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The Sustainable Urbanist: Are helmets the only woe to Melbourne bikeshare, Matt O'Leary in RMIT Catalyst. <a href="http://www.rmitcatalyst.com/the-sustainable-urbanist-are-helmets-the-only-woe-to-melbourne-bike-share/">http://www.rmitcatalyst.com/the-sustainable-urbanist-are-helmets-the-only-woe-to-melbourne-bike-share/</a>
Bike black spot plan cut back, Adam Carey in The Age.  <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bike-blackspot-plan-cut-back-20130529-2nam8">http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bike-blackspot-plan-cut-back-20130529-2nam8.html</a>
Infrastructure tended to in surprise-less budget, Nathan Stanogias in RMIT Catalyst. <a href="http://www.rmitcatalyst.com/infrastructure-tended-to-in-surprise-less-budget/">http://www.rmitcatalyst.com/infrastructure-tended-to-in-surprise-less-budget/</a>
Victoria's Taxi revolution will cost passengers more, Amelia Harris and Matt Johnston in the Herald Sun. <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victorias-taxi-revolution-will-cost-passengers-more/story-fni0fiyv-1226652542691">http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victorias-taxi-revolution-will-cost-passengers-more/story-fni0fiyv-1226652542691</a>
Peak demand for road and rail: is that all there is? Alan Davies on Crikey's The Urbanist blog. <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/05/28/peak-demand-for-road-and-rail-is-that-all-there-is/">http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/05/28/peak-demand-for-road-and-rail-is-that-all-there-is/</a>
How walkable are Australia's largest cities? Alan Davies on Crikey's The Urbanist blog. <a href="http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/05/27/how-walkable-are-australias-largest-cities/">http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/05/27/how-walkable-are-australias-largest-cities/</a>
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Alastair Taylor

Editor's picks for good transport reads on the web 29/05/13

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Andrew Leoncelli, Director of Residential Projects at CBRE, speaking at ICD Property's ground breaking ceremony of <a href="http://youandi.net.au/" target="_blank">You &amp; I</a> said "on too few occassions do you actually sit back and celebrate milestones and today we're doing that". Indeed today marked the celebration of the next phase of ICD Property's You &amp; I apartment complex with ICD Property team members, representatives from Carr Design, Orbit Architecture and Harris HMC, purchasers and the local community all packed out the display suite at 450 Smith Street to join in.

<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_4557.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="ICD Property Managing Director Michael Mai (centre) during the ground braking ceremony"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_4557.jpg?itok=Y6vg7aax" title="ICD Property Managing Director Michael Mai (centre) during the ground braking ceremony" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Apartments.com.au was invited to the You &amp; I display suite to winess the ground breaking ceremony, and we also got our first up close and personal look at the You &amp; I model. When we first wrote about You &amp; I back on <a href="/news/you-i-enters-construction-phase#content" target="_blank">May 9</a>, 60% of the apartments had been sold and since then Andrew Leoncelli's team have now pushed that figure up to 70%.

<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_4545.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="You &amp; I model, including etched precast panels over the eastern facade"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_4545.jpg?itok=-KnNatLV" title="You &amp; I model, including etched precast panels over the eastern facade" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Today we also learned the on-site display suite will be open for a further two weeks and demolition of the existing building will be begin on June 2nd. ICD Property representatives also explained the building will have a 15 month construction timeframe with settlements scheduled for September 2014.

<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_4563.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The current building and display, soon to be demolished"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_4563.jpg?itok=rLQHb079" title="The current building and display, soon to be demolished" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Apartments.com.au will follow and report on You &amp; I's progress throughout construction. Of particular interest will be the installation of a large art panel fronting Smith and Mater. Along with a strong retail focus at ground floor and an impressive all-round design, You &amp; I is destined to impress.

You can register your interest on the <a href="http://youandi.net.au/" target="_blank">youandi.net.au</a> website, contact the sales agents directly - Andrew Leoncelli 0405 523 451 or Nathan Passas 0422 304 410 - and don't forget to have a look at You &amp; I's very own <a href="/buildings/you-and-i-450-smith-street-collingwood#content" target="_blank">project page</a> on Apartments.com.au.

This is advertiser content for ICD Property.
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You & I's ground breaking ceremony

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Australian Pacific Airports Corporation - owner of Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport  - has released its latest Master Plan draft for public viewing. The full document suite is available <a href="http://melbourneairport.com.au/About-Melbourne-Airport/Planning/Master-Plan" target="_blank">here</a>.

The highlight of which, and mentioned in mainstream media toward the end of last year, is the announcement Melbourne's 3rd runway will be a shorter arrivals-focused runway to the south of the terminal precinct running parallel to the existing 9/27 (East-West) runway.

