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<h2>Comment</h2>

Transport infrastructure and electoral cycles, they go hand in hand like beer and burgers, wine and cheese and the Labor and Liberal parties.  Well maybe not the last pairing but infrastructure projects are inherently the play-things of political parties when it comes to election time and with the news reports today on the ALP's shift in stance on the East-West link, the merry-go-round looks set to continue.

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/labor-to-dump-eastwest-link-if-elected-even-if-contracts-are-signed-20140910-10f46z">According to a piece</a> by The Age's state political editor Josh Gordon and state political reporter Henrietta Cook, the ALP have received legal advice that if it forms Government after the State election in November, it will use a court case brought on by Moreland and Yarra councils to render the contract for the eastern section of the East-West link invalid.

The East-West Link and Melbourne Metro tunnel projects are a by-product of the Eddington report into East-West travel across Melbourne, with the previous Brumby government had prioritising the rail component higher than that of the freeway project.

With the change of Government, priorities were then suddenly turned around and what appears to be in response to the sustained backlash across the inner Melbourne community, we learnt at the last State Budget announcement the powers that be on Spring Street had altered the path and rebranded the rail component as the Melbourne Rail Link.

The cynic in me says the current Government are employing a scorched earth policy in the event they don't win the November election yet on the other hand it is completely understandable that the legitimate Government of the day wishes to lock in one of its headline projects before the care-taker period.

It's no secret I don't view commuter-based freeway projects with any high degree of favour simply because we already have an auto-centric city/economy and we have a great imbalance in our transport mix to start with.  If balance in our transport mix is the actual goal, then Governments need to discriminate in favour of public transport and non-motorised transport infrastructure options.

In saying that, proper independent studies into the economic and, more importantly, social return of grand transport projects need to be conducted and made public upon completion, not near the end of an electoral cycle.

And we as urbanists should prepare for and accept that building rail lines ad nauseam is not necessarily going to always be the best option for dragging us into true balance in the way we transport ourselves around the city.

Should this new ALP stance pay off and allow them to form Government post November 29th, one of the first commitments the ALP should make, other than carrying out their policy of stopping the East-West Link, is to do a data dump.

Releasing all pertinent information the Victorian Public Service has on the transport projects in the various departments and continually keeping the public informed with regularly updated and published infrastructure plans - not to mention the decision-making process taken along the way - will also be critical.

Not undertaking an open approach is only going to cast any new Government in the same dim light the current one is shrouded in; the transport infrastructure and electoral cycle merry-go-round is rusty, decrepit and in sore need of replacing.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/hinkelstone/5166544084">flickr</a>, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Alastair Taylor

Transport infrastructure and electoral cycles: isn't it time to end the madness?

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The Herald Sun is <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/more-than-2800-apartments-to-be-built-at-fishermans-bend/story-fni0fit3-1227046941054">reporting</a> that Planning Minister Matthew Guy has approved more than 2800 apartments in the Fishermans Bend urban renewal precinct.

One of the projects which has been approved is <a href="http://www.mab.com.au/">MAB</a>'s 15-87 Gladstone Street - a three tower development designed by <a href="http://www.hayball.com.au/">Hayball</a> totaling 733 apartments to be delivered in stages.

Similarly 2-4 Buckhurst Street is a 371 unit <a href="http://www.jcba.com.au/">JCB</a>-designed development spread across two towers which measure 118.7 metres and 82.7 metres respectively and <a href="http://www.rothelowman.com.au/">ROTHELOWMAN's</a> 15-35 Thistlethwaite Street measures 131.5metres with 38 floors and includes 291 apartments.

Nearby Artisan Architects design at 199 Normanby Road comprises 262 apartments spread across a 40 level tower backing on to the 109 tram line has found favour.

In response to the announcement of the approvals, the City of Port Phillip has <a href="http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/september-2014-media_5620.htm">put out a statement</a> calling on the accelerated delivery of a tram line over the Yarra river and more community facilities.

“The estimated $44 million in developer contributions flowing from these approvals should be used to bring forward the construction of the Collins Street tram extension, open space acquisition and community facilities in the Ferrars Street School Precinct,” Cr Stevens said.

The City of Port Phillip is also seeking to see the details of the approved permits from the Planning Minister in order to assess them against new height provisions announced by the Planning Minister in July.

“Council is disappointed we were not consulted or notified about these approvals despite previously raising concerns,” Cr Stevens said.

