<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/smith-by-valli-collingwood-224-228-smith-street-collingwood-vic-3066">Smith Collingwood</a> is a new boutique apartment development bringing a refined, design-led approach to one of Melbourne’s most established inner-city neighbourhoods.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pandolfini-architects">Pandolfini Architects</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/lisa-buxton-interiors">Lisa Buxton</a>, Smith by Valli sits on iconic Smith Street and comprises just 22 residences tailored toward owner-occupiers seeking a more considered style of apartment living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367540]

The design of Smith focuses on a north-facing orientation across all residences, a relatively uncommon feature in dense inner-Melbourne settings. Each apartment has been planned to maximise natural light and outlook, alongside a material palette defined by warm tones, custom joinery, and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances.

The development comprises a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with pricing currently ranging from just under $1 million to around $4.85 million for the premium penthouse-level residences, reflecting growing demand for luxury owner-occupier product in Melbourne’s inner urban market.

Residents will also have access to a private rooftop garden designed as an elevated retreat above the city, &nbsp;featuring curated landscaping, veggie boxes, intimate seating areas and spaces for relaxed gatherings. Sustainability has also been integrated into the project through a 7-star energy rating and two secure bicycle facilities for every residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140747 project_image_fid=367529]

Smith by Valli sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most established retail and hospitality strips, within walking distance of venues such as Falco Bakery, Carnation Canteen and Alimentari, alongside parks and everyday services. With a Walk Score of 99, the location reinforces the project’s positioning toward buyers prioritising walkability and access over car dependency.

With only a limited number of residences, Smith reflects growing demand for smaller, highly curated apartment developments that prioritise design quality, liveability, and connection to neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140747]

Joel Robinson

Smith by Valli delivers design-led apartments to Melbourne’s inner north

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>’s 640 Bourke Street stands as a testament to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s ability to bridge its storied past with a bold vision for the future.&nbsp;

Rising above the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley building, the development reflects a broader shift toward adaptive reuse in the city, where historical assets are retained and reinterpreted as part of new residential development.

Designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> incorporates the Eliza Tinsley building as its foundation, housing a grand gallery and lobby space that serve as both a functional and symbolic centrepiece. The heritage façade informs the tower’s design, creating a connection between Melbourne’s past and its contemporary skyline.

"It's a significant asset and wants to be celebrated and experienced by all residents every single time they go in and out of the building," Rothelowman Principal Stuart Marsland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365684]

Above this historic base, the 68-storey tower will deliver just over 600 residences, a notable reduction from earlier schemes, reflecting a deliberate move toward larger-format apartments and a stronger owner-occupier focus.

Unlike traditional CBD developments that prioritised investor stock, 640 Bourke Street has been repositioned to respond to changing buyer expectations.

"The discussion was all around making 640 Bourke Street the best residence to live in, to be much more focused on the people in the building rather than people looking at the building," Marsland explained.&nbsp;

This shift is evident in the development’s interiors, which emphasise practical luxury with spacious layouts, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.&nbsp;

“What it's meant for 640 Bourke is we've actually reduced the number of apartments. We've increased the overall size of the apartments. We don't have any studios in here, and what that does for a project is it elevates it," Lauren Sheldon, Far East Consortium’s Director of Sales and Marketing, said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365687]

Rothelowman Associate Jun Chang added, "We were given the opportunity to be more generous. The apartments became bigger and squarer than any other apartments which had been designed in the CBD before that."&nbsp;

Amenities spanning more than 3,000 sqm across multiple levels further reinforce this focus on resident experience. These include a pool, gym, co-working areas, and a range of hospitality-inspired spaces such as a whisky lounge, library, and private dining rooms, many drawing reference from traditional bathhouses and Melbourne’s laneway culture.

"We wanted to make both the pool and the gym area to be absolutely destinational, and when you traverse across to these spaces, there is a gentle familiarity to the beautiful notions of the hammams and the Roman baths, a gentle nod to history," Chang noted.

At street level, the project contributes to the ongoing transformation of the western CBD, with upgrades to Langs Lane and the introduction of retail, hospitality, and gallery spaces designed to activate the precinct and strengthen its connection to the surrounding city fabric.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=365689]

The location places residents within walking distance of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and the Docklands waterfront, positioning the development within a rapidly evolving inner-city neighbourhood.

"We believe it's the best site left in the city of Melbourne," Craig Williams, Executive Director at Far East Consortium, said.&nbsp;

640 Bourke Street is Far East Consortium’s 14th building in Melbourne’s western CBD.

"A very elegant designed building. It's going to be a Melbourne statement for many, many years to come."

One-bedroom apartments are priced from around $640,000, with 640 Bourke Street targeting completion in 2029.

Renders shown are Artist's Impressions correct as of May 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

Heritage-led design anchors Far East Consortium’s 640 Bourke St, Melbourne

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD Group</a> has set a new residential price record in Queensland with the $30 million sale of the penthouse at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-burleigh-88-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">ONE Burleigh</a> development in Burleigh Heads.

