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Eight simple changes to our neighbourhoods can help us age well

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jerome-n-rachele-251972">Jerome N Rachele</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-f-sallis-407885">James F Sallis</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-california-san-diego-1314">University of California, San Diego</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/venurs-loh-118864">Venurs Loh</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Where we live can play a big part in ageing well, largely because of the links between physical activity and wellbeing. <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2181/AHURI_Final_Report_No214_Downsizing-amongst-older-Australians.pdf">Research shows</a> that two-thirds of Australians prefer to age in place. That is, we want to live independently in our homes for as long as we can. Our neighbourhoods and their design can then improve or hinder our ability to get out of the house and be physically active. The rapid ageing of Australia’s population only adds to the importance of neighbourhood design. In 2016, 15% of Australians were aged 65 or older. That proportion is <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/older-people/overview">projected to double</a> by 2056. These trends present several <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/older-people/reports">social and economic challenges</a>, particularly for the health sector. Designing neighbourhoods in ways that promote physical activity can help overcome these challenges. <h2>Eight simple steps</h2> The following is a short list of <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0471-5">evidence-based steps</a> local and state governments can take to assist older people to be physically active. These involve minor but effective changes to neighbourhood design. Improve footpaths: Research indicates that older people have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-older-people-get-osteoporosis-and-have-falls-68145">higher risk of falls</a>. Ensuring footpaths are level and crack-free, and free from obstructions, will encourage walking among older people – especially those with a disability. Connected pedestrian networks: Introducing footpaths at the end of no-through-roads and across long street blocks reduces walking distances to destinations. This makes walking a more viable option. Slowing traffic in high-pedestrian areas: Slowing traffic <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/Safe-Speed-Evidence-Report.pdf">improves safety</a> by reducing the risk of a collision. It also reduces the risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28557669">death and serious injury</a> in the event of a collision. Age-friendly street crossings: Installing longer pedestrian crossing light sequences gives older pedestrians <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/41/5/690/47318/Most-older-pedestrians-are-unable-to-cross-the">more time to cross</a>, and installing refuge islands means those who walk more slowly can cross the street in two stages. Disabled access at public transport: Although a form of motorised transport, public transport users undertake more incidental physical activity compared with car users. This is because they walk between transit stops and their origins and destinations. Improving disabled access helps make public transport a viable option for more older people. Places to rest: <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1054">Providing rest spots</a> such as benches enables older people to break up their walk and rest when needed. Planting trees: Planting trees <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953614004109?via%3Dihub">creates more pleasant scenery</a> to enjoy on a walk. It also provides shade on hot days. Improving safety: Ensuring that streets are well-lit and reducing graffiti and signs of decay are likely to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24552845">improve perceptions of safety</a> among older people. <h2>Why physical activity matters</h2> Physical function – the ability to undertake everyday activities such as walking, bathing and climbing stairs – often declines as people age. The reason for this is that ageing is often accompanied by a reduction in muscle strength, flexibility and cardiorespiratory reserves. Regular physical activity can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14552936">prevent or slow the decline</a> in physical function, even among those with existing health conditions. Middle-to-older aged adults can reduce their risk of physical function decline <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5868-7-38">by 30%</a> with regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week). This includes recreational physical activity, like walking the dog, or incidental physical activity, such as walking to the shops or to visit friends. By making minor changes as outlined above, the health and longevity of our elderly population can be extended. Such changes will help our elderly age well in place. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jerome-n-rachele-251972">Jerome N Rachele</a>, Research Fellow in Social Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-f-sallis-407885">James F Sallis</a>, Professorial Fellow, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, and Emeritus Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-california-san-diego-1314">University of California, San Diego</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/venurs-loh-118864">Venurs Loh</a>, PhD Candidate, Institute for Health and Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/eight-simple-changes-to-our-neighbourhoods-can-help-us-age-well-83962">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Tips

Guy Sebastian speaks for first time about his neighbourhood court case saga

In a twist to a tale that has baffled from the start, Guy Sebastian has finally addressed the ongoing court case with his neighbour. The singer was on Sunrise to discuss his fundraising for mental health when the hosts steered conversation towards the dispute, with an uncomfortable Guy initially trying to laugh it off. “Life is full of challenges. Yourself at the moment, you’re currently involved in a court case with your neighbour,” host Matt Shirvington opened, referencing the years-long feud between Guy and his 66-year-old neighbour, Phillip Richard Hanslow. “It’s hard, isn’t it? Because you’re a public figure, you’re in the public eye,” Matt continued. “There’ve been some pretty serious allegations though, thrown your way, which haven’t been spoken about publicly. What can you tell us?” “Well, this is the first question I’m answering about it,” Guy responded. “I’ve chosen to not say anything, I guess I’ve learned now it’s sort of like ‘where do I start’, that’s been so much that’s [been] said that’s not true, and I’m not in a court case with him. “I haven’t taken an AVO out against this guy. This is an ongoing thing, not an isolated event … there was something that transpired between me and him where I’d asked him, basically, to stop damaging my property. “And then there was, you know, some things that were said on his part which caused me to have to call the police.” “And so it’s not me versus him. It’s the police who decided to take the initiative of taking an AVO out. “And like you said, as a public person, I will cop it, I get it. There’s going to be stuff that’s said but sometimes for me it’s like ‘where do I start’. I mean, there was something that was alleged yesterday, the stuff in the paper today that was just completely fabricated.” With that, Guy was drawing attention to claims made by his neighbour that Guy had been holding a brick and “towering over” him, and that footage existed of the alleged incident. Phillip’s lawyer, Bryan Wrench, reportedly told the court that “that footage was not provided to the police, and it would show Mr Sebastian with a brick in his hand towering over our client. That’s why we’re quite concerned that it is served and produced.” Guy, however, maintained that this did not occur, and went on to voice his concern for his family in the midst of the media frenzy and roiling tension. “And I think when it has to do with safety and my family - like, I travel for work - and it’s something that I had to address,” he said, “and there’s nothing I can do except for relying on the help of the police to calm this situation down. “And so yes, there’s a lot that has been said. I don’t actually know where to start, but I guess with today there’s stuff that’s been said, and I know that it’s more of a story to flip the narrative so that I’m the bad guy in some way, it’s just completely not true.” With Guy choosing there to conclude, Kylie Gillies expressed appreciation on behalf of herself and co-host Matt, before also thanking him for coming in to speak about his fundraising, and for opening up to them. “That’s kind of why I don’t speak about stuff too,” Guy confessed, “because there’s so much of that stuff in the media that is everyone’s focus, and it makes it hard to do anything that actually means something.” Images: Sunrise

