Brunswick’s civic heart continues to consolidate around the Merri-bek Arts and Culture Precinct, where a growing cluster of cultural institutions, recreation facilities, and public infrastructure has created one of the inner north’s most defined community hubs.&nbsp;

Within this evolving precinct, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/saxon-street-by-milieu-brunswick-31-saxon-street-brunswick-vic-3056">Saxon Street by Milieu</a> introduces new housing directly alongside the civic anchors that shape daily life in the suburb.

At 31 Saxon Street, the project sits immediately beside Brunswick Baths and within moments of Brunswick Library and Town Hall, longstanding institutions that support both community services and everyday amenity.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136434 project_image_fid=348840]

Next door, the newly delivered Balam Balam Place arts precinct has emerged as a central piece of Merri-bek Council’s cultural strategy, bringing together creative studios, exhibition spaces, maternal and child health services, and community programming in a purpose-built civic facility. Together, these destinations have reinforced the surrounding blocks as a focal point for public life in Brunswick.

This part of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a> forms a key pocket within the suburb’s designated Major Activity Centre, where long-term planning has prioritised walkability, civic investment, and increased housing supply close to transport and services. The surrounding street network reflects that strategy, with compact blocks, established retail corridors and active transport links supporting a lifestyle that is largely navigable on foot.

Within a few minutes’ walk, Sydney Road delivers one of Melbourne’s most recognisable streets, known for its long-running mix of independent retailers, international dining venues and everyday convenience. Tram routes along Sydney Road provide frequent connections south toward the CBD and north through Brunswick and Coburg, while Jewell Station on the Upfield line sits within roughly a ten-minute walk, offering direct train access into the city.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136434 project_image_fid=348839]

Active transport also plays a significant role locally. The nearby Upfield Bike Path forms a key north–south cycling corridor linking Brunswick through Parkville and into the central city, reinforcing the area’s reputation as one of Melbourne’s most accessible inner-urban neighbourhoods for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

The surrounding civic cluster extends beyond cultural infrastructure. Siteworks, a nearby creative hub supporting artists and community organisations, adds to the concentration of cultural activity in the immediate area. Educational institutions such as Brunswick North Primary School, Brunswick Secondary College and RMIT’s Brunswick campus are also within easy reach, contributing to the suburb’s diverse resident base spanning families, students and professionals.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136434 project_image_fid=348841]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/jackson-clements-burrows-architects">Jackson Clements Burrows Architects</a> in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> and landscape architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/oculus">OCULUS</a>, the nine-level building has been shaped to respond to the surrounding streetscape, with lower levels aligning to the street and upper storeys stepping back to soften its scale and improve solar access.&nbsp;

Curved balcony forms reference nearby heritage architecture, while the development’s public realm improvements include a widened footpath along Saxon Street to strengthen pedestrian connections between the precinct’s civic sites.

Sustainability also underpins the project’s approach. The building is designed to operate entirely on electric infrastructure supported by rooftop solar, with an average 7.5-star NatHERS energy rating and EV-charging readiness across the development. Shared resident amenities will include a landscaped rooftop terrace with barbecue and covered dining areas intended to encourage informal interaction between residents.

Saxon Street marks developer Milieu's fifth project in Brunswick and continues its focus on design-led infill housing across Melbourne’s inner suburbs.&nbsp;

Construction has commenced through reputable builder Manresa, who will complete the project in 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136434]

Joel Robinson

Saxon Street by Milieu connects residents to Brunswick’s cultural and civic core

Within <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>&nbsp;takes a different approach to larger residences, moving away from the constraints of a single level.

In Grand Residence 3.05, known as the Lustre, plays out across two levels, with a mezzanine configuration that is uncommon in apartment living.

Lustre is a four-bathroom residence where the layout creates a clear distinction between shared and private zones, with uninterrupted views toward the Dandenong Ranges extending the sense of openness from the main living areas.

Entry is to the primary living level, where the kitchen, dining, and living areas are arranged as one continuous space. Timber flooring runs throughout, with a fireplace set within the living zone. Full-height glazing brings in natural light, supported by double glazing that improves thermal performance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357506]

The kitchen is configured as both a working and social space. A large island bench provides seating, while a walk-in pantry extends storage beyond typical apartment expectations.