The sale equates to around $37,500 per sqm.

The two-level, 800 sqm penthouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, five car spaces, and a private infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was acquired by a Gold Coast-based entrepreneur, highlighting continued demand for ultra-premium beachfront product.

Selling agent Freddie Tehle of PRD Burleigh Heads said the result reflects tightening supply of high-quality, large-format apartments in Burleigh.

“There’s very limited opportunity to secure this level of scale and absolute beachfront position in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Burleigh Heads</a>,” Tehle said.

“Buyers are increasingly seeking apartments that genuinely replace a standalone home, and this penthouse delivers that with its size, privacy, and direct ocean frontage.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323057]

The sale comes as construction progresses on ONE Burleigh, a boutique development of 17 full-floor residences at 88 The Esplanade, scheduled for completion in early 2027.

Developed by MAYD Group and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mas-architecture-studio">MAS Architecture</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/sici-design">Sici Design</a>, the project has been positioned as a collection of house-sized beachfront apartments, each occupying an entire floor with around 381 sqm of internal and external living space.

When construction commenced, MAYD director Todd Mould pointed to the long-term resilience of premium coastal real estate as a key driver behind the project.

“Real estate, particularly at the premium end, remains one of the most resilient and proven long-term investment avenues,” Mould said.

“Our ambition is that anyone who buys a MAYD-built product can genuinely feel the care, craftsmanship and commitment we bring to every detail.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323055]

Each residence has been configured with four bedrooms, multiple living zones, a private office, and expansive ocean-facing terraces. Interiors draw on a restrained material palette, including travertine stone, timber joinery, and integrated premium appliances.

Interior designer Sici Design said the approach was to reflect the project’s coastal setting through both materiality and spatial planning.

“ONE Burleigh is our vision of luxury living, designed to bring the essence of Burleigh Heads' vibrant coastal beauty into an unparalleled residential experience.”

Residents will have access to a suite of wellness-focused amenities, including pools, sauna facilities, and dedicated relaxation spaces, reflecting a broader shift toward lifestyle-driven apartment design on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146358 project_image_fid=323052]

The project occupies a southern Esplanade site with uninterrupted beachfront frontage, an increasingly rare offering in Burleigh Heads, free from the Norfolk Pines that line much of the coastline and often limit direct ocean outlook.

Mould said the design intent was to balance that outlook with a sense of retreat.

“Living at ONE Burleigh is about how your day naturally unfolds, morning light across the ocean, coffee on the balcony, and being in Burleigh but elevated above the noise.”

The result further reinforces Burleigh Heads’ emergence as one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held and supply-constrained beachfront markets, where boutique, owner-occupier-focused developments are increasingly setting new price benchmarks.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146358]

MAYD Group sets Queensland record with $30 million penthouse sale at ONE Burleigh in Burleigh Heads

Apartment developers in the Gold Coast are finding new, creative ways to differentiate themselves from competing projects, as new supply starts to flow through up and down the Coast.

Developer BIG Projects brought in the renowned Sydney-based design studio YSG Studio to craft the interiors for The Frederick, BIG Projects' new Mermaid Beach project and YSG Studio's first move into the multi-residential development space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5346]

It was a strategic move for BIG Projects to bring in a Sydney eye to the development.

“Our role is to give our design partners the space and freedom to explore,” says Matt Barrett, Director of BIG Projects.

“We wanted YSG Studio to capture the essence of Nobby’s, to design a building that embraces life, light and connection, while creating a genuine sense of place.”

There are only 39 apartments in The Frederick, including a striking beach house, just 100 metres from the booming Nobby Beach precinct.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5347]

Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio, says their vision&nbsp;for The Frederick "reinvents coastal living."

“Nobby’s has such an iconic energy, it’s one of those rare pockets of the Gold Coast where the community, the beach, and the streets all feel connected,” Ghoniem says.

"Responding to the neighbouring coastline, soothing curves add a relaxing regional overlay, while unique detailing really sets it apart. It’s a place that feels lived in from the moment you step inside.”

A standout feature of The Frederick is its rooftop terrace, an uncommon inclusion for a boutique, low-rise building, where amenity is typically concentrated at ground level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110588 project_image_fid=5360]

Positioned to capture panoramic views from the hinterland to the ocean, the rooftop has been designed as a series of intimate zones. It includes a pool, sauna, sun decks, workspaces and dedicated entertaining areas.

“The rooftop was conceived as a collection of spaces where residents can unwind and connect, an extension of the Nobby’s lifestyle,” Barrett says.

Architecture for the project was led by Plus Studio, with landscape design by LDG Landscape Architecture.

SRQ Projects Director Nick Clydsdale, who is handling sales at The Frederick, says the majority of enquiry is coming from South East QLD and Victorian buyers who have been actively searching between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach for some time.

"They’ve reviewed a number of projects, however this one has stood out for its unique detailing and compelling design,"&nbsp;Clydsdale says.

