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Despite some significant rainfall in parts of the state this month, NSW continues to experience prolonged and widespread drought conditions.
On the NSW Combined Drought Indicator (CDI), 98.6% of the state is still in one of three drought categories.
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Adam Marshall said that while the rainfall was welcome, farmers across the state were still doing it incredibly tough.
“This rain will help ease conditions in some areas and is timely for winter crop sowing, but it is far from enough to represent a break from the drought,” Marshall said.
“While the west, north-west and south of the state received between 25 to 100 millimeters of rain at the end of last week, we’re still seeing 98.6% of the state in drought, which is only a minor decrease from 99.5% figure as at the end of March.
“I’m heartened by that improvement but the reality is we still require significant follow- up rainfalls to ensure any improvements are sustained and our rural communities start to feel a reprieve from one of the worst droughts in living memory.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/5/9/Rainfall%20map%20Week%20ending%205.5.19.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge:
<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/2019/5/9/Rainfall%20map%20Week%20ending%205.5.19.jpg" alt="">
Source: NSW Government 
The latest CDI shows the Northern Tablelands, North West and Western Local Land Service regions remain the worst hit by ongoing dry conditions.
“Drought conditions are unrelenting and that’s why as Minister my number one priority right now is delivering a new drought funding package to provide our farming and rural communities with the support they need,” Marshall said.
“Over the coming weeks I’ll be getting out and about to chat to rural communities about what else the NSW Government can do to continue to provide much needed relief.”
To date the NSW Government’s Emergency Drought Relief Package has provided more than $1.5 billion in support and assistance measures to farmers and rural and regional communities.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Drought continues to bite in NSW despite welcomed widespread rain

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Some 2.8 million Australians regularly read at least one magazine in the Home &amp; Garden category, according to a new report.
Roy Morgan noted a clear majority of seven of the 11 magazines in the category increasing their readership over the last year.
The largest increase was for Belle which increased its readership by 21% to 117,000 while Gardening Australia is now read by 545,000 Australians after an impressive increase of 20%.
Other Home &amp; Garden titles which grew their readership include Home Beautiful which was up 11% to 340,000, Real Living up 19% to 103,000 and House &amp; Garden up 1.5% to 543,000.
By far the leading magazine in the category remains Better Homes and Gardens, maintaining its leadership with a readership of 1,513,000 (down 11.1%).
Last August, Better Homes and Gardens had a readership of 1,671,000 (down 3.6%).
In August 2017, it had a readership of 1,728,000, down 6.8% on the 1,854,000 in August 2016.
Overall the Business, Financial and Airline magazines readership experienced a small decrease of 1.4% over the last year to 1,560,000 (7.6% of the population).
Performing strongly was the recently sold, leading finance magazine title Money Magazine which increased readership by 18% to 149,000.
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Better Homes and Gardens readership slips to 1.5 million

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Professor Steve Keen is back predicting that Australian house prices will fall by 40%.
Asked by Peter Swizter how long before house prices fall 40%, Keen says five years.
After the GFC he was tipping a similar housing outcome.
He says that day is nearing, as house prices in Sydney are down 14.5% from their July 2017 high, which is their worst fall since the early 1980s recession.
Melbourne prices are down 10.9% from their November 2017 highs, which also is their worst fall in the period since 1980.
Keen, who now resides in Amsterdam after teaching at the University of Kingston in London until recently, maintains that house prices are bound to fall 40%.
He blames the Reserve Bank, claiming it’s the most “brain dead central bank on the planet", and says APRA and the Royal Commission's restrictive bank lending impact will be behind the fall.
Keen says it will be a nightmare for house prices on nationally given household debt compared to our total production of goods and services (or gross domestic product - GDP) is the second highest in the world, only behind Switzerland. 
Household debt compared to GDP is at 200% - the highest ever for Australia.
“The RBA and mainstream economists don’t understand the role of credit,” Keen said.
He compares us to the USA which, as a consequence of the GFC of 2008, where there was 39.8% fall in house prices.
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Professor Steve Keen says Australian house prices will fall 40% within five years