Gaggenau appliances, including a 900mm gas cooktop and 600mm oven, are integrated into a layout that connects directly to the adjacent dining and living areas, and outward to the terrace. This balcony includes a built-in BBQ, reinforcing the apartment’s capacity to accommodate larger gatherings without compromising internal space.

A dedicated laundry room, powder room, and a wine cellar area sit discreetly off the main living zone, ensuring that functional requirements are resolved without encroaching on primary living areas. The master suite is also located on this level, designed as a retreat with a walk-through wardrobe and an ensuite that includes double vanities, a bath, and a dedicated dressing table.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357508]

The mezzanine level introduces a second layer of living, rather than simply additional bedrooms. Two large bedrooms with built-in robes are positioned alongside a central bathroom, while a secondary lounge and study area create a self-contained zone suited to children, guests, or extended family. A large storage room further supports long-term usability, addressing a common shortfall in apartment design.

This separation of levels is central to how the residence functions day-to-day. It allows the lower level to operate as the primary entertaining and living space, while the upper level provides privacy and flexibility. The result is closer in feel to a townhouse or standalone home, but with the benefits of apartment living, security, and low maintenance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

Candela is close to 80 per cent complete, with Ironside delivering construction ahead of its expected October 2026 completion. The development comprises 58 residences, with a strong owner-occupier profile and a mix of one to four-bedroom apartments and loft-style townhouses.

Candela has exclusive access to private amenities, including a residential lounge and rooftop terrace. A charming café and a lifestyle wellness centre are located on the ground level, designed to foster community connection and extend the living experience beyond individual apartments without competing with the scale of homes like Lustre.

Candela, positioned in the heart of Ivanhoe Village, reinforces the practicality of the address. With a Walk Score of 90, residents are within immediate reach of cafés, retail, parklands, and Ivanhoe Station, while also benefiting from proximity to established schools and healthcare services.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Inside Lustre: Grand Residence 3.05 at Candela Ivanhoe

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a>’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a> is being shaped around a simple but increasingly rare premise in apartment development: that the built environment should actively support residents’ wellbeing.&nbsp;

Located on the former ABC Studios site on Gordon Street in Melbourne’s south-east, the new neighbourhood sits on an expansive 11,740 sqm site neighbouring the heritage-listed Rippon Lea Estate, whose gardens date back more than 140 years.

Rather than positioning wellness as an add-on amenity, the development integrates it into the physical planning of the site. Architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> is arranged across six low-rise buildings set within extensive landscaping designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/oculus">OCULUS</a>, with more than 40 per cent of the land dedicated to gardens and green space. Walking trails, pocket gardens, and mature trees are threaded between buildings, creating a network of green corridors that encourage residents to move through the precinct on foot and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136535 project_image_fid=288420]

Milieu has intentionally framed these gardens as an extension of the neighbouring Rippon Lea Estate. More than 16,000 new plants will be introduced across the site, with species carefully selected to protect and complement the area’s ecological significance. The approach focuses on strengthening existing environmental conditions while establishing new habitats that support native wildlife, reinforcing the role of the landscape as both an active ecosystem and a defining element of daily life.

A private resident gate will provide direct access to the historic grounds during opening hours, allowing residents to move seamlessly between the development’s landscaped gardens and the estate’s expansive lawns, lakes, and mature trees. The project’s gardens will also be maintained by the same gardeners responsible for Rippon Lea, reinforcing the visual and ecological continuity between the two landscapes.

Complementing the landscape is a dedicated wellness hub designed to support everyday health and recovery. Residents will have access to a gym alongside yoga and Pilates studios, while mineral pools and infrared saunas provide spaces for relaxation and restorative wellbeing. Shared lounges, workshop spaces, and pet care facilities expand the concept of wellness beyond fitness, creating opportunities for social connection and community interaction within the precinct.

