Feature Articles | Architecture & Design

Buying a renovated home? You could be up for an extra 10% GST

A home buyer usually does not pay goods and services tax (GST) on a home except if they buy a new home that has not been sold before as residential property. However, when a home that has been “substantially renovated” is sold, the buyer may have to pay GST. This can add 10% to the price of the home for the buyer.

Seven of the all time great Olympic stadiums

With Paris 2024 just a few months away, let’s take a look at the stories behind some of these impressive venues that have made Olympic history not just for their size or value but also for the inspiring engineering and architectural design features that make for great conversations.

How the weird and wonderful microbes in wastewater can make our cities more sustainable

COVID-19 showed us how useful monitoring wastewater can be. But the genetic material in our wastewater, namely DNA and RNA, is a treasure trove of other useful information. It reveals the presence of thousands of different types of weird and wonderful wastewater microbes.

Renewable projects are getting built faster – but there’s even more need for speed

How long does it take to build a solar or wind farm? It’s a simple question with wide implications. To reach our ambitious 82% renewable energy target by 2030, we have to build many new projects – and start them soon.

What does the rise of parking apps mean for our cities?

Parking, and the enormous amount of space we cede to it, is undergoing two revolutions. The first is the rise of parking apps. The second is a reckoning with whether we really need so much parking, and what else we could do with all that space.

Do we want a wind farm outside our window? What Australians think about the net zero transition

A paradox lies at the heart of Australian public opinion about climate change. While there is clear general support for substantial government action to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, there is also strong concern about the local impacts of new renewable energy infrastructure.

Australia is welcoming more migrants but they lack the skills to build more houses

Australia has an acute shortage of housing. Renters across the country face steep rents rises and record-low vacancy rates.

Trash TV: Streaming giants are failing to educate the young about waste recycling. Here’s why it matters

As a new parent, I’ve had the joy of watching animated cartoons with my two-year-old son. His favourite show is Trash Truck, on Netflix, featuring a tight-knit ensemble of five characters: a trash truck, a young boy, a raccoon, a bear and a mouse. The show offers valuable life lessons, emphasising the importance of friendship, sharing, love for animals and respect for parents.

‘It’s not game over – it’s game on’: Why 2024 is an inflection point for the climate crisis

In 2024, global climate trends are cause for both deep alarm and cautious optimism. Last year was the hottest on record by a huge margin and this year will likely be hotter still. The annual global average temperature may, for the first time, exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – a threshold crucial for stabilising the Earth’s climate.

We can’t rely on the ‘dogs breakfast’ of disaster warnings to do the hard work of building community resilience

In the wake of cyclone Jasper, the new Australian Warning System has been roundly criticised. The system has been characterised as a “dog’s breakfast” and a “cock-up of massive proportions”.

Why electric trucks are one way to cut emissions

Transport is likely the hardest economic sector to decarbonise. And road vehicles produce the most greenhouse gas emissions of the Australian transport sector – 85% of its total. Freight trucks account for only 8% of travel on our roads but 27% of transport emissions.

The YIMBY movement is spreading around the world. What does it mean for Australia’s housing crisis?

2024 looks set to be another year of rising rents, stalling supply and intense debate over how to respond to the housing crisis.