The council statement also goes on to say that "there was also confusion about whether a tower had been approved for land ear-marked by the Government for open space".
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Scores of Fishermans Bend apartments approved

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On Tuesday September 2nd the City of Melbourne's Future Melbourne Committee will vote on recommendations made by various departments to Council on whether to support a large development located at 224-252 La Trobe Street, to which Apartments.com.au has <a href="/news/the-answer-224-252-la-trobe-street-melbourne" target="_blank">previously reported on</a>. The relevant information for the reworked UEM Sunrise project is <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/11741/agenda%20item%206.4.pdf" target="_blank">available online</a> (PDF format).

According to City of Melbourne's report, during pre-application discussions concerns were raised with regards to tower setbacks from the podium to the front, rear and side of the site. Subsequently an amended plan was submitted in July and it is summarised as follows:

<ul>
<li>Height of the building remains the same at 268.5 metres (286 metres RL).</li>
	<li>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa">Burj Khalifa</a>-like tapered setbacks are gone giving the tower a more monolithic aesthetic.</li>
	<li>The tower is now set back on average 6-6.5 metres from its podium.</li>
	<li>Total apartments have been reduced from 1343 to 1208, broken down into 140 serviced apartments and 1068 dwellings.</li>
</ul>
City of Melbourne management have recommended the council support the amended 224-252 La Trobe Street planning application subject to various conditions (32 of them: <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/11741/agenda%20item%206.4.pdf">see page 28</a> of the report toward the end of the document).

The assessment within <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/11741/agenda%20item%206.4.pdf">the report</a> states:

<blockquote>
The visual impact of a 286m high tower on the city skyline is an important consideration in the assessment of this application.

Importantly it is noted that the building does not overshadow the library forecourt between the hours of 11am and 2pm on 22 September or 22 June.

Height in this location is not specifically an issue as there are a number of tall buildings within the Hoddle Grid, Southbank, Docklands and to the north of the Hoddle Grid. There is no specific height control that affects the site.
</blockquote>

It's out with the old...

<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/224-252_la_trobe_street_old.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Out with the old..."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1109" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/224-252_la_trobe_street_old.jpg?itok=mZ-e1om8" title="Out with the old..." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Out with the old...</figcaption></figure>... and in with the new.

<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/224-252_la_trobe_st_new.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="... and in with the new. Images © Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="847" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/224-252_la_trobe_st_new.jpg?itok=drdwwqCm" title="... and in with the new. Images © Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>... and in with the new. Images © Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>The assessment further states:

<blockquote>
Tower setbacks to LaTrobe and Little LaTrobe have now been provided with 6m setbacks on both streets above podium level. We had recommended 10m setbacks but would accept 6m setbacks as a minimum, considering the curved/indented plan form.

Side setbacks have been increased to 6.5m and 7.5m minimum which are acceptable taking into account the curved/indented plan form of the tower and the orientation of apartment living spaces at the point of minimum side setback.
</blockquote>

The City of Melbourne management team also have expressed concern with the proposal to completely relocate Melbourne Central station entrances currently in existence on the northern side La Trobe Street to Little La Trobe Street.

The authors of the assessment go on to say:

<blockquote>
It is considered that the relocation would result in a poorer outcome for most users of the station who will be forced to walk longer distances underground.

Users of the La Trobe Street entry point wanting to head north to Little La Trobe Street have the opportunity to walk through the private lane along the western edge of the site and therefore do not have to use the Swanston / La Trobe intersection.

There has been no evidence submitted to the City of Melbourne to support the suggestion that the relocation would reduce congestion at that intersection.
</blockquote>

The commentary on the relocation of the station entry concludes by council management stating they recommend keeping a La Trobe Street entry and that furthermore the recommendation should not preclude an additional station access point being added to Little Lonsdale Street.
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Changes afoot for 224-252 La Trobe Street

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We're back for the final day of the <a href="/tag/prefabaus-conference-2014">PrefabAUS Conference 2014</a>.

Today's schedule sees presentations on next generation manufacturing, a case study on medium-density planning in South Korea, lessons from the automotive sector and rounding out the conference will be a panel discussion on growing off-site construction in Australia and New Zealand.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="800px" scrolling="auto" src="//v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1266105" width="100%"></iframe>

Lead image credit: <a href="http://www.unitisedbuilding.com/" target="_blank">unitisedbuilding.com</a>
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PrefabAUS Conference - Day 2

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Today marks the first day of formal proceedings at the <a href="/tag/prefabaus-conference-2014">PrefabAUS Conference 2014</a>. Yesterday, myself and co-editor Mark Baljak along with 80 other delegates, were treated to a tour of four different sites around Melbourne and its periphery. They included the Hickory Group's factory, the Modscape display suite, Salesian College and the Library at the Dock.