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The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has recovered wages for 99 underpaid Melbourne workers in a joint campaign with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
The FWO and ASIC targeted businesses that were run by first-time directors operating across a range of sectors, such as accommodation and food services, construction, and rental, hiring and real estate services. These businesses had not previously been audited by the FWO.   Fair Work Inspectors and ASIC analysts visited 48 small to medium-sized businesses in and around Melbourne’s CBD – including the suburbs of Balwyn, Carlton, North Melbourne and Port Melbourne.   Inspectors found that 26 businesses were fully compliant with their lawful obligations under the Fair Work Act. Of the remaining 22 businesses visited, six had pay slip and record-keeping contraventions, nine had monetary contraventions, and seven had both pay slip and record-keeping and monetary contraventions.   The largest underpayment occurred at a CBD noodle bar that short-changed 14 employees a total of $8,694, as a result of underpaying minimum hourly rates and penalty rates over a six-month period.   Inspectors issued two formal cautions.
There were also eight Infringement Notices totalling $7,020 in fines issued for pay slip and record-keeping breaches.
A Compliance Notice was issued for a restaurant, requiring the employer to back-pay $5,303 to 14 workers.   All businesses agreed to back-pay employees in-full after being educated by inspectors. In total, 99 employees were back-paid $39,362 by 14 businesses.   Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said ignorance is no excuse for underpaying employees.   “During our surprise visits of several Melbourne workplaces, we were alarmed to discover that many first-time company directors were not aware of their lawful obligations under Australia’s workplace relations laws,” Ms Parker said.   “If you are new to running a business, it is your responsibility to ensure you understand your workplace obligations before you hire any employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman has a range of free tools and resourcesavailable to help directors get the basics right as quickly as possible,” Ms Parker said.   All non-compliant businesses were put on notice that they may be re-audited in future.   ASIC analysts spoke with the first-time company directors about their responsibilities under the Corporations Act and provided a range of education resources.   The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Small Business Showcase makes it easier for small business owners to access resources on workplace laws.
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Fair Work Ombudsman finds underpaid Melbourne workers in construction, rental and real estate services

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The value of new lending commitments to households fell 3.7 per cent in March 2019, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures on new lending to households and businesses. The fall in lending to households in March follows a 2.2 per cent rise in February 2019.
<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/2019/5/13/Lending1.jpg" alt=""> ABS Chief Economist, Bruce Hockman said all components of new lending to households were weaker in March, "more than offsetting a bounce in lending activity seen in February.” “There were large falls in the value of lending for owner occupier dwellings in seasonally adjusted terms in both New South Wales (-5.7 per cent) and Queensland (-5.3 per cent) in March, after rises in both states the previous month" he said.
Nationally, lending for investment dwellings also contracted further in March, with the series down 25.9 per cent (seasonally adjusted) compared to March 2018. The level of new lending for investment dwellings is at its lowest level since March 2011. 
While nationally there was a fall in the number of loans to owner occupier first home buyers (-0.5 per cent) in March, in a similar pattern to recent months this fall was again much less than the drop in the number of loans to owner occupier non-first home buyers (-3.3 per cent). 
<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/2019/5/13/March-ABS.jpg" alt="">
After rises in January and February, lending to households for personal finance excluding refinancing fell 11.2 per cent in March, seasonally adjusted. In trend terms, the value of new lending commitments to businesses fell 2.0 per cent in March. The ABS noted all components of business lending remained subdued.
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NSW leads downturn in March new lending commitments to households

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A major Japanese company is reported to be considering a takeover of the $7.21 billion real estate and construction group Lendlease.
The Australian reported it was a takeover target, with shares rising in early trade this morning by almost nine percent to $13.97.
The shares fell back to $13.55 after the company responded at 11am with "Lend Lease notes speculation in today's The Australian regarding potential corporate activity."
"Lend Lease confirms it has not received any such approach."
According to the report, a major Japanese company, suspected to be Mitsui, was believed to be plotting an acquisition of the company.
The Japanese company is rumoured to be interested in acquiring the company and then breaking it up and offloading different parts to other suitors.
Last month Lend Lease was dubbed an "underperforming large cap property stock" by JP Morgan which flagged them as potential takeover targets.
Lendlease was hit hard on a profit warning late last year due to issues with its engineering business.
The property and construction group is currently trying to sell its engineering arm.
Lend Lease faces a shareholder class action lawsuit relating to its shock profit downgrade but JP Morgan doesn’t think this will be much of a deterrent to potential suitors.
Lendlease share price is trading lower than its 52-week high of $21.73.
 