Site demolition is slated for this month, with construction commencing soon after. BIG Projects is targeting a late 2027 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=110588]

Sydney’s YSG Studio makes Gold Coast multi-residential debut with BIG Projects at The Frederick

Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;

Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;

The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;

The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;

Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" />

Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;

Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;

The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;

ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;

<img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" />

For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;

“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.

"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.

“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."

Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.

"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;

ALTA Property to deliver $200 million Queens Road apartment tower

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

<html><body>
Cricket Victoria has listed its East Melbourne headquarters.
It is a low-rise office on a 1,114 square metre block at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-vic-east+melbourne-502769314" target="_blank">86-90 Jolimont Street.</a>
It is listed through Colliers International.
The cricket body hopes to attract investors willing to spend above $10 million.
Cricket Australia has occupied its Jolimont site for around three decades.
It recently moved to the Citipower Centre at the Junction Oval in St Kilda.
The development opportunity is opposite a public park next to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The property has been listed in conjunction with transaction advisors Charter Keck Cramer.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Cricket Victoria lists East Melbourne HQ

<html><body>
The Canberra retail market, like markets across the country, have experienced difficult trading conditions over recent years, although some improvement has been noted of late.
Retail sale statistics issued in February by the ABS indicate growth has remained unchanged in seasonally adjusted terms in the ACT.
The trend is stable for retailers. Against this backdrop of retail activity is the geography of Canberra’s commercial property.
Retail areas in the ACT are structured to reflect the principles of a hierarchical system of centres, which comprises: The City Centre (also known as Canberra City or Civic), Town Centres (Woden, Belconnen, Tuggeranong, and Gungahlin), Group Centres include (Calwell, Charnwood, Chisholm, Conder, Curtin, Dickson, Erindale, Hawker, Jamison, Kaleen, Kambah, Kingston, Kippax, Manuka, Mawson, Wanniassa, Weston), and Local Centres.
Consequently, the ACT is well catered for the provision of goods and services. 
Although population continues to increase, supply levels of retail premises remain high and demand generally soft especially for those smaller local shopping centres that have struggled with declining patronage given the attraction of Group Centres and the Town Centres providing competition from larger supermarkets with a greater range of products.
Rents vary depending on the location, size and strength of the centre, plus the use and attributes of the premises.
The outlook for the Canberra retail market is for slow-medium take-up levels to continue over the next 12 months, with a need for incentives to continue.
A Canberra CBD two storey commercial building of approximately 365 square metre has been sold for $1.025 million (pictured below).
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-act-city-501962422" target="_blank">Located at 19-21 East Row</a>, it is within close proximity to the End of Trip for the proposed Light Rail on corner of Northbourne Avenue &amp; Alinga Street.
As a part of the Iconic Sydney Building, the ground floor has leased to Alice Thai Restaurant, while first Floor is presently vacant.
<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/2018/4/11/east%20row.jpg" alt="">
A Phillip property currently set up as a restaurant in the Sky Plaza has been listed for sale with $875,000 hopes (pictured below).
It is presented by David Toner from BMR Commercial. 
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-act-phillip-502744322" target="_blank">Located at unit 167, 98 Corinna St</a>, the 121 square metre property features car parking and an exclusive designated alfresco area.
<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/2018/4/11/corinna%20st.jpg" alt="">
 A Weston 136sqm unit has been listed currently on the rental market is priced at $66,733 (pictured below).
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-act-weston-502431134" target="_blank">The 8/21 Brierly St unit</a> is approximately 136 square metres and directly adjacent to the entrance of Cooleman Court.
The unit has recently been refurbished to create a more modern retail premise.It includes a large open shopfront, shopfront windows, access to toilets, and a back office/stock room. <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/2018/4/11/weston%20.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Canberra retail market experiencing difficult trading conditions

