Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/azure">Azure</a> is has been greenlit for its $115 million residential project within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct in Southport

Following the acquisition of the site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/1-clarke-street-southport-qld-4215">1 Clarke Street</a> in October 2025 with development application Lodgement in January 2026, Azure has been granted approval for the 114 terraces which will form the final stage of the wider Lumina development.

“It’s a fantastic milestone for us to receive the green light on our second Gold Coast project,” said Trent Keirnan, Founder of Azure.

“The Gold Coast continues to evolve, with demand for considered, high-quality residences at an all-time high. This project has been thoughtfully shaped to respond to that demand.

“We’ve worked closely with Economic Development Queensland to bring this project forward, and the collaboration has been both proactive and highly considered. Their shared commitment to quality housing outcomes has enabled a streamlined approvals process and a strong result for the precinct.”&nbsp;

Appealing to a wide demographic, the project will deliver a range of two- and three-storey designs comprising a collection of three-bedroom terrace homes as well as one- and two-bedroom apartment-style residences. The designs by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a>&nbsp;focus on&nbsp;“urban coastalism”.

Residents will have access to an array of lifestyle amenities, including a resort-style pool with multiple lounging zones and landscaped gardens.

The residential offering will support the thriving Health and Knowledge Precinct, which includes Griffith University, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Private Hospital and the new RDX Lumina and Proxima Towers, which are home to a range of health, education and research tenancies, including a 200-place childcare centre.

Azure aims for an off-market release for the project in the third quarter of this year, at the same time as construction is anticipated to start.

Joel Robinson

Azure approved for new townhouse development in Southport

Fortis has secured approval for a 57-room hotel at Richmond Square, marking another milestone in the delivery of the $330 million mixed-use precinct in Melbourne's inner east.

The hotel will occupy Levels 1 and 2 of Carmine House and forms part of Fortis' vision for Richmond Square, a precinct that will bring together apartments, hospitality, wellness and lifestyle offerings between Richmond and Cremorne.

Once complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/richmond-square-1-wiltshire-street-richmond-vic-3121">Richmond Square</a> will comprise 107 residences across Wiltshire House and Carmine House, alongside the hotel, hospitality venues, wellness facilities and a range of services aimed at both residents and visitors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348529]

The approval adds another layer to what Fortis is creating at Richmond Square, as developers increasingly look beyond standalone apartment buildings and towards mixed-use precincts that provide amenity and activation beyond the front door.

Jordan Winada, Head of Acquisitions (Commercial) Victoria at Fortis, said the approval was an important step in delivering the broader vision for the project.

"Richmond Square has always been about creating a destination rather than simply delivering residential apartments," Winada said.

"As buyer expectations continue to evolve, we're seeing increasing demand for developments that offer convenience, connection and access to high-quality experiences and amenity as part of everyday life.

"The hotel approval allows us to further realise that vision and create a precinct where residential living is complemented by hospitality, services and amenity in a way that is rarely seen in Melbourne's CBD and city fringe."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348530]

The hotel will also support a range of optional services for residents of Carmine House, including housekeeping and linen refresh programs, laundry and dry-cleaning services, in-residence food and beverage delivery, grocery and pantry stocking services, and concierge assistance.

The approval comes as owner-occupiers continue to dominate Australia's new apartment market, with buyers increasingly seeking developments that offer convenience, flexibility and lifestyle amenity alongside their homes.

Winada said buyers are now placing greater emphasis on the broader precinct and surrounding amenity when making purchasing decisions.

"Residential amenity is no longer limited to what sits within an apartment building. Buyers are increasingly assessing the broader lifestyle ecosystem surrounding their home and the ways in which a precinct can support their day-to-day needs.

"Richmond Square has been designed to provide that experience through a carefully curated mix of residential, hospitality and lifestyle offerings that work together to create a more connected way of living."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13181 project_image_fid=348534]

The hotel is expected to open in early 2027, with the operator to be announced later this year.

Further hospitality, retail and lifestyle tenants are also expected to be revealed in the coming months as Fortis continues to shape the offering at Richmond Square.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13181]

Fortis approved for hotel component of Richmond Square precinct

Having successfully expanded into a new region with its Caloundra apartment development, Sunset by Dusk Group, growing South East Queensland developer Dusk Group is again venturing into new territory.

