<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

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&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

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&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

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&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

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&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

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Joel Robinson

Abadeen, PERIFA, top out Putney Wharf harbourfront precinct

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

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Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

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From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

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While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

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Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367468]

Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

Builder-developer Scion is the latest to target Sydney's booming Hills Showground Metro precinct, filing plans for more than 100 apartments within walking distance of the station.

Scion has lodged a concurrent rezoning and State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/27-33-middleton-avenue-castle-hill-nsw-2154">27–33 Middleton Avenue</a>, where it plans to replace four existing homes with an 11 and 14-storey mixed-use development comprising 109 apartments, six affordable housing dwellings, and a ground-floor café.

Designed by BHK Architects, the proposal includes three levels of basement parking with 174 spaces, more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space, and extensive landscaping across the 3,791 sqm site.

The development has been designed as two buildings connected by a recessed wintergarden spine, with the 14-storey building positioned to the south and the 11-storey building to the north.

<img alt="Scion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64dc359d-736b-43b8-87a8-70a8285cab47" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-25%20at%208.47.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PXh.m8id_aevBPHEckPf88wQ2RQThPos" />

The apartment mix has been weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 13 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom residences, 31 three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom lofts, and four four-bedroom homes. Six apartments will be dedicated as affordable housing in line with the NSW Housing SEPP.

According to the Architectural Design Report by BKH, the proposal seeks to create "a place-responsive architecture" inspired by the natural landscape surrounding Cattai Creek, while strengthening the public domain through landscaping, active frontages and a neighbourhood café.

Atlas Urban, in its Urban Design Report, says the proposal takes a different approach to increasing density around Hills Showground Station by favouring a more slender, vertically articulated built form over a conventional mid-rise outcome. The report argues this allows for greater deep soil planting, improved solar access and a better public domain outcome, while still delivering additional housing close to rapid public transport.

The site sits around 500 metres from Hills Showground Metro Station, within a precinct earmarked for significant residential intensification following the opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest line. Planning documents accompanying the application note that Greater Sydney's population has grown by more than one million people since planning for the precinct first began, reinforcing the need to accelerate housing delivery around existing transport infrastructure.

Scion is expanding its development pipeline which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde-nsw-2114">Chatham in West Ryde</a>, 62 apartments which are approaching completion. They also have a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde-nsw-2114">145 apartments on Anzac Avenue</a>, also in West Ryde.

First look: Scion plots Castle Hill apartment development near Hills Showground Metro Station

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

&nbsp;

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

The top five reasons to buy in a mixed-use development

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

Off-the-plan property explained: What is stamp duty?

For the first time in a long time, Australia's inflation story is starting to look more like a landing than a fight.

The latest Consumer Price Index figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed annual inflation eased to four per cent in May, down from 4.2 per cent in April. On the surface, that might not seem like a major move. Inflation remains above the Reserve Bank's target range and some categories continue to record stubborn price growth.

But the significance of this result lies less in where inflation sits today and more in what it means for where interest rates are likely heading next.

The biggest takeaway is that inflation continues to move in the right direction.

Markets had been bracing for another sticky result after a period where progress appeared to stall. Instead, headline inflation came in softer than expected, helped by falling fuel prices and easing transport costs. Annual transport inflation halved from 6.6 per cent in April to 3.3 per cent in May, while automotive fuel prices fell 11.9 per cent during the month following lower oil prices and the impact of reduced fuel excise measures.

While petrol prices don't solve Australia's affordability challenges, they are one of the most visible and immediate costs for consumers. Falling fuel costs feed through the economy quickly, helping ease pressure on household budgets and business operating expenses.

The ABS data also showed headline inflation is now sitting at its lowest annual level in several months, reinforcing the broader trend that price growth is gradually moderating.

That trend is important because it aligns with what many economists and lenders have been saying for the last month.

Prior to this week's inflation data, ANZ, NAB and Commonwealth Bank had all shifted their forecasts, now believing the Reserve Bank had likely reached the peak of the interest rate cycle. Following the May inflation release, ANZ reaffirmed that view.

In its latest economic update, ANZ said it expects quarterly trimmed mean inflation to come in at 3.7 per cent for the June quarter, slightly below the Reserve Bank's forecast of 3.8 per cent. Importantly, the bank said that outcome, when combined with slowing economic activity, "supports our view that the cash rate has peaked".

The Reserve Bank has spent the better part of three years attempting to bring inflation under control through higher interest rates. If Australia's major banks are correct and rates have now peaked, the conversation shifts from how much higher rates could go to when they might begin coming down.

Westpac's caution comes from underlying inflation. The trimmed mean, the measure most closely watched by the Reserve Bank, increased from 3.4 per cent to 3.6 per cent annually. Housing inflation remains elevated at 6.5 per cent, reflecting ongoing increases in rents, electricity costs and new dwelling construction.

Electricity prices remain particularly problematic, rising 21.1 per cent over the past year following the removal of government rebates.

Housing construction costs are also showing signs of renewed pressure. ANZ noted new dwelling costs rose 0.9 per cent in May and are now running at an annualised pace of 8.6 per cent over the past three months. Builders continue to face higher labour, fuel and material costs, a reminder that inflationary pressures have not completely disappeared.

Housing affordability has deteriorated largely because of higher interest rates rather than higher property prices alone. Even modest reductions in mortgage rates would improve borrowing capacity, increase buyer confidence and reduce repayment pressure on existing homeowners.

While August is far from a certainty, the latest inflation result has strengthened the view that the next move in rates is more likely to be down than up. For borrowers, buyers and the development sector, that alone represents a significant shift from the conversation that dominated much of the past two years.

