Latest news with #Townsville
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Townsville unit price growth overtakes houses
Townsville home prices have continued to surge, with the latest property data revealing the unit market outpaced the house market in the past 12 months. The June PropTrack Home Price Index showed the median home price in Townsville shot up 20.19 per cent in the year to May to sit at $540,500. Home prices were also up 2.19 per cent in the May quarter. Townsville unit prices rose 22.42 per cent in the past year to sit at a median of $422,000, while house prices were up 19.95 per cent to a median of $607,000. In the May quarter, the average unit price increased 0.9 per cent and the average house price was up 2.33 per cent. Jools Munro, owner of Explore Property Munro & Co, said while the Townsville property market remained strong, the unit market in particular was running hot. 'Unit days on market are now shorter than houses,' she said. 'I haven't seen that in my experience. 'Around January 2024, units were sitting at about 120 days on market, now they're under 40 days. 'That's a direct reflection of affordability in the Townsville market.' Tradie couple's $300k reality check Ms Munro said she was seeing more first homebuyers looking at units and townhouses after being priced out of the house market. 'It's so hard to buy any house under $500,000 that's remotely attractive,' she said. 'We absolutely still see first homebuyers and buyers under 40 turning up to open homes for houses priced between $650,000 and $750,000, but the ones who don't have those dollars, with budgets still sitting in the $400,000s, they have to look in the unit market.' Ms Munro said while the Townsville property market wasn't going to see price drops anytime soon, competition was starting to wane. 'The number of enquiries from interstate investors have dwindled, which is lovely for locals,' she said. 'In March, we launched a property in Mt Louisa that attracted 26 written offers. 'It was listed for offers over $575,000 and sold for $653,000. 'We haven't had that flurry on a property since March. 'Last month, about 75 per cent of our sales were to owner occupiers.' Ms Munro said in more good news for buyers, some suburbs looked to be getting close to their price ceilings. 'Cranbrook, for example, had the big rush, the 34 per cent increase in house prices, but I can't see too many recent sale moving into the $600,000s,' she said. 'Now what I'm seeing is sales in the $550,000 to $570,000 price brackets. 'Water always finds it balance and the market does too.' The PropTrack report showed regional Queensland recorded a 0.25 per cent rise in home prices in May, to a median of $733,000, bringing them 8.66 per cent above May 2024 levels. The median house price in regional Queensland hit $769,000 in May, up 0.36 per cent month-on-month and 8.96 per cent year-on-year. The median unit price dropped slightly last month, down 0.14 per cent, but was still up 7.58 per cent year-on-year to sit at $674,000. REA Group senior economist, Eleanor Creagh said in Brisbane home prices peaked in May, rising 0.24 per cent to reach $889,000. 'Brisbane's median house price has hit a new high as it edges close to $1m, sitting at $998,000 in May,' she said. 'Annually, home prices in Brisbane were up 8.38 per cent as both houses (+7.8%) and units (+11.42%) recorded growth over the year. 'Brisbane remains one of the top performing capital city markets over the past year, alongside Adelaide and Perth.' The Home Price Index showed national home prices increased 0.39 per cent in May, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth and a new record high for Australian home values. 'With interest rates falling, price momentum has increased and broadened, with all capitals seeing prices lift in May,' Ms Creagh said. 'The growth seen in all capital cities is underpinned by improved buyer sentiment and renewed confidence following interest rate cuts. 'With further price increases and rate cuts expected, prospective buyers are moving off the sidelines and accelerating their purchasing decisions.' Ms Creagh said looking ahead, stretched affordability would remain a constraint, but a chronic lack of new housing supply, population growth and targeted buyer incentives were expected to keep upward pressure on prices. 'In combination with interest rates continuing to move lower, these factors are likely to drive further price growth throughout the remainder of 2025,' she said.
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Memorial service to be held for Nicholas Parsons who was killed volunteering in Ukraine
A memorial service for an Australian who died volunteering with a humanitarian and mine clearance charity in Ukraine will be held this week. Nicholas Parsons, 28, was working in the country's war-torn east with Prevail Together, a US and UK-based group that sends volunteers into Ukraine. He was killed alongside the charity's co-founder Chris Garrett, as well as another team member who was severely injured in an incident near Izyum on May 6. Mr Parsons heartbroken friends have been raising money to help his family 'give him the send off he deserves' at a service in Townsville on Thursday. Lachie Romer organised the fundraiser, which has seen people donate more than $22,000, saying on the tribute page they had lost their beautiful mate far too soon. 'It still doesn't feel real, and it's hard to find the right words to say,' he said. 'Nic was one of those people you just loved being around — always up for a laugh, always there when you needed him, and someone who made life better just by being in it. 'Let's come together and do this for Nic — for the good times, the laughs, and the memories we'll never forget. Rest easy, legend. We'll miss you forever.' A funeral will be held for Mr Parsons at the Morley Funeral Home, followed by a wake at the Townsville RSL.
ABC News
21 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
E-scooter fatality in Townsville as severe head injuries become major hospital concern
New data shows e-scooter-related injuries are escalating in Queensland only days after a fatality in the state's north. Forensic Crash Unit investigators are probing an incident in Townsville on the weekend when an 18-year-old rider crashed an electric scooter on the Flinders Highway. The teen from Mount Louisa was taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died. The death is also followed by new data from the Jamieson Trauma Institute which shows presentations to 30 Queensland emergency departments have increased to 150 per month, up from 100 per month two years ago. The research, funded by the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital Foundation and Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, will form the basis of a submission to the state government's inquiry into e-transport safety. Chair of trauma surveillance and data analytics Professor Kirsten Vallmuur said private e-scooter riders now made up two-thirds of e-scooter hospital presentations. "These riders are usually travelling at higher speeds and on roads, often for weekday work-related commutes, are regular riders and often wear helmets," she said. "They sustain more severe injuries and have a higher proportion requiring ambulances and admission to hospital." The research also revealed severe facial and head injuries have become a major concern for hospitals. In Townsville there were 413 e-scooter injury presentations to the public emergency department in 2024, jumping from 265 the year prior. Townsville acting mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said the latest road fatality was an "unimaginable tragedy". "Council will be doing its part to assist the Queensland government with its parliamentary enquiry into e-scooter safety." Commercial e-scooters were approved by the city council in 2020. Royal Brisbane emergency specialist Dr Gary Mitchell said healthcare workers were frustrated about the growing number of injuries. "We're seeing patients coming in who've come off at higher speeds without helmets on board, with alcohol on board," he said. "Often these patients need a trauma response so we need to have a full team to come see and assess these patients. Insurer RACQ is behind calls for major changes to e-scooter rules, including advocating for full-faced protection for private e-scooter use. "RACQ has been advocating for full-faced helmets to be mandatory for people using private stand up e-scooters, and for hire scooters to transition to more stable sit-down models that have a lower centre of gravity," said the insurer's head of public policy, Dr Michael Kane. Queensland Police said more than 2,700 infringements were issued between November 2022 and December 2024 to e-bike and e-scooter riders for illegal road use. A parliamentary inquiry into e-transport will focus on a number of areas including benefits, safety risks and enforcement approaches. A report is required to be tabled by March 30 next year.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Just dumb': NRL world turns on star Tiger Jarome Luai
Life without Lachlan Galvin has not started well for Jarome Luai and the Wests Tigers. Teenage five-eighth Galvin finally got his wish and joined the Bulldogs on Friday, ending a drawn out saga as coach Benji Marshall injected youngster Heath Mason into his starting line-up to face North Queensland in Townsville. Marshall would have expected a strong showing from Luai, but his captain let himself and the side down with a series of infringements that led to 10 minutes in the bin in just the 12th minute of the match. In a horrendous display of ill discipline, it began with big Royce Hunt holding on for too long just outside his own try line and gifting the Cowboys another set. Enter Jarome Luai. In what could only be a brain explosion, or a misguided attempt to give his teammates a chance to reset their line, Luai twice held on for far too long in consecutive tackles, testing the patience of referee Gerard Sutton. The first may have had a little extra feeling when he clung onto former Tiger John Bateman, giving North Queensland yet another set. Sutton could be heard barking at Luai, but he didn't listen as he did it again on the next tackle on Cowboy Sam McIntyre. 'Luai again, oh, trouble. Gone. Luai is out of here for 10 minutes,' Dan Ginnane said on Fox League. Sutton said to Luai: 'That's three rucks, back to back to back, in the same set of possession. 'It's a mandatory sin bin. You had two six mores, then that, it doesn't matter.' Adding to the Tigers' woes, Api Koroisau was also placed on report for an infringement during the same Cowboys set. With the one-man advantage, North Queensland quickly scored tries through Bateman and Jaxon Purdue to break the game open. Tigers fans were absolutely livid with their skipper. 'Luai is supposed to be our captain but is letting us down with pathetic leadership. Really tough to watch,' was one comment on X. 'Luai showing his leadership qualities yet again,' said another sarcastically. 'Wests fans try tell us Luai is better than Galvin? The guy that crabs sideways all game, the guy with 1 try assist all season, the guy that gets binned for stupid continued ruck infringements letting his team down,' tweeted another. 'Well that's just idiotic from Luai there … could see that sin bin coming from a mile away,' wrote a fourth. A fifth claimed: 'Jarome Luai deserved to go there. It's so unnecessary for giving away a penalty as stupid as that and he then doubled down on it.' Other comments labelled Luai 'brain dead', 'just dumb' and he was accused of 'losing the plot'. One fan even had a cheeky dig at the club's contract drama, tweeting: 'Galvin wouldn't have done that.' The home side took a comfortable 18-6 lead into halftime, with Adam Doueihi also spending 10 minutes in the bin late in the first half as the Tigers fell apart. Starford To'a had given the visitors a little hope with a try in the 25th minute, but the Cowboys finished the half well on top. 'That will be all she wrote for the first half,' Ginnane said. 'Boy the Tigers make it hard for themselves.' Speaking during the break, Fox League's Yvonne Sampson said: 'Benji Marshall will be steaming on the discipline. 'It has spoiled any of the Wests Tigers' sense of adventure in Townsville so far. 'Jarome Luai, the sin bin, started off a chain reaction that really went in the Cowboys' favour.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland expands primary producer definition to improve access to disaster assistance