Environmental performance is another key component of the project’s wellbeing focus. Elsternwick Gardens will be entirely fossil-fuel-free, with homes designed to operate on renewable electricity rather than gas. Passive design strategies, including cross-flow ventilation, high-performance insulation, and thermally broken double glazing, are intended to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while reducing energy demand. Solar photovoltaic systems will power common building services, while rainwater harvesting will help irrigate the extensive landscaping across the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136535 project_image_fid=361030]

Milieu Founder and Managing Director Michael McCormack says the scale and setting of the project allowed the team to take a different approach to urban apartment living.

“This site represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something truly special,” McCormack says.

“Through that process, we arrived at a design that centres on a fully realised natural landscape – a series of private, interconnected gardens that encircle the homes and extend seamlessly from Rippon Lea Estate.”

Elsternwick Gardens will comprise three residential offerings, Gordon Place, Ripponlea Terrace, and The Garden Pavilion, each designed for owner-occupiers and shaped around high-quality interior design by Woods Bagot, K.P.D.O., and Flack Studio. The first stage, Gordon Place, includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments designed with a strong focus on indoor-outdoor living and sustainability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136535 project_image_fid=288412]

Milieu recently appointed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/brady-constructions">Brady Constructions</a> to deliver the project, marking a key milestone for the development. The appointment follows the demolition of the former studio buildings on the Gordon Street site, with construction progressing toward the delivery of the nature-led community.

Situated between the established villages of Elsternwick and Ripponlea, the development balances its garden setting with strong urban connectivity. Residents will be within walking distance of cafés, restaurants, and local retail, while nearby train and tram connections provide quick access to Melbourne’s CBD and the beaches of Elwood and St Kilda.

With construction underway and the first residents expected to move in by early 2027, Elsternwick Gardens represents a growing shift in apartment development toward environments that prioritise wellbeing as much as density or location. By placing landscape, sustainability, and shared spaces at the centre of the design, Milieu is positioning the project as a residential neighbourhood where wellness is not just promoted, but built into the structure of everyday life.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136535]

Elsternwick Gardens' wellness-first design strategy

Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a> has made a striking debut on the Gold Coast, officially unveiling its $250 million COMO development in Varsity Lakes, a lifestyle-driven residential project anchored by an extensive rooftop wellness and activity precinct.

Having recently launched to market, construction has already been fast-tracked by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/5point-projects">5Point Projects</a>, ensuring momentum continues on what is set to become a landmark residential address for the growing Varsity Lakes community.

Located at 22 Lake Street, Varsity Lakes, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO</a> will comprise 156 apartments across 16 levels, comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom residences designed for modern living. However, it is the project’s rooftop amenity offering that sets COMO apart.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363510]

Designed as a dedicated wellness and recreation hub, the rooftop will feature a 25-metre lap pool, fully equipped gymnasium, and multiple pickleball and paddleball courts - amenities rarely seen in boutique apartment projects.

Residents will also have access to a sauna and plunge baths, while landscaped gardens and relaxation zones will provide tranquil spaces overlooking sweeping panoramic views across the Gold Coast skyline.

The rooftop precinct has been designed to function as the social and wellness heart of the development, encouraging residents to embrace an active, balanced lifestyle within their own building.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363512]

Red &amp; Co director David Laverty said the amenity offering was central to the project’s design from the outset.

“Amenities were at the forefront of our decisions,” Laverty said.

“Buyers today are looking for more than just an apartment - they want a lifestyle that promotes health, connection and balance.

“The rooftop at COMO has been designed to be the epicentre of that lifestyle, with a suite of wellness and recreation facilities that are quite unique for a boutique development of this scale.”

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363514]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, the residences prioritise liveability, featuring spacious layouts, 2.7-metre ceilings and high-quality finishes throughout.

The development sits beside Bond University, placing residents within walking distance of education, retail and dining options within the vibrant Varsity Lakes precinct, including Robina Town Centre, Varsity Lakes Train Station and a range of leading schools.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

Laverty said the location was a key driver behind Red &amp; Co’s decision to bring the project to the Gold Coast.

“<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/varsity-lakes-qld-4227">Varsity Lakes</a> was a clear choice for us to invest in as it’s a lifestyle hub that seamlessly blends lakeside living with urbanity,” he said.&nbsp;

“Como will capitalize on this great location, delivering a project that not only creates premium homes, but a lifestyle defined by community, wellbeing, and connectivity.”