The inflation result the property market was waiting for

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The first CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review for 2019, which tracks median rents and rental yields across Australia, shows that national weekly rents have risen by 1% during the first three months of the year.
“This seasonally strong first quarter has delivered the highest increase in weekly rents since the corresponding first quarter a year ago,” says Cameron Kusher, Research Analyst for CoreLogic.
“Our regional housing markets are performing marginally better than the capital cities, many of which have been experiencing weaker rental market conditions in recent years due to excess housing supply and growing investor activity.”
“Quarterly rents have increased across all capital cities, bar Sydney and Darwin. Hobart is experiencing notable growth, with rents increasing by 3.6% over the past quarter. However, with a median rent of $582 per week, Sydney remains Australia's most expensive city for tenants by far.”
The Quarterly Rental Review also highlights a national increase in yields over the past three and 12 months. Gross rental yields for the first quarter are 4.10% compared to 3.95% in the previous quarter and 3.77% a year ago.
Darwin has the highest rental yield across the country with an annual median of 6%.
Sydney remains Australia’s most expensive capital city market, with a median weekly rent of $582, despite a decline of -3.1% over the past 12 months. While rents in Sydney remained the same as the previous month, they increased by 0.5% over the past quarter. Sydney also has the lowest rental yields out of all capital cities, at 3.5% over the past quarter.
Key findings – rents and yields
<ul>
<li>Nationally, rents increased by +1% over the March quarter and by 0.4% over the past 12 months. Combined capital city rents were 0.9% higher than the December 2018 quarter but -0.1% lower than the previous March quarter. This is the lowest annual change since CoreLogic started tracking rents in 2005. Regional rents were slightly stronger, with a 1.1% increase over the quarter and a 1.8% increase over the past year.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>In the first quarter, rents climbed in all capital cities except for Darwin (-0.3%). Hobart was by far the strongest performer, with a 3.6% increase in rent over the past quarter, followed by Perth (+1.8%) and Canberra (+1.5%). Hobart also experienced the highest increase in rent over the past 12 months (+5.4%) while at the other end of the scale the media rent in Darwin fell by -5.7%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Nationally, the median rent is $436 per week. The median rent across the capital cities is $465 per week, and $378 per week across the regionals.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Gross rental yields have increased from 3.8% to 4.1% nationally. Across the combined capitals, the average rental yield is 3.8% (up from 3.5%). Regional yields are far higher at 5.1%, up from 4.9% 12 months ago.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/4/8/capital%20city%20rent%20.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/2019/4/8/capital%20city%20rent%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
The report showed Canberra with a median rental cost of $550 per week, an increase of 1.5% over the past quarter and 3.6% over the past 12 months. Canberra is one of only two capital cities (alongside Darwin) to experience a drop in weekly rent over the past month (-0.1%).
In Melbourne, rents are $454 a week – an increase of 1% over the quarter and 2.1% over the past 12 months. Melbourne also reported the greatest increase in rental yields out of all capital cities, with current rental yields being 3.6%, compared to 3.1% a year ago. Despite the rise in yields, Melbourne has the second lowest weekly rental yield out of all capital cities (after Sydney).
Brisbane rents are starting to climb again, with Brisbane now having a median weekly rent of $436. This is an increase of 0.8% over the past quarter, and 1.4% over the past 12 months.
Perth is the most affordable capital city to rent in with a median weekly rent of $385. However, it is showing signs of growth, achieving the second highest quarterly rate (after Hobart) with an increase of 1.8% over the past 3 months. Over the past year, Perth rents have increased by 2.1%.
Adelaide closely follows Perth to become the second most affordable capital city to rent a property in, with a median weekly rent of $386. Like Brisbane, it experienced a 0.8% rise in rents over the March quarter. Over the past 12 months, rents in Adelaide have risen by 1.2%. Gross rental yields have remained static over the year at 4.4%.
Hobart reported the strongest growth in rents, up 3.6% over the past quarter to $453 per week. Over the past year, rents have increased by 5.4%. Hobart also reports the strongest growth over the past month, with a 1.6% increase in weekly rent. Hobart also reported the second highest rental yield (after Darwin) of 5.1%, which remained the same as 12 months ago.
Darwin has experienced the most significant decline in rent to achieve a median weekly rent of $458. This is down -0.3% over the quarter and -5.7% over the past year. In addition, Darwin also reports a drop of 0.2% over the past month. However, at 6%, Darwin has the highest gross rental yield out of all the capital cities (up 0.1% on the past 12 months).
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Australian capital city rents rise over the first quarter: CoreLogic 

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Dentist Nasser El Hage and his cosmetic surgeon wife Dr Alia Nasser had their Paddington property passed in at yesterday’s onsite auction, but it sold soon after at an undisclosed price, reportedly $7.7 million.
The Caledonia Street holding (above and below) cost $4,779,000 in 2013, along with a further outlay for a one bedroom with car spot across the street.
<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/2019/4/8/Cal1.jpg" alt="">
The couple had just sold their futuristic Renaldo Gaiety-designed home in Sans Souci for a then suburb record of $3,025,000.
The Agency’s Ben Collier saw only the one bid of $7.625 million secured by the struggling auctioneer who sought shade from sun under the glorious olive tree in the private courtyard on the 450sqm property.
<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/2019/4/8/CAL3.jpg" alt="">
A nearby offering is being auctioned next week by Basil Mcilhagga, the Hong Kong-based CEO of gold miner Stibium, who has $5.5 million hopes through BradfieldCleary agents Bob Guth and Georgie Cleary.
Mcilhagga’s initial purchase was a 300sqm corner terrace costing $540,000 in 1992, then adding next door for $360,000 in 1999.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Caledonia Street, Paddington street record set from 450 spm offering