For years Melburnians have seen in their Melway street directories the proposed 3rd and 4th runways locations, and now we have less fluid and slightly more concrete dates on when the 3rd runway will be operational - 2022 at the latest. And it was somewhat amusing to watch a report on ABC News24 2 nights ago where locals living in Gladstone Park were overall quite supportive of the project and were happy to list the benefits of the expansion.

I've always believed that Tullamarine was one of those rare examples of good planning foresight from different levels of government at the time. Thereafter successive governments have maintained strict suburban development controls to the west and north of Tullamarine, minimising complaints and maximising the airport's usefulness through its 24 hour operation - a demonstrably genuine example of a good balance between the needs for housing and and the needs for connectivity expansion over time.

Contrast that with the decades-old biff which the powers that be in Sydney have had to contend with, it's not hard to sit back and just have a smug look on your face when you read about the latest cacophony taking up valuable air time on national TV when the country knows Sydney has an infrastructure paralysis problem and time would be better spent sorting the issue out in the domestic media rather than the NSW government smearing egg all over its own face infront of us all.  

I'm not alone by the looks of things, Chris Woodruff, head honcho at Tullamarine, has even publicly gloated about <a href="http://www.afr.com/Page/Uuid/bda9d0cc-c0d3-11e2-a4e8-dad4012b432c" target="_blank">"taking the fight to Sydney and outgrowing them"</a>. <a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/policy-culture/2013/05/07/the-melbourne-versus-sydney-debate-isnt-boring-its-useful#content" target="_blank">As I've argued previously</a> - Sydney and NSW need Melbourne's growth plans and demonstrated success so they can dig themselves out of their own complacency.  

The three runway configuration as outlined in Tullamarine's masterplan is expected to increase the maximum aircraft movements per year (currently hovering around the 240,000 mark).  Terminal 2 - International has yet more scope for expansion over the next 10-20 years as seen in this image taken directly from the master plan itself.

<img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_702px" height="608" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/mel_T2_expansion.png?itok=bV-NRe93" title="Image courtesy Melbourne Airport Master Plan" width="702">

We've already seen the plans for the new dedicated <a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/forum/tullamarine-news-projects-construction#comment-501" target="_blank">Low-Coast Terminal - T4</a> thanks to forumer Fedsquared who provided renders via graphic artist Gareth Servant. Combining T3/T4 and T2 expansion together, the southward additions to the Terminal precinct and the new 3rd runway further illustrate Tullamarine's management mean business and the future is bright for attracting new international airlines as well as a domestic expansion to support a growing Melbourne.

Yet the biggest grey area in the masterplan and further confused by the recent Airport Rail Study is ground transportation access. Airport management claim via <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/six-million-people-would-use-train-to-melbourne-airport/story-fni0fiyv-1226647198690" target="_blank">this Herald Sun article</a>, they hope for 25% of all trips to/from the airport to occur via public transport and that 6 million passengers (15%) would use an airport rail service in 2022, should that link be built. Only attracting 15% of an eventual 40 million passengers to a rail service appears to be very conservative given Melbourne current receives approximately <a href="http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/Documents/tra/National%20Visitor%20Survey/2013/Travel_by_Australians_December_Quarter_2012.pdf" target="_blank">15 million domestic visitors</a> per annum (yet not all use the airport to get here) plus another <a href="http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/Documents/tra/International%20Visitor%20Survey/2013/IVS_%20December_Qtr_2012.pdf" target="_blank">1.7 million international visitors</a>.  Those figures will grow over the coming decade and so will residents using the airport to travel elsewhere.  I'd very much like to see the detail behind that prediction.

Even on the airport's own target of having 25% of all trips to/from the airport on a public transport mode, the gap (10%) between the goal (25%) and the rail-use prediction (15%) suggests it will be filled with a large bus network, presumably there to primarily serve airport employees who live direct easy, south and west of the airport.

I can't help feel my suspicions about the do-nothing Airport Rail Study was just that: a study to say do nothing - or at least make the case for a rail line dependent on a litany of other projects.  Here we have a private organisation happy to plan and put money where its mouth is and expand infrastructure to support more growth but the public sector refuses to see the wood for the trees and get rail access to the airport sooner by piggy-backing off the <a href="http://urbanmelbourne.info/transport/2013/03/27/half-of-the-melbourne-airport-rail-link-is-currently-under-construction#content" target="_blank">Regional Rail project</a>.