The developer has lodged plans for a 70-apartment project in the Moreton Bay region, to be known as <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sunrise-on-sutton-25-sutton-street-redcliffe-qld-4020">Sunrise on Sutton</a>, named after its prime Sutton Street location, just one street back from Suttons Beach.

<img alt="Sutton" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88a9f9ee-6ace-47f5-a0c6-8fb134b27e98" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-15%20at%209.20.42%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=iMXmJ7_BNZAmCt.jjupMSLdV_Qa9zJAK" />

Dusk Group Directors Huw Feeney and Anthony Short seized the opportunity to acquire the near-1,800 sqm amalgamated corner site at Sutton and Ella Streets for their first project in the area.

They have again enlisted MAS Architecture Studio, the architects behind Sunset by Dusk, to design the new eight-storey development.

The building will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and has been designed to maximise views towards Suttons Beach, Margate Beach and Moreton Bay.

Pending approvals, the project could launch before the end of the year.

<img alt="Dusk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90c0c26c-096c-4ceb-8c58-f8303aea542f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-15%20at%209.20.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=nw8bqQtpOrf5nA95tuYhtqdB59YUzmO0" />

The development will provide 111 car parking spaces and 40 bicycle spaces.

Positioned within walking distance of Suttons Beach, Bluewater Square, Redcliffe Hospital and the Redcliffe Paceway, the development will sit within one of the peninsula's increasingly urbanised coastal pockets.

Redcliffe's new apartment market remains exceptionally tight, with Gardner Vaughan Group's One Redcliffe currently the only new apartment development actively being marketed in the beachside suburb.

It's another beach-focused development for Dusk Group, who has seen considerable success at its Caloundra apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sunset-by-dusk-group-caloundra-5-7-bombala-terrace-caloundra-qld-4551">Sunset by Dusk Group</a>.

Over 80 per cent of the 36 apartments have sold ahead of its early 2027 completion.

&nbsp;

First look: Dusk Group targets Suttons Beach precinct with 70-apartment Redcliffe proposal

Leading Brisbane developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group (CPG)</a> has completed and settled $450 million worth of apartments at Monarch Residences in Toowong, marking one of Brisbane’s most significant and prestigious riverfront residential completions in recent years.

The final apartment at Monarch sold at auction on the 30th May for $4.1m.&nbsp;

The milestone has been marked at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/monarch-residences-toowong-600-coronation-drive-toowong-qld-4066">Monarch Residences</a>, with Cr Penny Wolff highlighting the importance of completing major residential projects to boost the city’s much-needed housing supply.

The 224 apartments, delivered across two 15-level towers, are now officially in the hands of owners, including Brisbane downsizers, families and professionals who have traded traditional houses for apartment living. The completion underscores sustained demand for absolute riverfront living in Brisbane’s inner west.

<img alt="$450M Monarch Residences sells out as Brisbane riverfront demand surges" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56ae05e9-092f-41f0-98a1-a10984fdd171" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ROBNN_MONARCHLAUNCHEVENT-131.jpg?VersionId=p76J6weGZqseNrE6aOAjmAHUah.y65Gd" />

Monarch Residences was planned and delivered over four years on a 1.2-hectare parcel with more than 130 metres of direct frontage to the Brisbane River, occupying one of the last remaining true riverfront sites of its scale and orientation within close proximity to the CBD. The site has been transformed from an underutilised, derelict block of land, into a thriving residential precinct with Middenbury House at its centre.&nbsp;

Consolidated Properties Group CEO and Chairman Don O’Rorke says the project’s completion represents the culmination of years of careful planning, design collaboration, market conviction and outstanding team delivery.

“We announced Monarch Residences in late 2021 and it’s been one of the most strongly received residential projects in our 45-year history,” Mr O’Rorke said.

"We are incredibly grateful to the outstanding team who helped bring Monarch Residences to life. A special thank you to Hutchinson Builders and their hardworking labour force for delivering a development of exceptional quality that our residents will be proud to call home for many years to come.

“Brisbane City Council and Titles Queensland also played a huge role in getting residents into their homes early through the pilot programs they ran to speed up the approval processes. They understand the challenges of the housing industry and are doing something about it.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113455 project_image_fid=211466]

Consolidated Properties Group Head of Residential, James MacGinley said Monarch Residences showed what could be achieved when private industry and government worked together to deliver new housing for Brisbane.