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GUEST OBSERVATION
You’re smiling as your e-scooter whispers along the riverside path. Without the helmet, the wind can blow through your hair – and it looks good! You hear a shout, “Pull over!”, and turn to see police heading towards you with your helmet in hand.
Police conducted a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-30/electric-scooters-riders-fined-safety-breaches-brisbane-qld/10956110" target="_blank">blitz on safety breaches</a> by eletric scooter riders in Brisbane over the weekend. And employees of operator Lime tell us safety issues have been persistent in <a href="https://theconversation.com/limes-not-lemons-lessons-from-australias-first-e-scooter-sharing-trial-108924" target="_blank">Australia’s first trial of a shared e-scooter scheme</a>.
How do we educate users about helmets and safe riding behaviour? And how can helmets be distributed cost-effectively?
As with other disruptive tech companies with mass appeal, the safety and regulatory issues raised by e-scooters – including <a href="https://theconversation.com/electric-scooters-on-collision-course-with-pedestrians-and-lawmakers-99654" target="_blank">rider and pedestrian safety</a> and being <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-e-scooters-solve-the-last-mile-problem-theyll-need-to-avoid-the-fate-of-dockless-bikes-102633" target="_blank">left in inappropriate places</a> – are attracting attention. A closely related issue is helmets and their role in rider safety.
Scooter operators have come under <a href="https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/better-helmet-compliance-needed-for-lime-scooters-lord-mayor-says-20190212-p50xcs" target="_blank">pressure to encourage riders to wear helmets</a>. The RACQ has <a href="https://live.racq.com.au/2019/03/majority-of-scooter-riders-going-too-fast/" target="_blank">called on Lime</a> “to ensure every scooter put out has a helmet attached”.
A day in the life of a helmet
Ultimately, responsibility for public safety and compliance with civic cleanliness rests with the individual mobility provider. Lime accepts this and has announced it will <a href="https://www.li.me/respect-the-ride" target="_blank">distribute 250,000 helmets</a> worldwide.
Each day fully charged scooters, with helmets, are placed on footpaths. At the end of each day, the tally of scooters and helmets does not add up. This is known in the industry as helmet churn – the constant loss and replacement of helmets. Unlike the scooters themselves, which have smart tracking technology, helmets are kept cheap to minimise the cost of these losses.
Let’s try to unpack the issue of helmet churn.
It is agreed that not wearing a helmet plays a part in the problem. Some riders simply leave it behind. Aside from being unsafe, this separates the helmet from the scooter, so it becomes unavailable for the next scooter user.
New insights are emerging as we begin to study this phenomenon. Reasons for helmet churn are linked to a reluctance to share them – we believe some riders worry about hygiene – and it being a disposable product. It seems there may even be feelings of ownership, with some perceiving the helmet to become their property through paying for the ride.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264308/original/file-20190318-28483-1pxl1jp.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/264308/original/file-20190318-28483-1pxl1jp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Assumed reasons for helmet churn. Peter Townson/QUT Chair in Digital Economy
Limits of deterrence
Two main compliance mechanisms are in place to discourage riders from contributing to helmet churn: police and Lime.
In Queensland, the <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/personal-mobility-devices" target="_blank">fine for not wearing a helmet is A$130</a>. In <a href="https://www.rsc.wa.gov.au/Rules-Penalties/Browse/Cyclists" target="_blank">other</a> <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/penalties/fines" target="_blank">states</a> and <a href="https://police.act.gov.au/road-safety/traffic-fines" target="_blank">territories</a> fines range from as little as <a href="https://nt.gov.au/driving/driving-offences-and-penalties/cycling-penalties" target="_blank">A$25</a> to as much as <a href="https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/go-together/faqs" target="_blank">A$337</a>.
<a href="https://eprints.qut.edu.au/110376/" target="_blank">Research into deviant consumer behaviour</a> tells us this tactic of appealing to fear of punishment extends only to riders wearing helmets. It does not have an effect on the broader issues of vandalism and theft.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/267495/original/file-20190404-131434-s370no.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/267495/original/file-20190404-131434-s370no.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The penalty for not wearing a helmet in each state. Peter Townson/QUT Chair in Digital Economy
The <a href="https://eprints.qut.edu.au/110376/" target="_blank">research</a> also suggests the “fear of punishment” approach makes two critical assumptions:
<ol>
<li>that people agree the behaviour is wrong (“yes, this is dangerous”)</li>
<li>riders think there is a real risk of being caught (“catch me if you can”).</li>
</ol>
Given this is not always the case, a risk-based approach to deterrence is limited.
Lime also plays a part in curbing helmet noncompliance. Its current strategy, aside from providing the helmets, is the <a href="https://www.li.me/respect-the-ride" target="_blank">Respect the Ride</a> education program. It aims to foster a community and culture of safe mobility, underpinned by a personal pledge each rider is encouraged to make.
This approach is appropriate for trying to change the behaviour of not wearing a helmet. It does not target people who are taking advantage of publicly available helmets.
These measures still do not fully solve a pervasive problem.
You have a disruptive mobility company in the spotlight because of safety concerns. The company has a duty of care to supply helmets and ensure riders are safe. Riders are disregarding, disposing of, defacing and destroying helmets.
How do we solve this tough, intractable, social problem?
A shift in thinking – ecosystem view
If helmet churn exists for Lime scooters, then it exists for all other ride-share operators in that area. If a helmet isn’t available, riders will often borrow from other services such as share bikes.
Helmets are sometimes considered “free for grabs” across different mobility providers. Should the duty of care that requires helmets be provided rest on each mobility service operator, when the noncompliance of one undermines them all?
While these personal transport providers are in competition with one another, they have an opportunity to relinquish their individual burden of helmet churn by working together on the problem.
A shift in thinking – personalised view
If the one constant across various mobility services is the rider, we should also consider a “bring your own helmet” approach. This approach possibly started in technology companies (“bring your own device”, allowing employees and customers to use their own devices to interact with an organisation) and has spread to other areas. For instance, environmentally conscious coffee lovers bring their own cups, while still having the option of using a paper cup.
Could a similar option work for helmets? <a href="https://www.ecohelmet.com/" target="_blank">Disposable helmets – made of cardboard – are being tested</a> as a concept. And personalised helmets that look and feel like a beanie can be <a href="https://antiordinary.co/" target="_blank">pre-purchased from a start-up created by QUT students</a>.
Cyclists still carry their own helmets when they commute on their own bikes, so the acceptance of this BYO approach should be simple. The difference is users need only provide a helmet, without having to worry about finding safe parking and storage places for the day or overnight.
Adapting to disruption
The meaning of a helmet has shifted significantly from individual property to a shared utility, as has the meaning of many modes of transport, including bikes and scooters. There are two paths from here: ecosystem, with ubiquitous helmets available for everyone; and personalised, with riders bringing their own helmets.
Either of these is different from the world we know today. The bigger picture is a collaborative effort to achieve the goal of rider safety.
Peter Townson, Senior Designer, Chair in Digital Economy, Queensland University of Technology
Marek Kowalkiewicz, Professor and Chair in Digital Economy, Queensland University of Technology
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/helmet-churn-adds-to-challenges-of-e-scooter-disruption-113754" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: Lime is working on ways to overcome the problem of ‘helmet churn’ on its e-scooters. Marvin Fox Photography, Author provided
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Helmet churn adds to challenges of e-scooter disruption

