Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Population Explosion in Ellenbrook, Baldivis and Canning Vale

RP Data has come out with the Top 30 suburbs for total population growth in the last five years. If you have ever passed through the Nicholson Road roundabout during peak hour, it wouldn't surprise you that Canning Vale is 8th in the country in total population growth. Not as bad as Ellenbrook which has added almost 10,000 residents into their suburb in the past five years making it the 4th fastest growing suburb in Australia. Far south near Rockingham is Baldivis, the region's winner in total population growth. A suburb's growth may not always be considered a good thing when infrastructure such as roads etc are not growing at the rate of the population leading to congestion problems. This is a factor to consider when looking at these figures. 

Click the table to see an enlarged view

Monday, May 28, 2012

Crime Rates in Your Perth Suburb

What are the dodgiest areas in Perth? How bad is your suburb?

The Sunday Times published a table that showed the number of crimes (assaults, burglaries, robberies and car thefts) from March 2011 to February 2012 in various city council areas (in which suburbs are grouped). From this, they concluded that the areas with the most crime per 1000 persons were the most dangerous areas. Whether you think this is a fair way of measuring safety or not, here are the areas from safest to more dangerous.

Local Government POPULATION CRIMES Per 1000
Peppermint Grove 1,779 19 10.7
Cambridge 27,442 411 15.0
Serpentine-Jarrahdale 18,395 298 16.2
Nedlands 22,918 394 17.2
Cottesloe 8,357 156 18.7
East Fremantle 7,751 147 19.0
Joondalup 167,634 3,275 19.5
Mosman Park 9,513 193 20.3
Kalamunda 56,699 1,180 20.8
Melville 103,767 2,179 21.0
Vincent 31,771 728 22.9
Subiaco 19,077 462 24.2
Canning 89,879 2,366 26.3
Mundaring 39,532 1,047 26.5
Rockingham 108,022 2,896 26.8
Wanneroo 156,337 4,197 26.8
Claremont 10,034 282 28.1
Stirling 205,961 6,346 30.8
Bayswater 62,627 1,980 31.6
Cockbum 94,003 3,068 32.6
Armadale 64,284 2,118 32.9
South Perth 44,760 1,508 33.7
Swan 116,068 3,933 33.9
Gosnells 109,041 3,712 34.0
Belmont 35,979 1,860 51.7
Bassendean 15,000 777 51.8
Kwinana 30,433 1,587 52.1
Fremantle 29,383 1,704 58.0
Victoria Park 33,745 2,518 74.6
Perth 18,616 2,410 129.5


If you are not sure what city council the suburb you are looking at is in, here is a list from Wikipedia, with some suburbs divided into two council areas (hence the *)