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
If you’re reading this article in your office, chances are the air conditioning is set to around 22°C. Setting the temperature to 25°C could cut your office’s daily air-conditioning energy consumption by 18%, drive down electricity bills and help save the planet.
But would it be too hot to think?
Not according to our study, published recently in the journal Building and Environment.
Our experiment found that office workers’ “cognitive load” – the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory – was not significantly affected by a little temperature boost.
What we did and how we did it
To test our hypothesis, we asked volunteers to sit some performance tests, under various air-con temperature settings. We ran the experiments at 22°C and 25°C.
Our experiments took place in the University of Sydney’s Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory climate chamber. It has a floor area of about 25 square metres, and is designed such that it’s easy for us to control the room temperature.
Participants sat at separate workstations, each consisting of a desk, a chair, and a computer.
A total of 26 office workers (12 men and 14 women) volunteered as subjects in this study.
A little over 70% of the participants were aged between 31 and 50 years and about a third were aged 30 years or under. These people had diverse employment circumstances, ranging from professional (35%) and technical (31%) to managerial (15%) and administrative (19%). Participants wore their normal office clothes, and were also free to adjust their clothing as they liked during the experiments.
All participants, in groups of two to four, were given half an hour to acclimatise to the environment, and then sat two one-hour tests (with a break in between the tests).
Before they sat the tests, our participants were fitted with a number of electrodes worn via a headset, so we could monitor their brain activity and “cognitive load” – how hard their brains were working – through an electroencephalogram (EEG). They also wore a heart rate monitor.
During each one-hour experiment session, participants first filled in a questionnaire designed to ascertain how comfortable they were with the room temperature. Then it was time to test how their brain power coped at the different temperature settings.
Assessing ‘cognitive load’
The first test they did is called the Cambridge Brain Science (CBS) test, which has been used in many studies aimed at measuring cognitive performance.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/213101/original/file-20180404-189813-1wdrvpq.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
The NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is a widely used assessment tool that rates perceived workload. Wikimedia, CC BY
Then, we asked them to fill in a questionnaire aimed at determining how challenging they found that task. This questionnaire is called the NASA Task Load Index and asks participants questions such as: how much mental and perceptual activity was required? Was the task easy or demanding, simple or complex?
After a 10 minute break, we then asked our participants to complete three different difficulty levels of another brain-power test, called the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). Again, when the test was over we asked them to fill in the NASA-TLX questionnaire to ascertain how cognitively challenging they found the test.
At the end of the one hour experiment session, our test participants then completed the thermal comfort questionnaire again.
Our results showed that their CBS test scores were not significantly affected by temperature.
In fact, many of the participants performed even better at a warmer temperature of 25°C, (but this could be due to what scientists call “the learning effect”, meaning it is not uncommon to do better the second time you sit a test compared to the first).
And when we analysed and compared the EEG and heart rate monitoring results during the PASAT tests, we did not find any significant difference, whether the room temperature was at 22°C or 25°C.
Why does this matter?
A typical Australian commercial lease stipulates indoor air temperatures of between 20°C and 24°C. This means that building managers or landlords who set the indoor temperature higher than 24°C during summer run the risk of breaching leases and incurring penalties.
However, the research shows there is no empirical evidence that this temperature range should be maintained. The significant over-cooling in commercial buildings not only often leads to office workers complaining their workplaces are too cold, but also affects building energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and electricity bills.
The standard 22°C setpoint for office air conditioning has prevailed in Australia for over a decade now. Many employers may fear that boosting the office temperature will make it too hot to think, and reduce worker productivity.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/93789/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">However, our study shows that boosting the office temperature a little can save energy and keep office workers comfortable without sacrificing their cognitive performance.
Dian Tjondronegoro, Professor of IT, Southern Cross University
Christhina Candido, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
Fan Zhang, Lecturer in Architectural Science, Griffith University
Shamila Haddad, Research Associate, University of Sydney
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/chill-out-a-slightly-warmer-office-wont-make-it-too-hot-to-think-93789" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Can we help save the planet from the office?

<html><body>
Investors tend to under-rate regional Australia. Among the many myths that clutter up the minds of typical investors is the one suggesting that capital cities always out-perform regional markets.
There’s plenty of evidence disproving that notion, but it’s a foolish concept anyway because it’s usually based on media reports of generalised data.
The passion of research firms and journalists to reduce growth to a single figure for major cities or indeed the entire nation is a frequent source of misinformation. 
These numbers sometimes suggest that capital cities are growing faster than the regions, but such data is useless information because within a generally unflattering regional overview (dragged down by struggling resources-related towns) may be individual locations which are doing very well.
But right now, the generalised numbers from CoreLogic have the regions outperforming the capital cities on overall growth.
That does not surprise me because most of the standout locations on price growth in the past 12 months are regional areas.
Newcastle has been one of the nation’s outstanding growth markets recently and some of the regional centres close to Melbourne, including Geelong and the towns of Cardinia Shire, are experiencing exceptional growth. Some suburbs and towns in these areas have increased more than 20% - and a few are above 30%.
The only capital city locations that can challenge them are some of the outer-ring areas of Melbourne, like the suburbs of Wyndham City down near Geelong.
Perhaps more important than these short-term results is a look at recent history, which shows that some of the outstanding growth spurts in Australia in the past 20 years have occurred in regional areas.
According to a recent analysis, the single biggest five-year growth spurt for house prices occurred in Regional Western Australia in the five years to 2008 (prices overall rose 121%). This was when regional centres like Port Hedland and Karratha were being pumped up by the massive investment boom in the resources sector.
Also during that period Regional Tasmania grew 89% and Regional Queensland was up almost 70%.
Another of the outstanding growth periods was achieved by Regional NSW in the five years to 2003, when prices grew an average of 84%, better than any of the capital cities during that boom time (the last time Australia had a genuine nationwide boom).
Also at that time, Regional Victoria prices increased 66% on average.
The No.1 growth area in the five years to 2013 was Regional Northern Territory, which rose 38% at a time when price growth was subdued in most parts of the nation.
Most of the regional growth performances mentioned above put Sydney’s recent five-year boom (prices up 64%, according to these figures) in the shade.
There’s enough juice in those numbers to consider that perhaps the regions have something to offer.
And according to Propertyology’s Simon Pressley, one of the best-researched analysts in the nation, regional Australia is likely to lead over the next five years.
“The best performing markets will be throughout regional Australia — there will be some that will perform exceptionally well,” Pressley says. 
He predicts the markets that will rise in the near future are those that he refers to as “regional hubs”. These are areas with a diversified economic base as opposed to one-industry towns — a “mini capital city”.
“There are a number of regional cities that actually play the role of a mini capital city and they service the smaller towns that might have a population of 5,000 to 10,000. There could be half a dozen or a dozen within a region.
“They’ve got all the essential infrastructure that a capital city has got and a diverse economy. It’s just a smaller scale of it, and literally there would be 30 of those locations. They’re in every state.” 
I wholeheartedly agree. Right now the ones I like include Ballarat, the Hunter Region and Townsville, but there are many others.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Newcastle one of nation's strongest growth areas as regional outperforms capitals

