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On Wednesday 19th March the Planning Minister Matthew Guy <a href="http://premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9434-major-new-jobs-precinct-for-melbourne-s-northwest" target="_blank">announced</a> the Metropolitan Planning Authority, Moonee Valley City Council and Essendon fields are to begin working on a new framework "to guide an exciting new aviation and employment precinct in Melbourne's inner north".

According to the <a href="http://www.mpa.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Brochure.pdf" target="_blank">brochure on MPA's site</a>, the plan will incorporate the Essendon Airport masterplan and Moonee Valley's Airport West structure plan into an overall framework which could have the capacity to create up to 25,000 jobs across aviation, technology and retail sectors.

Whilst stating "development of the precinct responds to the 20-minute neighbourhood initiative outlined in Plan Melbourne" the MPA talks up the road connectivity and mentions the #59 tram route in such a way that it's hard not to think it was merely added as a footnote.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9bAF87hLi2U" width="100%"></iframe>

Most interestingly Matthews Avenue is set to receive a makeover and the strip located south of Airport West shopping centre fronting Matthews Avenue has been zoned Commercial 1 and 2. This will allow mixed-use development to occur in the corridor thus diversifying the precinct beyond the light industrial/wholesale trade uses that currently exist.

Whilst work is just kicking off on the plan, readers with a keen eye for detail might have noticed the flyaround in the above video depicts an upgraded Matthews Avenue still dominated with car parks fronting the street and an English street with an interesting lack of pedestrian infrastructure.

Granted it's merely a video that showcases the potential of the area, however the visuals and the language employed in the MPA-produced documentation points to a potentially worrying missed opportunity should the auto-dominated narrative in the documentation follow through to the plan eventually adopted.

Home to La Manna and other large scale retailers and aviation businesses that are synonymous with auto-centric transport access, the Metropolitan Planning Authority would be wise to fight for the plan to have a long-term view on producing good urban design outcomes with extra focus on improving pedestrian amenity and sustainable transport options.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="314" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&amp;source=embed&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=Macquarie+Park,+New+South+Wales&amp;aq=0&amp;oq=Macquarie+PArk&amp;sll=-37.725973,144.890742&amp;sspn=0.015292,0.033023&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Macquarie+Park+New+South+Wales&amp;t=m&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=-33.781585,151.123564&amp;panoid=jdaEqona-mVApALRM7O7dQ&amp;cbp=13,303.12,,0,-4.15&amp;ll=-33.786477,151.124582&amp;spn=0.022399,0.048237&amp;z=14&amp;output=svembed" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&amp;source=embed&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=Macquarie+Park,+New+South+Wales&amp;aq=0&amp;oq=Macquarie+PArk&amp;sll=-37.725973,144.890742&amp;sspn=0.015292,0.033023&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Macquarie+Park+New+South+Wales&amp;t=m&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=-33.781585,151.123564&amp;panoid=jdaEqona-mVApALRM7O7dQ&amp;cbp=13,303.12,,0,-4.15&amp;ll=-33.786477,151.124582&amp;spn=0.022399,0.048237&amp;z=14" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a>

Above is a Google Street view of Waterloo Road in Sydney's Macquarie Park. Despite two heavy rail stations on the Epping-Chatswood rail link, business precincts such as Macquarie Park still feature infrastructure and planning controls to support the automobile, robbing the streets of much pedestrian appeal.

Commercial 1 and 2 zoning and the expected dramatic increase in jobs over time will put pressure on the Tullamarine Freeway and specifically the Matthews Avenue/English street interchange and simply relying on the #59 tram won't allow employees who live to the West, East and North East of the precinct to travel to comfortably on public transport.

If Melbourne is to experiment further with decentralised and diversified employment and mixed-use precincts, we should not develop them under the false premise that the existing road network will be the dominant transport access mode.

Tomorrow a look at how we can enhance the public transport connectivity for Airport West and Essendon Airport through significant road-based public transport investment.
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Alastair Taylor

Airport West and Essendon Airport: auto-centricity status quo?

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$1 billion of direct investment, thousands of jobs translating into $5 billion worth of economic stimulus over the next 3-5 years - they're the numbers being spruiked by the State Government with the announcement of the Station Precinct Engagement Program at Jewell Station yesterday.

