Isabella Ross Bond University’s ‘Happiness Index’ gave Ku-ring-gai some of the best ratings for safe and happy living in Australia. The project is a large-scale data matching initiative which uses more than 17,000 data points to investigate the geography of advantage and disadvantage across Australia. The ‘Happiness Index’ analyses data including Census findings on nine key lifestyle factors including housing affordability, education, community, jobs, wealth, accessibility, work-life balance, health and safety. The project’s intent is to establish what areas in Australia are doing well on lifestyle aspects, whether through their volunteering rates, educational achievements or low crime rates.  The...

Isabella Ross There is no doubt that the basis of real estate within the Ku-ring-gai area has transformed in recent years with an increase in housing and market demand. The question is now whether newfound Census findings will affect the availability and profitability of property within the local community. According to new Census data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Ku-ring-gai residents in Sydney’s upper north shore are the most socioeconomically advantaged in Australia. The data saw Ku-ring-gai followed by Mosman and Woollahra labelled the most advantaged areas, with the top 10 all recorded to be either...

Natalie Di Paola Ryde City Council and Andrew Zbik of Lane Cove Council are standing against the new Medium Density Housing Code introduced by the Minister for Planning, the Hon. Anthony Roberts. The new code, which comes into effect 6 July 2018, would mean that developers would easily be able to build multi-dwelling houses, such as terraces and town houses, in areas that are zoned for low density homes, which are free standing homes. It would mean that a developer does not need to seek Council approval and that elected Councillors would not be able to consult with local...