 
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Japanese takeover looms for real estate group Lendlease

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Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull are selling one of their Hunter Valley properties, Scotts Creek.
It is <a href="https://www.meares.com.au/search-properties/details/Scotts-Creek" target="_blank">located in the foothills of the Liverpool Ranges</a> above the township of Murrurundi. The couple have asked rural agent Chris Meares at Meares &amp; Associates to conduct an online auction.
The 2000ha farm has had a strong history of running merino sheep and breeding quality beef cattle.
In recent years it has carried 500 to 600 breeding cows along with 1000 to 1500 merino ewes and wethers. It is well watered, with creeks, springs and surface dams, complementing the rainfall.
Over the past 27 years it has average 813mm, with three years, including 2018, where the rainfall has fallen under 600mm.
Meares expected the two-day auction to attract bids of between $6.5 million to $6.75 million.
The couple will retain their East Rossgole property, near Aberdeen, which Mr Turnbull inherited from his father, Bruce, in 1982. 
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Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull list one of their Hunter Valley properties, Scotts Creek

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The Knox family have sold their Avoca property, Scotsburn repotedly for more than $9.2 million to the Lai family, who are behind property giant Zone Q Investments, the Australian arm of China’s JiaHe JianAn Group.
It was less than two years that it has sold at $8.1 million bought by Josie Knox, wife of grazier Jim Knox.
It was listed though Michael Maloney of Richardson &amp; Wrench Bowral.
The deal required Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
<div>Monitored by a 16 camera CCTV security system, the 41-hectare property includes a five-bedroom homestead with porte cochere entry, billiard room, study, gymnasium, sauna, a 20-metre heated indoor pool and championship tennis court.</div>
<div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 41 hectares include six dams and improved pastures suitable for cattle or horses.</div>
</div>
Zone Q – headed by Wenzhong Lai and Zongxing Lai – has more than $650 million in real estate projects across the country and in New Zealand, including the $155 million residential project Aqualuna in Milsons Point.
The Knox's sold the New England property Tenterden Station for $17 milllion last year to the Miramar Trust and Riverslea Trust representing two Surat, Qld, faming families.  
Tenterden comprised 1501 hectares of highly developed arable grazing land, reflecting $11,326/ha ($4585/acre).
They retained Avoncliffe, Guyra.
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Chinese buyers set fresh Avoca record with Scotsburn purchase from Knox family