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GUEST OBSERVATION
On the night the 2016 <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2049.0" target="_blank">census </a> was taken, more than 116,000 Australians were homeless. This was a 30% increase from the decade before.
What has driven this increase is difficult to pin down, but research points to a lack of affordable housing, poverty and personal vulnerabilities such as trauma, mental illness and substance misuse as key factors.
We recently published a paper in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10940-019-09407-y" target="_blank">Journal of Quantitative Criminology</a>, exploiting a rich dataset derived from tracking 1,600 disadvantaged respondents over approximately three years.
And we found people who have been incarcerated are at a greater risk of becoming homeless. But interestingly, the reverse isn’t true – homeless people are not at greater risk of incarceration.
Identifying similarities
Like the homeless population, Australia’s prison population has increased by <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4512.0?OpenDocument" target="_blank">56%</a> in the past decade, from 25,968 to 40,577 people.
Social researchers and policymakers have long been aware of a strong association between incarceration and homelessness. Local and international <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1375/acri.39.1.20" target="_blank">studies</a> consistently report the homeless are over-represented in prison and ex-prisoners are over-represented among the homeless.
That such a strong association exists should come as no surprise.
Both populations share many similar characteristics – lower education levels, high rates of mental and physical illness and substance misuse, as well as high rates of economic disadvantage.
Yet, despite numerous studies, the question of whether this association reflects causal relationships has proven surprisingly difficult to answer.
One reason for this is that researchers have had to rely on samples of either prisoners or the homeless, and these samples are not suited to addressing questions of causality.
Are homeless people more likely to be imprisoned?
Our paper used data from <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/journeys-home" target="_blank">Journeys Home</a>, a study uniquely suited to shedding light on the relationship between incarceration and homelessness. Launched in 2011, Journeys Home not only tracks people exposed to homelessness and housing insecurity over time, but also it captures important information on their housing circumstances and contact with the justice system.
There is no universally agreed definition of homelessness, so we tested two different approaches – broad and literal.
Our broad definition included people sleeping rough, people in emergency accommodation, in boarding houses, couch surfing and people staying temporarily in a hotel or caravan park. This aligns with the way homelessness is commonly defined in Australia.
We found that homelessness, broadly defined, does not increase the risk of incarceration.
Being “literally” homeless is a more limited definition commonly used in the USA. It restricts the definition to those who were on the streets, in squats or staying in emergency or crisis accommodation.
Based on <a href="https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1118&amp;context=spp_papers" target="_blank">previous research</a>, we expected this form of homelessness would be linked to a higher risk of incarceration.
To our surprise, it wasn’t. Being literally homeless also has no effect.
Why might this be the case?
When we examined forms of contact with the justice system, we found being homeless does not increase the risk of being apprehended or held overnight by the police or sent to court.
This suggests homelessness does not lead to incarceration because it does not increase any type of contact with the justice system usually preceding incarceration.
Are ex-prisoners more likely to become homeless?
The answer is yes, but the immediate effect is modest.
Our research shows the risk of ex-prisoners becoming homeless increases significantly six months after release, and this increased risk persists for nearly another year.
Responding to the delayed and persistent effect of incarceration is important.
Policy interventions such as <a href="http://www.corrections.vic.gov.au/home/release/transition+programs/" target="_blank">Reconnect</a>, a transition and post-release support program, provide assistance for a short period (up to 12 weeks) following discharge. While this is clearly warranted, our results suggest the need to broaden and extend existing interventions.
Many ex-prisoners rely on family and friends in the immediate period following release. Many appear to enjoy a “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J076v43n01_05" target="_blank">honeymoon</a>” period of six months or so.
At that point, ex-prisoners’ housing starts to breakdown. Many start to couch surf or live in boarding houses, where there is limited housing security and they are exposed to poor living conditions.
Clearly, families provide important social support to ex-prisoners, but they often have limited resources. Based on our research, we feel that policy initiatives should consider ways of engaging and supporting ex-prisoners’ families, as well as funding extended settlement support programs delivered through a range of supported housing arrangements.
A focus on assisting families and extending settlement support programs is the next step in developing policy approaches. These would more effectively mitigate the extended risk of homelessness and housing instability that our research shows ex-prisoners experience.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113570/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;">
Guy Johnson, Professor, Urban Housing and Homelessness, RMIT University
Julie Moschion, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute, University of Melbourne
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/ex-prisoners-are-more-likely-to-become-homeless-but-the-reverse-isnt-true-113570" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Ex-prisoners are more likely to become homeless but the reverse isn’t true