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
In the post-war decades, Australian communities invested heavily in church buildings. Like civic centres, swimming pools and shire halls, these buildings made an important contribution to the formation of a modern civic realm in Australia’s growing cities, suburbs and regional communities. Today, dwindling numbers of constituents and the amalgamation of congregations place many post-war church buildings at risk.
And yet – unlike their publicly funded counterparts – these buildings are largely ignored in architectural and heritage discussions. Few church buildings have any form of heritage protection. Could this be because this is an “uneasy heritage”?
Given current crises affecting the churches in Australia, and given the important role of these buildings in the post-war development of our cities, suburbs and towns, a public debate is necessary about their future. Should we allow these buildings to disappear from memory, or should they be preserved and/or repurposed?
For the whole of Australia only about 30 post-war ecclesiastical buildings are included on state heritage registers. It’s a meagre number, given that several thousand churches were built across the country during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
In Queensland alone, over 1,000 were built between 1945 and 1975. Of these, only six are on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Mirroring modern Australia’s emergence
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212565/original/file-20180329-189813-7wr89q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212565/original/file-20180329-189813-7wr89q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
St Andrews Presbyterian Church (c.1960, architect: Loder and Dunphy) in Gosford, New South Wales, was demolished in 2002. <a class="source" href="http://www.csec.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/image_viewer.htm?CSEC00852,4" target="_blank">Cross-Section, no. 95, Sept 1960</a>, Author provided
In immediate post-war years, modern church building in Australia made a hesitant start. A few small, rather conventional buildings cropped up here and there.
In the 1950s, however, hesitation gave way to optimism and resulted in increasing experimentation in church design. By the 1960s a genuine modern church building boom was under way.
Religious institutions strongly supported the Australian government’s bid to build a modern social welfare state. They not only built community-oriented churches, but also kindergartens, halls, primary and secondary schools, charity outreach centres, hospitals, etc.
From the 1960s churches and their architects increasingly recognised the need to rethink ecclesiastical architecture to cater to (rather than ignore or shun) modern society. This aggiornamento, or bringing up to date, in the religious sphere coincided with architects’ experiments with modern materials and construction technologies and innovative shapes and forms.
As a result, a new “type” of church emerged. This was one more attuned to its (commonly) residential surroundings and more sensitive to its context, both in terms of materiality and scale.
Examples abound, but of note are:
<ul>
<li>Kenmore Presbyterian Church by Robin Gibson (c.1968, Queensland), now Uniting Church</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212566/original/file-20180329-189816-1irq1d4.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/212566/original/file-20180329-189816-1irq1d4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Kenmore Presbyterian Church (c.1968, architect Robin Gibson) in Brisbane, Queensland. Lisa Marie Daunt (2000), Author provided 
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212567/original/file-20180329-189810-76c00f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212567/original/file-20180329-189810-76c00f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> 
St Christopher’s Catholic Church (c.1968, architect: Paul Wallace) in Anglesea, Victoria. <a class="source" href="http://www.csec.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/image_viewer.htm?CSEC01018,2" target="_blank">Cross-Section no.188, June 1968</a>, Author provided
<ul>
<li>
St Anne’s Church of England by Hely Bell &amp; Horne (c.1965, Como, NSW), which was repurposed in 1997 as a private residence along with its Sunday school building of the same age
</li>
<li>
St Christopher’s Catholic Church by Paul Wallace (c.1968, Anglesea, Victoria), which was damaged in the 1983 bushfires and rebuilt in 1984 to a revised design.
</li>
</ul>
These smaller, contextually sensitive churches that reflect the aggiornamento in the church represent the bulk of post-war modern church buildings in Australia. However, state heritage registers are mostly populated by their more “monumental” siblings.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212568/original/file-20180329-189810-17a2cfp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/212568/original/file-20180329-189810-17a2cfp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Holy Trinity National Memorial Finnish Lutheran Church (c.1961, architect: Frederick Romberg of Grounds, Romberg and Boyd) in Turner, Canberra, is on the ACT Heritage Register. Lisa Marie Daunt (2016)
For example, on the ACT register is Grounds, Romberg and Boyd’s 1961 Finnish Lutheran Church. Queensland’s register includes Cairns Cathedral, two churches by Eddie Oribin and a church and school chapel by Karl Langer (listings 601961, 60233, 601589, 602815 and 602816).
And yet it is the smaller, unassuming churches that made the greatest contribution to the formation of our post-war collective realm. More importantly, it is these churches that are under the greatest threat.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/94115/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">So, what is to be done? Is this part of our modern heritage best forgotten, along with the (at times) painful memories it evokes? Or can there be a future for Australia’s unassuming post-war modern buildings that were once the beating hearts of Australia’s urban and suburban communities?
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/214211/original/file-20180411-536-1duguz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/214211/original/file-20180411-536-1duguz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
St Monica’s War Memorial Cathedral (c.1968, architect: A. Ian Ferrier) in Cairns is on the Queensland Heritage Register. Ferrier Slide Collection, used with permission, Author provided
Lisa Marie Daunt, PhD Candidate in Architecture, The University of Queensland
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/uneasy-heritage-australias-modern-church-buildings-are-disappearing-94115" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: Good Shepherd Chapel (c.1969, architect: A. Ian Ferrier) in Mitchelton, Brisbane, was demolished in 2004. Ferrier Slide Collection, used with permission, Author provided.<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lisa-marie-daunt-456237"> </a>
</body></html>

