Read The Times Australia

Daily Bulletin

REIQ reveals shift in median house price trends in Queensland

  • Written by: Felicity Moore

Queensland 23 March 2015. Brisbane is the fastest-selling area in Queensland and also had the strongest lift to median house values for the year ending March 2015, according to the latest REIQ release.

Featured in today’s Courier-Mail liftout, What’s Your Home Worth?, the REIQ median values data report shows that Brisbane’s days on market statistic is just 57 – the fastest in the state. This is an improvement by eight days, compared with a year ago.

Today’s release also shows that Cairns has been a standout performer over the past 12 months, with profit-making sales leaping from 78 per cent of transactions making a profit to 90 per cent.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said the data confirmed the REIQ’s position that Queensland was in the grip of steady, sustainable growth.

“This report supports the REIQ’s long-held view that those areas of Queensland that have been doing well are continuing to do well.

“Those areas that are struggling to recover from the resources downturn are still trying to stabilise,” she said.

“But what we don’t have is the start of another boom and bust cycle, which, as we all know by now, doesn’t really benefit anyone in the long term.”

Standout trends from the report include the general sustainable lift of median house values across the southeast, Toowoomba and the tourism centres.

“It’s great to see Brisbane and Toowoomba keeping that steady rate of growth that we’ve seen for the past 12 months.

“We all know the economy is still recovering and property is clearly leading the way,” she said.

“People trust property and whether you’re an owner occupier or an investor, property has shown to be a reliable performer over the long term,” Ms Mercorella said.

Brisbane (LGA) median house values have risen by 1.6 per cent over the quarter, and, along with Toowoomba, this was the highest quarterly increase.

Brisbane (LGA) proportion of profit-making sales increased three percentage points to 96 per cent, compared with a year ago.

Meanwhile, Toowoomba holds the state’s record with 98 per cent of all houses sold recording a profit for the seller.

Also in Toowoomba, the quarterly growth in median house values is the strongest in the state, averaging an increase of 1.9 per cent over the past four quarters.

Outside of Brisbane, Toowoomba is the fastest selling region, with days on market at 63 days, and the Garden City continues to hold the lowest vendor discounting rate of 4.7 per cent.

Five of the major regions throughout Queensland are experiencing steady improvements in median house values.

Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Cairns, all showed rising annual median house values of approximately 1.5 to 1.9 per cent on average each quarter over the past year.

Gladstone’s median house values increased by 0.8 per cent, which, although small, is significant because it is the city’s first move into positive territory in five quarters.

The rate of decline in Mackay’s median values appears to be slowing, with a drop of just one per cent to its annual median value in the March quarter.

Other indicators reveal that Mackay is still stabilising, with the annual trend of days on market increasing by four days over the March quarter.

Townsville’s median house values rose 0.7 per cent, which reflects the small improvements that that have been seen in other economic indicators. Townsville’s proportion of profit-making sales continues to remain stable at 74 per cent, since August last year.

Sydney Airport investigates electric buses

  • Written by: Simon Lloyd


Sydney 11 May 2015. Sydney Airport has announced it is investigating the addition of electric buses to the airport’s parking and ground transport operations.

The airport has invited Expressions of Interest from manufacturers in Australia and overseas to take part in an open tender for the supply of electric buses, to be used on the shuttle route between the T2/T3 precinct and the Blu Emu Car Park.

The electric bus tender is part of the airport’s commitment to sustainability and follows the publication last month of Sydney Airport’s first Sustainability Report.

“We are always looking to improve the efficiency of our ground transport operations and to do so in a sustainable way,” Sydney Airport General Manager Parking & Ground Transport, Craig Norton, said.

“Finding sustainable transport solutions is a priority for the airport, and advances in electric vehicle technology in recent years mean we can now look seriously at the feasibility of introducing electric buses.”

Sydney Airport is advertising its electric bus tender in a number of publications in Australia, the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia, with interested parties required to register Expressions of Interest by 12 June.

“We’re looking for a manufacturer who can deliver first-rate electric vehicles to replace the six diesel buses that currently transport passengers and staff between the Blu Emu Car Park and the domestic terminals,” Mr Norton said.

In 2014, more than 1.6 million passengers and airport workers were transported on the Blu Emu Car Park’s buses.

“This is a busy shuttle route, and optimum operational efficiency and passenger comfort will be two of the key criteria we’ll look for from any manufacturer,” Mr Norton said.

Electric shuttle buses operate in Manchester and Nottingham in the UK and at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, while electric bus trials have taken place in cities as diverse as Los Angeles, Bangalore and Kuala Lumpur.