City of Armadale
Armadale
Ashendon
Bedfordale
Brookdale
Camillo
(formerly Westfield)
Champion Lakes
Forrestdale
Haynes
Hilbert
Harrisdale
Karragullen
Kelmscott
Mount Nasura
Mount Richon
Piara Waters
Roleystone
Seville Grove
Wungong
Town of Bassendean
Ashfield
Bassendean
Eden Hill
City of Bayswater
Bayswater
Bedford
Dianella
Embleton
Maylands
Morley
Mount Lawley
(* City of Stirling, City of Vincent)
Noranda
(* City of Swan)
City of Belmont
Ascot
Belmont
Cloverdale
Kewdale (* Shire of Kalamunda)
Perth Airport (* City of Swan)
Redcliffe
Rivervale
Town of Cambridge
City Beach
Daglish
Floreat (* City of Nedlands)
Jolimont (* City of Subiaco)
Mount Claremont (* City of Nedlands)
Subiaco (* City of Subiaco)
Wembley (* City of Stirling)
Wembley Downs (* City of Stirling)
West Leederville
City of Canning
Bentley (* Town of Victoria Park)
Canning Vale (* City of Gosnells)
Cannington
East Cannington
Ferndale
Leeming (* City of Cockburn, City of Melville)
Lynwood
Parkwood
Queens Park
Riverton
Rossmoyne
Shelley
St James (* Town of Victoria Park)
Welshpool (* Town of Victoria Park)
Willetton (* City of Melville)
Wilson
Town of Claremont
Claremont * (* Town of Cottesloe, City of Nedlands)
Swanbourne (* City of Nedlands)
City of Cockburn
Atwell
Aubin Grove
Banjup
Beeliar
Bibra Lake
Coogee
Coolbellup
Hamilton Hill
Hammond Park
Henderson
Jandakot
Leeming (* City of Canning, City of Melville)
Munster
North Lake
South Lake
Spearwood
Success
Wattleup
Yangebup
Town of Cottesloe
Claremont (* Town of Claremont, City of Nedlands)
Cottesloe
Town of East Fremantle
East Fremantle
City of Fremantle
Beaconsfield
Fremantle
Hilton
North Fremantle
O'Connor
Samson
South Fremantle
White Gum Valley
City of Gosnells
Beckenham
Canning Vale (* City of Canning)
Gosnells
Huntingdale
Kenwick
Langford
Maddington
Martin
Orange Grove
Southern River
Thornlie
City of Joondalup
Beldon
Burns Beach
Connolly
Craigie
Currambine
Duncraig
Edgewater
Greenwood
Heathridge
Hillarys
Iluka
Joondalup
Kallaroo
Kingsley
Kinross
Marmion
Mullaloo
Ocean Reef
Padbury
Sorrento
Warwick
Woodvale (* City of Wanneroo)
Shire of Kalamunda
Bickley
Canning Mills
Carmel
Forrestfield
Gooseberry Hill
Hacketts Gully
High Wycombe
Kalamunda
Kewdale (* City of Belmont)
Lesmurdie
Maida Vale
Paulls Valley
Pickering Brook
Piesse Brook
Reservoir
Walliston
Wattle Grove
Town of Kwinana
Anketell
Bertram
Calista
Casuarina
Hope Valley
Kwinana
Kwinana Beach
Kwinana Town Centre
Leda
Mandogalup
Medina
Naval Base
Orelia
Parmelia
Postans
The Spectacles
Wandi
Wellard
City of Melville
Alfred Cove
Applecross
Ardross
Attadale
Bateman
Bicton
Booragoon
Brentwood
Bull Creek
Kardinya
Leeming (* City of Canning, City of Cockburn)
Melville
Mount Pleasant
Murdoch
Myaree
Palmyra
Willagee
Willetton (* City of Canning)
Winthrop
Town of Mosman Park
Mosman Park
Shire of Mundaring
Bailup
Beechina
Bellevue (* City of Swan)
Boya
Chidlow
Darlington
Glen Forrest
Greenmount
Gorrie
Helena Valley
Hovea
Mahogany Creek
Midvale (* City of Swan)
Mount Helena
Mundaring
Parkerville
Sawyers Valley
Stoneville
Swan View (* City of Swan)
The Lakes
Wooroloo
City of Nedlands
Claremont (* Town of Claremont, Town of Cottesloe)
Swanbourne (* Town of Claremont)
Dalkeith
Floreat (* Town of Cambridge)
Karrakatta
Mount Claremont (* Town of Cambridge)
Nedlands (* City of Subiaco)
Shenton Park (* City of Subiaco)
Shire of Peppermint Grove
Peppermint Grove
City of Perth
East Perth (* City of Vincent)
Mount Eliza Reservoir
Northbridge
Perth City
West Perth (* City of Vincent)
City of Rockingham
Baldivis
Cooloongup
East Rockingham
Golden Bay
Hillman
Karnup
Peron
Port Kennedy
Rockingham
Safety Bay
Secret Harbour
Shoalwater
Singleton
Waikiki
Warnbro
Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale
Byford
Cardup
Darling Downs
Hopeland
Jarrahdale
Karrakup
Keysbrook
Mardella
Mundijong
Oakford
Oldbury
Serpentine
Whitby
City of South Perth
Collier Gardens
Como
Karawara
Kensington
Manning
Salter Point
South Perth
Waterford
City of Stirling
Balcatta
Balga
Carine
Churchlands
Coolbinia
Dianella
Doubleview
Glendalough
Gwelup
Hamersley
Herdsman
Inglewood
Innaloo
Joondanna
Karrinyup
Menora
Mirrabooka
Mount Lawley (* City of Bayswater, City of Vincent)
Nollamara
North Beach
Osborne Park
Scarborough
Stirling
Trigg
Tuart Hill
Watermans Bay
Wembley Downs (* Town of Cambridge)
Westminster
Woodlands
Yokine
City of Subiaco
Crawley
Daglish
Jolimont (* Town of Cambridge)
Nedlands (* City of Nedlands)
Shenton Park (* City of Nedlands)
Subiaco (* Town of Cambridge)
City of Swan
Ballajura
Baskerville
Beechboro
Belhus
Bellevue (* Shire of Mundaring)
Brabham
Brigadoon
Bullsbrook
Caversham
Cullacabardee
Dayton
Ellenbrook
Gidgegannup
Guildford
Hazelmere
Henley Brook
Herne Hill
Jane Brook
Kiara
Koongamia
Lexia
Lockridge
Malaga
Melaleuca
Middle Swan
Midland
Midvale (* Shire of Mundaring)
Millendon
Noranda (* City of Bayswater)
Perth Airport (* City of Belmont)
Red Hill
Stratton
South Guildford
Swan View (* Shire of Mundaring)
The Vines
Upper Swan
Valley Ridge
Viveash
West Swan
Whiteman
Woodbridge
Town of Victoria Park
Bentley (* City of Canning)
Burswood
Carlisle
East Victoria Park
Kensington (* City of South Perth)
Lathlain
St James (* City of Canning)
Victoria Park
Welshpool (* City of Canning)
City of Vincent
East Perth (* City of Perth)
Highgate
Leederville
Mount Hawthorn
Mount Lawley (* City of Stirling, City of Bayswater)
North Perth
Perth (* City of Perth)
West Perth (* City of Perth)
City of Wanneroo
Alexander Heights
Alkimos
Ashby
Banksia Grove
Butler
Carabooda
Carramar
Clarkson
Darch
Eglinton
Girrawheen
Gnangara
Hocking
Jandabup
Jindalee
Koondoola
Landsdale
Madeley
Marangaroo
Mariginiup
Merriwa
Mindarie
Neerabup
Nowergup
Pearsall
Pinjar
Quinns Rocks
Ridgewood
Sinagra
Tamala Park
Tapping
Two Rocks
Wangara
Wanneroo
Woodvale (* City of Joondalup)
Yanchep