For a video summary of the project, you can view the 7 Network's news piece <a href="http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/video/watch/22042921/1b-plan-to-upgrade-railway-stations/" target="_blank">here</a>.

<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/station_redevelopment_map.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The 10 stations included in the Station Precinct Engagement Program - image © VicTrack"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="424" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/station_redevelopment_map.jpg?itok=mIzWN3Mk" title="The 10 stations included in the Station Precinct Engagement Program - image © VicTrack" width="580"></a>

A map of the station locations complete with the as-yet funded Melbourne Metro line also drawn for good measure.

Like the East-West and Dandenong corridor projects, the detail with regards to the expected return on investment has not been forthcoming. In isolation the numbers look quite impressive but cynics may suggest this is the State Government seemingly attempting to divert attention away from their extremely unpopular East-West Link project so early into the election campaign. Fundamentally we consider this announcement to be a step in the right direction.

Focusing on Jewell station for a moment, the brochure on VicTrack's <a href="https://www.victrack.com.au/~/media/c17d6a3c9e004862a9e8d02676750fa2.pdf" target="_blank">site</a> depicts quite a handsome station precinct should it be developed as outlined.

This is what Jewell currently looks like from the Sydney Road side of the station.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com.au/maps?cbll=-37.775011,144.959162&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=SHqsandPm91rAz8Dl0tHZA&amp;cbp=12,307.9,,0,6.44&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=-37.807614,145.000305&amp;spn=0.482284,1.056747&amp;t=m&amp;z=11&amp;source=embed&amp;output=svembed" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps?cbll=-37.775011,144.959162&amp;layer=c&amp;panoid=SHqsandPm91rAz8Dl0tHZA&amp;cbp=12,307.9,,0,6.44&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=-37.807614,145.000305&amp;spn=0.482284,1.056747&amp;t=m&amp;z=11&amp;source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a>

The mid-rises to the north and south of the heritage station building will not only bring more welcome apartments to this part of the Sydney Road precinct but will also provide passive security over the station.

Gone will be the current car park, replaced with an improved Upfield shared path and the retention of some of the greenery which current exists around the station. Reactivation of the heritage building gains a tick of approval as well.

The challenge, perhaps more for Moreland City Council, is to capitalise on this investment and drive development into Wilson Avenue bringing Sydney Road closer to Jewell station.

<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/jewell_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Looking South along the new shared Upfield path past the existing Jewell Station - image © VicTrack"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jewell_3.jpg?itok=MI0BOudv" title="Looking South along the new shared Upfield path past the existing Jewell Station - image © VicTrack" width="580"></a>

One question which remains is what could happen should at some point in the future the Government decide to grade separate the litany of level crossings along this stretch of the Upfield line?

To the immediate south of the station lie Park Street and Brunswick Road whilst Union Street frames the northern end of Jewell's platforms. Any grade separation project in this part of Brunswick would need to include those three roads plus the relocation or rebuild of the Jewell Station itself.

The Upfield line sees the worst frequencies of any rail line in Melbourne and according to the PTV's heavy rail plan released last year it would only see upgrades in frequency once the Metro Tunnel has created extra capacity on the existing Northern Loop for Craigieburn and Upfield. So that's a long way away but the requirement of the precinct changing once more should at least be placed in the moderate column of any risk assessment for developers and potential buyers.

Furthermore, factoring in future grade separations is likely to be an overarching theme for many of the 10 stations which are joining this State Government program.

Alphington, Essendon and Hampton stations feature nearby level crossings - will the State Government attempt to capture some of the value unleashed from the station precinct development to help pay for grade separations?