Legal

Fed up neighbours band together to boot out squatters

A group of resourceful residents living in a cul-de-sac on the New South Wales Central Coast have banded together to kick out a mob of squatters who had been wreaking havoc on and in the vacated home of a disabled man. Walls had been destroyed, a car had been set alight – and the community had finally said they'd had enough. "For the last several months we've had squatters living in our cul-de-sac running a 24-hour a day, drive-through drug den," local resident Christy told A Current Affair. Christy claimed squatters and drug users have been a problem next door for years. "Lots of fighting, brawling, threats to kill each other, to shoot each other," she said. "(They say), 'Bitch better have my money', you know, constantly." Christy then told the programme that things had ramped up recently, and it all culminated in the lighting of a dangerous car fire. "The flames were like two storeys tall. My whole house reeks of burned tyres and we've all had enough. We all have little girls ... and we can't let our kids out," Christy said. "My partner woke me up in the morning (and said), 'Oh my god, there's a car fire' so we ran out and looked out the window and yeah, that was too far," another neighbour, Dean Rainback, said. Rainback said the fire was the final straw for him and his young family. "There's trees over there where the car is and that house right next door could have caught fire," he said. "I'm from Texas, we don't put up with this kind of crap," Christy said. "So we decided we would take things into our own hands and get them out ourselves." Christy said she gave her unwanted neighbours "a verbal warning" to let them know the "jig is up, we've had enough". "I also shouted it in the house - 'Tomorrow's the day. It's over'," Christy said. True to her word, Christy and the other neighbours confronted the squatters and kicked them out! The group of frustrated neighbours then surveyed the damage and were shocked by what they saw. After removing all the junk, they boarded up the house, so no one could get back inside. The unit belongs to a disabled man named Terry who is now living with his mother after disability support workers who were paid to care for him failed to do so. "I think that is a disgrace, that it has been left to neighbours to do this," she said. The neighbours have now organised a council pick-up to get rid of the squatters' mess. Images: A Current Affair

Travel Trouble

Pubs and clubs – your friendly neighbourhood money-laundering service, thanks to 86,640 pokies

Billions of dollars in proceeds of crime are being funnelled through clubs and pubs in New South Wales, <a href="https://www.crimecommission.nsw.gov.au/final-islington-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the NSW Crime Commission. Predictably, the industry is claiming it’s not an issue and solutions are too difficult. Laundering money through a local club or hotel involves loading cash into one of the state’s <a href="https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/resources/gaming-machine-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener">86,640 poker machines</a>, then cashing out and claiming the money as winnings. This is not a preferred method for most organised criminals, the crime commission says. Sophisticated criminals have other methods. But it is still a sizeable proportion of the estimated $20 billion in criminal proceeds laundered in NSW each year. In Queensland, you can put only $100 into a poker machine at one time. In Victoria the limit is $1,000. In NSW, newer machines allow $5,000, and older machines up to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/14/nsw-poker-machine-laws-may-increase-risk-of-money-laundering-says-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$10,000</a>. For supposedly harmless suburban fun it’s hard to understand why such sums are allowed. The findings of the NSW Crime Commission’s <a href="https://www.crimecommission.nsw.gov.au/final-islington-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inquiry into money laundering via clubs and hotels</a> follow scandalous money-laundering revelations from casino inquiries in <a href="https://theconversation.com/not-suitable-where-to-now-for-james-packer-and-crowns-other-casinos-154938" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NSW</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/illegal-dishonest-unethical-and-exploitative-but-crown-resorts-keeps-its-melbourne-casino-licence-170625" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria</a>, Western Australia and Queensland. Those inquiries found Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment allowed hundreds of millions of dollars to pass through their casinos, in contravention of anti-money-laundering regulations. Both companies were found not fit to hold their licences. Crown has been fined <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-30/crown-casino-fined-80-million-dollars-china-union-pay/101111660" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$80 million</a> in Victoria. Star has been fined <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-16/star-casino-set-to-be-fined-100-million/101541354" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$100 million</a> in NSW, and had its licence suspended. Both have been required to undergo extensive “renewal”. They have agreed to adopt cashless gaming to better protect against money laundering. It’s therefore unsurprising the NSW Crime Commission’s principal recommendation is to introduce a cashless system for all electronic gaming machines in NSW. Also unsurprising is that the industry is focused on why it shouldn’t. <h2>Cashless gambling recommended</h2> The NSW Crime Commission’s report recommends a cashless gambling system for pubs and clubs the same as for casinos – consistent with the identification requirements of Australia’s <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021C00243" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act</a>. Electronic gaming cards would record amounts loaded and withdrawn, times, turnover, and losses/wins. The maximum amount of cash able to be loaded on to a player’s account in a single day would be $1,000. Josh Landis, the chief executive of ClubsNSW (which represents most of the state’s 1,200 licensed clubs) <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/sydney/programs/breakfast/breakfast/14090002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has said</a> that such technology has not been trialled, and was uncosted and unproven. But Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment are implementing such systems. Similar systems have been operating successfully in Norway <a href="https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-571970219/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since 2009</a>, and in Sweden <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/resources/policy-and-practice-papers/pre-commitment-systems-electronic-gambling-machines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since 2013</a>. Victoria has already implemented a card-based <a href="https://www.yourplay.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">precommitment system</a>, incorporating most necessary characteristics. Every poker machine in the state is linked to this system. Its flaw is that it is voluntary, allowing those who wish to clean dirty money, or avoid a limit, <a href="https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/safer-communities/gambling/evaluation-of-yourplay-final-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to simply opt out</a>. <h2>It’s not just about money laundering</h2> Money laundering isn’t the only reason to introduce cashless gaming systems. On any day in NSW, <a href="https://www.responsiblegambling.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/881279/NSW-Gambling-Survey-2019-report-FINAL-AMENDED-Mar-2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hundreds of thousands of people</a> are experiencing significant gambling harm, mostly using poker machines. Many hundreds of thousands more – <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14459795.2017.1331252" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partners, children, employers</a> – are also harmed as a consequence. A pre-commitment system incorporating all the features of the NSW Crime Commission’s cashless model would stop money laundering and also help those struggling to control their gambling. For those who want to stop it would provide a truly effective gambling self-exclusion system. The Tasmanian government <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-16/tasmania-pokies-gambling-limits-reform-explained/101446788" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has promised to implement</a> a statewide system by 2024. <h2>A matter of political commitment</h2> The real test here isn’t technology. It’s political will. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has expressed concern at the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/premier-says-pokies-taxing-on-the-misery-of-others-vows-to-do-better-20221002-p5bmjz.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exploitation of vulnerable people</a> via gambling. Opposition leader Chris Minns has <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/nsw/coalition-labor-set-to-be-wedged-on-cashless-gaming-card-as-crossbench-pushes-for-reform-20221027-p5bteh.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said the crime commission’s report is concerning</a> but will not commit to a cashless card. ClubsNSW and the Australian Hotels Association are two of Australia’s most powerful lobby groups. According to an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-23/how-gambling-industrys-biggest-political-donors-influence-votes/100592068" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC investigation</a>, they have doled out about a third of $40 million in political donations disclosed by gambling-related organisations over the past two decades. Since 2010, ClubsNSW has signed <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-million-dollar-men-who-run-the-clubs-industry-20221011-p5bowp.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorandums of understanding</a> with incoming governments to protect its members interests. In the first six months of 2022 (the <a href="https://nswgov.sharepoint.com/sites/GamingMachineReports/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most recent data</a> available), people in NSW lost $4 billion using pokies – $2.4 billion in clubs, $1.6 billion in pubs. This is 23% more than the same period in 2019, before pandemic restrictions. Yet according to the Australian Hotels Association, the industry is on “<a href="https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/why-a-pokie-crackdown-will-have-pub-owners-nervous-20221026-p5bt48" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on its knees</a>” and being told to introduce “an unproven, untested, un-costed and unnecessary cashless system”. In NSW, gambling operators are not permitted to donate to state political campaigns. But ClubsNSW (and its member clubs) can because they are “<a href="https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/Funding-and-disclosure/Political-donations/Unlawful-political-donations/Prohibited-donors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not for profit</a>”. If this continues, political parties will be open to the allegation that they, like clubs, are benefiting from the proceeds of crime. Pokie operators have billions of reasons to assert this is no big deal. Politicians should take a different view. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/pubs-and-clubs-your-friendly-neighbourhood-money-laundering-service-thanks-to-86-640-pokies-193312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

