Property transactions are forecast to increase by roughly a quarter in 2021 after a significant slump through the middle of 2020, data from RiskWise Property Research has highlighted. COO of BuyersBuyers.com.au, Pete Wargent, said that 2020 has been one of the most unusual years on record for real estate markets in Australia. “We came into the year with relatively low unemployment and confidence running at a solid clip, but as the first quarter of the calendar year progressed it became increasingly clear that significant disruption could be on the cards,” Mr Wargent said. “We then had multiple buy... more

According to a landmark economic study measuring the economic fallout of COVID-19, homelessness will surge nine per cent and 24 per cent more Australian families will experience housing stress in 2021 due to the impact of the crisis. However, if the Federal Government invests $7.2 billion in social housing, it could make a serious dent in homelessness, turbocharge the post-pandemic economy by $18.2 billion, and create 18,000 jobs per year over four years. The findings are contained in ‘Double return: How investing in social housing can address the growing homelessness crisis and boost Australia’s econ... more

With population movement and tourism affected by the global pandemic, growth in the architecture and building sectors has slowed to match. Is now the time for architects to steer towards a more sustainable approach to the built environment? It’s not much of an exaggeration to say COVID-19 has changed everything, from the way we interact with each other socially to the way business can be conducted locally and internationally. Australia – with its small number of community transmitted cases – may have avoided the cataclysm experienced by many other countries, but there have still been consequences to the... more

Office occupancy in major CBDs is still well below pre-pandemic levels, and most building owners or managers do not expect to see a material increase in CBD office occupancy for three months or longer, according to the Property Council of Australia. Chief Executive of the Property Council, Ken Morrison, said a national plan to support thriving CBD economies should be a priority for all levels of government in 2021. “We are now at a critical juncture for our CBD economies, which are big drivers of economic activity and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Our two biggest CBDs support 1.2 million jobs be... more

Geoscience Australia is asking industry representatives from a wide range of sectors to share their experiences of using precise positioning technology. From tractors and trains to drones, ships and constructions cranes, industry users of positioning technology are spread all across Australia. If your day-to-day work involves using data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems such as GPS, you are a user of precise positioning. Any business or organisation that uses precise positioning can register to participate in the Request for Insights. Participants will be contacted by the Positioning Australia p... more

South Australian civil engineering company, McMillan Constructions, has given a $4.55 million gift to the University of Adelaide to help inspire and support students in financial need to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The McMillan gift – named after the company’s founder and University of Adelaide alumnus, the late Raymond McMillan (1926-2019) – will generate two new five-year scholarships in Civil Engineering each year, and establish a Teacher in Residence program to promote STEM skills and careers to high school students. The $4.55 million donation from McMillan Con... more

The smart cities leaders of Australia and New Zealand accelerated their efforts in 2020, with new technology solutions and innovative projects tackling the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic head-on. 18 winners have been acknowledged across seven categories for their visionary leadership, best practice projects and real-world impact. The third annual Smart Cities Awards was presented virtually this year by Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand. “This year’s winners have played key roles in the national advancement of smart cities across Australia and New Zealand, while also leadi... more