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Recent debates about prominent advertising in Melbourne and Sydney have highlighted public concerns about the commercialisation of public space. The sense that our cities have become increasingly vulnerable to commercial forces is premised on the assumption that advertising has no place in our cities.
However, historical images of our cities challenge this view. They reveal advertising and commercial signage to be an ever-present part of our cityscapes and urban life.
A recent controversy in Melbourne over a proposed billboard has echoes of 19th-century debates over billboards occupying prominent city sites. Projections of animated images onto the wall of 231 Swanston Street will turn it into one of the largest advertising billboards in the city. Described as a “<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/visual-clutter-mega-billboard-approved-for-swanston-street-20190327-p5185w" target="_blank">mega-sized 305 square metre display</a>”, its size is a key issue, but the controversy does not end there.
Melbourne City Council had at first rejected the sign, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/visual-clutter-mega-billboard-approved-for-swanston-street-20190327-p5185w" target="_blank">arguing</a>: "[…] digital billboards beaming high-rotation advertisements into the public realm are creating an unprecedented level of visual clutter that detracts from our city streets."
Lumen Billboards challenged the decision through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2019/308" target="_blank">VCAT upheld the appeal</a>, deeming that the sign’s size and illumination was appropriate for the site and that it had little impact on the area’s heritage.
Some see VCAT’s decision as yet another example of big business overriding public interests. <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/mega-billboard-on-swanston-street-will-add-nothing-and-only-take-away-20190403-p51aav" target="_blank">Writing in The Age</a>, Nicola Philp attacked the perceived commercialisation of public space. Readers’ comments echoed her sentiments. One reader lamented: "Melbourne is becoming an advertisers [sic] paradise with gaudy flashing signs everywhere. The beauty and elegance that Melbourne once had is slowly being eroded."
Another took aim at advertising, fuming: "I hate the idea of more intrusive advertising being forced down our throats."
Concerns about the commercialisation of public space were similarly expressed in response to the use of the Sydney Opera House as a billboard to promote the Everest horse race last October. The Opera House’s chief executive opposed the highly controversial decision by the New South Wales government. More than <a href="https://www.change.org/p/defend-our-opera-house-support-louise-herron-9a97d417-bb75-4737-b572-049aaf357ccf" target="_blank">310,000 people signed a change.org petition</a> against the decision.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-2OHyHCZJA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" width="440" height="260"></iframe>
The use of the Opera House to promote a horse race triggered public protests.
Such numbers did not deter the state government, which had several prominent figures supporting its decision. Among them was Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who described the iconic building as “<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-07/pm-says-sydney-opera-house-biggest-billboard-sydney-has/10348398">the biggest billboard Sydney has</a>”.
The PM’s crude description is, strictly speaking, correct. Despite its policy forbidding “logos, corporate identities or colours”, the Opera House sails have been regularly used for promotional purposes. Unofficially, it has also served as a canvas for various protest slogans. However, the Everest uproar was as much about commercial promotion as it was about the power of the city’s political elites.
Concern about commercialisation is an old one
Concerns about the commercialisation of city streets and landmarks are nothing new. In 1880, Brisbane’s Telegraph newspaper took aim at billboards “occupying two of the most prominent sites in the city”, labelling them “terrible eyesores”. Sydney’s lord mayor expressed similar sentiments in 1907 when he was <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112641786" target="_blank">reported as saying</a>: "It was an outrage in a civilised community that every square inching of land abutting on the public streets should be made hideous by posters."
Significantly, one of the first items printed in Australia was a playbill from 1796 promoting a theatrical performance. Like government orders, the playbill and other commercial notices were posted in prominent locations in city streets. Retailers added their mark to city streets by employing signwriters to adorn their premises and promote their wares.
The significance and impact of such commercial signage was formally recognised in 1830, when the governor of New South Wales <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2195232" target="_blank">decreed</a> that it was illegal to “keep up any Sign, Writing, Painting, or other Mark, on or near to his House or Premises” that falsely gave the impression a house was licensed.
As commerce duly grew, so too did the amount of advertising on city streets. By the early 20th century, commercial signs and advertisements were an entrenched and inescapable aspect of urban life. They permeated walls, hoardings and all parts of public transportation systems. Electricity and neon lighting extended outdoor advertising’s reach into the night-time hours.
In recent times, sports grounds have added another commercial layer by selling their naming rights. Melbourne’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docklands_Stadium#Naming_rights_history" target="_blank">Marvel Stadium has previously been known as Colonial Stadium, Telstra Dome and Etihad Stadium</a>. More confusingly, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Sport_and_Athletics_Centre" target="_blank">Brisbane</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium_Australia" target="_blank">Sydney</a> have both been home to ANZ Stadium (formerly known as QE II and Stadium Australia/Telstra Stadium respectively).
And then there are the signs we love
Our relationship with commercial signs is not static. Some signs have taken on a life of their own. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola_billboard" target="_blank">Coke sign in Sydney’s King’s Cross</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipping_Girl_Sign" target="_blank">Skipping Girl in Melbourne’s Abbottsford</a> have become a part of the respective cities’ cultural heritage.
The interest generated by the uncovering of a long-hidden <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-new-ghostly-attraction-in-wynyard--catch-it-before-it-is-spirited-away-20170917-gyizkj" target="_blank">“ghost sign” for Peapes menswear</a> near Wynyard Station in Sydney similarly reveals that commercial signs and advertising are less utilitarian than critics suggest.
Commercial advertising is a part of our city’s fabric and heritage. While the VCAT decision certainly raises legitimate concerns about processes and the values we apply to public space, the approval of the giant billboard is entirely consistent with our past.
Whether or not we like it is, of course, a different question.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/114972/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;">
Robert Crawford, Professor of Advertising, RMIT University
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/selling-out-the-city-to-advertising-nothing-new-to-see-here-114972" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Selling out the city to advertising? Nothing new to see here