Red &amp; Co has delivered more than 500 apartments and townhouses across 26 projects in Brisbane in recent years, with COMO marking the company’s first major Gold Coast development.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Red & Co unveils amenity-rich Como development in Varsity Lakes

Gold Coast developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/big-projects">Big Projects</a> has secured approval for its second Mermaid Beach project.

The developer, currently selling <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-frederick-mermaid-beach-2265-gold-coast-highway-mermaid-beach-qld-4218">The Frederick in Nobby Beach</a>, has secured approval for its next project just 1.5 kilomnetres up the road.

The new development, dubbed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/glenelg-residences-2462-2472-gold-coast-highway-mermaid-beach-qld-4218">Glenelg Residences</a>, has been designed by BDA Architecture and&nbsp;will have just under 100 apartments across an 11-storey building&nbsp;at 2462–2472 Gold Coast Highway, on the corner of Glenelg Avenue just under 300m from the future Mermaid Beach Light Rail stop.

The apartments, a mix of two- and three-bedrooms, will sit above a retail-focused ground plane and under extensive rooftop resident amenities.

<img alt="Exclusive: Big Projects plot Mermaid Beach apartment development, Glenelg Residences" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screen%20Shot%202024-06-11%20at%209.55.04%20am.png?VersionId=z6NV4izeuvhBSSVlY6vK6TPO1LxrFeaG" />

BDA said in its planning submission that the project is intended to support the area’s transition toward higher-density, mixed-use living. “This project offers the opportunity to generate appropriate higher-intensity development within the future Light Rail corridor of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mermaid-beach-qld-4218">Mermaid Beach</a>,” the submission noted.

At ground level, Glenelg Residences will include eight retail tenancies designed to activate the street frontage, complemented by a basement bar offering an additional hospitality element. Above, residents will have access to a rooftop amenity deck featuring an infinity pool, hot and cold plunge spas, day beds, and barbecue facilities.

The architectural approach adopts a restrained material palette of brick, textured concrete, and integrated landscaping, with cantilevered concrete frames and cascading planting intended to soften the built form. BDA described the design as aiming to create “a memorable sculptural mid-rise mixed-use building” that responds to both its coastal setting and urban context.

<img alt="Exclusive: Big Projects plot Mermaid Beach apartment development, Glenelg Residences" 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/Screen%20Shot%202024-06-11%20at%209.55.45%20am.png?VersionId=cpjIVBqcT_sujmo2UMWkVyLcQ7WGJHaQ" />

The approval comes as the City of Gold Coast continues to plan for significant population growth, with regional targets requiring more than 100,000 new high-density dwellings by 2046.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-36" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:55d7c6ac-8e6d-4881-ad49-0ed9bf66d1cc-17" dir="auto">
Big Projects, led by Matthew and John Barrett, is part of a growing cohort of developers that deliver construction in-house, providing a high level of confidence to prospective purchasers.
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150260]

Big Projects secures approval for Glenelg Residences in Mermaid Beach

Small Business Owner

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The Local Business Awards have named Marites Idea Novis as Blacktown’s business person of the year.
Novis’ business, Qfirst Property Investment Group, has also been named this year’s outstanding real estate agency.
The Sydney-based entrepreneur founded Qfirst in 2017.
“It is hard to put this feeling into words. Nevertheless, I am very honoured to receive these two awards as recognition of my hard work and that of the entire Qfirst Property Investment Group team,” she said.
Qfirst is geared specifically toward first-home buyers and investors, specialising in marketing pre-developed projects as well as finished properties.
“I established Qfirst Property Investment Group with the sole purpose of guiding and advising first-home buyers and investors on everything they need to know to reach their financial goals through property investment”, Novis said.
In one year, Qfirst has sold more than $75 million worth of properties.
This isn’t the first of Novis’ business endeavours, however. At the age of 29, she founded a family-owned Philippines-based company Quezon First Engineering Services.
The businesswoman also hosts seminars specifically aimed at helping first-home buyers and investors to better understand the ins and outs of the property market.
She describes the Qfirst Property Investment Group as the “new frontier” of the reale state industry.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Qfirst Property Investment Group named outstanding real estate agency

