission auditors interview residents, families and staff; observe care; and review the facility’s documentation. Visits can be unannounced to get a better picture of what regular care is like. Auditors then use that information to write a site audit.
It takes about a month after a site audit for the commission to decide on the quality of care. Then there’s up to another month for the audit report to be posted online.
Posting the decision publicly can be delayed further if a nursing home asks for the decision to be reconsidered. We understand this often happens if a home receives a poor report.
What is a bad report?
When a home is judged as not meeting standards, the commission will decide how serious it believes these deficiencies are. In increasing order of seriousness, the report says if a home is:
1. Not meeting standards. Nursing homes can be judged as not meeting one or more of the eight minimum aged care standards. Each standard has three to seven individual requirements. Nursing homes don’t have to meet all the individual requirements to meet the overall standard. The more standards or requirements a nursing home fails to meet, the poorer the care.
2. Serious risk. If a nursing home is given a “serious risk” judgement, the quality of care has placed or may place the safety, health or well-being of a resident at serious risk. An example might be a home not having enough skilled staff, leading to clinical mistakes, such as the wrong medication administered often.
3. Sanctions. Sanctions are imposed on homes when care places an immediate and severe risk to residents’ health, safety or well-being. This might be for multiple organisational problems (such as with clinical care, staffing, wounds not being cared for), leading to multiple poor outcomes (such as assault, avoidable illness, and the dangerous administration of medication). Homes can also be sanctioned if they do not fix continued non-compliance.
Families are notified in writing, and facilities must hold a meeting for residents and families to tell everyone what the problems are and how they will fix them by a certain date.
When a nursing home is sanctioned, it is penalised in several ways, depending on what was poor about the care:
the home is not allowed to receive Commonwealth subsidies for any new resident for a set time (usually six months) and an adviser and/or administrator is appointed to the home to help it comply with its responsibilities and/or the home provides specified training to staff within a set time.
A home’s history of non-compliance, serious risk decisions and sanctions are archived online (see below for details). So it might be worth taking a look when choosing a nursing home, as well as checking on an existing one.
4. Revoking accreditation status. If sanctions are imposed and there is no improvement, the commission can revoke a home’s accreditation status. This means a home cannot take new residents or receive government subsidies. Some of these homes reapply for accreditation, others <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-11/gold-coast-earle-haven-retirement-village-shuts-homeless/11301050" target="_blank">shut down</a>.
How do I find out? Looking online
The most up-to-date information on nursing homes not meeting standards (non-compliance) and sanctions is through <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/non-compliance-checker" target="_blank">myagedcare’s non-compliance checker</a>. This allows you to see if an individual home has not met standards, is sanctioned currently or has been in the past. Some archived sanctions on the website go back to 2002.
However, the myagedcare website doesn’t list “serious risk” reports. For those, you have to go to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s <a href="https://agedcarequality.govcms.gov.au/monthly-register-serious-risk-decisions-residential-services" target="_blank">website</a>.
You can also search the commission’s <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/reports" target="_blank">website</a> for audit and consumer experience reports, which provide more detail on the quality of care.
Audit reports can be difficult to understand because their intended audience is aged care professionals, not the general public. Reports before July 2019 are on the 44 old aged care standards. Reports from July 2019 are on the new eight standards.
<a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumers/consumer-experience-reports-residential-aged-care-services" target="_blank">Consumer experience reports</a> show what residents said about their care. That’s from whether staff followed-up when they raised an issue, to what they thought about the food. These reports are easier to follow.
How do I find out? Other ways
It can be hard for family to know if their expectations for care are reasonable, particularly when feelings of sadness and guilt colour those expectations.
So, it can help to consider the aged care standards when making your own decisions about whether the quality of care is good enough.
You can do this by observing what happens day to day. Do residents wait too long for attention, for instance, to be taken to the toilet? Do staff speak respectfully and kindly to residents? Are meals appetising and healthy? What happens when residents are distressed? Is there high staff turnover?
Does the nurse on duty know the detail of your loved one’s clinical needs, for instance, diet, illnesses or medications? Is the manager responsive when you raise issues?
You can also talk to other families about their experiences of care.
What should I do next?
If you find that your loved one’s home doesn’t meet standards or is sanctioned, here’s what to expect.
The commission gives the home a set period of time (usually three or six months) to improve care. Commission staff keep visiting the home until they are confident the home is meeting standards.
You will probably want to visit regularly and keep an even more careful eye on your mum or dad’s care. Speak to the home or commission about any concerns.
You can ask your home’s management:
<ul>
<li>
about its plan to improve care
</li>
<li>
about staff changes and staff ratios — staff often leave or are asked to leave when there are sanctions and lots of new and agency staff are a challenge to providing quality care
</li>
<li>
for regular written updates and meetings including actions taken and the outcomes. This could be data on the home’s use of antipsychotic medications, and how often residents have falls, critical incidents or pressure ulcers.
</li>
</ul>
As a resident or nominated family member, you have <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights#single%20charter%20of%20aged%20care%20rights" target="_blank">a right to information and to complain</a> about your loved one’s aged care.
When should I consider switching to another home?
The issue of whether to move a loved one to a new nursing home is a difficult one. It’s a personal decision involving weighing up the negative impacts you think the care is having with your own energy levels, <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/aged-care-home-accommodation-refunds">funds</a> and whether <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/life/questions-to-ask-when-choosing-an-aged-care-home-for-a-loved-one/10302590">you can find</a> a suitable new home.
Government reforms presume market forces <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/how-market-forces-have-failed-the-nation-20180918-p504f1" target="_blank">will drive up the quality</a> of aged care. In the meantime, we hope the resources in this article will help you make a more informed decision about your loved one’s care.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123449/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;">
Lee-Fay Low, Associate Professor in Ageing and Health, University of Sydney.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-check-if-your-mum-or-dads-nursing-home-is-up-to-scratch-123449" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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How to check if your mum or dad’s nursing home is up to scratch: Lee-Fay Low