“Monarch Residences has delivered more than 200 new apartments in Brisbane’s inner-west at a time when additional housing supply is critically important,” MacGinley said.

“It’s fantastic to see residents now moving into this landmark riverfront development, which reflects the strength of collaboration between Council and the project team throughout delivery.

“All government agencies played a significant hand in achieving a fast-tracked outcome for Monarch Residences with Brisbane City Council, Urban Utilities, Energex and Titles Queensland assisted to remove hurdles to achieve settlements.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113455 project_image_fid=302326]

With Monarch Residences now complete, CPG has launched River Living, a bespoke on-site property management service designed to enhance the resident experience. The service will support all future CPG residential projects, including the recently announced <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> in Yeerongpilly and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a> in Newstead.

The completion also marks the opening of a prized leasing opportunity at the heritage-listed Middenbury House, built in 1865 and which has been carefully restored and integrated into the broader masterplan.&nbsp;

CPG said the adaptive reuse of the landmark riverfront residence presents an opportunity to introduce a complementary boutique tenancy that respects the site’s historic significance while activating the riverfront frontage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113455 project_image_fid=211495]

Colliers Director of Residential Andrew Scriven said the move-in phase highlights continued demand for completed premium riverfront apartments in Brisbane.

“Residents are now experiencing firsthand the scale, craftsmanship and irreplaceable riverfront position that Monarch offers,” Scriven said.

“Opportunities to secure a brand-new, completed residence on Brisbane’s absolute riverfront are exceptionally rare. Combined with the proven track record of Consolidated Properties Group and Hutchinson Builders, combined with a design vision brought to life by some of Australia’s leading architects and designers, Monarch represents a unique opportunity to purchase a home of enduring quality and prestige.”

Monarch Residences was designed in collaboration with Melbourne-based architect Wardle Studio, alongside leading national practice Cottee Parker, with construction delivered by Hutchinson Builders.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113455]

Consolidated Properties Group sells out Monarch Residences as Brisbane riverfront demand surges

An entity directed by HSN's Rafi Assouline and Rebel Property's Allen Linz has filed plans for an impressive new precinct in Woolloomooloo.

The major mixed-use development would transform a prominent William Street site into a new residential village anchored by affordable housing and a large public park.

The proposal, submitted as a State Significant Development Application, covers 164-172 and 174-194 William Street, a 6,398 sqm site between Forbes Street and Dowling Street on the southern edge of Woolloomooloo.

Designed by fjcstudio in collaboration with Bangawarra, Studio Bright and Tribe Studio Architects, the scheme would deliver 227 apartments across four residential buildings ranging in height up to 18 storeys, alongside retail space, public domain improvements and a new publicly accessible park.

<img alt="Rebel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0eb59b7c-914a-4a5c-b849-3a56749f5e93" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-12%20at%2011.18.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=mxM6EEqeoLjrCiTlCzTKTvzpKuh6kSkH" />

It's another design scheme for Rebel, who took <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-rebel-property-group-takes-woolloomooloo-precinct-to-nsw-government">concept plans to the NSW Gov late last year</a>.

The latest plans will be a mix of 167 build-to-sell apartments and 60 affordable apartments, with the affordable housing component representing 15 per cent of the project's gross floor area. The apartment mix includes 12 one-bedroom, 53 two-bedroom, 89 three-bedroom apartments and 13 penthouses, while the affordable housing component would comprise 42 one-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom apartments.

<img alt="Rebel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3b3d4553-8a8c-4af5-aa8c-519ffb1e28c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-12%20at%2011.20.12%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=_Yb6ibN7eDnOtQjCNDK2eviORa4qzgv." />

Rebel Property is seeking to take advantage of the NSW Government's infill affordable housing bonus provisions under the Housing SEPP, which provide additional floor space and height in exchange for the delivery of affordable housing for a minimum of 15 years. The planning pathway allows a 30 per cent increase in floor space ratio and building height where 15 per cent of the development is dedicated to affordable housing.

&nbsp;

At the centre of the development is a 1,356 sqm sunlit public park designed to become a new community gathering space at the gateway to Woolloomooloo. The park would be complemented by a network of pedestrian laneways connecting William Street with the surrounding streets, improving permeability through what is currently a largely impermeable block.