The conference schedule is very busy and includes multiple speakers and different topics of discussion. From Project case studies including The Maloney Group's One9 development - <a href="/news/one9-hall-street-moonee-ponds-34-apartments-5-days" target="_blank">where a 10 level apartment building was assembled on site in five days</a> - to lessons from the automotive sector and a look at the economics of the off-site construction industry, the next two days are bound to be informative and thought-provoking.

From today (9am until 4pm) and <a href="/news/prefabaus-conference-day-2">tomorrow (9am until 3pm)</a>, we'll be covering the conference as it happens in the embedded live blog below.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="800px" scrolling="auto" src="//v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1266020" width="100%"></iframe>
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PrefabAUS Conference - Day 1

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The following is a media release which accompanied the launch of the <a href="http://meta.org.au" target="_blank">META</a> <a href="http://prefabaus.org.au" target="_blank">PrefabAUS</a> Hub at the <a href="/tag/prefabaus-conference-2014">PrefabAUS Conference 2014</a>.

Australian building firms face lagging behind global competitors, with prefabricated housing an untapped market for local manufacturers, accordingly to META Managing Director Zoran Angelkovski.

META, a collaborative network of engaged manufacturing businesses and researchers, together with PrefabAUS, will determine how Australia can transform its construction industry to a smarter, leaner manufacturing mind-set through the launch of META’s PrefabAUS Hub.

“A primary objective of the Hub is to identify how our local construction industry can transform and compete against imported products in terms of quality, value, and speed,” Mr Angelkovski said.

“The Hub participants will grow prefabricated housing through development of new architectural design thinking, innovative techniques and processes and work towards advanced manufacturing within the field.”

Prefabricated housing is manufactured off-site in advance, usually in simple sections that can easily be shipped and transported. The Australian construction industry creates more than $150b contribution to GDP (10%) of which the prefabricated housing sector is just $4.6b (3%). The sector is expected to grow at more than 5% per annum compared to the overall industry at 2.3% through to 2023.

Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University and board member of Infrastructure Australia says the Australian construction industry is outdated in its design of new developments.

“The past 50 years of urban development in Australia has been based around building unsustainable car-dependent suburbs on the urban fringe. With Australia’s population growth expected to see a 60 per cent increase to 37.6 million people by 2050, the industry needs to look to more cost effective and well designed inner city developments at higher densities.

“Prefabricated housing is a next generation housing construction industry, a game changer in cost of housing, competitiveness, efficiency and productivity. Without leveraging this technology, we will see Australia going backwards as overseas firms meet the needs of our local market,” Professor Newman said.

Sarah Backhouse, CEO of prefabAUS, architect and Melbourne University researcher says there is strong potential for Australia to develop a new manufacturing base centred on 21st century construction innovation and quality.

“In Japan and across Europe, prefabricated housing is widely accepted as a quality alternative to traditional construction due to its speed of delivery, design options and energy efficient choices. This represents exciting opportunities for Australia to innovate as our prefabricated housing industry continues to grow and span not only individual houses but also medium and high density solutions while ensuring we remain globally competitive,” Ms Backhouse said.

Jan Gyrn, from leading Australian prefabrication developer Modscape, says there is huge potential for local manufacturers to adapt to this growth market while providing consumers with innovative designs and choice.

“Over the last decade, we have seen prefabricated housing transition from a temporary building idea to a sophisticated, design-led alternative to traditional construction.

“We have worked on exciting commercial and residential projects which are a far cry from the days of aesthetically boring prefab units and will challenge people’s conceptions of modular buildings.

Today we can leverage the latest technology and manufacturing methods to deliver projects such as Ponyfish Island Bar in Melbourne, which shows innovation and artistic style within a logistically complex location.

By using a modular base we can create almost any configuration of space at any size to suit individual styles, all the while delivering projects at less cost with minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment,” Mr Gyrn said.

Lead image credit: <a href="http://www.nbrsap.com.au/" target="_blank">NBRS + Partners</a>.
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META PrefabAus Hub launched

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The <a href="http://www.impa.org.au/" target="_blank">Inner Melbourne Planning Alliance</a> (IMPA) presented a public forum titled "City in Crisis?" earlier this evening.

A free event, it was held at the Deakin Edge theatre at Federation Square from 6pm until 7:30pm, consisting of a panel of speakers and a Q&amp;A session.