Here's hoping.
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Jewell and the Station Precinct Engagement Program

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Last month Apartments.com.au attended the re-launch of the <a href="http://www.blsc.com.au/" target="_blank">Building Leadership Simulation Centre</a> (BLSC) - a state-of-the-art 'simulation learning' centre for the local construction industry.
One of only three facilities worldwide, the BLSC opened during 2012 and had its primary learning environment based on a building site in Birmingham, UK. Now however, the BLSC has been uniquely "Australianised" with a Melbourne construction site - currently being built by <a href="http://www.hickory.com.au/">Hickory</a>, Magna Prima's <a href="/news">Istana</a> residential project located at 218 A'Beckett Street.
<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_3968.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The concave 15 metre screen seen from above"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_3968.jpg?itok=4sNPq1vy" title="The concave 15 metre screen seen from above" width="580"></a>
The BLSC boasts a large parobolic screen, experienced actors and realistic construction huts decked out with all necessary regulatory and construction site documentation - these constitute the physical environment. With all area's linked to a big brother-like assessment centre, this ensures a multitude of scenarios can be acted out in order to portray almost any given situation in rapid time.
Of the actors, the BLSC employs a team to play roles depending on the course being delivered. From burly union shop stewards confronting site managers to irate, ranting neighbours complaining about noise from the construction site and all that lies between - the actors play a diverse amount of roles providing an invaluable human element.
When in front of the primary simulation screen and a demonstrative group of actors, the scenario becomes life-like in the immediate pressure felt, as evidenced even during formal speeches on the evening. Through participants responses (or lack of) under pressure, assessment is made in real time and immediate guidance is given in order to create enhanced on-site management skills.
<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_3973.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Inside the command centre with its multiple display screens"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_3973.jpg?itok=w_VfKIHD" title="Inside the command centre with its multiple display screens" width="580"></a>
When the main speeches concluded all were invited to explore the facility and unbeknownst to me at first there were assessors on the job, role playing remotely with the various construction huts. After a somewhat humourous role play on the phone in one of the huts, being shepherded around obstacles and dodging workmen with wheelbarrows, the pieces started falling in place - the BLSC is one of the most engaging learning environments ever conceived.
In fact I would go so far as to say this type of learning and assessment environment could benefit sectors of the economy and occupations beyond the construction industry, from business to politics! Who wouldn't want to be in control when providing a frank, rapid and critical assessment of our elected representatives under remarkably near real world pressure - if only!
The Master Builder's Association and all partners involved in the BLSC ought to be commended for thinking laterally about workplace and leadership training. At Apartments.com.au we like innovative ideas and we like it even more when we see innovation in practice and the BLSC fits the bill perfectly.
Thanks go out to the <a href="http://www.hickory.com.au/" target="_blank">Hickory Group</a> for inviting Apartments.com.au to the event.
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Re-launch of the Building Leadership Simulation Centre

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Apartments.com.au couldn't possibly write a finer preamble to today's video/article than what is found on the exceptional <a href="http://smithstreetlife.com.au" target="_blank">Smith Street Life</a> website which dedicates itself to all things Smith Street. Regarding the increasing number of apartment developments on and immediately surrounding the famed strip, the website states of the Street itself:

<blockquote>
Smith Street's public face is under reconstruction, with at least three major development works in progress presenting a shift to Smith Street's cultural and community evolution. 
Melbourne’s oldest shopping strip, Smith Street’s revival is likely to be enhanced with construction taking place at various stages, and faces, along Smith Street's historical façades. 
With history and heritage dating back to the early 1800’s there is no doubt that Smith Street’s changing facades are providing a new pillar in Melbourne’s history. The changing identity of Smith Street, from a place of diversity, history and heritage, towards a more likely gentrified future is reflected in three different property developments each with their own different approach.
<cite><a href="http://www.smithstreetlife.com.au/the-changing-faces-of-smith-street" target="_blank">Smith Street Life: The changing faces of Smith Street</a></cite>
</blockquote>

The newest addition to <a href="/architects/grimshaw-architects" target="_blank">Grimshaw Architects</a> Melbourne office and regular Apartments.com.au contributor Laurence Dragomir along with <a href="/developers/neometro" target="_blank">Neometro</a>'s founder Jeff Provan feature in Apartments.com.au's most recent video - produced by our partners <a href="http://www.thevideoagency.com.au/" target="_blank">The Video Agency</a> - Hotspots: Smith Street

<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" scrolling="no" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/87231917" width="100%"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://vimeo.com/87231917">Hot Spot: Smith Street</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user19840635">The Video Agency</a> on Vimeo.