Friday, May 4, 2012

Banks Announce their Interest Rate Moves

Bank of Queensland dropped their standard variable rate by 0.35% on the day of the RBA cut. On Wednesday, NAB announced that they would follow the RBA just over half way with an interest rate cut to their standard variable rate of 0.32%.

On Thursday, the Commonwealth Bank announced a 0.40% cut which is the most of any bank so far.

UBank also announced a drop of 0.40% to 5.83% for their UHomeLoan which will take effect on the 11th May.

Today, Bankwest announced a cut of 0.32% of their standard variable rate to 6.98%. Westpac left it to the close of business on Friday to announce that they would reduce their rates by 0.37%. St George dropped by 0.38% and the CUA dropped rates by only 0.25%.

UniCredit WA is the only institution to drop their home loan rate by the full 0.50% to a competitive 6.10%.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

RP Data Shows Another National 0.8% Drop in April

Weighing on the RBA in this afternoon's meeting would have been the fresh reports coming out of RP Data Rismark earlier this morning. Nationally, house prices dropped 0.8% in April which was contrary to the real estate advocates who have been saying that the market has hit a bottom already and is on it's way up. Perth dropped 0.4% in April contributing to a total of 2.8% drop in the past year.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics data which only shows the March quarter for this year was also released. In those figures, Perth recorded a 1.1% increase and a year to date decrease of 1.7% to March 2012.