<img alt="Rebel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="257af931-a393-4007-8c6d-7219796df58d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-12%20at%2011.20.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=KAHy94GrhaReFsWTGDKfy39EDJ8gEEv4" />

The design team says the public domain has been heavily influenced by the site's topography and Aboriginal cultural heritage, drawing on the escarpments, gullies and landscape characteristics that historically defined the area before urbanisation. The landscape design has been developed in partnership with First Nations consultancy Bangawarra.

The project would be delivered across four separate buildings. The William Street East and William Street West buildings, designed by fjcstudio, would contain the majority of the apartments. Melbourne-based Studio Bright has designed the Forbes Street building, while Tribe Studio Architects is responsible for the Dowling Street building.

Rebel had secured approval for the concept plans late last year.

First look: HSN, Rebel, advances Woolloomooloo precinct plans

Connectivity

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The National Broadband Network’s FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) connections are costing $4405 on average and are among the most expensive in the world, according to an industry expert.
Rod Tucker, a telecommunications expert and professor at the University of Melbourne, told the Senate committee overseeing NBN that Australia FTTP connections on average per premises was way higher than New Zealand’s $NZ2800 ($2677) and even the United States’ $US1719 ($2259), The Australian reported.
“Australia’s FTTP rollout is likely to be one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive, in the world,” he said in a question on notice tabled in the Senate.
Even new technologies were not able to reduce connection costs, Dr Tucker said.
For comparison, he said Verizon in the US had halved FTTP connection costs since the start of the rollout while in France and Spain, operator Orange had reduced connection costs by 10 per cent each year.
NBN Co, however, claims that this cost is fixed, Dr Tucker said.
In fact, many countries with high GDP per capita, like Australia, have in fact lower costs for FTTP.
An NBN spokeswoman told the Australian that the “extremely high cost of deploying FTTP to every single premise is why almost every country around the world is deploying a mixture of technologies to deliver better broadband”.
“Whilst smaller countries like Singapore may not be able to ­afford to deliver FTTP to every single premise, larger countries like the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the UK and ­others are deploying a combination of ... technologies to deliver better broadband — just as we are doing at NBN.”
Adding to the controversy is recent research by the Centre for Research Excellence in the Social Determinants of Health Equity that examined the rollout of NBN technologies as of December 2016. It said "preliminary analyses suggest areas of greatest socio-economic disadvantage overlap with regions typically receiving NBN infrastructure of poorer quality". 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