Manufacturers should register Expressions of Interest at:

www.sydneyairport.com.au/corporate/business/services/electricbustender.aspx

High-Impact Dental Marketing Strategies That Are Driving Real Practice Growth Today

The landscape of dental practice growth in Australia has shifted dramatically over recent years. Standard, broad-spectrum advertising campaigns no longer yield the return on investment they once did. ...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Telematics Helps Australian Companies Improve Productivity

Operating a commercial fleet in Australia is a uniquely demanding endeavour. Between the sprawling urban sprawl of cities like Sydney and Melbourne and the immense, unforgiving stretches of the Outb...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Inside the Icon: The BridgeMuseum Officially Opens at the Sydney Harbour Bridge

A bold new way to experience one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks has arrived, with BridgeClimb Sydney officially opening the all-new BridgeMuseum.  Located inside the Sydney Harbour Bridge...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Is Your Brand Showing Up in AI Search? Most Melbourne Brands Aren't.

The New Front Door Nobody Told You About Something changed. Quietly. Without a press release. The way buyers find businesses in Australia has been rewired. Not replaced, rewired. Google isn't dead...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Australian Businesses Can Measure SEO ROI

SEO can feel vague when you are staring at a dashboard full of numbers that do not clearly connect to revenue. The key is to measure the right signals in the right order, then tie them back to outcome...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Commercial Roller Shutters Improve Site Security Without Slowing Operations

Security upgrades can be frustrating when they make everyday work harder. A door that takes too long to open, creates bottlenecks at shift change, or fails at the worst time can turn “better protectio...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Business News

High-Impact Dental Marketing Strategies That Are Driving Real Practice Growth Today

The landscape of dental practice growth in Australia has shifted dramatically over recent years. Standard, broad-spectrum advertising campaigns no longer yield the return on investment they once did. ...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Telematics Helps Australian Companies Improve Productivity

Operating a commercial fleet in Australia is a uniquely demanding endeavour. Between the sprawling urban sprawl of cities like Sydney and Melbourne and the immense, unforgiving stretches of the Outb...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Inside the Icon: The BridgeMuseum Officially Opens at the Sydney Harbour Bridge

A bold new way to experience one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks has arrived, with BridgeClimb Sydney officially opening the all-new BridgeMuseum.  Located inside the Sydney Harbour Bridge...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Is Your Brand Showing Up in AI Search? Most Melbourne Brands Aren't.

The New Front Door Nobody Told You About Something changed. Quietly. Without a press release. The way buyers find businesses in Australia has been rewired. Not replaced, rewired. Google isn't dead...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Australian Businesses Can Measure SEO ROI

SEO can feel vague when you are staring at a dashboard full of numbers that do not clearly connect to revenue. The key is to measure the right signals in the right order, then tie them back to outcome...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How Commercial Roller Shutters Improve Site Security Without Slowing Operations

Security upgrades can be frustrating when they make everyday work harder. A door that takes too long to open, creates bottlenecks at shift change, or fails at the worst time can turn “better protectio...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Why a Document Destruction Service Still Matters for Modern Businesses

Businesses generate large volumes of information every day, from staff records and contracts to invoices, reports and customer files. While attention often focuses on how documents are stored, the way...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Bicycle Rack Safety and Space-Smart Storage

Bike storage problems usually show up as small annoyances first: tangled handlebars, scratched frames, and bikes that topple when you pull one out. Over time, those issues become safety risks, especia...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How to Tell if a Childcare Centre Is a Good Fit for Your Child

Choosing childcare can feel like you’re making a huge decision with limited information. Tours are short, centres are often on their best behaviour, and your child might act differently in a new space...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

The Daily Magazine

Gold Migration Lawyers in Liquidation: How the Closure Affects Your ART Appeal

If your appeal was with Gold Migration Lawyers, a recent change to how the Tribunal decides cases ...

The pressure cooker: life in urban Australia in 2026

Australian cities have always been demanding. Long commutes, rising housing costs, busy schedules a...

What Actually Makes a Good Criminal Lawyer in Melbourne

Most people only think about this question once. That is usually too late. Most people charged wi...

Why Working With A Chatswood Tutor Can Improve Academic Performance

Academic expectations continue increasing for students across primary school, high school, and senio...

Is It Worth Getting Solar Panels in Melbourne?

The real question is not whether solar works in Melbourne. It works. The question is what it is co...

How A Diploma Of Project Management Builds Practical Skills For Modern Work Environments

Developing the ability to plan, execute, and deliver outcomes efficiently is a key requirement in to...

How to Choose the Right Football for Every Level

Choosing a football may seem straightforward, but the right option depends on who will be using it a...

What to Ask a Wedding Photographer Before You Book

Booking a wedding photographer can feel deceptively simple: you like the photos, you like the vibe...

Why Stress Relief For Dogs Is Essential For Emotional Balance And Long-Term Wellbeing

Managing emotional health is just as important as physical care when it comes to pets, which is why ...