See below a summary of the aforementioned 16 current apartment projects on and around Smith Street.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px">Under Assessment</td>
			<td style="width:245px">Registration and Sales</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"><a href="/new-apartments/atrium-fitzroy-230-moor-street-fitzroy">229 Smith Street</a></td>
			<td style="width:245px">
<a href="/buildings/9-smith-street-9-smith-street-fitzroy" target="_blank">9 Smith Street </a>(moved to sales post video)</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px">Approved</td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/oxford-peel-22-peel-street-collingwood">Oxford &amp; Peel - 22 Peel Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px">7 Hodgson Street</td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/tapestry-apartments-80-stanley-street-collingwood" target="_blank">Tapestry - 80 Stanley Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"><a href="/buildings/the-lantern-195-wellington-street-collingwood" target="_blank">195 Wellington Street</a></td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/haus-apartments-416-smith-street-collingwood" target="_blank">Haus - 416 Smith Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"><a href="/buildings/221-kerr-street-fitzroy">221 Kerr Street</a></td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/41-peel-street-collingwood" target="_blank">41 Peel Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"><a href="/new-apartments/237-smith-street-fitzroy" target="_blank">237 Smith Street</a></td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/little-ox-2-johnston-street-collingwood" target="_blank">Little Ox - 2 Johnston Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"><a href="/new-apartments/305-311-smith-street-fitzroy" target="_blank">305-311 Smith Street</a></td>
			<td style="width:245px">Under Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"><a href="/buildings/yorkshire-1-robert-st-collingwood" target="_blank">Yorkshire - 1 Robert Street</a></td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/smith-co-132-172-smith-street-collingwood">132 Smith Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"> </td>
			<td style="width:245px"><a href="/buildings/you-and-i-450-smith-street-collingwood" target="_blank">You &amp; I - 450 Smith Street</a></td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width:243px"> </td>
			<td style="width:245px">Oxley - 46 Stanley Street</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/9SMITH_IMAGES_FINAL_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" style="font-size: 12px;" title="The latest project to reach sales - 9 Smith Street. Image © Neometro"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/9SMITH_IMAGES_FINAL_1.jpg?itok=tB9M6nSt" style="height:336px; width:580px" title="The latest project to reach sales - 9 Smith Street. Image © Neometro"></a>

With 9 Smith Street the most recent project to proceed to sales, it breaks the sequence of all projects currently at sales or under construction being located on the eastern side of Smith Street.

It would be an interesting social study to track over the coming months and years how the influx of new dwellings and residents will affect Smith Street's current dynamic. With an abundance of suitable development sites on and within close proximity to Smith Street, the trend of higher density living and increased population looks set to continue.
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Hotspot Video: Smith Street apartment boom in focus

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<a href="http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/" target="_blank">Urban Taskforce Australia</a> has announced that entries for its 2014 Development Excellence awards are now open.
<blockquote>
	The Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards 2014, acknowledges development that achieves the best outcomes for all stakeholders in terms of client requirements, environment, business and community considerations; as well as time, cost and quality.</blockquote>
The 2014 awards will be judged by a panel made up of public and private sector panelists and the awards are open to any development that is completed by March 2014 and subsequently occupied by May 2014.
Judging criteria is broad and includes aspects such as commercial success, innovation, environment and sustainability measures, urban design, architectural merit and end user satisfaction.
The awards likewise have no defined categories and as the <a href="http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/images/stories/events/2014_Event_Web_Banners/DEA_2014_Entry_Book_Final.pdf" target="_blank">Entry Book</a> states, awards may be presented in areas such as affordable housing, heritage preservation, retail and industrial development and mix-used development.
Entries close 11th April 2014.
The entry book and entry form can be found on <a href="http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=1562&amp;Itemid=107#.Ux8N7_mSxx3" target="_blank">Urban Taskforce Australia's website</a>.
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UTA Development Excellence awards open for entries

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As part of Melbourne Knowledge Week in November 2013 Apartments.com.au presented the public forum "Guiding Melbourne's Urban Growth".  