NBN network rollout costs among the highest in the world

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GUEST OBSERVATION
COVID-19 has forced us into social distancing, isolation and quarantine. These conditions are likely fostering widespread <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30460-8/fulltext">anxiety and loneliness</a> in our cities. However, they’ve also made the need for socially connected, vibrant public spaces obvious to all.
We offer four strategies for rebuilding social connectivity and emotional well-being in our cities, once restrictions are lifted.
Changing the emotional climate
Enforced distancing measures are probably changing not just our work, travel and family routines, but how we interact with others and how we feel about ourselves and our communities.
Loneliness is <a href="https://theconversation.com/loneliness-is-a-social-cancer-every-bit-as-alarming-as-cancer-itself-126741">bad for your health</a> and is likely on the rise. There is no guarantee the pandemic-driven shift towards <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-social-media-make-us-more-or-less-lonely-depends-on-how-you-use-it-128468">more digital communication</a> will compensate for the lost emotional closeness of in-person contact.
As loneliness becomes more common, it creates a change in what sociologists refer to as “<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258997923_Towards_a_Theory_of_Collective_Emotions">emotional climates</a>” – the collective feelings experienced and shared by most people within a given city or society. A “mass emotional event” like COVID-19 can dramatically alter the emotional climate. It’s so disruptive that it leads to a permanent change in everyday emotional states, expressions and social interactions.
COVID-19 has strong potential to make us not only lonelier, but more distrustful, fearful, anxious and angry. The emerging evidence of this includes: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-16/coronavirus-is-not-a-threat-to-food-supply-experts-say/12058412">panic buying of goods</a>; abuse and stigma of “risky” carers such as <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-05/nsw-nurses-midwives-abused-during-coronavirus-pandemic/12123216">health workers</a>; and potential increases in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/15/domestic-abuse-killings-more-than-double-amid-covid-19-lockdown">domestic violence</a> and <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/why-pets-are-at-risk-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic?cid=news:socialshare:twitter">animal cruelty</a>.
It has even been <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/we-re-grieving-collectively-finding-calm-in-a-pandemic-20200409-p54ipe">suggested</a> we are collectively processing and moving through the stages of mass grief.
It’s important to remedy negative emotional climates with strategies to reconnect communities, allay fears and better prepare us for any <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=xKf_I2SYfQUC&amp;pg=PA284&amp;lpg=PA284&amp;dq=era+of+returned+pandemics+beaglehole&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=nsErrqzub6&amp;sig=ACfU3U3dlpHNJvxKsqaWrNKsL2EViHkMKw&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi90_PezeToAhUtyzgGHVx-Cs8Q6AEwCXoECAwQKQ#v=onepage&amp;q=era%20of%20returned%20pandemics%20beaglehole&amp;f=false">future shutdowns</a>. We can even aim to promote positive emotional climates and “<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/kindness-outbreak-keeping-people-occupied-and-entertained-20200316-p54and?fbclid=IwAR3RiXvSw29EUBNzE79CwMbBtZKvU-">kindness pandemics</a>”.
4 ways to build better communities
COVID-19 is an opportunity to build on what we know and to learn from this situation. It’s possible to promote social and emotional well-being. We suggest four key approaches for building better communities that do this.
1) Design walkable, social, flexible public spaces
Recent work-from-home practices have reduced car traffic by up to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-11/how-coronavirus-could-forever-change-our-cities-and-suburbs/12137122">50% on arterial roads</a>. However, they have also prompted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-11/how-coronavirus-could-forever-change-our-cities-and-suburbs/12137122">cabin fever</a> and a craving for exercise and social contact.
Cities and suburbs should be redesigned to support physical and social activity and mental health. We need a greater emphasis on <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-s-inner-west-gets-20m-for-cycleways-to-revitalise-open-spaces-20200421-p54lsl">cycle- and pedestrian-friendly spaces</a>. There should also be renewed focus on building walkable town centres and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-11/how-coronavirus-could-forever-change-our-cities-and-suburbs/12137122">neighbourhood high streets</a>, rather than continuing with car-dependent suburban sprawl.