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Over the past decade the profits of 160-odd regional and rural publications that make up the former Fairfax business division known as Australian Community Media (ACM) have <a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/07/26/regional-newspapers-risk-nine-takeover-fairfax/" target="_blank">fallen steeply</a>.
In 2012 the division made a A$169 million profit. In 2018 it was A$67.5 million.
Nine Entertainment Co acquired the division with its $3 billion takeover of Fairfax Media last year. It has been keen to get rid of it <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/nine-boss-flags-divestments-in-matter-of-months-20181209-p50l5b" target="_blank">ever since</a>.
There are grounds for some optimism about the long-anticipated <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-30/nine-sells-fairfax-community-newspapers-to-the-cat/11058066" target="_blank">sale</a>. It may signal better fortunes for regional publishing. But any optimism must be tempered by ongoing concerns about the viability of the local news business model.
What’s in the deal?
ACM’s new owner is a 50:50 partnership between real estate advertising mogul Antony Catalano and Thorney Investment Group. They are paying Nine A$125 million for the 160-odd mastheads and 130 associated websites. The deal involves Nine getting $10 million of advertising space, and content and printing sharing arrangements for a period of time.
Thorney Investment Group has established itself over the past 25 yeas as one of the most profitable investors in Australian property and resources. Its foray into local news may appear somewhat peripheral to its general investment profile, despite an ongoing investment in Domain, Fairfax’s real estate brand, which was listed as a separate entity on the <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asx/share-price-research/company/DHG/details" target="_blank">Australian Stock Exchange</a> in 2017.
Catalano, on the other hand, has a long and colourful history with Fairfax’s real estate classifieds business. He is expected to chair the new company.
A one-time property editor at The Age, he was made redundant in 2008 and went on to found, with the backing of major real estate brokers, the free property magazine The Weekly Review.
The magazine took off, winning business away from The Age’s real estate pages. In 2011 Fairfax bought half of Catalano’s Metro Media Publishing business <a href="/news/fairfax-pays-35-million-for-half-of-the-weekly-review">for A$35 million</a>. It bought the other half in 2015 (for <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/group/press_release/fairfax-acquires-100-interest-mmp/" target="_blank">A$72 million</a>). It then merged the business with Domain, putting Catalano at the helm.
He left his role with Domain in January last year, just two months <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/antony-catalano-buys-nines-regional-newspapers-576941" target="_blank">after its successful listing</a> on the Australian Stock Exchange. Reportedly his resignation came amid complaints of a <a href="https://www.afr.com/business/media-and-marketing/antony-catalano-the-fall-of-a-party-boy-20180207-h0v13z">party-boy culture</a> in the Domain workplace.
Catalano’s successful bid for Domain is a particular coup. He <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/former-domain-ceo-antony-catalano-makes-play-for-fairfax-media-552799" target="_blank">attempted to thwart Nine’s takeover bid</a> of Fairfax at the 11th hour by proposing to buy 19.9% of Fairfax shares.
Bidding against him and Thorney were private equity giants Anchorage Capital Partners and Allegro Funds. Seven West’s regional TV affiliate, Prime Media Group, and News Corp were also rumoured to have been interested.
Changing priorities
A few months ago Crikey labelled ACM’s impending sale a “<a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/02/28/nine-regional-papers-community/" target="_blank">blueprint for disaster</a>” regardless of who won the bid, describing closures and consolidation of some local papers as “almost certain”.
Catalano, on the other hand, has talked up the potential of the larger daily regional mastheads. These include The Canberra Times, The Newcastle Herald, The Border Mail (based in Albury), The Illawarra Mercury (in Wollongong), The Ballarat Courier, The Examiner (in Launceston), and the Bendigo Advertiser. Between them, these papers reach about half ACM’s total audience of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/how-will-antony-catalano-revive-regional-newspapers/11061236" target="_blank">up to eight million</a> people.
Catalano says he is looking to invest “<a href="https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6098933/new-owner-vows-to-beef-up-mercury-after-buying-regional-newspaper-group-from-nine/" target="_blank">aggressively</a>” in these areas.
Without offering much detail, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/how-will-antony-catalano-revive-regional-newspapers/11061236" target="_blank">he has intimated</a> there were ways to monetise ACM’s audience that didn’t happen under Fairfax, due to it having “bigger priorities in the face of very significant structural decline in the newspaper business”.
“Under us, it’s our only priority,” he said.
However, when pushed on whether there would be efficiencies, including redundancies and closures, he conceded there was likely to be some “consolidation” <a href="https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6098933/new-owner-vows-to-beef-up-mercury-after-buying-regional-newspaper-group-from-nine/?src=rss&amp;utm_email=b9ee389143&amp;utm_source=Illawarra+Mercury&amp;utm_campaign=5ada9e8bb5-NEWSLETTER_EDITORS_PICK_DAILY&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_63532331c1-5ada9e8bb5-65999933" target="_blank">in print operations</a>.
Such consolidation might echo Fairfax’s 2017 <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/fairfax-to-shut-six-community-newspapers-11-jobs-to-go-482887" target="_blank">merger of six Western Sydney suburban newspapers</a> into a single North West Magazine.
The state of local journalism
It would be naive to be overly hopeful about a new dawn for regional newspapers given the broader context of the Australian news industry.
According to the journalists’ union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, at least <a href="https://www.meaa.org/download/meaa-submission-to-public-interest-journalism-inquiry-170714/" target="_blank">3,000 journalism jobs</a> have been lost since mass redundancies began about seven years ago. Cutbacks, the union says, have seen “rural and regional audiences lose their "voice” and their access to local information".
At the regional daily with the largest readership, The Newcastle Herald, the editorial staff has been cut from about 100 to less than 24.
Workloads have escalated in consequence. Veteran journalist and union rep <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/newcastle-herald-cuts-hit-hard/9973134" target="_blank">Ian Kirkwood told ABC’s Media Watch</a> that journalists, perhaps once expected to produce one or two news stories a day, were now required to produce six, including headlines and photographs.
The New Beats study, a <a href="http://www.newbeatsblog.com/" target="_blank">comprehensive longitudinal study</a> of redundancies in Australian journalism since 2012, calculates the total revenue of Australian newspapers <a href="https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/19938/2/New%20Beats%20Submission%20to%202018%20Future%20of%20Work%20Inquiry.pdf">fell</a> from A$6.2 billion in 2007-08 to A$3 billion in 2016-17.
The New Beats researchers say the “market failure of regional journalism” is that local advertising is simply insufficient to make a local newspaper financially viable. How Catalano is going to change that, given his stated <a href="https://mainstreetwiththeabcspeterryan.blogspot.com/2019/05/antony-catalano-dismisses-paywalls-as" target="_blank">opposition to paywalls</a>, is an open question.
But given the unrelenting bad news faced by newspaper newsrooms over the past decade, it’s no surprise journalists are hoping for the best. The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-30/nine-sells-fairfax-community-newspapers-to-the-cat/11058066" target="_blank">ABC reports</a> that sources within the Canberra Times regard the deal as the best of available options. The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance has expressed cautious optimism, <a href="https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6098933/new-owner-vows-to-beef-up-mercury-after-buying-regional-newspaper-group-from-nine/" target="_blank">tempered by concerns</a> investment in the larger regional mastheads will come at the expense of smaller publications.
Only time will tell whether it is the hopes or the fears that are the most prophetic.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116359/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;">
Steinar Ellingsen, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Communication and Media, University of Wollongong
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/after-a-dark-decade-for-australias-regional-newspapers-a-hopeful-light-flickers-116359" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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After a dark decade for Australia’s regional newspapers, a hopeful light flickers

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Staff reporter

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