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JLL’s new Brisbane headquarters, Central Plaza, has earned a 6 star Green Star Interiors v1.1 rating.
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) placed the tenancy, on levels 39 and 40 at 345 Queen Street (pictured), in the World Leadership category.
6 stars is the highest rating that the GBCA can award in Australia.
The JLL Brisbane fitout, for which used its own in-house expertise rather than external consultants, is one of the only two fitouts to be rated a 6 star under Green Star interiors v1.1.
JLL’s Managing Director – Queensland, Geoff McIntyre, said: "this great achievement reflects the collaboration of so many different parts of our business from project management through to sustainability services. We have set a new internal standard, and we can roll out all future projects using this model."
JLL's Head of Energy and Sustainability Services – Asia Pacific, Matt Clifford, said: “this project is a clear demonstration that with the right approach, and the right leadership, achieving world-class levels of sustainability doesn’t need to be hard or costly. Rather, it can be simple, cost-effective and good for the environment, while delivering a fantastic place for our staff to work." 
“The use of LED lighting and timed sensors in the JLL Brisbane office has reduced the consumption to 33 per cent of recommended Australia Standards for lighting, which is expected to result in significantly lower electricity costs," he concluded.
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JLL Brisbane headquarters achieves 6 star Green Star rating

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Bill Shorten, in his budget reply speech last night, reaffirmed Labor’s commitment to restrict negative gearing to investors who purchased new housing if elected.
He claimed the current system gives investors "loaded dice" putting younger generations at a disadvantage.
It's a “bias” in the tax system that is shutting young people out of the housing market, Mr Shorten said.
“Getting together a 20 per cent deposit plus stamp duty is so much, much harder than it was 20 or 25 years ago,” the opposition leader said.
“It is even more difficult when your government uses your taxpayer money to subsidise the property investors bidding against you.”
Mr Shorten said his negative gearing rule changes were part of Labor’s plan to “stop intergenerational unfairness in our tax system”.
“A government must be brave enough and decent enough to stop the bias against first home buyers and young Australians and we will be that government,” Mr Shorten said.
He added “lectures about cutting back on smashed avo” were patronising to young people.
“You cannot have property investors playing with loaded dice against our young people, Generation Y and the Millennials,” Mr Shorten said.
However, according to recent HIA research, only 34 percent of Australians are aware of the proposed changes and understand it at some level, while others have no understanding.
While 52 percent of people believe rents will rise as a consequence of the changes. 
HIA Managing Director, Graham Wolfe said, "with 92 percent of all renters aspiring to buy their own home, Labor’s proposed changes will weigh heavily on their savings’ plans.“
"If these changes are made, rents will rise as supply dries up due to a lack of investment in new housing. This will make renting a home less affordable."
“If rents rise, renters saving for a deposit for their own home will take a backward step."
“We can’t solve the housing affordability challenge by taxing housing. This policy seeks to do just that,“ he concluded.
But Bill Shorten's 2019-20 Federal Budget reply headlines the overarching support of future housing in the previously announced National Housing Supply Council, national Housing Ministerial and National Housing Strategy, Nicholas Proud, CEO of PowerHousing Australia said.
It represents 32 of Australia’s largest Tier One and scale-growth Community Housing Providers.
Mr Proud said, “The Federal Opposition has shown a real commitment here to seeing the jobs, economic multipliers and adequate supply of housing become a national priority if they come to Government at the next election. 
"A commitment to delivering a massive 250,000 affordable rentals over a 10-year period with 20,000 to be built in the first three years with Community Housing Providers proponents of the task is a challenge CHPs are ready to take on.
“This 10-year subsidy combined with other elements such as build-to-rent, a Housing Minister, National Housing Strategy and reinstatement of a National Housing Supply Council, as promised, will tackle a housing downturn to preserve jobs, support state economies and deliver more dwellings.
“A focus on delivering expediting new NDIS investment is welcomed to capitalise on the recent momentum gained by the Agency if this shadow budget is eventually delivered.
“Whilst there is much to praise, there are tens of thousands of families in non-CHP properties who, over the next five years, are set to see the loss of the NRAS One incentives which started to lapse in December 2018.
"A response to support these non-CHP managed NRAS homes is critical and our CHP members will look to take up this challenge to seek a pragmatic solution here," Mr Proud concluded. 
Mr Shorten’s budget reply speech also mentioned plans to support build-to-rent schemes.
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Bill Shorten reaffirms Labor stance on negative gearing