The smug look on my face, as you can imagine, has by now disappeared - maybe we do have a NSW-like problem after all.
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Tullamarine's Master Plan goes for more growth

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It's abundantly clear now, the urban versus suburban transport infrastructure battlelines have been drawn and an enormous wedge has been squarely placed between Alexandra Parade and Grattan Street in the inner North.
Last night's federal government budget saw the Treasurer commit the federal government to $3 billion in funding destined for later this decade and early next decade for the construction of the Melbourne Metro project and <a href="http://budget.gov.au/2013-14/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-17.htm" target="_blank">no reference</a> to the East-West Tunnel favoured by Spring Street.  The Leader of the Oppostion, Tony Abbott, has been quoted as saying a potential coalition government post September would not be funding urban public transport projects and would instead stick to funding road projects.
No matter what your political beliefs - I have mine, and you have yours - this transcends traditional Left versus Right, it's now a question of a more sustainable urban future versus entrenched auto-centric suburban growth.  The upcoming Federal election, in Victoria at least, will no doubt be fought around these two big ticket projects given the NDIS has bi-partisan support and Gonski Education reforms are not likely to stir up any political biff.
With respect to Spring Street, they have publicly stated it wants both projects to go ahead and they remain committed to both. However with the opposing nature of both last week's Victorian government budget release and the federal government's budget release, it looks like the Victorian component of the federal election campaign will be loosely fought on the same themes the Baillieu/Napthine government campaigned on in 2010.
On one hand there is scant evidence the East-West tunnel will do what the state government and the associated road lobby groups say it will do, and on the other hand there's a Melbourne Metro business case submission to Infrastructure Australia, which one would assume (and putting the politics aside for a moment) was the basis for the federal government announcing its intention to help fund the Metro Tunnel.
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/warning-on-high-tunnel-toll-20130514-2jkjj" target="_blank">The Age</a> is going hard on the state government with regards to its justification for prioritising the East-West tunnel ahead of Melbourne Metro - and I applaud it, this is absolutely the right thing to do. The Melbourne Metro project, although still requiring more planning work, has been far more transparent than the East-West link. You need only look at how the Melbourne Metro tunnel project has already begun its working life through the Federal bureacratic hoops and the Infrastructure Australia status of ready to proceed and the East-West tunnel's status at the lower level of real potential.
Most will see this as Labor versus Liberal choice, I actually see it as a question of holding onto the past and pursuing a same-same auto-centric "balance" versus looking toward to a future of actually seeing a more timely implementation of the PTV Heavy Rail plan - the plan which will bring the urban core of Melbourne closer to everyone in the metropolitan area.
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Federal Budget 2013: the urban versus suburban battlelines are drawn

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Forum member Fedsquared recently created a <a href="/news">thread in the UM forum</a> linking directly to the "'Access Docklands' - A Strategy for the Docklands Transport Network" document - it warrants much more exposure and discussion.  The strategy was devised by Places Victoria and the City of Melbourne in collaboration with <a href="http://www.urbantrans-anz.com/" target="_blank">UrbanTrans ANZ</a> and the original document can be viewed <a href="http://www.docklands.com/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&amp;blobheader=application%2Fpdf&amp;blobkey=id&amp;blobtable=MungoBlobs&amp;blobwhere=1366958913911&amp;ssbinary=true&amp;blobheadername1=Content-Type&amp;blobheadervalue1=application/pdf&amp;blobheadername2=Content-Dispostion&amp;blobheadervalue2=attachment%3B+filename%3DAccess_Docklands_Final_April2013,0.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

Cutting right to the chase, the strategy provides a long-term view of the individual projects required to position Docklands as another corridor for north-south movement through Central Melbourne.  Key projects which tie in with the long-term E-Gate redevelopment area include a new road and tram line connecting North Melbourne station with Footscray Road and several bridges across the Yarra and a new bridge at the opening to Victoria Harbour immediately East of the Bolte Bridge.

Context of the strategy: 2012-2040 growth predictions for both residents and workers  (Page 27).

<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/docklands_surrounds_growth_context.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title='Docklands &amp; environs growth context - map from Page 27 of "Access Docklands"'><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/docklands_surrounds_growth_context.jpg?itok=eP24WgNJ" title='Docklands &amp; environs growth context - map from Page 27 of "Access Docklands"' typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

Although a major focus for redevelopment for this decade, over time Docklands will look noticeably small once Fishermans Bend, E-Gate and the Arden-Macaulay precincts start turning the first sod of soil. In saying that however, Docklands, like the CBD, is at the centre of the entire region which will be redeveloped over the next 3-4 decades and the report is very strong on developing the transport infrastructure - walking, cycling, public and private transport - in Docklands to support north-south movements across the river and Victoria Harbour.

We get a glimpse of what's to come with regards to bridges across the Yarra in the walking and cycling transport infrastructure concept plans (Page 47)

<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/docklands_walk_cycle_transport.png" rel="gallery-all" title='Docklands walking &amp; cycling infrastructure - map from Page 27 of "Access Docklands"'><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/docklands_walk_cycle_transport.png?itok=ERjEsMvt" title='Docklands walking &amp; cycling infrastructure - map from Page 27 of "Access Docklands"' typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

The new bridges across the Yarra - Collins Street extension starting immediately west of the ANZ HQ, the extension of Bourke Street and at the end of the Victoria Harbour peninsula immediately east of the Bolte Bridge - all have one thing in common: they must cater for marina and large vessel traffic using the waterway.  The report states that Docklands residents, businesses and developers were consulted as part of the Access Docklands process, however there is little detail on how these bridges will work and one would assume boat owners and the developers building the marinas would have stated their access must remain.