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GUEST OBSERVER 
 
Ahead of the budget, the government has announced new rules that will allow small businesses at risk of collapse to continue to work out their problems instead of appointing an administrator.
They are needed because of an avalanche of insolvencies awaiting the end of an effective moratorium on bankruptcies (a so-called “regulatory shield”) that expires at the <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/josh-frydenberg-2018/media-releases/extension-temporary-relief-financially-distressed" target="_blank">end of December</a>.
Since it was introduced in March the number of companies entering external administration has been unusually low compared to earlier years (at a time of unusually bad conditions) suggesting a buildup of zombie companies waiting to die.
<hr>
Number of companies entering external administration
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/360148/original/file-20200927-18-82272w.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/360148/original/file-20200927-18-82272w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> Twelve months to each week (red) versus previous twelve months. <a class="source" href="https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/find-a-document/statistics/insolvency-statistics/insolvency-statistics-series-1b-notification-of-companies-entering-external-administration-weekly-update/">ASIC</a>
<hr>
The new rules will allow insolvent small businesses with liabilities of less than A$1 million to keep trading under the eye of a <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/sites/ministers.treasury.gov.au/files/2020-09/Insolvency-Reforms-fact-sheet.pdf">small business restructuring practitioner</a> for 20 days while they develop a restructuring plan to put to creditors rather than surrender control to an external administrator.
If half the creditors by value endorse the plan it will be approved and the business can continue under its present ownership with assistance from the restructuring practitioner. If not, it can be put out of its life quickly under a proposed simplified liquidation process.
Existing laws give directors little leeway
Under the current insolvent trading law, directors are expected to immediately stop the trading when they know or have reasonable grounds to suspect the company is insolvent. Directors who “give it a go” and try to trade their way out of financial difficulty face severe legal consequences: personal liability, a fine of up to <a href="https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/asic-investigations-and-enforcement/fines-and-penalties/">$1.11 million per offence</a> or a prison sentence of up to 15 years in extreme cases.
The only way to avoid these penalties is to quickly place the company in the hands of the administrator who temporarily manages the business until the company’s creditors make a decision on the company’s fate.
Its a regime not particularly suited to small businesses.
The proposed new rules can be seen as a tacit admission of the failure to the “<a href="https://www.bdo.com.au/en-au/accounting-news/accounting-news-may-2018/safe-harbour-insolvency-reforms">safe harbour</a>” law reform of 2017. Applicable to all companies irrespective of size, it protects directors from personal liability for debts incurred by an insolvent company if they took a course of action “reasonably likely to lead to a better outcome” for the company and its creditors than administration or liquidation.
Anecdotal evidence suggests it is largely shunned by small businesses in part because of its uncapped cost. The fees of small business restructuring practitioners will be capped.
The new laws will create breathing space
The new rules are based on <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/chapter11.asp">Chapter 11</a> of the United States Bankruptcy Code, with important differences.
The US law applies to all Companies, not just to those with debts of less than $1 million. And it gives the court an oversight role.
The absence of judicial supervision in what’s proposed for Australia is a double-edged sword. Court involvement generally means delays and high costs.
On the other hand, it provides a valuable check against abuses – such as the deliberate liquidation and rebirth of “<a href="https://www.dissolve.com.au/information-centre/what-is-a-phoenix-company/">phoenix companies</a>” in order to avoid paying debts.
In Australia, that’ll be the role of the small business restructuring practitioner.
It’s not yet clear how they’ll work
It won’t be a panacea for small businesses. They will be required to lodge any outstanding tax returns and pay any employee entitlements before a plan can be put to creditors.
In the current circumstances many small businsses will not be able to comply.
There’s much we don’t yet know about what’s proposed. The government’s briefing says time and cost savings will be achieved through “<a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/sites/ministers.treasury.gov.au/files/2020-09/Insolvency-Reforms-fact-sheet.pdf">reduced investigative requirements</a>”. It is unclear to what the extent the liquidator’s wide investigative powers into reasons for business failures will be curtailed.
The changes are likely to have profound implications for many stakeholders, including creditors, employees and the general community.
It is important that the government consults properly before the new rules are put to parliament in time for their introduction on January 1.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/146833/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/anil-hargovan-2086">Anil Hargovan</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</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/were-facing-an-insolvency-tsunami-with-luck-these-changes-will-avert-the-worst-of-it-146833">original article</a>.
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Australia is facing an insolvency tsunami

