My friend,If you still hold 489 visa ,as immigration policy stated ,you are not allowed to stay in metro city and can only stay and work in regional ,that's rule of 489,I know some people they have rejected after they moved to big city as this action has broken condition of 489.So please stay in the regional,I don't know which metro city you are going to,like Melbourne,you can stay in Geelong or Pakham,a place nearby.but not metro city,like gold coast,you could go to Carrara,Please check regional list for 489 ,there are always a regional place nearby a metro city on the list.but please remember you can't work in big city even you stay in regional place,it will break the rule.everyone had hard time to fulfill the 489 in the regional,Do you really want to give up?887 once get rejected,you can't apply it again.I understand 21-26 months processing time is tough for every single applicant,but things could be change better in the future,As you mentioned your partner is PR and you can apply partner visa ,then move to big city.Partner visa have no such condition like 489.Hope this can solve your issues
All the best to 887 applicant and wish you guys direct grant soon.
Please check this link,More than 200 people got rejection in 10 months.
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2020/fa-201101008-document-released.PDF?fbclid=IwAR0JNKOUEQa5zt_l82-Plydlp01ecTm1gJfgtucOd-9iFHc_e4pTEhm9io4
regional list for 489 holder and 887 applicant
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-regional-887/regional-postcodes