Recent examples of innovative and flexible use of space by business are inspiring. Whether cafes become corner stores, <a href="https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/sydneys-bars-restrictions">pubs sell takeaway cocktails</a>, parks become gyms, or <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/social-cities/">car parks become pop-up businesses</a>, flexible use of space should become commonplace.
2) Integrate public and online spaces
Our new <a href="https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers/3836/">online communication skills</a> can help us develop a better <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-social-media-make-us-more-or-less-lonely-depends-on-how-you-use-it-128468">physical-digital interface</a> for bringing people together.
Video conferencing is flexible and can enable long-distance connection and “work from home” hubs. However, social media platforms, such as Facebook, Meetup, WhatsApp or art-based apps like <a href="https://www.mirandajuly.com/somebody-2/?fbclid=IwAR2PfAyCNFei9_F14z7veslK4Lnzay_Kb4w9iPCWfQYHvRrWWlvU_KhvGwY">Somebody</a>, are useful for organising physical meetings too. These can can help with community volunteering, socialising, or simply sharing <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/kindness-outbreak-keeping-people-occupied-and-entertained-20200316-p54and?fbclid=IwAR3RiXvSw29EUBNzE79CwMbBtZKvU-V_p9SaGBWFkt2QTrHX_wg7OjZMs34">guerrilla-garden herbs for local cooking</a>.
A better physical-digital interface could help new jobs flourish in “interactive” creative industries that virtually connect isolated individuals. New art spaces could be established, putting connective digital infrastructure, such as audio-visual platforms, within physical spaces to help face-to-face and virtual audiences interact.
3) Provide quality housing
COVID-19 has exposed the vast variability in the quality of Australian housing. Many homes lack the space to accommodate work, study, relaxation, exercise and socialising, or spaces where people can seek <a href="https://www.wearethemighty.com/MIGHTY-SURVIVAL/covid-19-memes?rebelltitem=60#rebelltitem60">privacy and quiet</a>. Housing also varies in its access to fresh air, light, temperature control and <a href="http://www.mentalhealthpromotion.net/resources/the-built-environment-and-mental-health.pdf%20https://eprints.qut.edu.au/84990/">healthy green spaces</a>.
Designing future homes with these needs and features in mind should be a priority.
4) Build with different needs and stigma in mind
The impacts of COVID-19 will not be felt equally. Post-COVID-19 cities should take this into account.
COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of people <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2020/04/12/might-the-pandemic-be-a-lifeline-for-the-rich-worlds-homeless?fbclid=IwAR2IAYqOHV7NeeH299AQySy8tUZM3JEFEPUofL18VZ9FB3IIikvAxUWM9kE">experiencing homelessness</a>. It has also greatly increased the risk of loneliness for the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0%7E2016%7EMain%20Features%7ESnapshot%20of%20Australia,%202016%7E2">one in four Australians who live alone</a>. This applies particularly to older Australians with a mobility impairment.
The pandemic has also highlighted the safety risks of centralised living arrangements <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewpulrang/2020/03/08/5-things-to-know-about-coronavirus-and-people-with-disabilities/#eef2b4d1d21f">like nursing homes</a>.
We must prioritise the creation of housing that reduces isolation and promotes social connection.
Recent positive public conversations on <a href="https://www.insider.com/coronavirus-memes-people-joking-about-covid-19-to-reduce-stress-2020-3#of-course-theres-a-subset-of-coronavirus-content-imagining-how-the-pandemic-would-play-out-on-an-episode-of-the-office-5">social media</a> and within the <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/48442/1/how-artist-edward-hopper-became-the-poster-boy-of-quarantine-culture">arts community</a> on previously stigmatised emotions like loneliness and anxiety will help keep these concerns on the public agenda.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/136606/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/roger-patulny-94836">Roger Patulny</a>, Associate Professor of Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jordan-mckenzie-255341">Jordan McKenzie</a>, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marlee-bower-1000885">Marlee Bower</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-e-olson-273960">Rebecca E. Olson</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/reconnecting-after-coronavirus-4-key-ways-cities-can-counter-anxiety-and-loneliness-136606">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Reconnecting after coronavirus – 4 key ways cities can counter anxiety and loneliness