The question we invited each presenter to respond to:

<blockquote>
If Melbourne is to fulfil its own motto of gaining strength as it grows, planning policy must shift away from the auto-centric low-density suburban growth patterns of the past.  Cities which encourage diverse human interaction through policies which enable increased residential and employment densities benefit from increased localised economic and social activity. With the great Australian dream of owning a home becoming increasingly unattainable where spiralling congestion and travel distance to employment and services offset the lower prices of new fringe suburban development, how can Melbourne make medium and high-density living more attractive to individuals and families at a price they can afford?
</blockquote>

Today we feature the presentation given by Sarah Backhouse.  Sarah is an architect, designer, educator, researcher and currently holds the CEO position at <a href="http://www.prefabaus.org.au" target="_blank">prefabAUS</a>.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="285" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/84283102" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://vimeo.com/84283102">Urban.com.au - Guiding Melbourne's Urban Growth: Part 4 - Sarah Backhouse</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user19840635">The Video Agency</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.

Sarah Backhouse in her own words.

"As a global phenomenon, cities are facing growing population pressure. In response, we need to rethink our cities as the demands for smarter land use increases. We will also need faster and leaner ways to construct our future cities, in order to minimise disturbance to existing communities that can arise during long construction projects. This suggests change to the form of our current urban environments and how we build them.

"It is normal for us to fear change however knowledge and education are powerful means of dispelling doubt or resistance. Housing Expos have long been employed in Europe to explore and address ‘big issues’, be it new density models or construction innovation. Such Expos are frequently built as permanent communities, yet open to the public for a period of time before being handed over to owners or tenants. They offer a tangible experience of new design or construction ideas, and provide places that people can feel, touch and understand. The time for such Housing Expos has come in Australia, so that we can refocus public debate and help shift discussions from the position of NIMBY to QIMBY.

"At <a href="http://www.prefabaus.org.au/" target="_blank">PrefabAUS</a>, we are working hard to demonstrate that 21 century prefabricated building technologies are an important part of construction innovation, and offer permanent quality solutions. A greater uptake of prefabricated building elements or whole buildings is important for decreasing construction time frames and construction waste while increasing construction quality, productivity and affordability. Building prefabrication also has a vital role to play in advancing Australia’s manufacturing sector.

"Part of our future vision is to participate in such Housing Expos. Our industry has some legacy issues to contend with - many that stem from prefabrication’s past association with temporary buildings – and collaboration in such Housing Expos will allow us to display the talent of home grown manufacturers, constructors, designers, and innovators who are leading the way with projects such as: aspirational homes that are delivered to difficult or remote locations 99% complete; 21st century modular classrooms that are 3D sustainability textbooks for our children; and multi-residential apartment buildings assembled on site in a matter of days.  We have reached the tipping point, we have the capabilities, and we are ready to embrace the future."

The editors of Apartments.com.au would like to thank Sarah for sharing her perspectives and similarly would like to thank The State Library of Victoria team and our partners at <a href="http://www.thevideoagency.com.au/" target="_blank">The Video Agency</a> for filming the entire event.
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GMUG 2013: Sarah Backhouse on density, prefabrication and the future of cities

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Denis Napthine, celebrating his first 365 days in office as Premier of Victoria, has announced the Dandenong corridor, comprising the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, is to be a focal point of heavy rail investment.
The project that was <a href="http://premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9327-massive-rail-investment-to-benefit-millions-of-victorians" target="_blank">announced</a> today comprises:
<ul>
<li>
		an order for 25 new trains </li>
	<li>
		the roll out of a new signalling system for the Dandenong corridor</li>
	<li>
		4 level crossing removals at Murrumbeena Road, Koornang Road, Clayton Road and Centre Road</li>
	<li>
		3 station rebuilds at Clayton, Murrumbeena and Carnegie</li>
	<li>
		a new train maintenance depot to be built in Pakenham</li>
</ul>
Premier Napthine also made mention the project was the first under the government's unsolicited proposals process with delivery to be undertaken by MTR, John Holland Construction and UGL Rail Services which make up the consortium who operate Metro Trains.   
The press release also mentions that after the competition of the project in 2019, 18 services will be able to run in peak periods increasing capacity by 4500 people per hour.
It is increasingly likely the 'next generation' signalling system to be deployed will be an in-cab <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_block" target="_blank">moving block</a> system thus allowing trains to run closer together to obtain the expected passenger benefits.
Lead image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoonabar/4265275564/sizes/l/" target="_blank">Flickr</a> CC BY-SA 2.0
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New trains, signalling and grade separation for Dandenong corridor

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The Herald Sun is reporting plans are underway for a $1 billion monorail link between Melbourne's CBD and Tullamarine Airport. The plan is reportedly in its early phases and has garnered interest from a local infrastructure developer.