World’s coolest neighbourhoods ranked

Travelling to a new destination gives us plenty to explore - from the tourist hotspots to the hidden gems found off the beaten track - and it’s these latter spots that have been ranked, with Time Out releasing its <a href="https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">51 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World</a> for 2022. The fifth annual listing, created after surveying 20,000 city-dwellers and relying on expert input, is made up of “incredible places to be right now”, according to Time Out editors. While we might not have cracked the top ten, there was still plenty of representation from Australia and New Zealand. Fitzroy, Melbourne, took out the highest spot in 27th place, earning the “distinction of the second coolest street in the world” thanks to the retail stores, galleries, pubs, bars and cafes lining Gertrude Street. Sydney’s Marrickville came in close behind at No. 33, garnering praise for its “healthy dose of creative colour”. Kingsland, Auckland, came in 43rd, followed by Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, which scraped in at No. 47. The top of the list featured spots in Portugal, Cambodia, the US, Japan and Canada, with Colonia Americana, in the western Mexico city of Guadalajara, being crowned the coolest of them all. Time Out travel editor James Manning said Guandalajara is an emerging “must-visit” spot, with Colonia Americana being “the place to be right now”. “It's home to a boundary-pushing creative community, a growing number of amazing places to eat, and some of the best nightlife in the western hemisphere. And the street life is unbeatable,” he said in a statement. Following in second place is Lisbon’s riverside Cais do Sodré, a long-time hub for nightlife that is becoming a foodie hotspot. Third place was claimed by Wat Bo Village in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Following a “serious glow-up” in the surrounding area over the past year, highlights include boutique hotels and the restaurant Tevy’s Place, which slings organic meals and works to empower local women. The first US entry, New York City’s suburb of Ridgewood, took fourth place, followed by Mile End in Montreal, Canada, at No. 5. Dave Calhoun, Time Out’s chief content officer for North America and the UK, said the goal of the annual list was to spotlight areas that aren’t “homogenised, corporate destinations” and have “an independent and welcoming vibe” instead. "You may be able to walk across them in half an hour or less but they are packed with enough experiences to spend days exploring," he said. The top ten list of Time Out’s coolest suburbs in the world are: 1. Colonia Americana - Guadalajara, Mexico 2. Cais do Sodré - Lisbon, Portugal 3. Wat Bo Village - Siem Reap, Cambodia 4. Ridgewood - New York City, USA 5. Mile End - Montreal, Canada 6. Barrio Logan - San Diego, USA 7. Shimokitazawa - Tokyo, Japan 8. Cliftonville - Margate, UK 9. Barrio Yungay - Santiago, Chile 10. Cours Julien - Marseille, France Image: Instagram

International Travel

Jennifer Aniston snaps up Oprah's estate in star-studded neighbourhood

Jennifer Aniston has joined the likes of fellow A-listers Ariana Grande, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Ellen DeGeneres and Rob Lowe, forking out AUD$22 million on Oprah Winfrey’s former home. The four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom Tuscan-style farmhouse sits on 1.03 acres and was just one part of Winfrey’s vast property that she sold to the actor, while selling her other half of the estate to long-time personal trainer and property manager Bon Greene for an impressive $2.3 million. Spanning just over 400 sqm, the 53-year-old Friends star, who also owns a $20.97m Bel Air mansion, purchased the main residence of the estate under a trust around the same time as well. Winfrey quietly purchased the estate in early 2021 for $10.5m, which means she is walking away with a $6.5m profit. Because of the nature of the deal, interior photos of Aniston’s new place are scarce. The Mediterranean-style abode features a driveway surrounded by lush landscaping for optimal privacy and panoramic ocean views. Images: Getty/Google Earth/The Ellen Show

Real Estate

225kg "Hank the Tank" bear ransacks wealthy neighbourhood

Residents of a wealthy California neighbourhood have been terrorised by a 225kg black bear, nicknamed Hank the Tank by authorities. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) , the one bear has been linked to "property damage at 38 different properties" in the affluent Tahoe Keys neighbourhood. The trouble-making bear has been the source of more than 150 calls between law enforcement and wildlife personnel in recent months. Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the CDFW said Hank has been spotted more and more as he has developed a taste for pizza, and has yet to be deterred by efforts from local police to scare it off with paintballs and sirens. “It’s easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest,” Tira said “This is a bear that has lost all fear of people,” he added. “It’s a potentially dangerous situation.” Due to the heightened number of sightings and complaints about Hank, the CDFW has been setting up traps to catch the beast, but to no avail. “The trapping activity is a measure of last resort to capture and euthanise a specific and what we call a severely habituated or human-food conditioned black bear,” Tira said. Despite the potential danger, the bear hunt has sparked an outcry from local residents, who tried to sabotage them by trying to scare away the bear, playing loud music, and even spray-painting “Bear Killer” on the government’s trap. A bear activist group called the BEAR League has been coordinating with the CDFW for Hank the Tank to be relocated to a wildlife sanctuary instead of euthanised. “The BEAR League reached out to the director of an excellent out-of-state wildlife sanctuary who agreed he has room and would be very willing to give this bear a permanent home,” said executive director Ann Bryant. “We notified [the California Department of Fish and Wildlife] on Tuesday morning asking that this option be seriously considered rather than killing the bear.” While talks to relocate Hank are still ongoing, the CDFW has urged residents to practice preventive measures to keep bears out, such as securing garbage properly and keeping trash out of cars. According to the New York Post, when people relocated to Tahoe Keys to work from home due to the pandemic, these new residents did not adhere to preventive measures, prompting Hank the Tank to come out of the woods and forage for food. Image credits: Facebook - BEAR League