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83162/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
With all of the negative press about Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN), consumers who have the option to switch to the NBN from a working broadband connection might be forgiven for being cautious.
After the NBN is made available in an area, residents have up to 18 months to switch from their current plans to one provided on the NBN. Once it is available in an area however, residents are usually deluged with offers from various internet service providers (ISPs) about switching, making it hard to ignore. 
<h2>Moving to NBN on HFC</h2>
In my area in Western Australia, I have had HFC from Telstra for many years and so changing to the NBN does not involve a change in the underlying technology. Although some researchers have classified HFC as being an inferior technology to Fibre to the Node, it is actually capable of delivering speeds of 100 Mbps down and 40 Mbps up. Within the next one to two years HFC will be capable of 1 Gbps speeds with the roll out of DOCSIS 3.1. 
HFC connections may still suffer if ISPs do not adequately provision adequate CVC capacity on the NBN but HFC does not have the same limitations as Fibre to the Node with regard to the distance from the node. There is also a possibility that the NBN will see more homes connected to a node than was the case when Telstra ran the network. This may also impact performance.
In my case, I was consistently getting speeds of 100 Mbps for downloads but only 2 Mbps for uploads. Prior to the NBN, these speeds have been a luxury for those Australian’s who lived in areas that were services by Telstra and Optus with HFC.
Making the switch to the NBN was relatively simple but uncovered some decisions that it is worth spending time considering. If doing a conversion, some of the options aren’t made obvious by the sales team and so need to be explicitly requested.
<h2>The question of speed</h2>
Once you have decided on an ISP, there is the question of what speed of connection is available at any given residence. HFC doesn’t suffer from a slowdown based on the distance from the “node” and so speeds up to 100 Mbps are available. ISPs like Telstra however, sell plans based on download limits and at the default of 25 Mpbs. Choosing up to 100 Mbps costs another AUD 30 a month. 
It seems that for most Australians who have connected to the NBN, the default of 25 Mbps has been the most popular choice, with 53% of fixed connections being at 25 Mbps and a further 29% at the lowest tier of 12 Mbps. For the average family just watching streaming video and using social media and browsing, this is likely to be fine. It has resulted however in the overall average speed of internet connections in Australia remaining low at 10.1 Mbps.
<h2>Choice of wireless router</h2>
Another choice that doesn’t seem important at the time is the choice of wireless router that ISPs offer. Here again, the default for Telstra is a basic Sagemcom F@ST 5535. And it is basic. It doesn’t support the fastest wireless protocols used by recent smartphones and laptops, 802.11ac. The fixed cable connections from the router are also not the fastest kind. Not having the fastest wireless can make a significant difference to the overall speed of the internet connection of devices and so it is always worth upgrading. 
Some of the routers also have the ability to fail over to using 4G if the NBN connection is not available for any reason. This may be important because on the NBN, the landline phone is switched over to using the main internet connection using Voice over IP (VoIP) and not the physical connection over the old copper network. However, if the power goes out, the phone will also be unavailable even by this route.
Other than for the phone connection, any wireless router can be connected to the NBN modem. The Telstra router can then be simply used for the phone connection and its WiFi switched off. 
<h2>Making the switch</h2>
For me, and I stress the personal nature of this, the switch was fast, efficient and painless. From contacting Telstra, the wireless router was shipped within 4 days and the appointment with the NBN technician booked for a week after the order was placed. Any interaction with the Telstra NBN connection staff involved little wait times and the only negatives were some confusing emails and an order status that said the order was delayed when it wasn’t.
The NBN technician arrived and didn’t need to switch the physical box attached to the wall outside the house. It was just a question of plugging in the modem, making sure it worked, and telling NBN and Telstra to switch it all on. The technician gave me advice of avoiding being disconnected when making the switch over from the old system to the new and then left, although I had been barraging him with questions about how the rollout was going. 
Getting connected was just a question of connecting the wireless router to the NBN modem, switching it on and connecting to the wireless network. As I mentioned above, I use Apple wireless routers and so altered the configuration after things were connected.
<h2>And the results?</h2>
The download speed dropped from the Telstra non-NBN connection. During the morning, I got about 94 Mbps download. The massive difference was in the upload speed which is now about 38 Mbps. This is a huge bonus over the existing connection which gave 2 Mbps. Upload speeds are never really thought about as a problem until you realise that synchronising with services like iCloud, Google Drive and DropBox all become significantly faster with the NBN connection. 
However, in the evening, the speed dropped to between 50 - 70 Mbps download and 23 - 35 Mbps upload. This was something that didn’t happen on the Telstra non-NBN connection which was consistent even in the evenings. 
It is still early days and as more people connect in my immediate area, bandwidth may be further affected. Telstra may also ramp up the capacity so that there are not these changes in speed based on the time of day. 
<h2>Update from NBN Co</h2>
In response to the article, a spokesperson from NBN Co clarified the following points:
[1] With regard to the number of HFC connections per node:
“At present Telstra runs around 1000 premises on an HFC node sharing 1Gbps of capacity. On the nbn we will have only 650 premises per Node and once we reach full DOCSIS 3.1 we will have 10Gbps of capacity available”
[2] Regarding the speed drop I had experienced in the evenings:
“Your speed drop in the evening is almost certainly CVC related”
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-glance-148" target="_blank">David Glance</a> is Director of UWA Centre for Software Practice, University of Western Australia and author for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Things to consider when making the switch to the NBN and what to expect