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GUEST OBSERVER
So much for the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-reserve-bank-thinks-the-recovery-will-look-v-shaped-there-are-reasons-to-doubt-it-138213">v-shaped recovery</a>.
Australia is set to record its biggest quarterly fall in GDP in history this week. The federal government will extend its JobKeeper wage subsidy program by six months. About <a href="https://theconversation.com/victoria-will-have-more-people-on-jobkeeper-in-december-and-march-quarters-than-the-rest-of-australia-combined-145301">1.75 million workers</a>, including about 1 million Victorians, are expected to rely on it till March.
But there’s more to be done, particularly to help the small and medium-sized businesses taking the brunt of the COVID-19 economic impacts.
Small and medium enterprises employ about <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/8155.0Main%20Features42018-19?opendocument&amp;tabname=Summary&amp;prodno=8155.0&amp;issue=2018-19&amp;num=&amp;view=">two-thirds of the workforce</a>. They are crucial to the prosperity of local communities.
A full third are pessimistic about <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/5676.0.55.003Main%20Features3August%202020?opendocument&amp;tabname=Summary&amp;prodno=5676.0.55.003&amp;issue=August%202020&amp;num=&amp;view=">making it through</a> the next three months, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ most recent survey of <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/5676.0.55.003Main%20Features3August%202020?opendocument&amp;tabname=Summary&amp;prodno=5676.0.55.003&amp;issue=August%202020&amp;num=&amp;view=">COVID-19 business impacts</a>. By comparison only 18% of large companies (those employing more than 200 employees) expect difficulties in meeting their financial obligations.
Even at the best of times many small businesses struggle. Yet <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijebr-01-2020-0031">our research</a> on 223 Australian business owners highlights failure (or success) isn’t just the result of individual entrepreneurs’ personal resources and capabilities. The local business environment plays a significant role.
As Malcolm Gladwell puts it in his book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3228917-outliers">Outliers: The Story of Success</a>:
The tallest oak in the forest is the tallest not just because it grew from the hardiest acorn, it is the tallest also because no other trees blocked its sunlight, the soil around it was deep and rich, no rabbit chewed through its bark as a sapling, and no lumberjack cut it down before it matured.
The same is true for businesses. Even the most resourceful business owners struggle to get ahead when the environment stifles their efforts.
This is a thorny problem for governments as they turn from emergency measures to chart longer-term recovery policies.
There will, no doubt, be much debate over the usual areas – of subsidies and grants, tax breaks, red tape and industrial relations changes. But we suggest four less obvious priorities to create a favourable environment for small business.
1. Government procurement
Small businesses should be given a real advantage in procurement. Procurement policies and processes must be clear, protective and accessible to the small guys, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/incredibly-traumatised-small-businesses-facing-bushfire-insurance-maze-20200122-p53tkp">not a maze</a> that ends up helping only the big corporations.
The <a href="https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/about/the-ombudsman">Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman</a>, Kate Carnell, has proposed that federal government contracts worth up to A$10 million <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/coronavirus/small-business-ombudsman-calls-for-small-business-procurement-panel/">go through a small business panel</a> as part of the tender process. “Lowest cost is not always the best value for money,” she said. We agree, with state and local government procurement policies being equally important.
2. Ensure they get good advice
One of the biggest decisions many small business owners will face will be whether to borrow money to keep their business going or cut their losses. That’s something for which they should get sound professional advice.
But when small businesses are cash-strapped, cutting back spending on advisers such as lawyers and accountants can be an obvious way to save money.
State and local governments offer some (limited) support to small business advisory services. Western Australia’s <a href="https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/The-Small-Business-Development-Corporation-helping-to-support-your-local-business-community">Small Business Development Corporation</a>, for example, provides free advice to local government for encouraging small business.
What we need now is a national program to ensure all small business owners can get good, free professional advice.
3. Encourage localism
Encouraging consumers to “buy local” is a pillar of regional development strategies. “Buy Australian” campaigns have been around since the 1980s with the latest incarnation <a href="http://www.buyaustralianmade.com.au/">Buy Australian Made</a> campaign launched in June. Its slogan: “It’s never been more important to buy Australian than right now.”
The success of these campaigns is <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-businesses-arent-buying-it-when-it-comes-australian-made-3022">open to debate</a>, but the general principle appears sound. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.039">2017 analysis</a> of foodstuffs, for example, found greater localism associated with more resilient and sustainable local economies.
4. Promote mental health
The last measure is more psychological support. This has been a neglected area in the past, but improving business owners’ mental health is as effective as building a stronger network or increasing cash flow.
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijebr-01-2020-0031">Our calculations</a> suggest developing hope, optimism, self-efficacy and resilience can improve firm performance by 38%. That’s the same as building a stronger social network (38%), and twice as much as formal entrepreneurial education (15%).
With growing recognition of mental health issues, and the effects of COVID-19 crisis, government policies to promote small business should include a focus on business owners’ mental health.
So what does it all mean?
Together, these key factors determine whether business owners can leverage their own resources to drive performance and ride out the recession.
In the words of motivational speaker Alexander Den Heijer in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40203003-nothing-you-don-t-already-know">Nothing you don’t already know</a>:
When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Hopefully that will be enough.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/145310/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/andrei-alexander-lux-883644">Andrei Alexander Lux</a>, Lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/flavio-romero-macau-998456">Flavio Romero Macau</a>, Senior Lecturer in Supply Chain Management and Global Logistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</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/4-things-governments-can-do-to-help-small-business-145310">original article</a>.
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Four things governments can do to help small business