Family & Pets

Is your neighbourhood underinsured? Search our map to find out

Underinsurance is more common than <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/insurance-how-to-prepare-for-floods-fires-and-other-disasters/100581978">many</a> realise. And if you live in an area where most people don’t have enough home and/or contents insurance, the financial and social catastrophe that follows a disaster can be community-wide. Even if you’re well covered, your neighbourhood may struggle long after the dust has settled, as houses lie derelict, people struggle to bounce back and social cohesion frays. So, do you live in one of these “pockets of underinsurance”? Search <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-your-neighbourhood-underinsured-search-our-map-to-find-out-168836">our interactive map</a> by suburb name or by postcode to find out. The map is based on data reported in our <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0308518X19879165">study</a> published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/epn">Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space</a>. Suburb-by-suburb data on actual rates of underinsurance doesn’t exist (yet). But we combined data from the 2015 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (AuSSA) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to map predicted rates of underinsurance for each suburb in Australia. In other words, the map shows whether you live in an area where underinsurance is likely to be more prevalent. The darker the red, the more likely it is many in your neighbourhood do not have enough house and/or contents insurance. Underinsurance can compound disadvantage. This dynamic is expected to worsen as home ownership drives more people into long-term renting and climate change makes disasters and extreme weather events more frequent – and more severe. <h2>Renters often don’t have contents insurance</h2> The data show that a poorer suburb with a high rate of rental properties will likely be the most underinsured. But, perhaps counter-intuitively, some wealthier suburbs are showing up as likely having high rates of underinsurance. That’s because it is housing tenure (whether someone owns or rents) that contributes most significantly to the patterns seen in the map. Areas with <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0308518X19879165">high levels of renting</a> are more likely to be a “pocket of underinsurance” because while a landlord may buy home insurance, renters often don’t have contents insurance. In fact, around 40% of renting households <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718519302155">don’t have insurance</a>. Many suburbs mapped as having higher rates of underinsurance have a high proportion of rental properties. This includes wealthier suburbs. In fact, poorer suburbs with high rates of home ownership are more likely to appear as adequately insured. For example, zooming in on the municipalities of Hobart and Glenorchy in Tasmania, reveals the more well-heeled Hobart area contains significant areas of underinsurance, similar to that in the more disadvantaged Glenorchy. The take home message is that while income remains a significant indicator of underinsurance risk, renters (both poor or rich) are much more likely to be underinsured than home owners due to a lack of contents insurance. <h2>What’s driving these trends?</h2> As property values have climbed, many Australians have been priced out of home ownership and driven into <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure#:%7E:text=32%25%20(2.6%20million%20households)%20were%20renters%3B%20where%20landlord,state%20or%20territory%20housing%20authorities">long-term renting</a>. And as rents go up, more of the household budget is spent on rental payments. When households are under financial stress, they are <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/publications/research-insights/search/result?paper=3769030">more likely to drop insurance</a>. The end result is a lot of renters don’t have contents insurance. Climate-exacerbated disasters are also driving changes in the affordability and availability of house and/or contents insurance. Together, these trends in housing, renting, climate change and insurance could potentially create new pockets of entrenched disadvantage. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433342/original/file-20211123-23-vbpspz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433342/original/file-20211123-23-vbpspz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A city is flooded" /></a> A lot of renters don’t have contents insurance. Shutterstock <h2>I’m well insured, so how does this affect me?</h2> Without sufficient home and/or contents insurance, both renters and homeowners can struggle to recover from a disaster. Repairs or rebuilds may be delayed (or too expensive) for homeowners and landlords. Renters may be unable to replace their stuff, or face eviction from a damaged property, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/insurance-is-unaffordable-for-some-but-its-middle-australia-that-is-underinsured-105662">possible homelessness</a>. In a disaster like a massive bushfire, demand for emergency housing skyrockets. So even if a household can afford insurance and alternative accommodation, demand for housing may outpace supply. An area dominated by damaged and uninhabitable properties can lose a sense of community. Those who are well insured may find rebuilding in an otherwise derelict area can be tough. In contributing to homelessness and a loss of community, underinsurance can lead to loss of social connections and cohesion. It can fragment the collective responses so important for recovery. In other words, people <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0042098017736257">struggle to bounce back</a>. Some may never get back on their feet. <h2>What needs to be done?</h2> There are many different types of insurance aimed at building individual and collective capacity to recover after disaster. Some of these, like Flood Re in the United Kingdom and the National Flood Insurance Program in the United States, use the market to set premium prices and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03085147.2018.1547494">manage risk</a>. The idea is if insurance prices are set according to a particular area’s level of risk, this will encourage people to take action to reduce their risk. Others, for example in Europe, focus on enabling the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212096314000072">collective good</a> through insurance affordability and availability. These approaches, which aim to make insurance an option for everyone, better reflect the collective predicament underinsurance represents. If Australia is to build resilience, then our dependence of individual insurance policies must end. Governments must shift their efforts to equitable, social insurance schemes. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-isabel-booth-201344">Kate Isabel Booth</a>, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-your-neighbourhood-underinsured-search-our-map-to-find-out-168836">original article</a>. Image: Mapbox/The Conversation

Home Hints & Tips

Neighbour sends confronting note about a nearby home’s exterior

A neighbour has been left feeling shocked after they received a scathing note that details how they have been letting down their street. The author of the letter, who is new to the neighbourhood, has detailed all the ways that the house needs to be renovated to keep up appearances. The letter was posted on Reddit, and reads, “Dear neighbour. Just thought I'd drop a line to ask you to do something with your house. "We recently moved in and are down the corner from you, and yes the front yards are very small, and the landscaping is very minimal, it's easy to clean, plain, fixup and garden these homes, especially in the front.” The letter goes on to detail how the author’s family nominated the house as “the worst on both sides of the block”, as they tell their children “that’s where the lazy’s live.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845949/neighbour-note.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b746806abf1e4bfba8b62d75a4b703ae" /> Image credit: Reddit The letter goes on to rattle off a list of things they expect to be done to their neighbour’s house, including having the house painted, lawn mowed, weeds removed and “showing some initiative.” The author even wonders if the residents “have absolutely no pride”, as they insist they “do something with the front of that s*** hole.” The Reddit post welcomed a flood of comments from sympathisers, saying the author’s request is uncalled for and unfair. While some users shared their own experiences with nightmare neighbours, many people told the recipient of the letter to simply adorn their front lawn with “plastic flamingos and lawn gnomes”. Another thought it was a good idea, adding, "Flamingos might be too tame. I think it's time to invest in a modest display of giant lawn gnomes in raunchy poses." Image credits: Getty Images / Reddit

Travel Trouble

Our pets strengthen neighbourhood ties

Talk to any pet owner and you are bound to invoke stories about the joy and companionship of having a pet. But evidence is mounting that the effect of pets extends beyond their owners and can help strengthen the social fabric of local neighbourhoods. Now a cross-national study involving Perth, Australia, and three US cities has lent weight to the observation that pets help build social capital. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcsvDLgfjRw?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> This is not a frivolous notion, given the erosion of sense of community is often lamented. As Hugh Mackay <a href="http://theconversation.com/hugh-mackay-the-state-of-the-nation-starts-in-your-street-72264">recently observed</a>, not knowing our neighbours has become a sad cliché of contemporary urban life. I stumbled into pet-related research some 15 years ago when undertaking a PhD on neighbourhoods and sense of community. I was curious about the elements of a neighbourhood that might help people connect to one another, so I threw some in some survey questions about pets. In what has become my most-cited <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953605000535">academic paper</a>, we found that pet owners were more likely to have higher social capital. This is a concept that captures trust between people (including those we don’t know personally), networks of social support, the exchange of favours with neighbours and civic engagement. Fast-forward a decade to a much <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827317300344">larger study</a> to look at the relationship between pets and social capital. Pet owners and non-owners were randomly surveyed in four cities (Perth, San Diego, Portland and Nashville – four cities reasonably comparable in size, urban density and climate). In all four cities, we found owning a pet was significantly associated with higher social capital compared with not owning a pet. This held true after adjusting for a raft of demographic factors that might influence people’s connections in their neighbourhood. <h2>How do pets help build social bonds?</h2> It is often assumed that the social benefits of pets are confined to social interactions that occur when people are out walking their dogs. Lots of dog owner anecdotes support this. In this large sample study, however, levels of social capital were higher among pet owners across the board. We did nonetheless find that social capital was higher among dog owners and those who walked their dogs in particular. Dog owners were <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122085">five times more likely</a> to have got to know people in their neighbourhood. This makes sense, as dogs are the most likely to get us outside the home. Yet our survey data and qualitative responses show that a variety of pets can act as a social lubricant. Pets are a great leveller in society, owned and loved by people across social, age and racial strata. Perhaps it is having something in common with other people that strikes a chord, regardless of the type of pet. <h2>What does this mean for how we live?</h2> That pets can help build social capital is not just a social nicety or quirky sociological observation. Hundreds of studies internationally show that social capital is a positive predictor for a raft of important social indicators, including mental health, education, crime deterrence, and community safety. Given pets are <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-the-rise-of-apartment-living-whats-a-nation-of-pet-owners-to-do-58738?sr=1">entrenched in the lives and homes</a> of many Australians, it makes sense to tap into this as a way to strengthen the social fabric of local communities. Not everyone can or wants to own a pet. But two-thirds of the population does, so our cities and neighbourhoods need to be “pet friendly”. Australian suburbs are generally pretty good for <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-there-a-place-for-dogs-in-public-space-or-must-they-make-do-with-dog-parks-56147">walkable parks</a> and streets. In this study, we also found that having dog walkers out and about contributes to <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3659-8">perceptions of community safety</a>. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> However, in Australia, pets have traditionally belonged to people living in detached housing with backyards. Many rental properties, apartment complexes, and retirement villages still <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-pet-owners-suffer-rental-insecurity-perhaps-landlords-should-think-again-63275?sr=1">default to a “no pets” policy</a>. Other countries, where renting and higher-density living is more the norm, seem more accepting of pets across the housing spectrum. Given ageing populations, housing affordability and the need to curb urban sprawl are critical social trends in many countries (including Australia), maybe we need to <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-need-a-better-understanding-of-how-we-manage-dogs-to-help-them-become-better-urban-citizens-64749">recalibrate our notions</a> of who can own a pet and where they can live. This is not to say that pets have to be allowed everywhere, but the default to “no pets allowed” is questionable. My father-in-law in his 80s, for example, couldn’t downsize to a retirement complex because his extremely docile rescue greyhound exceeded the “10kg pet” rule. He couldn’t bear to part with Moby, a faithful companion through whom he met many local residents daily at the park nearby. <h2>Constant companions in times of change</h2> A lot of my current research is around homelessness. Chatting recently with a man who was homeless with his dog on the streets of Melbourne, he told me how his dog gets him up in the morning, keeps him safe at night, and gets them both walking daily. His dog was one of the few stable things in his life, so he needed a public housing option that would allow pets. People who are homeless also need crisis accommodation options that accept their pets. Hence it is great to see places such as <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/WA/Homeless_Mental_Health_Services/Tom_Fisher_House/">Tom Fisher House</a> in Perth, opening its doors to rough sleepers with pets needing a safe place to sleep. Beyond the practical implications for pet-friendly cities, the potential for pets to enrich the social fabric of communities has strong appeal in an era of global uncertainty, frenetic “busyness” and technology-driven communications. As cultural analyst Sheryl Turkle has said, the ways people interact and forge relationships have undergone massive change and we can end up “<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together">connected, but alone</a>”. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MtLVCpZIiNs?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> By contrast, humans have been drawn to companion animals since early civilisation. In many people’s lives, they remain a tangible constant that can yield enduring social capital benefits.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/79755/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lisa-wood-167802">Lisa Wood</a>, Associate Professor, Centre for Social Impact and School of Population Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-pets-strengthen-neighbourhood-ties-79755">original article</a>. Image: Wrote/flickr