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/78911/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is widely considered to be failing Australians, but it isn’t failing them equally.
Our research, undertaken at the Centre for Research Excellence in the Social Determinants of Health Equity, seeks to address health inequities by looking at the geographical distribution of infrastructure, including digital technology. 
Examining the rollout of NBN technologies as of December 2016, our preliminary analyses suggest areas of greatest socio-economic disadvantage overlap with regions typically receiving NBN infrastructure of poorer quality. 
<h2>Comparing NBN technology with inequality</h2>
To determine socio-economic disadvantage, we used the Australian Bureau of Statistics’s (ABS) socio-economic indexes for area (SEIFA) and its index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSD)from 2011.
Across Australia, we found only 29% of areas with a SEIFA decile of one (the lowest-scoring 10% of areas) had fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) – considered the best broadband technology solution available – or fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) connections. So far, around 71% of the NBN technology available in these areas involves inferior options, including hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC), fixed wireless or satellite technologies.
On the other hand, 93% of areas with a SEIFA decile of 10 (the highest-scoring 10% of areas) had FTTP or FTTN.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%209.32.21%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%209.32.21%20AM.png" alt="">
This result tells a similar story to an early analysis by Sydney University’s Tooran Alizadeh of 60 NBN release sites that were announced in 2011. She found some of the most disadvantaged areas of Australia were not gaining equal access to the new infrastructure. 
If we look only at major cities in Australia – where the level of fibre technology is higher overall – areas with the greatest disadvantage, while exceeding similarly disadvantaged areas nationally, still received significantly less FTTP and FTTN: 65% of areas with a SEIFA decile of one had FTTP and FTTN, compared with 94% of areas with a SEIFA decile of 10. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%209.33.26%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%209.33.26%20AM.png" alt="">
Of course Australia is a large, sparsely populated country, which makes the business case for rolling out fibre difficult in some regions. Nevertheless, inequitable access to NBN technology appears even when controlling for the remoteness of the location. 
If we look at outer regional Australia where fibre is less prevalent, the pattern looks worse. Only 12% of the most disadvantaged areas with a SEIFA decile of one received FTTP and FTTN, compared with 88% of the most advantaged outer regional areas with a SEIFA decile of nine.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%209.34.32%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%209.34.32%20AM.png" alt="">
Receiving FTTP or even FTTN may still be better than receiving HFC, fixed wireless or satellite technologies. While HFC may be able to match maximum speeds of FTTN, this is unlikely to happen during peak times when the increased number of users sharing the same data capacity will slow service considerably. And, similar to FTTN, these technologies provide fewer opportunities to upgrade capacity to meet future demand.
However, given only a limited data set was made publicly available in December 2016 by the NBN company, it is difficult to determine exactly which services are currently installed where. For example, the data set we used does not differentiate between FTTP and the lesser FTTN connection.
It also aggregates some NBN technology into an “other” category, making it impossible to distinguish between HFC and satellite service.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/21/file-20170619-22129-15bjd9a.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/06/21/file-20170619-22129-15bjd9a.png" alt="">
The NBN company offers a “check your address” search for its most up-to-date rollout information including technology type, but was unable to share this information with us in a single, usable data set.
A NBN spokesperson said the network was being rolled out across Australia regardless of any socio-economic mapping. 
“Determining the sequence is a complex process of weighing up factors including the location of construction resources, current service levels, existing broadband infrastructure, growth forecasts and proximity to nbn infrastructure such as the transit network,” she said in an email. “Only 8 per cent of premises in Australia are not in the fixed-line footprint.”
<h2>Internet access and social inequity</h2>
A faster internet connection is increasingly central to people’s social connections, education opportunities, employment prospects and ability to access services.
This was raised in a 2011 report by the parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications. It emphasised the potential role of the NBN in enhancing greater equity in digital access to services in regional and rural areas. 
"The Committee heard that, due to the ‘digital divide’, many of the Australians who could benefit the most from broadband currently have the lowest levels of online participation … The extent of accompanying measures implemented by governments will determine whether the NBN narrows or widens this digital divide."
Previous research has also found that people from lower socioeconomic groups are already restricted in their use of digital information and communication technologies. This can limit their access to a range of social determinants of health. 
When populations already facing disadvantage receive poorer quality digital infrastructure, those with the greatest need will continue to slip farther behind. 
Equity must be at the forefront of the NBN company’s considerations as it continues to roll out across Australia. Further entrenching social inequities through digital infrastructure is not the NBN anyone dreamed of.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ashley-schram-376758" target="_blank">Ashley Schram</a> is Research Fellow, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fran-baum-105532" target="_blank">Fran Baum</a> is Distinguished Professor, Foundation Director, Southgate Institute for Health, Society &amp; Equity, Flinders University
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matt-fisher-115741" target="_blank">Matt Fisher</a> is Research Fellow in social determinants of health, Flinders University
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/patrick-harris-102775" target="_blank">Patrick Harris</a> is Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sharon-friel-91509" target="_blank">Sharon Friel</a> is Director, School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) and Professor of Health Equity, ANU, Australian National University
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/toby-freeman-111682" target="_blank">Toby Freeman</a> is Senior Research Fellow in Health Equity, Flinders University.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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