<h2>The questions of concern</h2>

<ol>
<li>What mechanisms will be in place to ensure the design quality and diversity of new residential developments and the associated public spaces that are critical to their success?</li>
	<li>To what extent will the proposed plans provide the amenities needed to service high density communities of the future, including schools and hospitals, public transport or jobs for a future smart economy?</li>
</ol>
<h2>The panelists</h2>

<dl>
<dt>Geoffrey London</dt>
	<dd>Victorian State Government architect</dd>
	<dt>Leanne Hodyl</dt>
	<dd>Melbourne City Council</dd>
	<dt>Robert Larocca</dt>
	<dd>RP Data</dd>
	<dt>Monique Sasson</dt>
	<dd>Independent Property Analyst</dd>
	<dt>Ashley Williams</dt>
	<dd>Evolve Development</dd>
</dl>
Speaker presentations and audience and panel Q&amp;A were moderated by Peter Mares.

<h2>As it happened</h2>

<iframe frameborder="0" height="800px" scrolling="auto" src="//v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1265724" width="100%"></iframe>
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Public forum, City in Crisis?

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After the release of the draft Fishermans Bend vision in September 2013, on Monday (28/07/14) the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, announced the approval of the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan (FBSFP).

This will be the primary development guide throughout the four different Fishermans Bend precincts, which will eventually double the size of central Melbourne. Regular readers of Apartments.com.au will be aware of the many different proposals that have already been lodged with the Minister's department (<a href="/developments" target="_blank">we have 14 of them on our Project Database</a>) and in a press release Matthew Guy said:

<blockquote>
Development of Fishermans Bend is a 40-year project but I have approved a limited number of permit applications that will allow some construction to start in the near future. Developers will be required to make financial contributions towards new infrastructure as part of their permit conditions.

Permit applications for land within the precinct would be assessed in the context of the Fishermans Bend SFP. The Metropolitan Planning Authority, which prepared the plan, will become the Responsible Authority for the precinct.
</blockquote>

From October 1 the Metropolitan Planning Authority (MPA) will become the responsible authority for the receipt and determination of planning permits in the <a href="http://www.mpa.vic.gov.au/fishermansbendsfp" target="_blank">Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area</a>.

<blockquote>
Applicants are advised to liaise directly with the Central Cities unit of Planning Statutory Services in the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI) about all current planning permit applications in Fishermans Bend.

Transitional arrangements ahead of 1 October 2014 will be agreed between prospective applicants, DTPLI and the MPA to determine the best course of action for forthcoming applications. The MPA will coordinate this transition.
</blockquote>

Click any of the images for a full-screen view.

<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/fish_bend_preferred_heights.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Preferred heights from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="360" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fish_bend_preferred_heights.jpg?itok=7iBySKtg" title="Preferred heights from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Preferred heights from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA</figcaption></figure>The current concentration of planning applications is overwhelmingly centred in the Montague precinct and as shown above, Montague is the area with the most diverse range of preferred discretionary height limits. In amongst the various maps throughout the document suite, Montague is shaded with a "rail investigation area" which correlates with the current Government's recent announcement to route the Melbourne Rail Link through the precinct.

Much of the sustainable transport vision from the Fishermans Bend Draft has been carried over to the FBSFP with Plummer and Fennell Streets forming a high-frequency transit corridor however one key feature has not been carried over: the 'potential future station' in Wirraway (<a href="http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Draft_Vision.pdf" target="_blank">page 39</a> of the draft). The FBSFB outlines a comprehensive network of trams and buses providing the main motorised sustainable transport services and the omission of the "Potential Future Station" in Wirraway originally seen in the draft vision raises questions on how much the PTV heavy rail plan has changed.

<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/fish_bend_sustainable_transport_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sustainable Transport from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="348" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fish_bend_sustainable_transport_1.jpg?itok=IqAF7fvJ" title="Sustainable Transport from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sustainable Transport from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA</figcaption></figure>One aspect of the draft vision which may have been overlooked and now is quite prominent in the FBSFP (it is key element number 1) is the new street network envisioned for the Sandridge and Wirraway precincts. As the map below indicates, many existing streets and main roads through the entire renewal area will continue to function much as they do now (with a few exceptions such as the extra reservation for widened Plummer/Fennell Streets), however a new grid looks set to form on land that may currently have another use.

Land bankers beware?

<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/fish_bend_civic_new_streets1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="New grid layout from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="359" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/fish_bend_civic_new_streets1.jpg?itok=-mVuNBBJ" title="New grid layout from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>New grid layout from the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan - image © MPA</figcaption></figure>Affordable housing does get a small mention in the land use considerations "affordable housing, including housing managed by Registered Housing Associations, will be strongly encouraged in Fishermans Bend to provide a diverse range of people with access to central city jobs, services and infrastructure. Flexible application of development contributions can be used to encourage affordable housing (see Design Guidance for further details)".