Family & Pets

See the abandoned Disney castle neighbourhood

A new housing development was <a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/disney-style-castles-abandoned-turkey/f650780e-654b-46f4-8f09-789edc12cf5c" target="_blank">supposed</a> to be a luxury escape full of castle villas, but a series of financial hurdles has left the castle-filled neighbourhood to be abandoned. The Burj Al Babas housing development began in the Turkish town of Mudurnu in 2014. Sarot Property Group, the developers behind the magical idea, had built 732 castle-themed villas and had plans to build a shopping mall and entertainment facilities for tourists. By 2019, more than half the villas had been sold. But as Turkey battled through an ongoing economic crisis, development quickly halted. After buyers and investors pulled out of the 150 million euro project, Sarot Property Group filed for bankruptcy and the castles were abandoned. See them in the gallery below. Images: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Neighbourhood taken over by world’s largest rodents

Meet the world’s largest rodent: the capybara. They’re semi-aquatic, meaning they love to swim, and have webbed feet designed for that exact purpose. It also means they can swim underwater for up to five minutes without surfacing for air. They grow up to 2 feet, or 60cm, in size, and can weigh anywhere between 35 to 66 kilograms. They’re native to South America, where they’re known by many names, including carpincho, chigüiro, and capivara. They’re widely adored on the internet, primarily for their friendly yet calm demeanour that allows them to make friends of all species, including cats, rabbits, deer, turtles, as well as their close relatives, guinea pigs. They’re also known for enjoying Japanese hot springs, a country they are not native to but nonetheless have taken by storm. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> there is one imposter among us <a href="https://t.co/JiXGytI4O7">pic.twitter.com/JiXGytI4O7</a> — CAPYBARA MAN (@CAPYBARA_MAN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAPYBARA_MAN/status/1367517585626046468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> What More Is There To Life? <a href="https://t.co/yKgic1TA7A">pic.twitter.com/yKgic1TA7A</a> — Wholesome Cat! (@GoldenHappyCat1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenHappyCat1/status/1445880269718921217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2021</a></blockquote> But recently, they’ve been making headlines for an entirely different reason: home invasions. Okay, they aren’t stealing into people’s homes in the dead of night to swipe their valuables, but they have been accused of invading one exclusive Argentinian neighbourhood in large numbers and committing crimes such as soiling lawns and “bullying” pets. Nordelta is a gated community in the north of Buenos Aires, and was established in 1999. While it is now home to titans of industry and sports stars, it was once home to wildlife like the capybaras, who are at home in the wetland environment provided by the nearby River Paraná. While residents of the enclave have issued calls for the capybaras to be castrated or relocated, supporters both in Argentina and around the globe have rallied around the rodents, holding them up as a symbol of class divisions and environmentalism. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Mural in Buenos Aires, celebrating the capybara invasion of Nordelta, Argentina’s most exclusive gated community, an enclave of the ultra rich, built in a lush area on the wetlands of the Paraná river. <a href="https://t.co/TKhzCx74aB">pic.twitter.com/TKhzCx74aB</a> — Radical Graffiti (@GraffitiRadical) <a href="https://twitter.com/GraffitiRadical/status/1430541217889079300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> One longtime resident, real estate broker Gustavo Iglesias, told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/rodents-the-size-of-st-bernards-swarm-an-exclusive-gated-community-11633882543?fbclid=IwAR1BxC7KRD6Syy5fQRVQ_O0QelWfsoz2VC5XkgDmXrYkklbw6GS-SuZFDtA" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>, “I’m not anti-capybara; I want to scratch their cute little bellies as much as anyone else. “The problem is that their population is out of control, and people are too scared to do anything. No one wants to look like they’re opposed to nature.” Iglesias complains that his lakeside garden is used by roughly a dozen invading capybaras as a toilet daily, but the last straw was when his dog Lucho came home sporting two deep gashes “that looked like the handiwork of rodent incisors.” Critics of the neighbourhood include environmentalists like Enrique Viale, who said, "wealthy real-estate developers with government backing have to destroy nature in order to sell clients the dream of living in the wild – because the people who buy those homes want nature, but without the mosquitoes, snakes or carpinchos". Viale told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/22/argentina-capybaras-giant-rodents-gated-community" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> that describing the takeover as an invasion would not be accurate, saying, “It’s the other way round: Nordelta invaded the ecosystem of the carpinchos.” Viale has been part of a decade-long campaign to get congress to pass a law protecting the wetlands from further development. While wealthy residents may not appreciate the return of the capybaras to their native habitat, people from around Argentina have taken to visiting the neighbourhood just to encounter the friendly creatures. The locals should be happy about this - tourism is good for the economy, after all. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Nunca pensé que iba a estar vivo para ver a los carpinchos domando chetos y librando la madre de todas las batallas en Nordelta. Estoy así: <a href="https://t.co/Gy6t7viQUS">pic.twitter.com/Gy6t7viQUS</a> — Portgas D.🇦🇷 (@CoupeFuego_) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoupeFuego_/status/1427827864053952514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a></blockquote> Image: Magali Cervantes/AFP via Getty Images