8 to 10 minutes travel time from either Flinders Street or Southern Cross station are the numbers being reported as well as the benefits of prefabricated construction techniques utilising factory line labour that is being laid off from the automotive industry.

The journalist quoted Peter O'Brien, the brainchild of the plan, as saying:

<blockquote>
The whole problem with heavy rail is you have to buy the land from the public and that’s expensive and takes years. Newly proven technology means we can now follow the established use of airspace in the northern hemisphere without building huge concrete edifices.
<cite>Peter O'Brien</cite>
</blockquote>

The report doesn't go into much detail and leaves many questions unanswered however that should not distract from taking this proposal seriously - any unsolicited private sector project should be assessed on merit once more public domain information is released and we very much look forward to that day.

Having said that, the following is an attempt to make sense of the limited information contained in the article.

The road distance from Southern Cross to Tullamarine is 22km as per Google maps which takes a route along Spencer Street, Dynon Road, Citylink and the Tullamarine Freeway. It's safe to assume that an 8-10 minute trip would mean the monorail vehicles would have a top speed in the range of 200kph given it takes approximately 20 minutes to drive the same distance and the speed limit on the freeway section of the route is 100kph.

Claims about not needing huge concrete edifices is interesting given utilising airspace is mentioned. The assumption here is that the monorail guideway would be elevated and therefore would need to clear the multiple overpasses currently crossing the Tullamarine Freeway - Ormond Road, Dawson Street, Victoria Street, Albion Street, Moreland Road and the very high Bell Street overpass just to name a few.

The Herald Sun report likewise mentions the Melbourne plan would be similar to that of a monorail built in Seoul without mentioning the Seoul project is in fact a maglev for the Incheon airport district yet the Melbourne proposal is reportedly to run on rubber-wheels.

Whether a classic steel wheel on steel rail, rubber-wheel or a maglev technology is utilised for the train, the bulk of any guideways (and therefore visual impact) depends on the width of the vehicles and whether there will be dual track or not - and this amongst other things is not made clear in the report.

If the service is to have capacity for 40,000 passengers an hour one can only assume this would be configured with dual track and vehicles with a capacity for 1000 people running every 3 minutes in each direction - impressive given the reported $1 billion price tag as reported by the Herald Sun.

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/bold-plan-to-build-1-billion-monorail-above-the-tullamarine-freeway-under-way/story-fni0fit3-1226844195129">The Herald Sun report</a> is available for viewing.

Lead Image source: <a href="http://kojects.com/2012/01/28/maglev-at-incheon-international-airport-to-be-completed-this-year/" style="font-size: 10px;">kojects.com</a>.
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Monorail proposal to link Melbourne airport

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For over a decade City Road has been the beachhead for rapid urban change in the City of Melbourne and over the same time the area has garnered a negative reputation for being an austere pedestrian environment and traffic sewer. Many might even call it a <a href="/news/street-life-how-do-you-revive-a-dull-urban-area#content" target="_blank">dull urban area</a>.

Despite Citylink now taking the lion's share of vehicular traffic crossing from the metropolitan area from East to West and vice versa, City Road is still the major collector and arterial for areas such as South Melbourne and Port Melbourne as well as providing access locally in Southbank.

So how to improve the amenity for the local residents in the myriad of apartments that been built and occupied in the past 10 years in Southbank?

<a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">City of Melbourne</a> has teamed up with <a href="http://www.crowdspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Crowdspot</a> to kick off a community engagement period running until the 16th of March for the upcoming City Road master plan. From the Participate Melbourne FAQ <a href="http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/city-road/faqs#855" target="_blank">page</a>:

<blockquote>
What is the City Road Master Plan?