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Sydney rents have recorded their biggest annual fall in more than a decade amid the final throws of the city’s record construction boom.
But cheaper rent may not last much longer, according to the latest quarterly Domain Rental Report.
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<div id="adspot-1x1_300x250-pos-2" class="ad">The Sydney weekly median unit rent declined 4.6 per cent over the year to $520.</div>
<div class="ad"> </div>
<div class="ad">Renters were $25 a week better off as rents returned to 2016 prices.</div>
Domain research analyst Eliza Owen noted Sydney’s vacancy rate had tightened to 2.9 per cent, suggesting that more rental properties are finally being leased.
Ms Owen said it could signal an end to falling rents because construction had slowed significantly in Sydney.
“Rental prices could be bottoming out in the September quarter,” Ms Owen said.
“The market will probably start to turn just because we’ve got steady population growth against a decline in construction.”
Meanwhile Melbourne’s unit rents are $10 a week higher than this time last year, at a median $420 a week.
<div class="in-content-ad">
<div id="adspot-1x1_300x250-pos-2" class="ad">Its apartments have become so popular that it now costs almost as much to rent one as a house, the Domain report</div>
<div class="ad">said.</div>
<div class="ad"> </div>
<div class="ad">The median Melbourne house rent was $430 a week, which was unchanged over the past year. </div>
Domain noted over the past two years Melbourne house rents have only increased by 2.4 per cent or $10.
The rental vacancy rate was also rising, from 1.4 per cent to 1.8 per cent over the past 12 months.
Canberra’s median weekly asking rent for houses has stabilised at $550 per week, Domain’s latest rental report showed.
The units median stayed at $470 per week, but year-on-year up 4.4 per cent – or $20. 
<div class="in-content-ad">
<div id="adspot-1x1_300x250-pos-2" class="ad">Canberra house rents remain the most expensive of the capital cities with the gap between Sydney and Canberra’s median widening.</div>
<div class="ad"> </div>
<div class="ad">Brisbane asking rents for units rose 1.3 per cent to a median $380 a week over the past year.</div>
<div class="ad">
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<div id="adspot-1x1-pos-5" class="ad" data-google-query-id="CIbP9eqUkOUCFVeEcAod51ICjw">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/qld_3__container__"><iframe title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/qld_3" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="1" height="1" data-google-container-id="7" data-load-complete="true" data-integralas-id-1a0460e8-a5ba-2d49-7701-ce19371e0f7b=""></iframe></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="in-content-ad">
<div class="ad"> </div>
<div id="adspot-1x1_300x250-pos-2" class="ad">Brisbane house rents also rose 1.3 per cent to a median $405 over the same time period.</div>
The combined vacancy rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 2.2 per cent during the September quarter.
Median asking rents for Perth houses grew 5.7 per cent in the year to September to $370 per week, which was its strongest annual growth rate since 2013.
<div class="in-content-ad">
Perth units also experienced a rise in rents year-on-year, at 3.3 per cent to a median of $310.
</div>
</div>
</div>
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Landlords face difficulties in securing rent rises from tenants 

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Walker Corporation, one of Australia’s largest property developers, has partnered with two wellness operators, Wellineux and Universal Fitness at its Collins Square and Parramatta Square precincts.  
Walker Corporation will soon welcome Wellineux to its Collins Square complex in Melbourne, with plans to launch Wellineux’s new wellness studio, Mellobarre, inside the precinct next month.   
Mellobarre has been designed to provide a range of wellness programs and initiatives, including, pilates, remedial massage, hot yoga, and workshops.
About 30,000 workers and visitors come to Collins Square every day.     
At Walker Corporation’s 4 Parramatta Square development under construction in Sydney, Universal Fitness recently signed a 10 year lease.  
David Gallant, Chief Operating Officer at Walker Corporation, said: “Walker is committed to delivering a range of health and wellbeing solutions to the workforce of corporate organisations in both our Melbourne and Parramatta precincts.  
“We have listened to our tenants who are keen to see an improvement in the health and wellness standards of their staff, improving their quality of life and productivity.”
The Parramatta Square facility is expected to open in November 2019.
It will provide the latest technology and equipment, personal training, and a variety of group classes, such as zumba, pilates and yoga.  
The facility will also offer the expected 23,500 people who will be moving into Parramatta Square an experience energiser and sleeping pods, oxygen chairs, meditation rooms, along with everyday convenience services, such as laundry and health food.    
“The future of the commercial environment goes beyond sustainable development to deliver an all-encompassing holistic approach to workplace health and wellness for tenants,” Gallant said.
“This will be teamed with complementary retail and entertainment options to deliver a satisfying experience for our occupants.”
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Walker Corporation embraces wellness centres at Parramatta Square

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

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The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

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What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

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Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

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After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

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Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

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ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

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For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

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