Family & Pets

Petty neighbourhood dispute over tree

As much as we all want to get along with our neighbours, it can be tough when they resort to petty acts. A Reddit user from the UK has shared their story of their extremely petty neighbour, with photos to prove it. In one of the photos, a large tree can be seen that sits on the border between two properties. On one side, the tree has branches covered in leaves and looks like it needs a bit of a trim. On the other side, the tree has been trimmed down to the trunk so not even a leaf or branch encroaches on the neighbour’s property. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQe4cZwg4g-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQe4cZwg4g-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by thetodayshow (@thetodayshow)</a> </div> </blockquote> The user captioned their post, saying: “Some traditional British pettiness on display”, and the post has received more than 30,000 likes from other users, with some sharing their recognition of the kind of dispute the two houses were experiencing. “The wrought iron gate really sets it off nicely,” one user commented. “Feel like I know the exact guy.” Another said: “He asked if he could cut down the ivy on the front of my house. I said no. He tried to do it when he thought I was out.” Image: The Today Show / Instagram

Relationships

When to blow? Ben Fordham loses fans with radical stance

One of the biggest neighbourhood debates is when to get out the power tools or lawnmower on a weekend. Ben Fordham weighed in on the topic on Wednesday morning after making a leaf blower admission on his 2GB Breakfast radio show. Despite loving his leaf blower, the power tool has cost him a few friends. "Look, I know it's not popular but that's just the way I feel. There are people that love leaf blowers, and there are people that hate leaf blowers, and I don't mind other people using them either," Ben said. "It's not like I just want to use my own and not let you use yours. Leaf blowers are fantastic. If that loses me a few friends, well, I'm sorry, it's just me." The topic of leaf blowers came up when a listener called up to talk about a "respectable" time to start the lawnmower on a Sunday morning. Darren called the open line to explain what he thought was a reasonable time, but it opened up a can of worms. "Mate, I think 8 o'clock is a respectable time, although it used to be 10 o'clock from memory, on a Sunday or public holiday, but that was an unwritten law," Darren said. "But my biggest gripe at the moment, I think, is the blower vacs." Darren explained he lives in a townhouse where there are eight in the block, and believes the blower vac is causing some tensions between neighbours. "Unfortunately you'll have one neighbour come out with a blower vac, do his area, another neighbour will be pee-d off because of the noise, come out and do his," Darren said. "My question is in today's world, with COVID and everything we have like that, if it's not strata, should it really be blower vacs? I might sound like a bit of a whinger, mate, but blower vacs at 8 am on a Sunday morning? Unfortunately, with lockdowns and things like what's been happening, you'll get neighbours — I'm in the situation where you'll get a bit of animosity." Darren said the age-old debate can cause conflict amongst neighbours if they find they're being woken up too early, and while he thinks 8 am is fine to start power tools, a bit of courtesy is needed. "I have confessed that I love a leaf blower. I don't use it early in the morning," Ben said. A man named Chris called up and his one question for Ben — and everyone else who uses one — was, "Where do you blow leaves?". Ben joked that he just blows them to his neighbours' yard, but clarified he just uses it on the path, blowing it back into the garden. There are official times where power tools, lawnmowers and leaf blowers can be used and it differs from state to state. Here are the times it's acceptable to use these items across the country: New South Wales <ul> <li>8 am to 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays.</li> <li>7 am to 8 pm on any other day.</li> </ul> Victoria <ul> <li>7 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday.</li> <li>9 am to 8 pm on weekends and public holidays.</li> </ul> South Australia <ul> <li>8 am to 8 pm Monday to Saturday.</li> <li>9 am to 8 pm on Sunday.</li> </ul> Western Australia <ul> <li>7 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday.</li> <li>9 am to 7 pm Sunday and public holidays.</li> </ul> Queensland <ul> <li>7 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday.</li> <li>8 am to 7 pm Sunday or public holiday.</li> </ul> ACT <ul> <li>7 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday.</li> <li>8 am to 8 pm Sunday and public holidays.</li> </ul> Northern Territory <ul> <li>7 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday.</li> <li>9 am to 6 pm Sunday and public holidays.</li> </ul> Tasmania <ul> <li>7 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday.</li> <li>9 am to 8 pm on Saturday.</li> <li>10 am to 8 pm Sunday and public holidays.</li> </ul>

Home & Garden

Hero grandfather foils neighbourhood thief

A NSW grandfather has put his body on the line to stop a thief from stealing his neighbour's car. A man has cheated with allegedly breaking into a home and fleeing on the back of a ride-on lawn mower on the NSW South Coast on Thursday. The 30-year-old man allegedly threw a brick into the window of a home on Semillon Place in Dapto around 6.50 am Thursday moments before entering and stealing a Ford Focus. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.11273792093704px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839191/rabbid-dog.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/984ab41c13164856b0f1b65ca2327bcb" /> Paul Robinson saw the robbery unfolding at his neighbour's house and knew that he had to step in. Mr Robsinson had the man in a headlock as the Ford Focus took off and slammed into a parked trailer. "I tried to get the ignition key off him and tried to hang on and he hit the accelerator and dragged me out of there," Mr Robinson told 9News. "My face actually head-butted the inside door handle." Mr Robinson was dragged about 40 metres before the car crashed but had only minor injuries. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.30360205831903px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839190/rabbid-dog-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/50d8a77329184d2182168f87fe76f7c8" /> The man fled the scene on foot before allegedly breaking into a second home on Cormack Street. Police say he attempted to drive off on a ride-on lawn mower. He was arrested on Mawarra Avenue before being taken to hospital. It is believed he allegedly may have ingested an unknown substance. He remains in police custody.

Legal

Christmas banned in this Australian suburb – is it yours?

