Sydney rents hit record $850 & more today
Sydney house rents have reached a record high of $850 per week as national housing costs continue to climb. Meanwhile, regional train services in New South Wales and Victoria face ongoing disruptions following a major telecommunications outage, and poultry farmers are being urged to secure their birds due to bird flu concerns.
Expect to pay more for housing as median house rents in Sydney hit a record $850 per week. Across all capital cities, house rents rose by an average of $20 over the June quarter, marking the strongest annual growth in nearly two years. Property agents report that inquiries are flooding in, indicating continued high demand and low supply in the rental market.
Check your travel plans if you use regional trains in New South Wales or Victoria, as services are only resuming "progressively" following a Telstra outage. While Telstra reports that issues with the triple-zero emergency line have been 90% resolved, some regional rail networks remain affected by the technical failure.
If you keep poultry, you are advised to house your birds indoors to prevent contact with wild animals as authorities investigate a potential new case of H5N1 bird flu. A seabird in South Australia is currently being tested; if confirmed, it would be the eighth case of the deadly strain of avian influenza found in Australia.
Be aware that the "superfood" Moringa oleifera (specifically the leaves, immature pods, and oils) is now banned for import by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Any of these items found at the border will be destroyed or re-exported.
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