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Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope has today announced the appointment of Chris Lamont as the new NSW Small Business Commissioner.
Mr Lamont will lead the Office of the Small Business Commission, which is responsible for advocacy, strategic advice, free to low-cost mediation and support to small businesses across the State.
Mr Tudehope said Mr Lamont’s appointment would provide the Small Business Commission with focus and direction at a difficult time for small businesses.
“Chris is known for his ability to develop relationships within government, industry and the business community and this experience is sure to be of great benefit and he will be a strong advocate for small business in NSW,” he said
Mr Lamont has more than 20 years of experience, comprising policy development and advocacy, senior government positions, not-for-profit and industry associations, business and the delivery of major government reforms and programs.
Most recently, Mr Lamont has been the General Manager for Capital Projects and Infrastructure with the City of Melbourne where he was responsible for the delivery of the capital works program.
Mr Lamont’s start date at the Small Business Commission will be 15 June.
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Chris Lamont appointed new NSW Small Business Commissioner

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Small business across Victoria are doing it tough as a result of coronavirus.
If a landlord and tenant are dealing with a situation where the tenant is having difficulty paying rent at this time, the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) encourage both the landlord or their agent and tenant to communicate as early as possible.
"This is really important, as it helps to make sure both parties are aware of and understand each other’s position," the VSBC suggest.
They advise if tenants intend to request rent relief, they might need to provide business records to the landlord or agent.
Tenants in this situation need to keep accurate business records to help show how trade has been affected.
If a landlord, agent or tenant is unable to obtain a response from the other party, we might be able to help through the <a href="http://www.vsbc.vic.gov.au/dispute-resolution/how-mediation-works/" target="_blank">VSBC’s mediation service</a>.
VSBC mediations are currently running, with changes implemented in response to COVID-19.
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Victorian small business struggles to deal with the coronavirus