Christmas is usually a time for festivities and walking quiet suburban streets with your family to see breathtaking Christmas light displays out the front of houses. While some may think Christmas isn’t complete without decorations to mark the special holiday period, Casey council in Victoria has decided to make the festive tradition a sombre one, forcing the south-east Melbourne suburb of Narre Warren to pay the council up to $23,000 or they will shut down their annual Christmas light displays. The residents of Hugo Court have taken to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/XmasatHugo/posts/1051704318344607?__xts__%5b0%5d=68.ARBA4E6LJb6ZD1as2IiS8TO95_-bjXu2OOCgUnI2roVRygUbHGSDTgmMh7i-FmtGxE5AXnZNmUTr3MLfb_Qup6IlX62Ekw8Zb2lkyl5JIxq9No3Ke3U45m-N5q5S8leBSIW3DxT2gDjLHXfX4dTNGfGySx0LsT3YBJO3BoDhCwtOeCiYfa_YPWl0WknW7-aoV_qmYfUZpc_LJtnsA_5RYUY&__tn__=-R">Facebook</a> to share the absurd news with their fans stating, “with thousands of people coming to check out our Christmas court, we now have got too big. “Due to the number of visitors we are getting we are now classed as an event and to run an event we must supply traffic management and public liability insurance which costs tens of thousands of dollars, traffic management alone is $23,000,” according to the Hugo Court Facebook post. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FXmasatHugo%2Fphotos%2Fa.851704278344613%2F851704211677953%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="380" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Sadly, “there will be no lights this year at all”, the Facebook group wrote. Without council assistance the displays are said to have become “too big to handle”, confided a display organiser. A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/XmasatHugo/posts/1052151464966559?__xts__%5b0%5d=68.ARBdl0P6aIFEPrrzcWBOpvF-T2ZqE1a1FGMKsDjwe1zy14nHRommrqzdak8eOIXIBld65_SxQ5jLn13s9mhQBWBsSGU774q6WmOdf3tCTCwktdcJK64mJg20StLZrC4C8pcJsjzTTG7hphlVp-3lgc4-T3Z-a4-VxxJ7FUCnx1TOVlnFL0Od8QQr7jHa46tuwClYcNyH4hUP1CntxWDKQqY&__tn__=-R">follow-up Facebook post</a> shared that the Christmas light show has put a lot of strain on neighbours in surrounding streets as “they have to put up with not being able to get into their properties, noise, rubbish and people parking on their lawns”. People on social media have reacted with backlash towards the council for lacking Christmas spirit, even comparing the council to the famous Dr Seuss character the Grinch. Other followers offered support by suggesting a public protest and setting up a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds to enable Hugo Court to maintain their Christmas light show tradition. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FXmasatHugo%2Fposts%2F1051704318344607&width=500" width="500" height="388" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> In a comment on the follow-up post, Geordie Nicholson spoke on behalf of the council stating, “The residents of Hugo Court alone made the decision not to conduct their much-loved annual Christmas light display this year. “Sadly it appears it has become a victim of its own success, following concerns around traffic management and anti-social behaviour over the past few years.” Nicholson also shed light on the council’s participation in previous years and revealed the “council had been working hard with the residents to find ways to conduct the event safely including offering financial assistance and training for volunteers”. She concluded “should the residents decide to conduct the event in future years, Council stands ready to assist”. Do you think Hugo Court should turn their Christmas lights off this year? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Legal

Police called over neighbourhood pot plant feud

Most of us live quite harmoniously with our neighbours, save for the odd disagreement or noisy dinner party. But one set of neighbours’ petty argument has escalated so dramatically that police were called to intervene. Ying Pratt told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/39623797/victorian-neighbourhood-disputer-over-pot-plant/" target="_blank">7 News</a> her next door neighbours launched a vicious attack after she simply moved their pot plant back onto their property. “He kind of pushed me backwards, put the pot plant back at my feet, and then you know pushed my husband who came over to see what was happening,” Pratt explained. “He went to his garage and got a hand saw and started hacking at our bushes. This was in front of our children. Mind boggling behaviour really.” Security camera footage corroborates Pratt’s account of events, but according to her neighbours, there’s a little more to the story. They say there had been no love lost with the Pratts, and that on the day of the pot plant incident, they were “abused” and “provoked”. This latest episode is one of 20,000 annual neighbourhood complaints in Victoria alone. The biggest sore points for neighbours include fences, trees, parking and dogs. There is a free mediation service to those in Victoria who need to settle minor disputes, keeping them out of the clogged court system. “The mediator will work with neighbours who might have issues with each other, to talk through those range of issues, help them see the other person's point of view and ultimately come up with an agreement or a way forward,” said Dahna Bond from Dispute Settlement Centre in Victoria. Image credit: 7 News.