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<h1> </h1>
EXPERT OBSERVATION
The main concern when talking about the liveability of a city like Melbourne should be sustaining the health and well-being of residents.
For seven years, Melbourne boasted the title of “world’s most liveable city”, but <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/melbourne-loses-most-liveable-city-title-to-vienna/10117338" target="_blank">recently lost the top spot to Vienna</a>. The Economist Intelligence Unit awards the title each year when it publishes its <a href="http://www.eiu.com/topic/liveability" target="_blank">Global Liveability Index</a>. This ranks 140 cities for their urban quality of life based on assessments of stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
The rankings have their <a href="https://theconversation.com/melbourne-the-worlds-most-liveable-city-not-exactly-17677" target="_blank">limitations</a>, which have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/liveability-prizes-are-nice-but-we-have-to-er-live-here-3194" target="_blank">criticised</a>. To regain top spot, or indeed just to become a <a href="https://theconversation.com/liveability-prizes-are-nice-but-we-have-to-er-live-here-3194" target="_blank">better place for the people who actually live in the city</a>, perhaps Melbourne and other cities like it should go beyond the traditional indicators. This means considering other factors that affect not only liveability but also health and sustainability.
Health and mobility are linked
Urban and transport planning has a large impact on sustainability, liveability and health. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27346385" target="_blank">A recent study in Barcelona</a> estimated 3,000 people die prematurely each year (20% of total mortality) because of urban and transport planning-related environmental and lifestyle factors. The largest contributor to premature death was lack of physical activity, followed by air pollution, noise, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/feb/21/urban-heat-islands-cooling-things-down-with-trees-green-roads-and-fewer-cars" target="_blank">heat island effects</a> and lack of green space.
A city that makes walking more convenient has many benefits for health and well-being. 
Melbourne is a sprawling city with <a href="https://theconversation.com/city-by-city-analysis-shows-our-capitals-arent-liveable-for-many-residents-85676" target="_blank">not enough public and active transport</a>. The result is a high level of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27671671" target="_blank">car dependency (85% of trips are by car). </a>
There are <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319749822" target="_blank">direct links between urban and transport planning, level of environmental exposures and physical activity and health and well-being</a>. For example, infrastructure for cars results in higher car use and increases in air pollution, noise, CO2 emissions, stress, mental health problems and heat island effects, and lack of physical activity, green space and social contacts.
On the other hand, an investment in infrastructure for active transport such as cycling and walking leads to reductions in air pollution, noise, CO2 emissions, stress, mental health problems and heat island effects, and increases in physical activity, social contacts and possibly green space.
Climate change is a real threat and motorised traffic is one of the large contributors to CO2 emissions. And motorised traffic takes up a lot of public space in a city – <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27276440" target="_blank">up to 60%-70%</a>. This space could be used in much better ways to make a more pleasant living environment.
A shift from cars to cycling could free up a lot of road and parking space in the city.
Creating a sustainable, liveable and healthy city
So how do we make Melbourne not only more liveable, but also more sustainable and healthy? We urgently need to reduce urban sprawl and car dependency, increase public space for people, increase public and active transport, and increase green space.
Resulting reductions in air pollution, noise and heat island effects and increased physical activity will improve health and well-being. Furthermore, the changes in transport modes and CO2 storage by greening will mitigate climate change effects.
There are no magic bullets to achieve these goals. It requires a package of measures, strong political leadership and large investments.
The following are seven strategies, with examples of specific measures:
1. Put people at the centre of public spaces
<ul>
<li>
change the hierarchy of planning from car/motorbikes, public transport, cycling and pedestrians to pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and car/motorbikes
</li>
<li>
adopt the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2016/8/4/12342806/barcelona-superblocks" target="_blank">Barcelona superblock model</a> for the CBD to start with, to increase public space for people
</li>
<li>
introduce a 30km/h speed limit for neighbourhoods.
</li>
</ul>
2. Increase density and land-use mix
<ul>
<li>
increase urban density (make the city more compact) and reduce sprawl, but do not build high-rises – limit buildings to 5-6 floors
</li>
<li>
increase the mix of housing, places of work or schooling and access to basic services and shopping, and improve walkability to reduce the need for travelling longer distances.
</li>
</ul>
3. Reduce motorised traffic and move towards public and active transport
<ul>
<li>
reduce the number of motorised vehicles circulating (50% reduction by 2030) with an overall aim of a car-free city, starting with making the CBD car-free
</li>
<li>
introduce levies for parking at work in the city (e.g. $500-1,000 per year) that can be used to fund public transport
</li>
<li>
introduce transport planning policies that result in the same travel time for cars and public transport from and to a given destination, by giving priority to public transport
</li>
<li>
make a shared delivery system for shops to reduce the number of vehicles
</li>
<li>
increase the cycling network with a segregated cycling lane on each road and make sure it is well connected
</li>
<li>
encourage and provide financial incentives for electric bicycles for long-distance cycling and/or cycling in hilly areas
</li>
<li>
create policies and infrastructure so all children can get to school by active and public transport.
</li>
</ul>
4. Zero-emission motorised traffic by 2035
<ul>
<li>
make all remaining buses, trucks, cars and motorbikes electric by 2035 – all new motorised vehicles should be electric from 2025 onward
</li>
<li>
use roof tops for a distributed solar power system (with solar panels) to provide renewable energy for electric vehicles and households.
</li>
</ul>
5. Increase green space
<ul>
<li>
create more green space with trees in every street, greening of vacant lots and tunnelling of roads with green space on top (target a green space of 1 hectare within 300 metres of every residence)
</li>
<li>
increase green roofs and walls on buildings
</li>
<li>
green school patios and make these areas accessible to the neighbourhood on weekends and holidays
</li>
<li>
connect existing green infrastructure by creating green corridors that are also suitable for active transport.
</li>
</ul>
6. Control pollution emissions from other sources
<ul>
<li>
stricter control on emissions from the port
</li>
<li>
stricter control on emissions from other sources, such as industry and rubbish
</li>
<li>
better insulation of buildings to reduce energy use for heating and cooling
</li>
<li>
aim for a low-carbon city with zero CO2 emissions by 2035.
</li>
</ul>
7. Improve governance
<ul>
<li>
strong political leadership to make changes
</li>
<li>
provide administrative structure within the metropolitan area that integrates urban and transport planning, environment and public health policies to promote sustainability, health and well-being
</li>
<li>
work more closely with regional authorities and councils on integrating the transport system
</li>
<li>
create genuine participatory processes and involve citizens.
</li>
</ul>
We can make our cities more sustainable, liveable and healthy, but it requires a large joint effort and can only be achieved with a strong vision and commitment. However, the results can be highly rewarding.
Most people nowadays choose cities to live. These currently have detrimental effects on the environment, health and well-being, so let’s create more liveable cities that promote health and well-being.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-nieuwenhuijsen-509819" target="_blank">Mark Nieuwenhuijsen</a>, Professorial Fellow, ACU, and Research Professor ISGlobal, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/instituto-de-salud-global-de-barcelona-isglobal-3626" target="_blank">Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal)</a>
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/seven-steps-melbourne-can-take-to-regain-its-liveable-city-crown-113726" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Seven steps Melbourne can take to regain its ‘liveable city’ crown: Mark Nieuwenhuijsen