The new Collins Street extension bridge is mooted to carry trams from Collins Street and into Fishermans Bend, and I'm looking forward to seeing a more detailed concept design.  As mentioned, the design will need to include an opening mechanism so maritime traffic can make their way up / down river and interesting questions will need to be answered with the regards to the level of service a tram or bus route on the bridge.  Sure, the bridge opening could be timetabled just like a tram can be, however this reduces the flexibility to run as many trams as possible through to Fishermans Bend.

I like out of the box thinking, and there's a great snippet on Page 48 about the procurement and operation of dedicated bus services, potentially utilising existing tram rights of way, to start operating Docklands - CBD connections.  For instance, Access Docklands provides scope for greater utilisation of Flagstaff as an interchange with Docklands - dedicated short route and high frequency bus routes could run down La Trobe Street with a terminus at the curb on the William &amp; La Trobe street intersection.

Indulging for a moment, the La Trobe Street and William Street intersection could be reconfigured to allow shorter buses to perform a U-bolt from the northern curb of La Trobe Street to the southern curb of La Trobe street utilising the space in the middle of the intersection.  Perhaps a 2 minute timer where all traffic - tram and car - is stopped and buses waiting at the northern curb are given the highest priority to turn 180 degrees to go back West along La Trobe Street.  From the southern curb outside Flagstaff station's entry, buses can move onto the westbound tram track and run on the tram lines all the way down La Trobe street and turn left to go south down Harbour Esplanade to Collins Street and then use the new tram/bus bridge through to Yarra's Edge and Fishermans Bend.  No need to widen roads for bus lanes in this case.

<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/docklands_public_transport.png" rel="gallery-all" title='Docklands public transport infrastructure - map from Page 49 of "Access Docklands"'><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/docklands_public_transport.png?itok=pZcXcgo5" title='Docklands public transport infrastructure - map from Page 49 of "Access Docklands"' typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

In the above map we get a clear picture of Places Victoria &amp; City of Melbourne's thinking with regards to new public transport infrastructure in the area.  One concept that ties directly into the redevelopment of E-Gate and eventually the Arden-Macaulay area is the new tram route utilising the current track on Harbour Esplanade and Footscray route and building a new road and tram extension across the current Melbourne yard.  Access Docklands lists this as a medium term goal and given any road connecting to North Melbourne station will be need to be elevated to connect with Abbotsford or Dryburgh Street (the rail lines are below street level), the structure to connect Footscray Road and North Melbourne station would need to be elevated for near on its entire length to traverse the still used Melbourne yard.

The objective is to make yet another interchange for Docklands in the short-medium term - North Melbourne Station.  The current Melbourne yard is a barrier and the lack of any link, when rectified, might go a long way to stimulate the northern end of MAB's Newquay and drive visitors back into the Waterfront City precinct.

So it's over to you, what are the positives and negatives that stand out from the strategy?  What do you think of the short-term goal of implementing more bus routes before larger more capital intensive tram projects come along?  What's missing?

Let the discussion begin.
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The Access Docklands transport strategy

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Firstly, thanks to everyone who's visited Apartments.com.au so far.  

We started in early March, doubled the amount of people using the site in April and 12 days into May, double the amount of people have already visited the site compared to the same time last month.

Special thanks goes directly to the industry participants who have allowed us to expand their respective project pages with more renders and directly placing their marketing material with us - it's our ongoing goal to obtain richer content about Melbourne's development scene as it enhances everyone's experience on Apartments.com.au.

To this point, we've been marketing the Apartments.com.au brand almost exclusively via social media and have recently been dabbling with some minimal Google Search and Display network advertising.  In the next few weeks we will be kick-starting a larger, more traditional, marketing campaign to get the word out that Apartments.com.au should be the first place people visit to start researching an apartment purchase, the first place to come to see what's proposed in your local area and the first place to come to discuss our urban future.

We do appreciate every effort our exisiting user base contributes have provided in getting the Apartments.com.au brand awareness out there and we ask you keep on posting comments in articles and the forum, liking posts on facebook and retweeting our tweets.

We'll also be publishing our first user survey in the next few weeks - we need to know how people are using the site and what they'd like to see improved and I'd be very greatful that as many of you fill out the survey when we publish it.