Farmers denied disaster relief due to their off-farm income could now be eligible for recovery grants due to changes to Queensland's definition of primary production. In the past, disaster recovery grants, loans and freight subsidies were only available to producers who earned most of their income from the farm, or would in future. It meant farmers who also earned income off-farm, including from agriculture services like contract harvesting, mustering and milking, were not eligible. The criteria had been criticised for excluding farmers with small-scale or diversified operations, regardless of how much damage they experienced. Farm groups have welcomed the change, which would apply retrospectively to include the devastating 2024/25 wet season. But some producers said the criteria still unfairly disadvantaged off-farm jobs. Harvesting contractor Luke Roveda bought land two years ago to start a farm near Ingham, north of Townsville. "That's always a big thing, spending money," he said. "My son hopefully can take it on. "The cane harvester [business] complements the farm as well." Relentless rain and flooding in February battered the region, damaging homes and tearing up cane farms. Mr Roveda lost roads, culverts and the crop, but he was not eligible for disaster recovery assistance. "I haven't really worked it out [the cost] because honestly we weren't eligible for anything," he said. Changes to the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) now mean Mr Roveda can apply. Queensland will consider income from agricultural support services such as harvesting and mustering as primary production income. Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett, said it would also help those working off-farm who had a plan to grow their operation. "We know disaster events don't discriminate ... and that announcement will capture the three flood events that we've had this year," he said. It means Mr Roveda can get started on his repairs. "It's not easy buying a farm and off-farm income is needed for a young feller, for anyone really," he said. "Having this assistance we can fix stuff up and put it back to where it needs to be." Canegrowers chief executive Dan Galligan said the narrow definition was out of date. "Earlier this year, I stood in front of a group of around 120 farmers in Ingham talking about disaster recovery assistance, and probably half of those farmers were ineligible 10 minutes into the meeting," he said. "And that's because they had modern businesses, growing business, and they had off-farm income." The definition of a primary producer used by the DRFA comes from a classification developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Each state and territory government then sets its own rules within that classification. Queensland opted to exclude agriculture, forestry and fishing support services. Farm lobby group AgForce chief executive Michael Guerin said the policy adjustment was significant. "Policy settings traditionally have just assumed that primary producers are primary producers full-stop," he said. "But we know the industry is changing fundamentally, we know that young people need off-farm income to build deposits to buy land. "We know existing farming families need off-farm income to support their enterprise through droughts and floods." Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA), which administers the funding, said regulatory amendments were required to formalise the change, but once that was done, those who had been denied a grant in 2025 could reapply. The changes have disappointed Nick Holliday, who produces pasture-raised eggs, pork and beef in the South Burnett. In 2022, he successfully appealed a ruling that his operation was not eligible for disaster recovery assistance to repair roads, fences and landslips caused by flooding. "I was really excited to hear that there were changes to these provisions because they were in desperate need of review, but almost immediately I was disappointed," Mr Holliday said. "This is a real missed opportunity that gives different statuses to different jobs in rural communities." He said other government agencies used broader definitions that considered more than where off-farm income came from. "It's an oddity that a person could satisfy government that they're a primary producer for tax or vehicle registration purposes, but not to qualify for essential assistance in a natural disaster," he said. Premier David Crisafulli said the state government was open to further discussion. "Those changes do enable farmers to be able to show that that they have a plan in place," he said. "But if more needs to be done, we'll continue to take that case forward." Queensland Farmers' Federation chief executive Jo Sheppard said the industry had been advocating for the change for more than a decade. "We're seeing farmers across the state diversify to maintain their future viability and profitability whilst maintaining agriculture as their core enterprise function," she said. "It's really important that these farmers aren't disadvantaged and are supported during times of disaster. "We all need farmers to keep farming … it's really important not just for the sector but the regional communities and for consumers."