Home & Garden

Travel experts reveal the best Paris neighbourhoods to explore

Evan Upchurch writes for <a href="http://blog.virtuoso.com/culinary/10-delicious-desserts-especially-travelers/" target="_blank">Virtuoso Luxury Traveller</a>, the blog of a <a href="http://www.virtuoso.com/" target="_blank">global luxury travel network</a>. Divided into the right and left banks by the river Seine, modern Paris is much more than Audrey Hepburn in Charade, Edith Piaf’s La vie en rose, and the stories of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The city changes from one neighborhood, or arrondissement, to the next. We asked five people from the <a href="https://www.virtuoso.com/" target="_blank">Virtuoso</a> family to talk about the <a href="https://www.virtuoso.com/destinations/europe/france/paris#.WPYiGVKZPBI" target="_blank">Paris</a> they know and love. 1. The Sixteenth Arrondissement: Calm & Upscale Our expert: Laurence Tafanel, Owner of <a href="https://www.virtuoso.com/hotels/6164090/esprit-saint-germain" target="_blank">Esprit Saint Germain</a> Tafanel’s charming boutique hotel is in the heart of Saint Germain, but she has always lived in Neuilly-sur-Seine, an upscale suburb of Paris close to the sixteenth arrondissement. Both areas are family-friendly, residential neighborhoods, also home to many French stars. Favourite Addresses: With a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower and a chic art-deco ambience, <a href="https://monsieurbleu.com/" target="_blank">Monsieur Bleu</a> restaurant, located inside the <a href="http://www.palaisdetokyo.com/en" target="_blank">Palais de Tokyo</a> contemporary art museum, is a must. 20 avenue de New York Make a reservation at <a href="http://www.lebestofparis.com/best-restaurants-in-paris/le-stella-brasserie-a-chic-parisian-establishment" target="_blank">Le Stella</a> for traditional French cuisine in an intimate bistro. Practice your French, as you will be surrounded by locals. 133 avenue Victor Hugo Plan a picnic at <a href="http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71494/Bois-de-Boulogne" target="_blank">Bois de Boulogne</a> on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and stock up on supplies at these neighborhood stops. Buy fresh baguettes at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boulangerie-Bechu/152659798102126" target="_blank">Béchu</a> (118 avenue Victor Hugo) and delicious pastries at <a href="http://www.auxmerveilleux.com/home_en/" target="_blank">Aux Mérveilleux</a> (29 rue de l’Annonciation). Explore the magnificent permanent collection of impressionist paintings at <a href="http://www.marmottan.fr/" target="_blank">Musée Marmottan-Monet </a>(2 rue Louis Boilly) or discover the large collection of Asian art at <a href="http://www.guimet.fr/en/home" target="_blank">Musée national des Arts asiatiques</a> (6 place d’Iéna). 2. Saint Germain: Classic & Eclectic Our expert: Gary Johnson, Seattle-based Virtuoso agency owner Gary has been visiting Paris for 45 years, first as a child accompanying his father, a Pan Am pilot, for long weekends. In high school, he brought home armfuls of baguettes to pass out to grateful teachers. Today, he loves Saint Germain, historically a center for art, music, and literature – and still a hub for in-the-know, artistic Parisians. Favourite Addresses: The neighborhood gem is Laurence Tafanel’s 28-room hotel Esprit Saint Germain, says Johnson. Close to Saint Sulpice and the Luxembourg Gardens, it is one of the city’s best-located properties. For a welcoming neighborhood restaurant, try <a href="http://www.restaurantlechristine.com/en/" target="_blank">Le Christine</a><a href="http://www.restaurantlechristine.com/en/" target="_blank"></a> – they use fresh, seasonal products for a modern French menu. 1 rue Christine The Hermès (17 rue de Sèvres) space was once the famous art-deco Lutetia swimming pool from the 1930s, transformed in the early 2000s into a concept store with a Hermès boutique, but also a tea salon, florist, and library. After a day of shopping, treat yourself to a few pastries (try any of the fruit tarts) from <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/gerard-mulots-i-1/" target="_blank">Mulot</a> (76 rue de Seine). 3. L’Île Saint-Louis: Charming & Isolated Our expert: Hubert Moineau, Paris-based Virtuoso agency owner Moineau now lives in the second arrondissement, but his heart remains on the quaint L’Île Saint-Louis, where he grew up and lived for the majority of his life. This small island in the Seine that’s part of the fourth arrondissement is well-known by tourists, but has an authentic heart – if you know where to go. Favourite Addresses: Visit during the week to avoid the weekend tourist rush and to catch it in its “village” form. If you must go on a weekend, the ideal Sunday activity is to get ice cream or sorbet at <a href="http://www.berthillon.fr/" target="_blank">Berthillon</a> (29-31 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île) and walk down to the Seine to relax and participate in a common Paris pastime: people-watching. Every Parisian has a go-to café and bistro. Try the low-key <a href="http://www.foodspotting.com/places/43165-le-louis-ix-paris" target="_blank">Le Louis IX</a> for a quick café allongé (espresso with hot water) or typical bistro meal (23 rue des Deux Ponts). <a href="http://www.ulysse.fr/?lang=fr" target="_blank">Ulysse</a> is a small travel bookstore owned by a member of the Explorer’s Club. Hunt for a special book to remember your time in Paris (26 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île). Fine dining is nearly synonymous with the city. For a true gastronomic experience make a reservation at <a href="http://www.lesergentrecruteur.fr/en/" target="_blank">Le Sergent Recruteur</a>, whose narrow building once served as a former tavern (41 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île). 4. Le Marais/Oberkampf: Trendy & Lively Our expert: Nicola Rusborg, assistant director of sales, <a href="https://www.virtuoso.com/hotels/6163723/ritz-paris" target="_blank">Ritz Paris</a> Rusborg, originally from Germany, arrived in Paris two years ago to help lead the successful reopening of this historic palace hotel. Like many 20- and 30-somethings, she settled between two of the city’s hottest neighborhoods: Le Marais and Oberkampf. Le Marais is renowned as the place to be for trendsetters and young professionals, while Oberkampf is considered a young, up-and-coming area characterized by shabby-chic, even gritty areas. Favorite Addresses: Start your night at the trendy Italian restaurant <a href="https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/restaurants/ober-mamma" target="_blank">Ober Mamma</a>, and enjoy a Cucumber Spritz at their beautiful bar while waiting for a table — they don’t take reservations. (107 Boulevard Richard Lenoir). Continue at <a href="http://www.udobar.com/" target="_blank">Udo Bar</a>, where the beer, electronic music, and currywurst transport you to Berlin (4 bis rue Neuve Popincourt). If you prefer a cocktail scene, try the crazy-hip <a href="http://www.quixotic-projects.com/venue/candelaria" target="_blank">Candelaria</a> – a tiny Mexican restaurant at first glance, but home to a hidden cocktail bar in the back (52 rue de Saintonge). To work off the cocktails and French pastries, take a 45-minute cycling class at <a href="http://www.kiwill.fr/" target="_blank">Kiwill</a> (27 rue du Grand Prieuré), followed by a healthy brunch at <a href="https://www.season-paris.com/" target="_blank">Season</a> (1 rue Dupuis). Window-shop on Rue Vieille du Temple (tip: unlike many Parisian stores, many shops here are open on Sundays) or visit the newly renovated <a href="http://www.museepicassoparis.fr/" target="_blank">Picasso Museum</a> (5 rue de Thorigny). Stop by <a href="https://www.merci-merci.com/fr/" target="_blank">Merci</a>, which combines fashion with homewares, and its Instagram-worthy café next door (111 boulevard Beaumarchais). 6. The Fifth Arrondissement: Fun & Down-To-Earth Evan Upchurch, student at La Sorbonne and freelance writer for Virtuoso and Travesías Media I’ve adopted Paris as my new home, after arriving here almost four years ago. I live in a cozy studio in the fifth arrondissement, a hub for students and the heart of the Latin Quarter. Walking its streets feels like being in a living museum. Favourite Addresses: Head to <a href="http://bunsparis.com/" target="_blank">Buns</a>, a tiny burger joint started by two friends who were once part of the Buddha Bar team, and grab a BBQ burger (or, for vegetarians, a falafel burger) at extremely affordable prices (8 rue Gay Lussac). Stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens and try and spot the Medici Fountain’s mind-boggling optical illusion. Make a late reservation at one of the quartier’s trendiest wine bars, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lebardeferparis/" target="_blank">Le Bar de Fer</a>, on a cobblestoned street just off the famous Rue Mouffetard (7 rue du Pot de Fer). You’ll love their live music and their planches mixtes, a beautiful assortment of charcuterie, cheeses, and salad. Visit the <a href="http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/" target="_blank">Musée de Cluny</a> to find the vestiges of the Gallo-Roman baths, the six tapestries that make up the fifteenth-century masterpiece La Dame à la Licorne, and gorgeous Renaissance art (6 place Paul Painlevé). Take a ten-minute walk to find more remains from the Gallo-Roman era in Paris, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar%C3%A8nes_de_Lut%C3%A8ce" target="_blank">Arènes de Lutèce</a> – an amphitheater that once sat 15,000 people watching gladiatorial combats. Today, people read on its ancient steps and kids play soccer in the dust where gladiators once fought (49 Rue Monge). First appeared on <a href="http://www.virtuoso.com/" target="_blank">Virtuoso Luxury Traveller</a>. <a href="http://www.blog.virtuoso.com/europe/paris-five-neighborhoods/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to visit its website for more information.

International Travel

Start a Neighbourhood Watch group

Protect your home and get involved in your community by starting or joining a neighbourhood watch group. Here’s how to get started.Being a good neighbour means more than just the occasional greeting or front yard chat, it’s about looking out for each other. While it may not be easy these days to foster strong communities, especially in large urban areas, it is possible. One program that continues to encourage strong ties among neighbours is Neighbourhood Watch.The community based crime prevention program is administered by the state or territory’s police division. The program aims to reduce the incidence of preventable crime, such as burglary and theft, as well as promoting closer community ties. On top of bringing the community together, the program educates residents on security and safety, and how to report suspicious incidents to the police.It’s a program that has proven popular in many neighbourhoods as it not only fosters a good relationship between the local police and the community, but it also educates residents on how to secure their home. It’s also a reassuring presence. You feel safer knowing you can knock on your next door neighbour’s door for help or the phone number to call to take you directly to your local police station.While it may have started as a way to help police officers monitor criminal activity in suburbs, Neighbourhood Watch has grown to represent tighter communities and residents who know what to do in the event of a home invasion. Here’s how to get involved in your local group.Join the watchIf you would like to get more involved in your local suburb and help prevent crime in your community, why not become a Neighbourhood Watch member? Volunteers are important parts of the Neighbourhood Watch story and have been directly involved in making the program one of the largest Australasian voluntary based community safety and crime prevention programs of its kind.It takes many different people working together as part of a team to build Neighbourhood Watch in an area, with both active volunteers and participants. While the process of getting involved may differ between the states and territories, most will ask interested volunteers to complete an application form. This is usually downloaded from the Neighbourhood Watch website in your state or territory. There are guidelines to becoming a volunteer, so check with your local office for details.Starting a new groupIf there’s no Neighbourhood Watch group in the area you live in and you believe there’s a need for it in your local community, you can go about starting a new group. However, how you do this will depend on the state or territory you live in. Generally, a registration form needs to be completed, which involves a criminal record check of the person who is making the application for an area to be set up.If you are interested in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch group or area, you need to make sure you understand all of the guidelines and requirements of what would be involved in setting up and then maintaining the area. However, you don’t need to be involved in anything formal to set up a Neighbourhood Watch area, since the organisation is all about getting to know your neighbour, looking out for each other and reporting any suspicious activity to your local police station.While each state operates differently, the philosophy is the same – to protect your home, you and your family, and your neighbours.

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