The City of Melbourne is leading the development of a draft City Road Master Plan that aims to better balance the road’s two key roles as both an important transport link and a people friendly place. This project is a key action from the Southbank Structure Plan (2010) and responds to the changing role of this road as Southbank grows.

The focus of the master plan will be on delivering public realm improvements within the road space and footpaths. It will explore options to change the layout and design of the road to address issues such as pedestrian safety, cycling access, transport movement &amp; access, street character and quality, tree planting, water management and public transport provision.

Changes to planning controls that affect private land use and development are not within the scope of this project.
</blockquote>

City of Melbourne is utilising Crowdspot's mapping technology to allow interested parties to pin point problems or praise on the municipality's <a href="http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/city-road" target="_blank">Participate Melbourne</a> platform. This is the first phase of engagement where people are encouraged to share their experience along the thoroughfare.

It's the depth contributors are going to describe the issues they feel need highlighting which is most impressive, for instance one of the pins on the King's Way tram stop describes how the tram stop and surrounding roads are regularly flooded and calls for the tram stop's amenity to be improved and even going to great lengths to describe the amount of pigeon poo in the area. Special mention to the contributor who mentioned the large volume of dog poo in a nearby park - it seems animal defecation is right up there in the worrisome category.

Overall however, there is a strong theme of highlighting all the vehicular issues right along City Road, and many people have highlighted how City Road acts as a barrier for pedestrians.

With rapid feedback in a more productive online environment as well as the environment in the public domain and open to monitoring and scrutiny, this may just keep City of Melbourne on its toes and the council will have no choice to review all contributions and verify any claims made and come up with strategies to combat them - this can only be a good thing in the long-run as the master plan is drawn up.

If you'd like to have your say, click here: http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/city-road
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City of Melbourne wants people to share their City Road experiences

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The Victorian Government has declared today, Tuesday 25/02/14, "Super Tuesday" after the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has fast-tracked five residential projects for approval.

2000 apartments, half a billion dollars in total value and 4000 construction jobs are the numbers being touted in the Planning Minister's press release.

The projects which have been given approval are:

<a href="/buildings/eq-tower-127-abeckett-street-melbourne">127-141 A'Beckett Street</a>. 632 apartments, 63 levels, 196 metres high and a value of $132 million. This project is also known as EQ Tower, see <a href="/news/eq-tower-three-times-the-power">our report on this project</a> from last week.

<img alt="" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/pictures/article-images/Image31_0_0.jpg" style="width: 846px; height: 1714px;">

<a href="/buildings/collins-house-melbourne-460-466-collins-street-melbourne">464 Collins Street</a>. 185 apartments, 55 levels, 181 metres high and a value of $100 million. See our previous <a href="/news/the-pencil-skyscraper-464-collins-street-in-depth">planning application report</a>.

<img alt="" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/pictures/article-images/464collins.jpg" style="width: 962px; height: 810px;">

<a href="/buildings/empire-melbourne-398-elizabeth-street-melbourne">398 Elizabeth Street</a>. 466 apartments, 55 levels, 178 metres high and a value of $135 million. See our <a href="/news/planning-application-398-elizabeth-street">planning application report</a> from September last year.

<img alt="" src="http://img.acianetmedia.com/i/inh0u.png" style="width: 246px; height: 593px;">

<a href="/buildings/elm-stone-387-docklands-drive-docklands">395 Docklands Drive</a>. 360 apartments, 18 levels, 61 metres high and a value of $88 million.

<img alt="" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/project-renders/Image6_4.jpg" style="width: 700px; height: 402px;">

420 Spencer Street. 438 apartments, 38 levels, 131 metres high and a value of $70 million.

<a href="/expert-insights/buying/ramifications-of-super-tuesday">Read our follow-up piece on the ramifications of Super Tuesday.</a>

Media release in full:

<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/208994755/5-Projects-approved-dubbed-Super-Tuesday" style="text-decoration: underline;" title='View 5 Projects approved, dubbed "Super Tuesday" on Scribd'>5 Projects approved, dubbed "Super Tuesday"</a>

<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_59633" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/208994755/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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Victorian Government announces suite of "Super Tuesday" approvals

<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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