You might like to get in touch with Andy Pickard: http://www.ajpengineering.com.au/ He specializes in home energy efficiency advise and retrofitting particular to the Canberra climate and issues. We have a unique climate in this region - not just because of the extreme temperatures, but also because of how vapor behaves in our walls, which makes choosing the right insulation important :) Goodluck! Should be lovely after you've installed it! (I work at Jigsaw Housing, the collaboration of architect + builder + scientist, and we specialize in energy efficient homes. I also do casual private consultations for people that are just looking for a bit of design/efficiency advice that's not really worth taking to an architect for a full service.)

Soft furniture rather than leather, thick curtains rather than blinds. tapestry wall hanging rather than paintings; will all help to absorb noise.

We use a lot of insulated panel in patio construction and while many of the major suppliers have similar products, there are a couple that clearly sit above the rest. Stratco, Ausdeck and Bondor (solarspan) products are the clear leaders and you should find a good product in any of these. Dont just settle on price amongst these 3, go in and have a look at their products, look at their warranties (some don’t offer warranty on some colours), look at their reputation and how long they have been around for to back up their warranties. A patio is somtimes one of your biggest purchases you will ever make and you expect it to last a lifetime so dont jump to cut corners too quickly otherwise it may be a big mistake.

I have not had any experience with these panels, but as with any new or unusual building products you need to approach with caution. I did not know that they were available in Australia? The first question I would be asking after the Grenfell Tower tragedy is what assurances the manufacturer can offer that the Magnesium Oxide component is not flammable? Australian traditional brick veneer construction allows you to hide lots of things like electrical wiring and plumbing in the walls. If you start chasing these services into a structural panel what happens to the structure, the insulation, and how do you finish it off? How do these panels work with openings such as windows and doors? Do they take standard windows and doors, or do they have to be custom manufactured for these panels? As with many new building products that seem great in principle it is the real world practicalities that are just as important. Don't look at their beautifully rendered marketing images, go and see a finished house inside to see how neat the electrical, plumbing and window openings look before you commit. If these panels are so good why aren't they commonly used in new housing? Are you prepared to pay good money to be a guinea pig? Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls