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<h2>Comment</h2>

Now more than ever, it is time to double down on building and maintaining a repertoire of business cases relating to transformative transport projects for Melbourne &amp; Victoria

Whether it's a new road pricing regime &amp; the subsequent reallocation of road space or the next big-ticket rail network project, the Federal Government's new found penchant for investing in proper analysis should be leveraged.

In Tim Pallas' 2017 budget, $10 million was allocated to study how to get the Melbourne Airport Rail link done sooner - the kicker was that the money was contingent on Victoria receiving a payment from the Federal Government to kick things off.  Last night Scott Morrison went one better and allocated $30 million.

A few months ago Malcolm stood in front of Tumut-3 in the New South Wales alps and announced that money will be spent on updating plans and conducting a proper analysis into transforming the network of hydro generators in the Snowy Mountains to a larger pumped-storage mechanism for our increasing renewable energy generation base.  Last night Scott Morrison announced that the Federal Government would offer to buy both Victoria &amp; New South Wales' share of the snowy hydro corporation - and in turn those proceeds would need to be 'reinvested in priority infrastructure projects'.

Given the current argy-bargy between Spring Street and Canberra revolves around the Victorian Government receiving less cash from the lease of Port Melbourne &amp; the associated asset recycling scheme, and while the Federal Government setting conditions on the buy-out of state shares in Snowy Hydro is perfectly reasonable, it could just end up opening up a new front in the grenade throwing war.

Please.  No more.

The Treasurer also announced Canberra will set up a $10billion 'National Rail Programme' that could support projects like 'Adelink, Brisbane Metro, Tullamarine Rail link, Cross River Rail in Brisbane, and the Western Sydney Airport Rail link'.  This cash starts to appear 2019-2020 according to Budget Paper Number 3.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nat_rail.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Budget Paper Number 3"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="723" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nat_rail.png?itok=CLDuwgLY" title="Budget Paper Number 3" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Budget Paper Number 3</figcaption></figure>Now that the Federal Government is set to open up new revenue streams for the states to use for priority infrastructure projects, Spring Street should be updating its priorities for the rail, tram and bus networks and get them out in the open, just like Napthine did in 2012.

From the 2012 heavy rail network plan, we know there are a lot more expensive changes on the horizon and Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year strategy, usefully, put a rough timeframe on when each was needed.

Infrastructure Victoria deemed projects like the reconfiguration of the city loop, joining the Craigieburn and Frankston lines gunzel-matrimony as well as the Wallan electrification project to have a moderate need in 15 years time because the capacity uplift on Craigieburn and Upfield that will be created as part of the Melbourne Metro project will be under pressure once again in the medium term.

Similarly, Infrastructure Victoria rated 'Melbourne Metro 2' - a new tunnel linking Clifton Hill and Newport via the inner north, CBD and Fishermans Bend - as having a significant impact on 'meeting growing demand for access to economic activity in Central Melbourne'.  It also cites it has a low certainty of evidence and this is what Spring Street should now be investing in.  

While the social media sorties directed at Canberra were entertaining at first (and they're in full flight today), it's getting old.  Other political journalists and commentators have noted the marked shift from the anti-cities Abbott era - and it's hard not to agree with the broad consensus now filtering through all the major media outlets.

Malcolm Turnbull's a fan of business cases, analysis and public debate - let's have it then, let's invest in the admittedly thankless task of building an evidence base to support the analysis required for the next big-ticket items that a less hostile Federal Government is likely to contribute to.

Just get it done Spring Street.
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Alastair Taylor

Budget 2017: a Federal Government less hostile to cities should be leveraged

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Hot on the heels of the announcement that SriLankan Airlines will re-enter the Australian market with a 4x weekly flight from Colombo to Melbourne, Air Canada have overnight done the same by announcing a new seasonal 4x weekly service to fly between Vancouver and Melbourne over the Christmas/Summer (northern winter) season.

According to reports on <a href="https://www.ausbt.com.au/srilankan-airlines-to-launch-colombo-melbourne-flights-this-year">Australian Business Traveller</a>, SriLankan Airlines - the flag-carrier airline of Sri Lanka - is expected to begin flights toward the end of the year.

The new Vancouver-Melbourne flight was <a href="http://aircanada.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&amp;item=1131">announced</a> at the same time as Air Canada outlining its new seasonal northern hemisphere winter services from its hubs in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver.

The Vancouver-Melbourne service will be one of Air Canada's longest routes flown, tipping the scales at 16 hours according to its online booking engine. The return Melbourne-Vancouver flight is scheduled to take 14 hours and 50 minutes.

A lot of things affect actual flight time - weather en route and at the airports one of the most notable impacts - however the Air Canada block times are similar to flights between Melbourne &amp; Los Angeles (14 hours 20 minutes to Los Angeles, 15 hours 45 minutes to Melbourne, from the Qantas timetable).

Despite the (far more) northerly location of Vancouver, Los Angeles' location further east from Australia results in a <a href="http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=MEL-YVR%2C+MEL-LAX&amp;MS=wls&amp;DU=km">Great Circle distance</a> difference of only 435 kilometres, hence the similar scheduled flight times.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ac787_new_liv_flightradar.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Air Canada 787. Image: flightradar24"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="213" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ac787_new_liv_flightradar.jpg?itok=8n_mDt4D" title="Air Canada 787. Image: flightradar24" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Air Canada 787. Image: <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/air-canadas-new-livery-and-how-to-track-it/">flightradar24</a></figcaption></figure><h2>The 787 and A350 are doing what they were designed for: long and thin routes</h2>

The new Air Canada flight will be operated by a <a href="https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_Canada/Air_Canada_Boeing_787-900.php">Boeing 787-9</a>, the same aircraft Qantas intends to use to fly the new Melbourne-Perth-London service from the end of the year.

When Boeing launched the 787 program last decade, it was billed as a 'hub-busting' aircraft that would allow airlines to start longer international routes from airports with smaller markets, even though the Melbourne international market has been growing handsomely ever since Boeing launched the 787 project.

The South American juggernaut, LATAM airline group, will also launch the <a href="https://www.latam.com/en_au/press-room/releases/LATAM_Airlines_to_launch_its_longest_non-stop_flight_ever_between_Santiago_and_Melbourne/">airline's longest ever flight and Melbourne's first non-stop flight to South America</a> in October, to be flown also by a 787-9. The 3x weekly Melbourne-Santiago flight has a scheduled flight time of 13 hours and the return journey from Chile has a block of 15 hours.

<h2>Welcome to Australia, now here's a bus to the gate</h2>

Anecdotal reports from Apartments.com.au staff and comments on across a wide variety of internet platforms over the past year point to a gate squeeze at Tullamarine for international flights.

It appears that the problem seems to be in the morning arrivals peak between 7am and 9am. Note that the new Air Canada service is scheduled to arrive at 9:30am and LATAM's Santiago flight is scheduled to arrive in the afternoon.

Things seem to have gone awfully, and worryingly, quiet on the expansion of Melbourne Airport's International T2 Terminal since <a href="/news/melbourne-airports-stakeholder-presentation-reveals-a-new-international-terminal">September 2014</a> when a new look international terminal was previewed in a stakeholder presentation and last year when we noted T2 expansion was not present in the <a href="/news/melbourne-airport-gears-up-for-expansion-but-no-international-terminal-upgrade-in-sight">2016 stakeholder presentation</a>.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/keepitsurreal/3348972199/in/photolist-66WmKZ-4HNCrj-pSfvmy-adaKoH-AB6QS-bgfSXR-5jAAMN-4nG6VM-qvV9sz-5ZT5k9-9jENUi-cbPz8-54VDHR-eJpQZs-ophdeG-4Skvpr-cbRVe-xtAkZL-f5EHKD-TsBx-mAZ6ap-bVSz3K-eyB7fQ-dVMgEN-2zspp8-6H1TZH-53fmm6-cbRVc-oJJJtF-cp6Ym-bgj1dZ-d69SSm-6zbDrL-ozoMkA-CrYt1-2zsott-cbSTR-CrYEf-3hduEf-CrYFE-ocnH81-emdUNv-amd2ZH-gRYVkY-4mhPe8-qi5Qu8-p2tH3K-44yqJr-8sToVx-5PUc9M">flickr</a>
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O Canada! Vancouver the latest in many new international flights announced for Melbourne-Tullamarine

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Yesterday's budget contained a not-so-insignificant amount allocated to the procurement of more rail vehicles for both the tram network and the regional V/Line network.

$218.1 million has been set aside to order 10 more E-class trams on top of the 20 that were announced and ordered in last year's budget.

The tranche of 50 E-class trams that were from the original order have now all been delivered and Bombardier are now working on the next tranche of 20.

Introducing the E-class trams has seen both the Southbank and Preston depots upgraded and expanded to house the larger vehicles. Budget documents released yesterday mention that the money allocated will also be used to further upgrade existing network infrastructure.

Foreshadowed through the planning and tendering process for the level crossing removal projects, a price tag for the new stabling facility at Kananook has surfaced: $187.4 million.

As part of the Carrum level crossing removal project, which is set to have a new elevated viaduct and station built, the existing train stabling yards have to be removed and will be relocated to Kananook.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TB-noYwwlP0" width="100%"></iframe>

On the regional rail network, Bombardier is set to receive another order for more VLocity train sets as the Victorian Government has allocated $311.1 million for 39 new carriages.

First introduced for the regional fast rail project over a decade ago, VLocity trains have evolved over time from being two-carriage trains at the beginning, to now where all new train sets are configured with two power cars and a trailer car.

Each new VLocity train (three carriages) have 220 seats and the 39 new carriages will translate into 13 new train sets, on top of the nine train sets that were funded and ordered in last year's budget.

At present, V/Line trains to Albury operate over the interstate standard gauge network and yesterday's budget has allocated funds to plan for the introduction of new rolling stock for this specific line. No doubt this will be a sub-fleet of VLocity trains, configured for the standard gauge network.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/vlo_wong_sx_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="A VLocity train at Southern Cross. Image Marcus Wong"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/vlo_wong_sx_1.png?itok=jpDM7qDP" title="A VLocity train at Southern Cross. Image Marcus Wong" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A VLocity train at Southern Cross. Image <a href="https://railgallery.wongm.com/vline-southern-cross/F107_0229.jpg">Marcus Wong</a></figcaption></figure>Planning for the upgrade to the Hurstbridge line beyond the works already announced and budgeted for (tunnel duplication between Heidelberg and Rosanna as well as the Lower Plenty Road level crossing removal) was also allocated $5 million in yesterday's budget. This second upgrade is likely to plan for the works involved in duplicating the rail line beyond Greensborough toward Eltham.

To view more of the initiatives announced yesterday as part of the Treasurer's speech, see the <a href="https://www.budget.vic.gov.au/">budget.vic.gov.au website</a>.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-class_Melbourne_tram">Wikipedia</a>
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Victorian budget 2017: more new trams and trains on the way

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On Sunday, the Minister for Public Transport and the Premier were in Warrigal to announce the Victorian Government's regional rail revival program. Soon after, the Victorian Government announced their intention to spend $10 million on figuring out how to deliver the Melbourne Airport rail link sooner than the timeframe specified in infrastructure Victoria's 30-year strategy.

This $10 million comes with strings attached, however: it - along with the Regional Rail Revival program - will be financed out of the money that Victoria is entitled to under the Federal Government's asset recycling scheme.

This announcement marks a distinctive shift in Victorian Government rhetoric when it comes to the Melbourne Airport rail link. To date, the Victorian Government has frequently attempted to shift the focus to its current portfolio of infrastructure projects and likewise, they have repeatedly said that the Melbourne Metro project must be built before the Melbourne Airport rail link.

Various news reports have circulated widely in the past of proposals by private organisations to link the airport and city via monorail or other rail-based technologies and the Victorian Government's response has often been reported that the project proponents should approach the government through the unsolicited proposals process.

In receiving briefings from the proponents, the Victorian Government appears to have made the judgement that there is a large amount of interest in linking the airport and Melbourne's CBD with the rail-based transit solution via a privately funded solution.

What a privately funded rail solution looks like is hard to picture at present but it could involve utilising a completely different rail technology and corridor or it could also involve a Melbourne Metro-style private-public partnership extension to our current rail network out to the airport.

In any case, dialing everything back to effectively starting from scratch might frustrate some but on the other hand it also provides far more freedom to develop solutions in relieving pressure on the road network in accessing Melbourne Airport.

At a fundamental level this new business case and study round should revisit all previous Melbourne Airport rail link studies and update the data contained within them. This would include projected rail passenger statistics, updated aviation passenger projections, and taking a more forensic look at how land is used around the airport and how many people are, and how many people will be employment in non-aviation related jobs in future.

One of the themes from Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year strategy found that, when modeled, if a rail link is much more than just a 'City to Airport' service, it has the tendency to have positive impacts dispersed over a greater area. In the 30-year strategy's case, having Melbourne Airport Rail Link as a branch of the new high capacity metro line would take cars off the Monash because airport services would run through the city and out to the south-east.

There is a good body of commentary and evidence elsewhere around the world which points to airport rail solutions should try to serve more than two destinations and the fares should be realistic. Jarrett Walker's article on <a href="http://humantransit.org/2016/03/keys-to-great-airport-transit">Keys to Great Airport Transit</a> is an excellent starting point.

<blockquote>
Toronto’s new <a href="https://www.upexpress.com/">high-fare, elite train</a> between downtown and the airport is a <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/union-pearson-express-ridership-slumps-to-all-time-low/article28634074/">failure in ridership terms</a>, so it’s a good moment to talk about transit to the airport in general.

This <a href="http://www.ryerson.ca/citybuilding/blog/up_express_and_down/?mc_cid=7f336ff24e&amp;mc_eid=9acc982aad">critique by Cherise Burda of Ryerson University, one of the Toronto line’s few regular riders</a>, pretty much sums up why the Toronto Union Pearson Express is doing so poorly: Fares too high (CAD $27.50 one way) for a line that just doesn’t connect the airport to enough places.
<cite>Jarrett Walker, <a href="http://humantransit.org/2016/03/keys-to-great-airport-transit">Keys to Great Airport Transit</a></cite>
</blockquote>

Interestingly, since that article was published (and the linked blog post was published), Toronto has dramatically reduced the Union-Pearson Express fares and <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2016/03/17/union-pearson-express-ridership-spikes-after-fare-reduction">patronage has subsequently blossomed</a>.

While we should welcome any action on getting rail into Melbourne Airport (the faster, the better), if we're going down the path where there is a greater private sector role in developing the Melbourne Airport Rail solution, we mustn't ignore the experience other cities have had.
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$10M Melbourne Airport Rail link study: don't ignore lessons from other cities

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With over three hundred projects on our database currently under construction, there's a lot of cranes, pits, core boxes and new facades appearing all over the city.  

Here is a selection images posted originally on the forum by Apartments.com.au users and staff.  Under each image is a link back to the forum thread where the image was originally posted - and there's plenty more images to view in each thread.

<h2>Hendrix - Brunswick </h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hendrix.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Zicojapan, originally posted 09/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/hendrix.jpg?itok=R1EYlT5f" title="Image by Zicojapan, originally posted 09/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Zicojapan, originally posted 09/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Brunswick forum thread</a>.

<h2>The Fifth at Upper West Side - CBD  </h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_fifth_upper_west_side.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_fifth_upper_west_side.jpg?itok=5JHsyFb6" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017.</figcaption></figure> See more images in the <a href="/news">Upper West Side forum thread</a>.

<h2>The Albert - Brunswick</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_albert.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 10/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="416" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_albert.jpg?itok=2NKPJa_6" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 10/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 10/04/2017.</figcaption></figure> 

See more images in the <a href="/news">Brunswick forum thread</a>.

<h2>Avant - CBD </h2>

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/avant.jpg?itok=z0UWPiQO" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017." width="580">

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017.</figcaption></figure> 

See more images in the <a href="/news">Avant forum thread</a>.

<h2>The Spencer - West Melbourne</h2>

<figure><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_spencer.jpg?itok=fcm1ffhl" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 12/04/2017." width="580">

<figcaption>Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 12/04/2017. </figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">North Melbourne &amp; West Melbourne forum thread</a>.

<h2>Mason Square / former markets site - Moonee Ponds</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mason_moonee_ponds.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 09/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mason_moonee_ponds.jpg?itok=VK3B4-PE" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 09/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 09/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Moonee Ponds forum thread</a>.

<h2>Swanston Central - CBD</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/swanston_central.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/swanston_central.jpg?itok=Yz1DSkCk" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Swanston Central forum thread</a>.

<h2>Scape Swanston - CBD</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/scape_swanston.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 19/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/scape_swanston.jpg?itok=6ufRXlVw" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 19/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 19/04/2017.</figcaption></figure> 

See more images in the <a href="/news">Scape Swanston forum thread</a>. 

<h2>Conservatory - CBD</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/conservatory.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 19/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="457" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/conservatory.jpg?itok=sc4ixArE" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 19/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 19/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Conservatory forum thread</a>.

<h2>Kubix - Wantirna South</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/kubix.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 09/03/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/kubix.jpg?itok=fpsIG4pk" title="Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 09/03/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Mark Baljak, originally posted 09/03/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Greater Melbourne Projects forum thread.</a>

<h2>Victoria One - CBD</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/victoria_one.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/victoria_one.jpg?itok=3fF-hqo5" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Victoria One forum thread</a>.

<h2>Aurora Melbourne Central - CBD</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/aurora_melb_cent.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/aurora_melb_cent.jpg?itok=9dn9jKpi" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 12/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Aurora Melbourne Central forum thread</a>.

<h2>Banksia - Docklands</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/banksia_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 10/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/banksia_1.jpg?itok=OP4lSXbt" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 10/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 10/04/2017.</figcaption></figure> 

See more images in the <a href="/news">Banksia forum thread</a>.

<h2>Peel - Collingwood</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/peel.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by John Proctor, originally posted 10/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/peel.jpg?itok=8iaSEW9x" title="Image by John Proctor, originally posted 10/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by John Proctor, originally posted 10/04/2017.</figcaption></figure> 

See more images in the <a href="/news">Collingwood forum thread.</a>

<h2>Australia 108 - Southbank</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/australia_108.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 09/04/2017."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/australia_108.jpg?itok=ItXAbVAG" title="Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 09/04/2017." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image by Ryan Seychell, originally posted 09/04/2017.</figcaption></figure>See more images in the <a href="/news">Australia 108 forum thread</a>.

 

Lead image credit: Mark Baljak, <a href="/news">Whitehorse Towers forum thread</a>.
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The state of construction in Melbourne - mid April 2017

<html><body>
On Sunday morning, the Minister for Public Transport announced three consortia had been shortlisted in the final round of bidding to build the 5 stations and tunnels on the Melbourne Metro project.

Formal planning approval for the early works on the project has also been received with Apartments.com.au spotting piling rigs on site over the weekend.

Across all three consortia global Australian, Spanish, French and Italian construction giants &amp; specialists are well represented.  The three consortia are as follows:

Continuum Victoria, comprising

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.acciona.com.au/business-divisions/infrastructure/construction/">ACCIONA Infrastructure</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.faaunz.com.au/en/">Ferrovial Agroman</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.honeywell.com/worldwide/asia-and-australia/australia-en">Honeywell</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.downergroup.com/">Downer Group</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://plenarygroup.com/">Plenary Organisation</a></li>
</ul>
Cross Yarra Partnership, comprising

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.lendlease.com/expertise/what-we-do/engineering/">Lendlease Engineering</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.johnholland.com.au/">John Holland</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.bouygues-construction.com.au/">Bouygues Construction</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://capellacapital.com.au/">Capella Capital</a></li>
</ul>
Moving Melbourne Together, comprising

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cimic.com.au/our-brands/pacific-partnerships">Pacific Partnerships</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.cpbcon.com.au/">CPB Contractors</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.ghella.com/en/">Ghella</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/">Salini Impregilo</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.serco-ap.com.au/">Serco</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.macquarie.com/au/about/company/macquarie-capital/">Macquarie Capital</a></li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mm-web-20170306-benefits_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Metro Map"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mm-web-20170306-benefits_0.jpg?itok=ZRCRDvJd" title="Melbourne Metro Map" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Metro Map</figcaption></figure>The three consortia's proposals "include more than 100,000 pages of detailed plans to build the nine-kilometre Metro Tunnel and five new underground stations at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain."  The winning bidder and contract signing is expected to be complete by the end of the year with major works kicking off in 2018.

From today, the westbound lanes of Albert Road (between St Kilda Road and Kings Way) are set to close for up to seven and a half months to allow early works to begin on the Domain station precinct.  The long timeframe for the early works in this precinct are due in part to the relocation of the South Yarra Main sewer which currently rests under the Domain station footprint.

For more information on the Albert Road closures, see the <a href="http://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/103791/MM-NOTIFICATION-20170410-South-Yarra-Main-Sewer.pdf">metrotunnel.vic.gov.au website</a>.
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Three consortia shortlisted for Melbourne Metro tunneling & station contract

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City Square has now temporarily closed - for up to 5 years - to make way for construction to kick off at the southern end of the CBD on the Melbourne Metro tunnel project.

Over the next few weeks fencing is going to be installed around City Square and the public monuments - such as the Burke &amp; Wills statue - will also be moved to make way for the major construction works.

The first order of business after securing the site will be to demolish the three existing levels of car parking for the Westin Hotel that sit at present under the square.

Upon total removal of the car parking levels, a deeper shaft will be excavated which enable heavy construction equipment to be launched that will be used in construction of the station platforms, mezzanine levels and underground connections to Flinders Street and Federation Square as well as the tunnel between both Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations.

Like at the 'CBD North' site in Franklin Street, acoustic sheds will be erected over the station pit opening to minimise visual and audible noise during the construction period.

It is expected that City Square will be returned to the City of Melbourne as public open space by 2022 and it will feature an entrance to the station underneath.  

The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority has released the following video to illustrate the steps involved with this new round of works in the centre of the city.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LHXIZnENAeM" width="100%"></iframe>

See the dedicated CBD South page on the <a href="http://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/locations/cbd-south/city-square">Metro Tunnel website</a> for more information.
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City Square temporarily makes way for Melbourne Metro construction

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The proposed changes to the residential zone controls put forward by the Victorian State Government via Amendment VC110 were gazetted on Tuesday.

While the amendments effect the General Residential Zone (GRZ), Residential Growth Zone (RGZ), and Mixed Use Zone (MUZ) it’s the removal of the two-lot subdivision restriction in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) that is perhaps most notable, effectively increasing development potential in the NRZ.

Data provided by <a href="https://landchecker.com.au/">Landchecker.com.au</a> shows that in select suburbs across inner and middle Melbourne where the NRZ has been implemented by councils, quite a substantial amount of these properties have large block sizes.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/landchecker_nrz.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Suburbs in the inner east and south east of Melbourne that are covered by NRZ"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/landchecker_nrz.jpg?itok=rf-fjQ0k" title="Suburbs in the inner east and south east of Melbourne that are covered by NRZ" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Suburbs in the inner east and south-east of Melbourne that are covered by NRZ</figcaption></figure>Until now, the two-lot subdivision restriction has forced developers who are looking for sites to accommodate multiple dwellings to focus outside the NRZ and more towards the GRZ, RGZ and MUZ. 

Ed Farquharson from Moda Corp believes the changes will ensure developers will take another look at NRZ properties.  "These changes will result in developers targeting areas that were previously restrictive."

"It's now possible for developers to consider design responses which incorporate multiple dwellings in quieter neighbourhoods with larger blocks of land" says Farquharson.

Ratio consultants have provided a summary of changes on their website.

<blockquote>
The key changes to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone are as follows:

<ul>
<li>Removal of the previous restriction on the maximum number of dwellings per lot.</li>
	<li>Amendment to the purpose of the zone to remove the previous references to limiting opportunities for increased residential development and the implementation of character policy/adopted guidelines. </li>
	<li>Requiring that the schedule to the zone must contain the neighbourhood, heritage, environment or landscape character objective for the area to be achieved.</li>
	<li>The introduction of a mandatory minimum garden area requirement for lots greater than 400 square metres and above ranging from between 25 and 35 per cent of lot area (irrespective of whether a planning permit is required).</li>
	<li>A mandatory maximum height of 9 metres and 2 storeys with potential to exceed this height only in particular circumstances including on sloping sites, land subject to flooding and existing/adjoining building heights.</li>
	<li>Revised transitional provisions which amongst other things seeks to exempt planning permit applications for the construction or extension of a dwelling lodged before the VC110 approval date.</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.ratio.com.au/res-zone-changes-introduced"><cite>They're here! The residential zone amendments have been gazetted - Ratio Consultants</cite></a>
</blockquote>

In analysing the plethora of NRZ properties in Melbourne, Landchecker.com.au have chosen to highlight how many 1000+ m2 NRZ properties there are in select suburbs.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Suburb</th>
			<th scope="col">Total Properties</th>
			<th scope="col">No. of Properties in NRZ</th>
			<th scope="col">% of Properties in NRZ</th>
			<th scope="col">No. of Properties in NRZ &gt; 1000m2
</th>
			<th scope="col">% of Properties in NRZ &gt; 1000m2
</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Brighton</td>
			<td>14539</td>
			<td>10204</td>
			<td>70.18</td>
			<td>2985</td>
			<td>20.53</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kooyong</td>
			<td>566</td>
			<td>399</td>
			<td>70.49</td>
			<td>160</td>
			<td>28.27</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hawthorn</td>
			<td>17531</td>
			<td>7886</td>
			<td>44.98</td>
			<td>2922</td>
			<td>16.67</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Caulfield</td>
			<td>3332</td>
			<td>2672</td>
			<td>80.19</td>
			<td>614</td>
			<td>18.43</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Balwyn</td>
			<td>7746</td>
			<td>5068</td>
			<td>65.43</td>
			<td>1066</td>
			<td>13.76</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elsternwick</td>
			<td>6790</td>
			<td>5022</td>
			<td>73.96</td>
			<td>1719</td>
			<td>25.32</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Beaumaris</td>
			<td>6517</td>
			<td>6231</td>
			<td>95.61</td>
			<td>672</td>
			<td>10.31</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fitzroy North</td>
			<td>7820</td>
			<td>6253</td>
			<td>79.96</td>
			<td>1327</td>
			<td>16.97</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brunswick East</td>
			<td>7735</td>
			<td>5205</td>
			<td>67.29</td>
			<td>1763</td>
			<td>22.79</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Princes Hill</td>
			<td>1189</td>
			<td>1183</td>
			<td>99.50</td>
			<td>351</td>
			<td>29.52</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Data supplied by <a href="https://landchecker.com.au/">Lanchecker.com.au</a>

Lead image credit: Colliers
</body></html>

Could changes to the planning zones cause developers to have another look at the NRZ?

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SMA Projects in collaboration with the <a href="http://marsgallery.com.au/">MARS Gallery</a>, have created an artist in residence programme which provides young emerging artists with the studio and gallery space to prepare and exhibit their works.

The artist in residency programme will be based on a two-month rotation with SMA Projects providing artists with gallery space in the display suite of their latest project for Fitzory - The Lyric.  Studio space will also be made available to artists above the display suite located at 250 Gore Street.

The first artist in residence is 2015 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist of the year Josh Muir who has created a new series of unique artworks that celebrate his indigenous heritage, his future and his love of the Fitzroy and Collingwood community. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4341.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4341.jpg?itok=J_ut7API" title="Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery</figcaption></figure>  "Opportunities like this are important for emerging artists to enable us to show our work to a broad audience" says Muir.  "Getting experience interacting with the local community and talking to people about your work is a vital learning step and helps us become recognised artists".

MARS gallery director Andy Dinan said initiatives such as SMA projects artist in residence programme provide vital support to the creative community.

"These initiatives provide the much-needed support the creative community requires to thrive in the current landscape", said Dinan.

"SMA projects is giving young emerging artists such as Josh Muir a chance to interact with the public sell their work and talk about their process the skills integral for young artist and will give them the chance to flourish in the future".

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4354.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4354.jpg?itok=L4MgIdgR" title="Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery</figcaption></figure>Robert Murphy, SMA Projects Development Manager, says "We believe developers should understand the fabric of the communities they build in.  The City of Yarra is an incredibly special area in Melbourne and the creative and marker community really lies at its heart".

The artist in residence programme was launched on the 8th of March with an opening event that celebrated Josh Muir's latest works, a smoking ceremony to welcome guests and honour the Wurrundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional owners of the land upon which Melbourne now sits.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/0z7a8929.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The welcome ceremony was held on March 8"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/0z7a8929.jpg?itok=r3xp7bnp" title="The welcome ceremony was held on March 8" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The welcome ceremony was held on March 8</figcaption></figure>For more background on Josh, see this profile on Creative Victoria: <a href="http://creative.vic.gov.au/showcase/art-heals-the-remarkable-journey-of-josh-muir">Art Heals - The remarkable journey of Josh Muir</a>.

To visit the gallery, head down to 250 Gore Street in Fitzroy - open on weekdays from midday to 4pm and between 10am and 4pm on weekends.

The Lyric is a 156 residence project designed by Hayball and developed by SMA Projects.  The building will be located at 338 Gore Street.  <a href="/buildings/the-lyric-338-gore-street-fitzroy">Click here</a> to view more information about the project.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4379.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4379.jpg?itok=lTC0-Mdk" title="Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Josh Muir's work at The Lyric display suite gallery</figcaption></figure>
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SMA Projects & the MARS gallery launch artist in residence programme at The Lyric

<html><body>
You've probably heard of it by now - that new rail tunnel that's set to run through the city.    

The State Government has today announced geotechnical investigations are complete which will lead to the acceleration of the early works that have been slowly turning over for a while now in the CBD.

Things are about to become just that more real, more visible.

If you frequently travel to the city, the two sites which have seen some level of preparatory works already at both the top and bottom end of Swanston Street - Melbourne Central and Flinders Street Stations - will become construction focal points from this point on.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Public Transport and Major Projects confirmed the largest component of the entire project, the PPP contract for the civil works to construct the tunnels and stations, is still accepting bids until next month.  

A decision to announce the successful bidder is expected by the end of 2017 with the tunnel-boring machines expected to be let loose under the city sometime in 2018.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mm-web-20170306-benefits.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Expected capacity improvements after the Metro Tunnel is operational"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mm-web-20170306-benefits.jpg?itok=FGcinE5b" title="Expected capacity improvements after the Metro Tunnel is operational" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Expected capacity improvements after the Metro Tunnel is operational</figcaption></figure>The network map above, posted on the front page of the <a href="http://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/">Metro Tunnel project's website</a>, illustrates the capacity improvements expected once the metro tunnel is operational.

Based on previous announcements, we know that the Pakenham/Cranbourne-Sunbury line that is created as part of the Metro Tunnel project will have a modern signaling system which does away with blocks and allows trains to run closer together.  Government information released to date put this new capacity on rail lines using the new 'High Capacity Signalling' system at 24-30 trains per hour (a train every 2-2.5 minutes).

The current signaling system can 'safely' handle approximately 20 trains per hour according to published government information on the topic.

The Frankston, Sandringham, Craigieburn, Werribee/Williamstown and Upfield lines are set to see some infrastructure improvements which will allow more trains to run shorter runs on their respective lines: Cheltenham on the Frankston line, Essendon on the Craigieburn line, Gowrie on the Upfield line were all mentioned in the Metro Tunnel business case.

Of all the lines and the respective capacity improvements depicted on the map above, Upfield is a stand out.  This is most likely because it's coming off a very low base: there are only 3 trains per hour between 7am and 8am and 4 trains per hour between 8am and 9am at present.  

With 3400 units in 47 projects located in Brunswick &amp; Coburg in the development pipeline, the extra services - likely to be a train every 10-12.5 minutes based on the capacity improvement number - are well and truly going to be needed.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WTK-LKZqp20" width="560"></iframe>
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Geotechnical investigations complete, Metro Tunnel construction to ramp up

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

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Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Alastair Taylor

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