And the Design Guidance states under point 2.5 "Guideline 1: Most developments (over 20 dwellings) are expected to be designed to incorporate a mix of land uses and a diversity of residential typologies and dwelling sizes. Larger developments (over 200 dwellings) should consider including an affordable housing component".

Take from that what you will.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5uR2nZo9TyA" width="100%"></iframe>

Click to view the FBSFP document suite on the <a href="http://www.mpa.vic.gov.au/fishermansbendsfp" target="_blank">MPA's website</a>. Confused about precinct names? The Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure has a map on its <a href="http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/projects-and-programs/fishermans-bend-urban-renewal-project" target="_blank">website</a>.

The Planning Minister's media release in full:

<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.7066666666666667" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_11661" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/235249292/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-haJXOICrfa6WFKNwl9Kn&amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan released

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Did you know that the City of Melbourne makes up 37% of the Greater Melbourne economy, 27% of the Victorian economy and 6% of the national equivalent? What about the fact that there are 438,793 jobs in the City of Melbourne? Or that in 1990 the median unit price in the City of Melbourne was $148,000?

These are all statistics now extremely easy to access in one place with the release of the <a href="http://melbourne.geografia.com.au/" target="_blank">City of Melbourne Economic Profile on Geografia</a>.

As stated on their <a href="http://geografia.com.au/" target="_blank">about page</a>, Geografia were established in 2005 and is "a specialist social and economic planning, and spatial analysis consultancy" whose approach "combines rigorous statistical methods with on-the-ground research and consultation".

It's pleasing to see this kind of initiative being taken by the City of Melbourne to represent their economic profile in a simple, easy-to-use platform. No-one likes trawling through notoriously hard to find datasets on the ABS website and likewise the inclusion of private sector data - in this case Savills' commercial property prices - rounds the platform out nicely in providing users with a more-than-a-summary snapshot of the City of Melbourne.

<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/com_geografia.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Economic snapshot, image: Geografia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/com_geografia.jpg?itok=KkcBQVOD" title="Economic snapshot, image: Geografia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Economic snapshot, image: Geografia</figcaption></figure>What's more, the user-friendly platforms don't stop there. As we <a href="/news/urban-forest-visual" target="_blank">previously reported</a>, the City of Melbourne has built a front end to display its raw data from the municipality's <a href="http://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">Open Data Platform</a>.

Some favourites from the Melbourne Open Data platform:

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Transport/Pedestrian-Counts/b2ak-trbp" target="_blank">Pedestrian Counts</a> and <a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Community/Pedestrian-Sensor-Locations-Map/ummz-yqx8" target="_blank">the location of sensors</a>
</li>
	<li><a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Business/Total-Built-Floor-Space-By-Small-Area-2012-Chart/2gcw-gr8s" target="_blank">Total build floor space by small area (2012)</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Community/Public-Memorials-and-Sculptures-Map/9wc4-sxer" target="_blank">Public monuments and sculptures map</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Recreation/Melbourne-Bike-Share-Locations/kgfy-ymmq" target="_blank">Melbourne bike share locations</a></li>
</ul>
Happy data mining!
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City of Melbourne and open data

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During the month of June we welcomed the addition of three new Industry Hub members.

<h2>Communications Collective</h2>

<img alt="" class="image-article_half_width_290px" height="143" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_half_width_290px/public/pictures/article-images/CC_logo_1_small.png?itok=XxqGHr9h" width="290">

<blockquote>
Communications Collective is a leading public relations, corporate communications and event management agency, offering expert consultancy to the property industry. We deliver strategic, focused and creative campaigns that connect, inform, motivate and inspire.
Communications Collective has been working in the Australian property industry since establishment, providing a range of communications solutions.
</blockquote>

<h2>Capital Property Marketing</h2>

<img alt="" class="image-article_half_width_290px" height="140" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_half_width_290px/public/pictures/article-images/capital_marketing_logo_small.jpg?itok=vc6MxpFs" width="290">

<blockquote>
Capital Property Marketing was founded by Bryce Patterson, who brings over 20 years of real estate experience, during which he has been responsible for billions of dollars of property sales.
We specialise in residential project sales and marketing. We pride ourselves on an exemplary track record and our ability to bring a fresh perspective to the industry. We offer expertise in the management of all residential property sales and the implementation of successful marketing strategies to maximise sales results.
</blockquote>

<h2><a href="/developers/icd-property">ICD Property</a></h2>

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Welcome to new Industry Hub members - June

<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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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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