LJ Hooker Canberra’s Jenna Dunley represented the ACT at the 2019 Australasian Real Estate Institute Auctioneering Championships, as the first female finalist in the competition’s history.
At the event on 22-24 October in Melbourne, Dunley was also the only Canberra finalist among an all-Australian line-up of auctioneers, after no one from New Zealand qualified for the final round.
Competitors were required to ‘mock sell’ a property, with a panel of judges naming Queensland’s Justin Nickerson the winner for a third time. Alec Brown from Ray White Canberra also competed in the event.
“Devised bidding processes test the auctioneers’ aptitude, attention and ability to think on their feet and to be successful, competitors have to deal with a wide range of testing questions and unpredictable bids,” said Real Estate Institute of Australia president, Adrian Kelly.
“Combining skill, professionalism and technical knowledge, the candidates are highly accomplished, high-energy performers.”
Ginninderry awarded for sustainability
Three projects associated with the Ginninderry development were recognised at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) (ACT) Awards for Planning Excellence, praising the development’s approach to sustainability.
The ‘From Plan to Place’ and ‘Hard Won Victory’ awards went to developer Riverview Projects and the Suburban Land Agency for the Link Building and the Ginninderry suburb of Strathnairn respectively, and Riverview Projects’ Susan Davis took home the Public Engagement and Community Planning award.
Ginninderry is a joint venture between Riverview Projects and the ACT Government, and is Canberra’s first six-star rated Green Star development. Approximately 11,500 dwellings are expected at Ginninderry over the next 37 years, while the first suburb of Strathnairn is set to have around 1,500 dwellings.
PIA ACT president, Ian Wood-Bradley, said for those involved in all the award-winning projects, “their work was contributing materially to the creation of more sustainable and prosperous communities in the ACT”. The awards recognise leading practice, leadership and achievement in planning across eight categories.
Ginninderry was awarded amongst the other winners: City Renewal Authority, Spaced Out Placemakers, Place Laboratory, Town Team Movement, Complete Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd, Sweet Potato, Threesides Marketing, Co-Design Studio, Right Angle Studio, Oculus, Tait Network, University of Canberra, Ainslie & Gorman Arts Centre, and Dionysus for the community-led renewal for Braddon, Dickson and Haig Park; the Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate for the ACT Planning Strategy 2018 and the Demonstration Housing Project; Professor Edward J. Blakely and the University of Canberra’s Richard Hu for their book Crafting Innovative Places for Australia’s knowledge economy; and Poppy McRae PIA (Assoc) for Young Planner of the Year.
Mawson tenants
The first tenants have moved into the ACT Government’s new public housing in Mawson. Tenants moved into eight two-bedroom homes, which have been specifically designed and built to support those with a disability, and allow ageing in place.
Housing Minister Yvette Berry said the properties have achieved a 7-star energy rating to help tenants save energy and reduce utility and living costs.
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