Sensational-Adelaide.com

beamer85 wrote: I find his comments unfortunate and inacurate Sydney does not have a "tall" skyline but a dense one. Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast all have taller buildings then Sydney's tallest. And our day of a new tallest will come and I think it will happen in the next 5 years (a proposal that is).

rev wrote:Shouldn't we wait for the predicted mining boom to materialise before getting excited?

Jobs Central: SA leads nation

MARK KENNY

October 12, 2007 02:15am

A SURGE in the creation of full-time jobs is propelling South Australia into the lead of the nation's employment boom.

Almost half of the 4900 full-time jobs that were created in Australia in September came from SA, the Australian Bureau of Statistics' figures show.

The unemployment rate now sits at 4.2 per cent nationally and 4.7 per cent in SA - the lowest SA figure since records began three decades ago.

The result represents a major turnaround for a state once characterised as an economic "basket case".

There are now 764,900 jobs in the state, with 526,100 of those being full-time positions.

Nationally there are now more than 10.5 million jobs.

Premier Mike Rann said the new figures were extremely pleasing, particularly because the growth came in full-time jobs.

"In September, unemployment reached a new all-time low, total jobs reached a new all-time high and full-time employment reached a new all-time high," Mr Rann said.

SA recorded total jobs growth of 2600 positions, with only 200 of these classified as part-time.

It is understood the growth is being underpinned by the expansion of Olympic Dam and other resource projects, as well as existing and future defence contracts worth about $37 billion.

The buoyant jobs market is good news for the Federal Government, coming just days before Prime Minister John Howard is expected to call an election which he has already characterised as a referendum on jobs.

Mr Howard described the figures as the "greatest human dividend," from the strong economy.

He said getting a job for all those who want one was the "noblest goal of any government when it comes to economic management".

Employment Minister Joe Hockey also showed little hesitation in linking the figures to Government policy.

"While labour force figures can vary from month to month, the outstanding labour market results achieved over the last eleven and a half years are a testament to the Howard Government's strong economic credentials and its prudent policy stance," he said. Although the Government's controversial WorkChoices laws only began operating in March of last year, Government ministers have increasingly linked the record low unemployment to its industrial relations reforms.

"Labor wants to turn back the clock to a system where union bosses control every workplace whether the employees want it or not," he said.

"We have a workplace relations system that will continue to deliver more jobs and higher wages for working families into the future."

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd welcomed the latest figures but warned the strength of the economy and the fact that the labour market was so tight meant there would be further pressure on inflation and therefore on interest rates.

He said the Government has benefited from the resources boom and from sustained global economic growth but had now presided over five interest rates in a row.

"Mr Howard and (Mr) Costello own responsibility for interest rates when they are going down, but not when they are going up," he said.

"And Mr Howard and Mr Costello own responsibility presumably for these statistics on employment.

"Are they responsible for the fact that we've had five interest rate rises in a row or not."

He accused the Government of riding on the back of the resources boom rather than implementing policies to "build prosperity," beyond the boom.

Major projects value up fifty per cent

South Australia’s booming resources sector, defence industry and urban developments have helped drive the value of major projects in South Australia to a record total of almost $45 billion.

Launching the 2007 Major Developments SA Directory at an Investment Symposium in Adelaide, Deputy Premier Kevin Foley says the value of major developments in SA jumped by an additional $15 billion over this time last year when the figure was then a record $30 billion.

“In the past three years we have seen a trebling in the value of major projects,” Mr Foley says.

“The exponential rise in the value of major projects is an indication of the strength of South Australia’s economic growth.

“This dramatic increase is great news and reinforces our message to the world, which is come and invest in SA, there’s never been a better time to do so.

“These projects are creating employment and investment opportunities and are responsible for the strong levels of business confidence we now see in South Australia.

“We’ve got the lowest unemployment rate ever and the highest level of migration in 30 years,” Mr Foley says.

“It’s not just the big ticket defence and resource items driving the total, it is urban infrastructure projects that supports economic expansion and a growing population.

“Other significant projects include the $1.5 billion Mawson Lakes Development Project, the $1.04 billion Evanston Urban Areas Project, the $600 million The Parks Urban Renewal Project and the $500 million Seaford Meadows Residential Project.

“In addition, there has been a six fold increase in minerals exploration expenditure over four years to June 2007, assisted by the state’s Program for Accelerated Exploration (PACE).

“The value of this exploration in the last financial year reached $261 million and represents another record for the State.

“Growth in capital expenditure in the mining sector increased by 107% from the June quarter 2006 to the June quarter 2007,” Mr Foley says.

City development boom continues

Released: 27 Nov 2007

There’s no end in sight to the development boom in the City of Adelaide, with new figures showing the value of development applications approved by the Adelaide City Council reaching record levels during the September quarter.


It’s the second quarter in a row the value of development application approvals has hit record levels, with more than $570 million worth of City projects approved during the past six months.


309 applications lodged with Council for development consent, with a value of $354.3 million, were approved between July and September – smashing the record of 285 applications with a value of $222.2 million set the previous quarter.


The $354.3 million figure also represents a massive three-fold increase from the September quarter last year, when development applications valued at $117.5 million were approved.


Lord Mayor Michael Harbison says these are exciting times for the City.


“Development applications are at record levels, building activity is the highest it’s been since the 1980s, there’s sustained high-level investment in the CBD, and more and more people are living and working in the City,” he says.


“The strength of investment in the City is especially encouraging, with the latest Colliers International Market Indicators Report suggesting the CBD commercial property market will continue to strengthen and consolidate after the successes of the past 12 months.”


“Importantly, many of the new buildings proposed or under construction have a key focus on environmental sustainability, with Adelaide set to maintain its status as having the most

green-rated office space in the country.”


“ANZ House in Waymouth Street is the largest 5-star green rated building in Australia, and the new SA Water headquarters under construction in Victoria Square is aiming for a 6-star green rating.”


Among the applications approved during the quarter were the $80 million, 31-level “permanent wave” office tower in Currie Street, the $69.5 million apartment and hotel complex on the old cinema site in Hindmarsh Square, and a $62.3 million plan to build two 15-level office buildings in Pirie Street.


In a further boost for the City’s development boom, 318 applications for Development Plan consent – valued at more than $155 million – were lodged during this year’s September quarter, including a $25 million proposal for a new student accommodation facility in North Terrace.

bmw boy wrote:Has it actually been said they will be the new plates... or this all just speculation?

momentkiller wrote:...I'd rather the Brilliant Blend plates... I made a mock-up around here somewhere. *edit* A-ha! found it...