Mark, myself and Chris all volunteer our time to operate this site - and we've decided Sundays are a no-editorial content day (day jobs + UM work = long hours during the week).  We are still open to expressions of interest to anyone who would like to volunteer time and write on any range of topics - we generally pursue the following pattern:  

<ul>
<li>Mondays: Development / Any new planning application information.  </li>
	<li>Tuesdays:  Environment Sustainability and Design.  </li>
	<li>Wednesdays: Transport.  </li>
	<li>Thursdays: Policy / Cutlural topics.  </li>
	<li>Friday:  Op-Ed.  </li>
	<li>Saturdays: Visual Melbourne.  </li>
	<li>Sundays: open to anything.</li>
</ul>
You can write as frequently or infrequently as you like - the pattern above is not set in concrete, its a simply a general guide. If you have a topic you're passionate about and want to share with the Apartments.com.au community, use the <a href="/contact">Contact Us</a> form and we'll get started.  Apartments.com.au / Alamar AV Communications Pty Ltd doesn't assume any copyright over any material you provide and you're free to link to external sites with further information.       

Students, Industry participants, Academia and the community at large: all are welcome to use Apartments.com.au as a platform to expose your ideas, opinions and products.  

So again, thanks very much to everyone who has contributed to our growth thus far and we look forward to seeing much more growth and a greater diversity of content on Apartments.com.au going forward.
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A thank you & an update on our road map

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Williams Landing is the newest station to be added to the Metro network.  Costing $86 million for the station itself + track, catenary and signalling rework.  Lack of foresight with regards to including higher-density development around the station aside, it's quite a handsome station - and came with a feeder bus network from opening as well (however, as is mostly the case in the outer suburbs, the bus frequencies leave a lot to be desired).
I could go on about the futile nature of why the outer suburbs should not expect infrastructure such as this as soon as the first sod of soil on the next contribution to Melbourne's sprawling expanse is turned (that's for a future Transport Wednesday), however given the infrequency of any new public transport infrastructure being proposed let alone built, it's best not to kick an own goal.  Right? 
All photos taken by and copyright Ryan Seychell.
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Williams Landing station, a photographic overview

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<a href="http://youandi.net.au/" target="_blank">You &amp; I</a>, ICD Property's first foray into the Collingwood area is commencing construction on May 29th.

Designed by <a href="http://www.orbitsolutions.com.au/" target="_blank">Orbit Solutions</a>, interiors by <a href="http://www.carr.net.au/" target="_blank">Carr Design</a> and to be built by <a href="http://www.harrishmc.com.au/" target="_blank">Harris HMC</a>, You &amp; I will be a community built over seven levels comprising 28 one bedroom and 35 two bedroom apartments.

<img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_702px" height="485" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/ExteriorFacade02_0.jpg?itok=ifl5ExhS" title="You &amp; I - render © ICD Property" width="702">

Developer Michael Mai, Managing Director of ICD Property said, "We know You &amp; I will have great appeal to owner-occupiers and investors. It's a unique building in a vibrant area and we hope it will give its residents a real sense of community".

Every apartment comprises a balcony, there will be a roof top community garden and recreation area, secured parking as well as a generous amount of bike spaces further enhancing the appeal to residents who wish to get around town with more sustainable transport modes.

As the building is located on Smith Street, residents will have prime access to the #86 Waterfront City-Bundoora RMIT tram offering a 10 minute journey into and out of the CBD with 7-8 minute frequencies in weekday peak and 12 minute frequencies on the weekends. A short 300m walk south on Smith Street, residents will have access to the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit bus routes running on Johnston Street (200, 201, 203 and 207) offering an alternative route to the CBD or a trip out to Kew Junction or Doncaster Shoppingtown with a service frequency of 10 minutes.

You &amp; I will be adorned with three public artworks offering both shade and privacy to residents and at the same time making a statement for the new top end of Smith Street.

ICD Property have announced 60% of the apartments have been sold, so if you'd like to secure a piece of the new top end of Smith Street, register for more information on <a href="http://youandi.net.au" target="_blank">youandi.net.au</a>.

Urban.com.au has also updated our <a href="/buildings/you-and-i-450-smith-street-collingwood#content" target="_blank">project page</a> and we will of course be covering You &amp; I's construction in our <a href="/news">forum</a>.

<iframe align="middle" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="394" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0V2vJE6ikDM?rel=0" width="100%"></iframe>

This is advertiser content for ICD Property.
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You & I enters construction phase

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The Victorian Budget was released yesterday with the majority of headlines throughout the media consumed by the announcement that the proposed East-West Tunnel has been given an additional <a href="http://budget.eyemedia.com.au/CA257B16002775DE/WebObj/Infrastructure2013-14/%24File/Infrastructure2013-14.pdf">$294 million</a> to further preliminary design and procurement works. Mainstream media outlets have also questioned why the business case for such a project has not been publically released. At this point the Victorian public are still in the dark as to why nearly $300 million has been allocated to this project, even though Infrastructure Australia rates this project lower in importance than the proposed Melbourne Metro Tunnel that builds for the city's expansion rather than its congestion.