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The Melbourne suburb of Bentleigh East is host to the highest volume of auctions this weekend, with 18 homes set to go under the hammer, according to CoreLogic.
Next busiest are Cheltenham, Kew, Mount Waverley, Reservoir and Yarraville, all in Melbourne, which are expecting 12 auctions each this week, along with Mosman in Sydney.
Last week saw 2,164 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, returning a final auction clearance rate of 50.9%, unchanged from the previous week when 1,667 auctions were held.
Over the same week last year just 670 auctions were held due to the Easter weekend, returning a clearance rate of 64.8%.
In Melbourne, Australia’s largest auction market, the number of scheduled auctions has fallen week-on-week with 840 homes set to go under the hammer across the city, down from 978 last week.
Over the same week last year, 723 auctions were held.
Sydney is expecting to see fewer properties taken to auction this week with 700 homes currently scheduled to go under the hammer across the city, down from 801 last week and 795 last year.
Across the smaller auction markets, Canberra, Perth and Tasmania are expecting to see an increase in auction volumes week-on-week, while activity is set to be lower in Adelaide and Brisbane.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/4/4/Clearance%204-04-2019.JPG" alt="">
The busy auction weekend in Bentleigh East sees <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-bentleigh+east-130718914" target="_blank">18 Millard Street</a> (pictured above) offered.
The property going under the hammer is a three bedroom one bathroom house.
It comes with a price guide of $810,000 - $890,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/4/4/Bentleigh%20East%202.JPG" alt="">
Another example of the breadth of auctions taking place in Bentleigh East is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-vic-bentleigh+east-130726274" target="_blank">3/27 May Street</a> (pictured above).
The property going under the hammer is a two bedroom one bathroom circa 60's Villa.
It comes with a price guide of $550,000 - $600,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/4/4/Bentleigh%20East%203.JPG" alt="">
A third property going to auction in Bentleigh East this week is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-bentleigh+east-130729270">47 Gladwyn Avenue</a> (pictured above).
The property going under the hammer is a four bedroom three bathroom house.
It comes with a price guide of $1,120,000 - $1,170,000.
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Bentleigh East set to be busiest weekend auction hotspot

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Declining union membership is unlikely to be responsible for low wage growth, a research discussion paper from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has suggested.
The report, entitled Is Declining Union Membership Contributing to Low Wages Growth?, was authored by RBA economists James Bishop and Iris Chan looked at micro data, covering all enterprise agreements federally registered between 1991 and 2017.
It set out to test whether the hypothesis that the decline in union membership since the 1950s caused a fall in the bargaining power of workers, which in turn has contributed to low wages growth in recent years.
However, the report found that is unlikely that recent low wages growth is a result of changing unionisation patterns.
“First, there has been no decline in the share of employees covered by enterprise agreements negotiated with union involvement even as union membership has declined,” the report stated.
“Second, the ‘union wage growth premium’ in the private sector has been stable over time.
“Third, spillover effects from union involvement in enterprise agreement negotiations onto wage outcomes in other enterprise agreements exist, but have not changed materially over time.”
The full report is available to read <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2019/pdf/rdp2019-02.pdf">here</a>.
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Declining union membership not the cause of low wages growth: RBA