ANZ Delays Interest Rate Announcements

ANZ will not announce any changes to their home loan rates until 11 May and any changes will not come into effect until 18 May, whilst other banks have not made any announcements following the RBA's slashing of the cash rate by 50 basis points today.

The Bank of Queensland has taken the first step by a bank to cut interest rates in response to the RBA's announcement. They have cut their standard variable rate by 35 basis points to 7.11%.

Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac will not make an interest rate decision today.

RBA Savages Interest Rate with 50 Basis Point Cut

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision

At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 50 basis points to 3.75 per cent, effective 2 May 2012. This decision is based on information received over the past few months that suggests that economic conditions have been somewhat weaker than expected, while inflation has moderated.
Growth in the world economy slowed in the second half of 2011, and is likely to continue at a below-trend pace this year. A deep downturn is not occurring at this stage, however, and in fact some forecasters have recently revised upwards their global growth outlook. Growth in China has moderated, as was intended, and is likely to remain at a more measured and sustainable pace in the future. Conditions in other parts of Asia softened in 2011, partly due to natural disasters, but have recently shown some tentative signs of improving. Among the major countries, conditions in Europe remain very difficult, while the United States continues to grow at a moderate pace. Commodity prices have been little changed, at levels below recent peaks but which are nonetheless still quite high. Australia's terms of trade similarly peaked about six months ago, though they too remain high.
Financial market sentiment has generally improved this year, and capital markets are supplying funding to corporations and well-rated banks. At the margin, wholesale funding costs have declined over recent months, though they remain higher, relative to benchmark rates, than in mid 2011. Market sentiment remains skittish, however, and the tasks of putting European banks and sovereigns onto a sound footing for the longer term, and of improving Europe's growth prospects, remain large. Hence Europe will remain a potential source of adverse shocks for some time yet.
In Australia, output growth was somewhat below trend over the past year, notwithstanding that growth in domestic demand ran at its fastest pace for four years. Output growth was affected in part by temporary factors, but also by the persistently high exchange rate. Considerable structural change is also occurring in the economy. Labour market conditions softened during 2011, though the rate of unemployment has so far remained little changed at a low level.
Recent data for inflation show that after a pick up in the first half of last year, underlying inflation has declined again, and was a little over 2 per cent over the latest four quarters. CPI inflation has also declined, from about 3½ per cent to a little over 1½ per cent at the latest reading, as the weather-driven rises in food prices in the first half of last year have, as expected, now been fully reversed. Over the coming one to two years, and abstracting from the effects of the carbon price, inflation will probably be lower than earlier expected, but still in the 2–3 per cent range.
As a result of changes to monetary policy late last year, interest rates for borrowers have been close to their medium-term averages over recent months, albeit tending to increase a little as lenders passed on the higher costs of funding their books. Credit growth remains modest overall. Housing prices have shown some signs of stabilising recently, after having declined for most of 2011, but generally the housing market remains subdued. The exchange rate remains high even though the terms of trade have declined somewhat.
Since it last changed the cash rate in December, the Board has maintained the view that the setting of policy was appropriate for the time being, but that the inflation outlook would provide scope for easier monetary policy, if needed, to support demand. The accretion of evidence over recent months suggests that it is now appropriate for a further step in that direction.
In considering the appropriate size of adjustment to the cash rate at today's meeting, the Board judged it desirable that financial conditions now be easier than those which had prevailed in December. A reduction of 50 basis points in the cash rate was, in this instance, therefore judged to be necessary in order to deliver the appropriate level of borrowing rates.

RBA Decision Later Today

The Reserve Bank of Australia will be announcing the direction of interest rates in just a matter of hours. We will post up the decision as well as which banks reduce or increase interest rates in response to the announcement.

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