The East-West Tunnel as outlined by the government, will require partial private funding in addition to Commonwealth funding. It'll be interesting to see how the state government will incorporate private investment into what is essentially public infrastructure and which firms/conglomerates tender for the private-public partnership section (PPP) given that investors are already trying to bail from Brisbane's 3rd PPP tunnel as reported in the <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/doubts-about-traffic-forecasts-are-already-undermining-brisbanes-latest-tunnel-project-for-investors/story-fnbdkrr9-1226635576967">Courier Mail</a> yesterday. At an estimated price of between $6 to $8 billion for six kilometres of tunnel one wonders if the cast of The Great Escape could deliver a tunnel somewhat cheaper?

<img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_702px" height="346" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/THE-GREAT-ESCAPE-006.jpg?itok=boFlDhpg" width="702">

Puns aside, all eyes will be focused on Canberra for next week's Federal budget - in <a href="http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2012_coag/files/Brief_Melbourne_Metro_2012.pdf">2011-2012 Spring Street made a request for $130 million in funding</a> to do the necessary design and initial preparatory work for Melbourne Metro - is that what Wayne Swan might announce next week? Or will they attempt to lever their electoral chances by committing to help fund the actual construction of the project?

Nevertheless, large questions still remain over the East-West project. Rather than summarise what's been said by other media outlets, I'm going to just directly link to them. Updates will be posted throughout the day if any new sources become available.

<a href="http://budget.eyemedia.com.au/CA257B16002775DE/WebObj/Infrastructure2013-14/%24File/Infrastructure2013-14.pdf">Direct link to the Victorian Budget Infrastructure Investment documents.</a>

Wednesday:

UPDATE 2:30pm, 8/5/13

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/compromising-photos-treasurers-budget-quip-20130508-2j75s#ixzz2SfkqQ02t">Compromising photos: Treasurer's budget quip (Deborah Gough - The Age)</a>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-08/government-begins-budget-sell/4676304?section=vic">Government begins budget sell (ABC)</a> * Premier to be interviewed with John Faine this morning, will link to any podcast/video the ABC put on their site as it becomes available.

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/comment/voters-will-punish-those-who-dither-on-transport-20130507-2j5p1">Voters will punish those who dither on Transport (Tim Colebatch - The Age)</a>

UPDATE 10:30am, 8/5/13: In the above linked article Time Colebatch argues:

<blockquote>
If the road is built as announced, without off-ramps to the city, it will reduce traffic in the inner suburbs, not add to it. Melbourne is a spread-out, low-density city in which most traffic is driving from one suburb to another. We need freeways to improve inter-suburban access, just as we need a Metro to improve access to the city and inner suburbs.
</blockquote>

Curious, given that previous studies have shown that less than 10% of the traffic coming to the end of the Eastern Freeway actually travel on to the Tullamarine Freeway. I think Colebatch is missing something here: this new connection is about inducing more traffic to the area. What on earth is this freeway supposed to do otherwise? It's about a 2nd East-West link and the mess of Eastern Freeway/Hoddle Street is coming to Parkville/Travencore/Ascot Vale in 2020!

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wasteful-budgets-mar-state-projects-20130507-2j5v9">Wasteful budgets mar state projects (Kenneth Davidson - The Age)</a>

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/napthines-road-rules-20130507-2j62s">Napthine's road rules (Josh Gordon, Richard Willingham and Henrietta Cook - The Age)</a>

<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/pm-warned-to-back-8bn-road-project-or-face-home-city-revolt/story-e6frgczx-1226637240901">PM Warned to back $8billion project (The Australian - Paywall)</a>

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/hospitals-and-transport-infrastructure-to-get-cash-injection-in-new-state-budget/story-e6frf7jo-1226636365889">Victorians promised new toll road by 2020 (Matt Johnson - Herald Sun)</a>

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/no-new-money-for-melbourne-metro-rail-tunnel-in-the-budget/story-e6frf7jo-1226637152262">No funds for Metro Tunnel (Amelia Harris - Herald Sun - Paywall)</a>

From Tuesday:

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/your-five-minute-guide-to-the-victorian-budget/story-e6frf7kx-1226636885392">Five minute guide to the Victorian budget (Herald Sun)</a>

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/government-pins-hopes-on-road-link-20130507-2j57b">Government pins hopes on road link (The Age)</a>

<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/gain-outweighs-the-pain-20130507-2j57f">Gain outweighs the pain (The Age)</a>

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/state-government-budget-reprehensible-for-prioritising-roads-over-public-transport-yarra-mayor/story-fngnvlpt-1226636989685">State Government budget 'reprehensible' for prioritising roads over public transport: Yarra Mayor (Herald Sun)</a>

<a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/victorian-budget-a-blueprint-for-building/story-e6frgczx-1226636890071">Vic budget a 'blueprint for building' (The Australian - Paywall)</a>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-07/transport-a-winner2c-but-others-are-not-so-happy/4675638?section=vic">Transport a winner but others are not happy (ABC - with video)</a>