Australia's modern church buildings are disappearing: Lisa Marie Daunt

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
<a href="http://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/housing-finance-at-6-month-high"></a>Housing finance to slow
<div id="post-body-3782979424120573100" class="post-body entry-content">
<div>The Housing Finance figures were released for February 2018 this week, reported as "Housing finance falls in February" (Australian), "Falls felt for February" (Rate City), and so on.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Interesting interpretations, given that housing finance was...well, up!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Anyway, having allowed a few days to elapse, here are four thoughts.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1 - Loan sizes up</div>
<div> </div>
<div>One less well reported thing that I picked up was the rise in the average loan size over the past year to non-first homebuyers. </div>
 <div class="separator"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sFMQ5qZidWg/WtGJFCzTDCI/AAAAAAAApZs/aQj0azYhYZIaNO6P5i4e-tqwiXO6IcE0gCLcBGAs/s1600/A.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sFMQ5qZidWg/WtGJFCzTDCI/AAAAAAAApZs/aQj0azYhYZIaNO6P5i4e-tqwiXO6IcE0gCLcBGAs/s640/A.jpg" width="640" height="370" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1380"></a></div>
 <div>Across the states, Victoria has been the main driver of rising average loan sizes, although each of the most populous states has seen an increase over the year. </div>
 <div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTDOLXluGZk/WtGdsxOO_wI/AAAAAAAApa0/gZ5P9igaXOweuEskDqxF_Lbb_8RxHBnmwCLcBGAs/s1600/B1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTDOLXluGZk/WtGdsxOO_wI/AAAAAAAApa0/gZ5P9igaXOweuEskDqxF_Lbb_8RxHBnmwCLcBGAs/s640/B1.jpg" width="640" height="376" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1377"></a></div>
 <div>As a result, owner-occupier commitments rose +1.3 per cent in February, and investor loans were up +0.5 per cent, taking total housing finance to a 6-month high of $33.52 billion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Drilling the trendlines through the data shows that total housing finance has essentially been flat for 15 months now, while a fair chunk of refinancing has been in evidence within that total.</div>
 <div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Bjss393W5U/WtGJFgDnoVI/AAAAAAAApZw/njaKD7l4b0YeEKNbUqyQmx4zk0-Po1RswCLcBGAs/s1600/A1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Bjss393W5U/WtGJFgDnoVI/AAAAAAAApZw/njaKD7l4b0YeEKNbUqyQmx4zk0-Po1RswCLcBGAs/s640/A1.jpg" width="640" height="376" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1377"></a></div>
 <div>2 - First homebuyer incentives bite</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Another notable trend was that first homebuyer loans were up by a third from a year earlier, driven by New South Wales, where the number of first homebuyers doubled from February 2017.</div>
 <div class="separator"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ibkv7O3WjA/WtGJGTuCnxI/AAAAAAAApZ4/1T7jjV8_T0w5zCq41Wx86Xe0xZPWDGBowCLcBGAs/s1600/A3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ibkv7O3WjA/WtGJGTuCnxI/AAAAAAAApZ4/1T7jjV8_T0w5zCq41Wx86Xe0xZPWDGBowCLcBGAs/s640/A3.jpg" width="640" height="382" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1359"></a></div>
 <div class="separator"> </div>
<div>Homebuyer commitments for new dwellings rose by +6.6 per cent from a month earlier, but are now in a trend decline from 4-decade highs. </div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ntJnZ5ey7U/WtGJHSE47qI/AAAAAAAApaA/uQkffE2SL4sQjzMQMv9_3JghWoZw38fNACLcBGAs/s1600/A6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ntJnZ5ey7U/WtGJHSE47qI/AAAAAAAApaA/uQkffE2SL4sQjzMQMv9_3JghWoZw38fNACLcBGAs/s640/A6.jpg" width="640" height="376" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1350"></a></div>
 <div>3 - Prevalence of non-banks</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thirdly, the trend result for non-bank lending declined in the month, and remains at only around half the peak levels of a decade ago, but will nevertheless remain a key point of interest as lending standards come into focus. </div>
 <div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIFtpR1pkCw/WtGJHYBPHsI/AAAAAAAApZ8/spmSAsGYg9ME6AkJBC5Jjs_eRtOZTkWHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/A4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIFtpR1pkCw/WtGJHYBPHsI/AAAAAAAApZ8/spmSAsGYg9ME6AkJBC5Jjs_eRtOZTkWHgCEwYBhgL/s640/A4.jpg" width="640" height="388" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1340"></a></div>
 <div>4 - Royal Commission to slow lending</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Overall housing finance beat expectations despite a small decline in the actual number of home loans. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) noted in its Financial Stability Review that an average of $120 billion of interest-only loans per annum are due for conversion between now and 2021.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Nothing unknown there, though some people misread that as $480 billion of loans that will convert to principal repayments, which isn't going to happen.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Elsewhere, Moody's reported 30+ day delinquencies at 1.45 per cent, down from 1.52 per cent a year earlier, despite some trouble spots including Gladstone, central Queensland, some suburbs of Perth, and other parts of Western Australia. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>A final point, and a key outcome to watch over the days and weeks ahead is the impact of the Royal Commission into banking misconduct.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It seems that borrowers will now be required to be provide statements on all debts, a loophole closure which appears likely to be a wise move. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, there could be some overreach in terms of brokers needing to audit bank statements to support declared living expenses broken down by category, the aim being to reduce the typical reliance on benchmarks. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>There are many problem with this, not least that borrowers tend to have multiple bank accounts and credit cards these days with different banks. Certainly private banking clients and affluent borrowers have never been subjected to such scrutiny, which may lead to some interesting discussions! </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Given that loans are already being assessed at mortgage rates way in excess of the rate actually being paid, it seems like overkill.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>If implemented forcefully this will slow the mortgage market and reduce transaction volumes as brokers and borrowers get to grips with the new requirements. Mortgage brokers would presumably also need to consider switching to a fee-for-service model to compensate for the exponential increase in paperwork and compliance. Regulators in the UK went through their own mortgage market review (MMR) in 2014 which ultimately lowered the risk of borrowers over-stretching and made the industry more professional. The MMR also temporarily gummed up the lending market, so we'll have to see what plays out Down Under. </div>
</div>
</body></html>

pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Royal Commission to slow property lending: Pete Wargent

<html><body>
The Blazing Stump Hotel, Wodonga has been sold for $6 million - reflecting a regional hotel yield of 6.76%. 
CBRE sold the freehold building at 4327 Anzac Parade, on behalf Wodonga Holdings Pty Ltd.
The property was purchased by a high net-worth local investor looking to expand and diversify their property portfolio.
The gaming hotel investment has a site area of 5,708 square metres just minutes from the Wodonga CBD.
It is subject to a long-term lease with a commencing annual income of $406,000 per annum. 
</body></html>

$6 million paid for freehold Wodonga hotel

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is expected to support 28,000 people, 6% of all NDIS participants. However, the NDIS has provided limited information about the demand for this specialist housing. Now a newly published study has found the existing supply of SDA needs to grow by 60% to house the 28,000 people the NDIS expects to fund.
The report identified another 33,200 people with very high support needs who “may require SDA on top of the 17,500 already in this form of housing. Of these 33,200 people, 6,200 people are under 64 residing in aged care.”
These are among the insights revealed in the government-funded report by the Summer Foundation, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and SGS Economics &amp; Planning.
It is important to understand the nature and scale of demand, given that SDA is expected to account for NDIS spending of A$700 million a year when the scheme is fully implemented. The transformation from grants-based funding to a market-based system in which people with disabilities control their own funding is predicted to create a A$5 billion disability housing market over the next five years.
What is SDA?
Specialist Disability Accommodation ensures the housing requirements of people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs are delivered.
SDA payments cover a wide range of housing options, depending on the individual’s needs. By including the payment in the individual’s support plan, the person with disability should have choice and control over where they live and who they live with.
Of course, this depends on a fully functioning, mature and competitive market in which providers compete to provide housing to NDIS participants. SDA payment rates have been set to cover the cost of capital and to incentivise a new market.
What are the key findings?
Comparing existing SDA places with the NDIS’s current projected demand across the country, the study found the supply of such housing needs to grow by 60%. The largest required rate of increase, 120%, is in the ACT. New South Wales requires the most new SDA places (3,290).
The study found the greatest demand in locations with the highest population growth. As an illustration, in southwestern Sydney, the NDIS is expected to increase the current 137 SDA places to 492. That’s 360% growth in disability housing in the area.
The results highlight the differences in people living in current SDA (mainly government-funded group homes) and the population representing the potential demand for SDA.
People in the potential demand group have a far younger age profile. More than two-thirds are under 45 years and half of them are under 34. People now living in SDA have a median age of 42.
The potential demand group also has a very different disability profile. Those living in SDA are predominantly people with intellectual disability. The potential demand group still has a significant proportion of people with intellectual disability, but physical and neurological disabilities become more prevalent. This profile suggests the future SDA cohort will need much more highly accessible housing.
The qualitative component of the study highlights that people who are eligible for SDA have aspirations for housing that is very different from where they live now. Their housing preferences are unlikely to be met by the dominant group home model – most want to live on their own or with friends in a share-house arrangement.
This highlights the need for apartment-style living where people can live independently in their own home with easy access to on-site support.
NDIS pricing encourages these developments. It will provide more than A$107,000 a year for a two-bedroom apartment in addition to the NDIS participant’s rent contribution.
What do the findings mean for policy?
This study provides much-needed insights into the SDA market, which will help potential providers better understand future demand.
However, the study’s predictions of the amount of new SDA housing to be constructed are likely to be underestimates. The study’s underlying assumption is that the current stock will continue to provide housing. In practice, much of the existing SDA stock will need to be redeveloped or replaced to be competitive in a market-based system.
The decommissioning of old stock will also help Australia to meet its obligations under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons. This states: 
"Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others and are not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement."
Group home living arrangements are inconsistent with this because they force people with disabilities to live with others who, in most cases, they have not chosen.
Recent government inquiries have also shown that group homes are rife with abuse and neglect. Last year over 100 academics wrote an open letter to the prime minister in support of a royal commission into the abuse, with some calling for group homes to be phased out.
When the NDIS is fully rolled out and participants have the freedom to move out of outdated and segregated group homes, they will be seeking a very different type of housing arrangement than they were forced to endure before the NDIS.
This report shows that developers have a significant opportunity to capitalise on the unmet demand. They can achieve sizeable returns while also having a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities.
How was the study conducted?
In the absence of official NDIS data, the Summer Foundation study analysed data from state-funded disability service systems. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) compiled this data in the Disability Services National Minimum Data Set. The analysis used data from before the transition of most areas to the NDIS, providing a comprehensive snapshot of people using state-funded disability services.
Likely shortfalls in SDA supply were modelled by distributing the expected supply of 28,000 NDIS-funded accommodation places and comparing that to current populations. In addition to identifying areas with major shortfalls, the analysis modelled potential demand from existing service users with very high support needs who were living in other settings, mainly the family home with ageing parents. This included young people living in nursing homes.
George Taleporos, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/93479/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">The author wishes to acknowledge the contribution of Robin Zakharov, senior policy adviser at the Summer Foundation.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ndis-needs-the-market-to-help-make-up-at-least-60-shortfall-in-specialist-disability-housing-93479" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

NDIS needs the market to help make up at least 60% shortfall in specialist disability housing: George Taleporos

<html><body>
The Reserve Bank of Australia has quietly called for tenders from real estate agents to sell its Melbourne offices.
It is a B-grade, 15-storey tower on the corner of Collins and Exhibition streets.
No agency has yet been chosen, Fairfax Media reported.
The Bank now occupies only 10% of the building.
Reserve Bank staff occupy about 300 square metres on the top floor of 60 Collins Street.
All tenants in the building occupying the remainder of the 12,000 square metres of lettable space have been notified in writing of the forthcoming sale.
The building contains a high security strongroom vault used for storing gold bullion and exchanging bank notes which has now been transferred to a newly built facility the bank’s note printing works in Craigieburn on the Hume Freeway on Melbourne’s outskirts.
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

RBA looking to offload Melbourne office

<html><body>
Dubbo in regional New South Wales is the only region at the peak of the retail market, finds valuation firm Herron Todd White.
Sydney and Melbourne are offering strong retail markets, however Brisbane is starting to decline.
Dubbo currently has four retail properties up for sale, one the <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-dubbo-502456842" target="_blank">Jubilee Street Shops.</a>
The three retail spaces which are available in one line are being marketed from $99,000.
One is currently tenanted
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/4/11/clockcomm.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/4/11/clockcomm.jpg" alt="">
 
 
Herron Todd White noted the strong Sydney market over the last year.
"The retail market in Sydney has seen substantial growth over the past 12 months as a result of increased demand for good investment assets, growth in rental income and generally lower vacancy rates," the report suggested.
They believe the next 12 months will follow the same trend.
Melbourne's retail market performed in similar fashion
Herron Todd White noted it was duo to limited quality stock available and strengthening purchaser demand.
Brisbane are declining after feeling the loss of major retailers departure.
"The recently announced massive headline loss by the Myer Group and the troubles surrounding the Retail Food Group have intensified the focus on the retail sector and it is generally perceived as having the highest risk profile of all principal asset classes," Herron Todd White said of the Brisbane retail market.
 
 
</body></html>

Latest Investing Insights

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Investing Insights

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News