Vibrant CBDS Key to Recovery

Home Media Releases Vibrant CBDS Key to Recovery

VIBRANT CBDS KEY TO RECOVERY  

The latest results from the ANZ/Property Council Survey make for great Christmas time reading, with confidence levels in Queensland’s property industry soaring 45 index points over the past quarter.

Property Council Queensland Deputy Executive Director, Jen Williams, said it was promising to see overall confidence exceed pre-COVID levels, with a strong rebound from 79 index points last quarter to 124 index points in December 2020 (with 100 being a neutral level of confidence). 

“The outlook for most sectors of the property industry is extremely encouraging, with Queensland’s residential, industrial and retirement sectors set to benefit from an increase in consumer sentiment and expected influx of interstate migrants,” Ms Williams said.

“Many residential developers are enjoying the highest levels of activity since pre-GFC.

“However, while forward work schedule, staffing levels and economic growth expectations are all positive, confidence in the commercial office and retail sectors remains stubbornly low. 

“Office occupancy in the Brisbane CBD is still only at 61 per cent, with most building owners and managers not expecting to see a material increase in CBD occupancy for three months or longer.

“Where other sectors of the economy have benefited from targeted strategies and stimulus measures such as HomeBuilder and the Good to Go tourism campaign- our CBDs have missed out.

“We are now at a critical juncture for our CBD economies, which are big drivers of economic activity and the engine rooms of productivity, collaboration and innovation.

“The NSW and Victorian Governments have given clear directions supporting the return to office workplaces, however a similar direction has not been publicly made here in Queensland.

“Every worker that returns to their office means more business for CBD cafes, restaurants, retail outlets and other service providers.

“After successfully managing the health impacts of COVID, Queensland is well positioned for economic growth. There is now no reason for people to not return to our city centres.

“So, while the survey results indicate better times ahead for Queensland, Government must now step up and show leadership on getting people and activity back in our CBDs to ensure a complete- and lasting- economic recovery,” Ms Williams said.

To view select ANZ/Property Council Survey historical data series in the Property Council’s Data Room, click here. To find out more about the ANZ/Property Council Survey and our Supporting Sponsor RCP, click here.

Media Contact: Jen Williams | M 0448 432 936 | [email protected]