<a href="http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/newshome/17054613/east-west-link-is-vics-big-plan/">East West Link is Vic's big plan (7 Network - with video)</a>

<a href="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/05/07/16/04/vic-govt-commits-to-east-west-link">East West Link is Vic's big plan (9 Network - with links to video)</a>

Were you happy or disappointed with the Victorian government's priorities for this year's budget?
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Eagerly awaiting the business case for the East West tunnel

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Annie Stevens, writing in Fairfax's Daily Life, <a href="http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/the-melbourne-vs-sydney-rivalry-is-boring-20130501-2iseh" target="_blank">wrote a piece</a> last Friday (3/5/13) titled "Melbourne versus Sydney debate is boring" and went on to highlight how it's the stereotypes which fuel this debate to the point of boredom. I agree - however to come straight to my point: if we didn't have this boring and mundane debate, we'd have no competition between the cities - not a good outcome!

When cities and their respective citizens, business and political leaders become complacent, everyone loses - competition, and yes - this boring debate - actually has a dramatic effect on each city in such a way that drives both cities to improve.

Every now and again you read in The Age or Herald Sun that Melbourne's icons are smaller and low key in nature, such as our trams, laneways, the AFL, annual events and the list goes on while the stereotypes Annie Stevens was talking about seemingly take on a life of their own. The ensuing mundane nature of the debate does have one positive effect: it filters up to the respective local and state governments, leading business figures, lobby groups and people who are passionate about their city and entices them to hunker down and come up with a strategy to do better.

This in effect is what happened in Melbourne during the late 80's when there was a large exodus of human and financial capital. As a response, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_for_Melbourne" target="_blank">Committee for Melbourne</a> was formed and later the Kennett era arrived catapulting Melbourne &amp; Victoria out of the financial doldrums on the back of a strategy which focused on engaging the populace through an annual events calendar, laying the foundations for Melbourne to be in the relatively strong position it is today.

Sydney, from a not-so-one-eyed Melburnian, relies heavily on a singular brand and image relating directly to the Harbour, Opera House, Bridge and general relationship the city has with the water - it's the iconography we see in <a href="http://www.sydney.com/" target="_blank">tourism ads</a>, <a href="http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/invest-in-nsw" target="_blank">business investment ads</a> and <a href="http://www.vividsydney.com/" target="_blank">cultural event ads</a>. One thing however Sydney appears to be adamant in doing is building that next icon on par with the Sydney Opera house - you only have to type "Barangaroo Sydney new icon" in google to come up with pieces such as this on <a href="http://designbuildsource.com.au/sydneys-new-icon-barangaroo" target="_blank">designbuildsource.com.au</a>.

<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/they-may-as-well-be-in-dubai-architect-20130505-2j1cc" target="_blank">They're going to struggle to do so</a>.

Melbourne, obviously, is on a different path - one that focuses on real city life aspects of living, working and playing in cities because it's the sum of the whole that matters. Easily branded and packaged iconography and landmarks are great, but what does that tell us about the people who live there? You'd be forgiven for thinking everyone is materialistic, vein and siloed into a tribal culture where everyone fights over their patch of dirt for that view of the Harbour in Sydney.

Not everyone north of the Murray is like this - there are just as many passionate grass-roots ideas people who don't get sucked in to the marketing-speak nor fit into this stereotypical category, but it's hard not to fall for the stereotype: as many people in Sydney do actively embrace it as part of differentiating themselves - how many times have you heard political or business leaders or one-eyed fanboys proclaim at the top of their lungs that Sydney is "Australia's only global city"?

Holding Sydney back is the lack of development space to enlarge its core inner area and a policy of decentralisation of jobs over the decades into robust urban nodes such as Chatswood &amp; Parramatta will now challenge central Sydney's metropolitan dominance for knowledge jobs going forward. Will this be to the detriment of central Sydney in the long run? Time will tell.

Looking to other large global cities such as Paris, London and New York, you'll note despite those 3 cities dominating in various political, economic, cultural or a combination of all three spheres in their respective countries (we don't have a single dominant city in those spheres in Australia), they have incredibly substantial urban hearts - far larger than anything we have in Australia. Who knows much about Paris outside the Périphérique, the 20 Arrondissements &amp; La Défence? What about beyond the circle line &amp; Canary Wharf in London? Where's the first place you visit when travelling to New York? (Manhattan of course!). If we're looking at those 3 cities through a prism of what makes them great and where the attractions, knowledge jobs and cultural icons of these cities are, it's their urban hearts, not decentralised peripheries.

With the westward expansion of Melbourne's sprawlbelt beyond Sunshine &amp; Werribee, so too does the westward march of our urban heart go henceforth. The Napthine government &amp; in particular Planning Minister Matthew Guy have made it clear they want to build a state of cities, and are actively considering the concept of a 20 minute city - 20 minutes to everywhere from your place of residence.