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GUEST OBSERVATION
E-scooter mania is sweeping cities around the world. Fun, accessible and cheap to rent, shared electric scooters are one of the biggest technology stories this year.
Their main appeal is that they are so easy to ride. A <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/23/the-electric-scooter-wars-of-2018/" target="_blank">flood of startups</a> offer on-demand services. Simply download an app, scan the barcode, ride and drop at your destination.
While this is a simple idea, it has caused a few problems.
When they reach their destinations, riders leave them and walk away. The scooters, <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-e-scooters-solve-the-last-mile-problem-theyll-need-to-avoid-the-fate-of-dockless-bikes-102633" target="_blank">like dockless share bikes before them</a>, end up cluttering pavements, cause friction with pedestrians and provoke <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIEKWxYp240" target="_blank">controversy</a> and debate.
E-scooters are the future of city transport and will reduce private car use, say the enthusiasts. They will ease congestion and help cities achieve their environmental and road safety targets, according to the optimists.
But for every supporter of these e-boosted contraptions, a dissenting voice says they are annoying and dangerous. Critics argue that e-scooters litter our footpaths, menace pedestrians and cause <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/01/25/electric-scooters-send-more-people-hospital-than-bicycles-walking-new-study-finds/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.df3477b2b7ae" target="_blank">crashes and injuries</a>. One group in San Diego has even <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/04/698768297/disability-rights-group-sues-san-diego-over-scooters-on-sidewalks" target="_blank">filed a law suit</a> claiming that scooters discriminate against people with disabilities.
Some <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/10/17631318/electric-scooters-bird-city-regulations-sustainability" target="_blank">cities have banned</a> e-scooters. In Australia, Brisbane City Council, while extending a <a href="https://theconversation.com/limes-not-lemons-lessons-from-australias-first-e-scooter-sharing-trial-108924" target="_blank">trial of e-scooters operated by Lime</a>, has <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-30/electric-scooters-riders-fined-safety-breaches-brisbane-qld/10956110" target="_blank">warned safety must be improved</a> before a permanent permit is granted.
Tiny vehicles, big impacts
The emergence of “tiny vehicles” includes not only e-scooters, but also e-bikes and other electric, low-speed, micromobility solutions.
If we take them seriously, these could be a huge deal for our cities. These emerging modes of transport can be quite effective for “first and last kilometre” travel (e.g. between home and your nearest train station). They can also help with short commuting distances less than 10 kilometres. An <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0.55.001%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7ECommuting%20Distance%20for%20Australia%7E1" target="_blank">estimated 20% of trips</a> from home to work in capital cities are 5-10km long.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264254/original/file-20190317-28487-12hrqvi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
E-scooters could be “<a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/02/23/electronic-scooters-safety/" target="_blank">disruptive</a>” in that they would cut the number of short trips taken by private vehicles today.
In Sydney, around <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0.55.001%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7EFeature%20Article:%20Journey%20to%20Work%20in%20Australia%7E40" target="_blank">67% of these short commuting trips</a> (on average) involve private vehicles. The proportions are even higher in Melbourne (76%), Brisbane and Darwin (both 80%), Canberra and Perth (both 83%), and Adelaide and Hobart (both 84%). Across the nation, more than 85% of drivers who commute by private car don’t share with other commuters.
Shifting even a small percentage of these trips would help reduce reliance on cars, ease congestion and improve amenity.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264255/original/file-20190317-28505-7gfu51.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Most commuters do not carry much on their journey to work – a purse, a backpack or similar. That makes tiny vehicles more appealing for the short commute because they do just the one thing: <a href="https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/06/welcome-to-the-tiny-vehicle-age/563342/" target="_blank">provide personal mobility</a> from A to B. Leather seats and posh interiors are not an option!
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264190/original/file-20190316-28505-q6t0ma.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
E-scooters can help with first and last kilometre travel and short commuting trips. Volkswagen
Clearly, we are nowhere near mass adoption. That would require more <a href="https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/06/welcome-to-the-tiny-vehicle-age/563342/" target="_blank">variety of tiny vehicles</a> to suit all types of people, trips and weather conditions.
Nevertheless, there is no shortage of <a href="https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/03/20190305-vwmicro" target="_blank">ideas</a> to solve these challenges. Many <a href="https://lastmile.zone/en/vehicles/streetscooter-and-vw-launch-their-own-cargo-e-bikes" target="_blank">solutions</a> will undoubtedly be imagined. Some might actually work!
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3q44cnSFoI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" width="440" height="260"></iframe>
 Startups are working on a variety of tiny vehicle solutions for different uses.
A regulatory sandbox approach
Regulation remains a major hurdle. Policymakers recognise that micromobility could be a driving force of change for our cities, but safety cannot be an afterthought. Instead of banning the emerging technology, many cities are adapting their approaches to handle it.
Rather than making up new rules without evidence, policymakers are using a <a href="http://www.govtech.com/opinion/E-Scooter-Bans-Show-Cities-Are-Hesitant-to-Embrace-Innovation" target="_blank">regulatory sandbox</a> approach. Borrowed from <a href="https://asic.gov.au/for-business/your-business/innovation-hub/regulatory-sandbox/" target="_blank">fintech regulation</a>, this approach allows startups to test new technologies for a specified period.
Businesses can learn quickly and respond to problems as they arise. Regulators can collect data to make informed decisions and prioritise interventions.
We already have examples of these partnerships.
<a href="https://www.recode.net/2018/6/26/17490378/scooter-sharing-companies-san-francisco-legal-permits" target="_blank">Companies are offering to pay cities a fee per scooter</a> to build protected scooter and bike infrastructure. Others have committed to providing <a href="https://sf.streetsblog.org/2018/09/21/return-of-the-scooter/" target="_blank">financial incentives</a> to encourage riders to park scooters properly. One company is offering a free ride to customers who park their scooters well ten times in a row.
To keep footpaths safe, businesses are also working with local governments to test ideas such as <a href="https://youtu.be/BmkRjtdtygk" target="_blank">retractable locks</a>, <a href="https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2019/03/electric-scooters-parking-charging-docks-lime-bird-lyft-spin/584332/" target="_blank">solar-powered parking</a>, <a href="https://www.recode.net/2018/6/26/17490378/scooter-sharing-companies-san-francisco-legal-permits" target="_blank">designated on-street drop-off zones</a> – even a <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90316775/is-it-time-for-scooters-to-be-put-in-their-place" target="_blank">“dock for dockless”</a> solution!
What’s next for the e-scooter market?
These products are not toys and investors know it. Venture capitalists are riding a wave of public acceptance and adoption.
E-scooter growth, in particular, has <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/7/24/17607698/electric-scooter-bird-lime-spin-adoption-transit" target="_blank">exceeded first-year adoption rates</a> for similar services such as bike-sharing and ride-hailing. In <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article226640274" target="_blank">Sacramento</a>, where the same company offers both bike and car services, the use of shared e-bikes exceeded ride-hailing rentals by a 53-47% margin.
Businesses are betting that shared e-scooters will do to short-distance travel what ride-hailing did to the taxi industry. Globally, investors have <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/micromobilitys-15000-mile-checkup" target="_blank">poured more than US$5.7 billion</a> into micromobility startups since 2015. New business models are emerging, with some companies considering annual memberships that include free ride time per day.
As with other fast-moving innovations, policymakers need to adapt their approaches. They also need to rethink bans and regulations that undermine the viability of e-scooters.
Tech companies need to prioritise rider safety over growth. They need to work with governments to preserve the sanctity of the footpath as a safe public space.
Without this, our cities will miss out on the potential of tiny vehicles and the opportunities they offer to reduce private car use.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113111/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;">
Hussein Dia, Chair, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology
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/banning-tiny-vehicles-would-deny-us-smarter-ways-to-get-around-our-cities-113111" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: Conceptual design of a vehicle parking bay as a designated drop-off zone for tiny vehicles. Lyft
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