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GUEST OBSERVATION
When the central business district of Lismore was flooded in 2017, every small business owner in the northern New South Wales town had a decision to make. Should they rebuild their businesses, or take whatever insurance money they might get and move on?
I know one who contemplated giving it all away. His shop had been completely inundated. What was the point, he wondered, if it could all happen again in another few years?
He did decide to rebuild, though. More than that, he resolved to build back better, to be better prepared for the next flood. He replaced water-damaged carpets with marine grade carpet, and plasterboard with concrete. He had shelving attached to hoists, and other cupboards on wheels.
In the wake of this season’s bushfires, many small businesses will face the same decision – whether to rebuild, and then how to “build back better”. It’s a question that should also be getting attention in the national capital from public servants and political leaders.
Preparing for future risks
This week Prime Minister Scott Morrison <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/address-national-press-club" target="_blank">spoke about the need</a> to “prepare for and adapt to the environment and the climate we are going to be living in”.
“Building back better” is a crucial part of increasing resilience. It is one of the four key principles of the United Nation’s <a href="https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework/what-sf" target="_blank">framework for disaster risk reduction</a> (endorsed in Sendai, Japan, in 2015). It stresses the benefit of using the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction phase to better prepare for future risks.
For a small business, doing so just isn’t just about restoring a premises that might have been destroyed or damaged. Building back better means looking at the business in its totality. This includes relationships with suppliers, customers and staff.
In this regard, building back better should be something done by every small business in a community affected by a disaster. Because all businesses tend to be affected indirectly even if they don’t have to deal with a direct impact. We have seen just how far and wide those indirect effects are in recent weeks, with businesses that depend on tourism <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tourism-industry-suffers-as-bushfire-images-scare-off-international-travellers" target="_blank">facing a downturn</a> despite not being in a fire-ravaged area.
Economic costs
Just as it costs more to <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-crisis-of-underinsurance-threatens-to-scar-rural-australia-permanently-129343" target="_blank">replace a home destroyed in a bushfire</a> with a building whose design and a materials are more fire-resistant, it take more resources for a small business owner to build back better.
Nor are the costs just financial – getting expert advice plans, finding skilled tradespeople and so on. There are emotional pressures too. There can be a strong motivation to put things back just as they were not just because it seems the quickest route to getting back to normal – and to that all-important cash flow – but also because it is psychologically less taxing.
In the ten years to 2016, the total economic cost of natural disasters in Australia averaged A$13.2 billion a year, according to 2017 modelling by Deloitte Access Economics for the <a href="http://australianbusinessroundtable.com.au/assets/documents/ABR_building-resilience-in-our-states-and-territories.pdf" target="_blank">Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience &amp; Safer Communities</a>. It projects the economic cost to grow to A$39 billion a year in 2050.
The small business sector disproportionately shoulders these costs, with significant personal and social consequences. If a business in a small town fails to reopen, it create a vicious cycle, reducing trade for neighbouring businesses and hurting the prosperity of the local community. Throughout regional Australia there are examples of small communities – such as <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/black-saturday-infrastructure-marysville-cautionary-tale-sa-fire/6013114" target="_blank">Marysville, Victoria</a> – that never really recovered from past disasters.
Despite how important small businesses are to the economy, and in particular to the prosperity of regional and rural communities, government recognition of the need to assist them remains a work in progress.
For the current bushfire crisis, the federal and relevant state governments are <a href="https://www.business.gov.au/news/bushfire-support#small-business-recovery-package" target="_blank">offering small business</a> “recovery grants” of up to A$50,000 and “concessional loans” of up to A$500,000. To be eligible, though, a business must suffer direct damage. After rebuilding and replacing equipment, even with insurance money as well, there’s often little to invest in building back better.
For the many more small businesses indirectly affected – losing revenue for days, weeks or even months – there is minimal government assistance. The federal, state and territory governments have talked about financial measures that will extend to businesses with indirect impacts as a result of the bush fires, but in reality the support is going towards <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-19/federal-government-announces-bushfire-recovery-tourism-package/11880114" target="_blank">tourism campaigns and events</a>.
If governments truly believe small and family businesses are the engine room of the economy, (as <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/scottmorrisonmp/status/1116626191023128579?lang=en" target="_blank">Scott Morrison has said</a>), it’s time to put their needs on the table in post-disaster reconstruction plans. The current assistance and funding packages are not enough, not available to all affected businesses, and don’t help these businesses come back better than before.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/130871/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/samantha-sharpe-92884" target="_blank">Samantha Sharpe</a>, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936" target="_blank">University of Technology Sydney</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/disaster-hits-small-business-in-many-ways-we-need-a-national-strategy-to-help-them-adapt-130871" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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