Policy implementation issues aside, it's an admirable goal and we only have to look north to New South Wales to see how effective decentralisation can be, however above all of this, the Napthine state government like the previous government recognise that Melbourne must continue to grow from within its core as well.

This has just been backed up by a <a href="http://grattan.edu.au/publications/reports/post/productive-cities-opportunity-in-a-changing-economy/" target="_blank">Grattan Institute report</a> on creating spaces for people to live closer to their jobs, not mass-subsidising business to decentralise closer to its workforce.

And we are best placed to do it in Australia.

It all started with Southbank, progressed to Docklands and we have Fishermans Bend and E-Gate to come. Furthermore the current and previous state governments have been murmuring about the long-term viability of the Port of Melbourne in its present location.

Fishermans Bend will start enroaching Port of Melbourne, placing further pressure of the area to be redeveloped and policy discussion surrounding decentralising sea freight movements to Hastings and near Avalon appear to be all about creating, by my estimation, a century's worth of land, right in the inner core for mass-redevelopment should the entire port be moved elsewhere.

Using the following as a boundary of the urban core of Melbourne in 2100 once the Port of Melbourne has completely moved elsewhere...

<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=217188856257789802703.0004dc0a66f010077702b&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=-37.8249,144.937821&amp;spn=0.048949,0.082225&amp;output=embed" width="100%"></iframe> <a href="https://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=217188856257789802703.0004dc0a66f010077702b&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=-37.8249,144.937821&amp;spn=0.048949,0.082225&amp;source=embed">View Melbourne 2100 in a larger map</a>.

...we're looking at a space about 75% of the size of central Paris (inside the <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Paris&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;sll=-37.834598,144.953442&amp;sspn=0.117273,0.264187&amp;hnear=Paris,+%C3%8Ele-de-France,+France&amp;t=m&amp;z=13" target="_blank">Périphérique</a> - the circular road around inner Paris). I'm not saying we should attempt to mimic cities like Paris (although some local academics think we should), London or New York in their entirety - we should forge our own look and feel with a diversity in building use - including building height , strong integration with the waterfronts downstream on the Yarra &amp; Maribyrnong rivers and an even stronger focus on building new public transport corridors to support high density growth in this area.

The combined Fishermans Bend, E-Gate &amp; remaining Port of Melbourne area represents an opportunity to expand Melbourne's core 3-4 times larger than what it currently is, and this is what's useful in the Melbourne versus Sydney debate: it's an enormous, real, threat to Sydney's current primacy. If Sydney doesn't step up to the plate and offer something similar, the powers that be on Macquarie Street will be sitting by for the next 50-100 years watching as central Melbourne grows larger, more diverse and attracts more <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/national/keep-knowledge-jobs-in-the-cbd-report-20130505-2j1b9" target="_blank">creative &amp; knowledge industry jobs</a> because that's where they're best located - in a dense central urban area where human interaction and knowledge transfer is at its greatest.

The stereotypical Melbourne versus Sydney debate is extremely useful, for the simple fact it drives both cities to compete for talent, grow bigger, grander and attract people not only from interstate, but overseas. Yes much of it is mundane and boring, however with Business lobbies reacting in the way they have in <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/gws-event/barry-ofarrells-head-in-sand-on-second-airport/story-fni0ggqp-1226626206587" target="_blank">articles quoting NSW Premier Barry O'Farrel </a>where he said Avalon is no 2nd airport for Melbourne, it's Geelong's airport prove that the debate goes way beyond some of the immature and cringe-worthy one-liners that get thrown around most of the time.

New South Wales might have a Jeff Kennett moment soon - Kennett moment in the sense that boosterism from leadership spurs more of the populace to work together to project an image of how they want their city to be in future. It will be good for Sydney and good for Melbourne - as, like in the past 178 years of Melbourne's existence, it will generate a competitive response.

Our relationship with Sydney is more symbiotic than either city dominating the other, and it's not likely to change any time soon as Melbourne has just too many competitive advantages especially in the inner and outer land supply, a well rounded infrastructure pipeline and a national-leading population growth record.

How's the catch cry go? It won't happen overnight, but it will happen? Melbourne's icon is the city itself; our icons are our people who recognise differentiating ourselves drives more and more people to be a part of the equation. We have an enormous opportunity to build ourselves to be a large global city like Paris or London over the next century. Searching for that architect and development site to build our own picture-perfect narrow brand and image is the wrong choice for Melbourne - cities are organic, evolving beasts (just look at London building skyscrapers right in the heart of the ancient city), you should never set the bar so high it becomes near impossible to reach it again.
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The Melbourne versus Sydney debate isn't boring: it's useful

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

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The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

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The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

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Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

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Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

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Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

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Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

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The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

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The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Alastair Taylor

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