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Credit Union Australia will maintain interest rate discounts for eligible home loan customers after being found of misleading advertising by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
CUA's advertisements for its 'Rate Breaker' home loan package promoted a 1% discount off the average standard variable interest rates advertised by the big four banks.
But the ill-displayed terms and conditions enabled CUA to change the 1% discount at any time and stipulated that the interest rate could not fall below a minimum rate of 3% per annum.
CUA will ensure all consumers who entered into a Rate Breaker Package loan up to August 31 will, for the duration of their loans, receive a discount of no less than 1% off the average of the variable interest rates advertised by the big four banks, unless it is below 0%.
ASIC Deputy Chairman Peter Kell says taking out a home loan is one of the biggest commitments a person or family could make.
“Consumers should be able to trust the promises and information provided in the marketing of home loans,” Kell says.
“ASIC expects that financial services firms will provide clear and accurate information to consumers in their advertising, and we will act when those expectations are not met.”
The advertisements featured on television, in cinemas, the CUA website, and on public transport in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
CUT has to sufficiently highlight both the 3% per annum minimum interest rate and its ability to change the 1% discount rate in all future advertising of the Rate Breaker Package and it will notify existing Rate Breaker Package customers of its undertaking to honour the 1% interest rate discount by 30 September 2013.
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Lengthy mortgage windfall for select CUA customers after ASIC investigation

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All dominant regional property markets in South Australia are at the bottom of the house and unit property cycle according to Herron Todd White’s latest monthly report.
Southwest WA is at the start of a recovery while Alice Springs houses is in a declining market. Units in Alice springs though are a rising market.
In its capital city analysis Adelaide is at the Bottom of the cycle, Perth is at the peak and Darwin is rising.
<table style="width: 470px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="154">
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col span="2" width="234">
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="25">
<td height="25" width="622" colspan="3">Stage of property cycles in regional VIC/TAS</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Region</td>
<td>Houses</td>
<td>Units</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Adelaide</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Adelaide hills</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Barossa Valley</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Iron Triangle</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Mount Gambier</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Riverland</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Alice Springs</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Darwin</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Southwest WA</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Perth</td>
<td>Peak of market</td>
<td>Peak of market</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Source: Herron Todd White
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Investors advised Alice Springs house market is in decline, but units are rising: Herron Todd White

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In Queensland nine of the 14 dominant regional property markets are at or near the bottom of the market according to Herron Todd White’s latest monthly report.
Just Emerald, Gladstone and Gold Coast are in a declining market.
All other regional housing markets in Queensland are between the start of a recovery and a rising market.
The trend applies to units and houses.
In its capital city analysis the Brisbane house and unit markets were at the start of a recovery.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width: 470px;">
<colgroup>
<col width="154">
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col width="234" span="2">
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="25">
<td colspan="3" width="622" height="25">Stage of property cycles in regional Queensland</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Region</td>
<td>Houses</td>
<td>Units</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Cairns</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Townsville</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Whitsunday</td>
<td>Bottom of market - rising market</td>
<td>Bottom of market - rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Mackay</td>
<td>Bottom of market - rising market</td>
<td>Bottom of market - rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Rockhampton</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Emerald</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Gladstone</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Bundaberg</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Hervey Bay</td>
<td>Start of recovery - bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Sunshine Coast</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Brisbane</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Goldcoast</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Ipswich</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Toowoomba</td>
<td>Start of recovery - bottom of market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Source: Herron Todd White
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Queensland regional markets at bottom of property cycle: Herron Todd White

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In Victoria, five of the 9 dominant regional property markets are at the bottom of the property cycle, according to Herron Todd White’s latest monthly report.
They include Mildura and Shepparton.
Bendigo and Echuca are in a rising market while Melbourne is at the start of a recovery.
For units Echuca is at the start of a recovery while most others are the bottom of the market.
In the capital city analysis Melbourne was between the bottom of the market and a recovery while Hobart was in a declining market.
All regions in Tasmania are in a declining market.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width: 470px;">
<colgroup>
<col width="154">
<col>
<col width="234" span="2">
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="25">
<td colspan="3" width="622" height="25">Stage of property cycles in regional VIC/TAS</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Region</td>
<td>Houses</td>
<td>Units</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Bendigo</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Echuca</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Ballarat</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Gippsland</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Melbourne</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
<td>Start of recovery - bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Mildura</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Shepparton</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Latrobe Valley</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Wodonga</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Burnle/Davenport</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Hobart</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Launceston</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Source: Herron Todd White
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Mildura and Shepparton among the half of regional Victorian property markets at bottom of price cycle: HTW

<html><body>
Albury is one of the five NSW regional housing markets still at the bottom of the property cycle, according to Herron Todd White’s latest monthly report.
The four other regional locations at the bottom of the cycle are – Central Coast, Tweed Coast, Wollongong and Coffs Harbour.
Wagga Wagga and Canberra/Queanbeyan are listed as the areas in a declining market.
Orange and Tamworth are both at the peak of their cycle for houses and units.
For units, Griffith is at the start of recovery as well as Newcastle.
The house and unit markets in Sydney were considered to be rising.
<table style="width: 470px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col width="154">
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col width="234">
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col width="213">
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="25">
<td height="25" width="601" colspan="3">Stage of property cycles in regional NSW</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Region</td>
<td>Houses</td>
<td>Units</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Albury</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Bathurst</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Canberra/Queanbeyan</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Central Coast</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Dubbo</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Griffith</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Mudgee</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Newcastle</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
<td>Start of recovery</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Orange</td>
<td>Peak of market</td>
<td>Peak of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Sydney</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
<td>Rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Tamworth</td>
<td>Peak of market</td>
<td>Peak of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Tweed Coast</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Wagga Wagga</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
<td>Declining market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Wollongong</td>
<td>Bottom of market - rising market</td>
<td>Bottom of market - rising market</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Coffs Harbour</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
<td>Bottom of market</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
 
Source: Herron Todd White
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Investors advised Albury one of five regional NSW markets at bottom of property cycle: Herron Todd White

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The Perth property market is at the peak of its property cycle with house sales declining, according to Herron Todd White’s latest report.
And unit sales are still increasing but the rental vacancy for units is now steady, compared to a severe shortage for Perth houses.
In Sydney new unit sales are now frequently selling for above their potential resale value, though demand for new units and the volume of unit sales have dropped down slightly.
And there is now a shortage of rental houses compared to demand in Sydney.
In Melbourne, Herron Todd White’s assessment remains the same as last month – it’s at the bottom of the property cycle at the start of recovery, though new units are frequently selling for above their potential resale value.
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2013/08/htw-aug-21-graph-1-big.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2013/08/htw-aug-21-graph-1-small.gif"></a>
Click to enlarge
<a rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2013/08/htw-aug-21-graph-2-big.gif" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2013/08/htw-aug-21-graph-2-small.gif"></a>
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Perth at peak, Melbourne at bottom of property cycle: Herron Todd White

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Saul Eslake, chief economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch says any potential property recovery in Australia will be led by investors buying established homes, pushing prices up.
He says first-home buyers face too many hurdles to enter the market meaning the recovery will be led investors – who typically buy established homes rather than newly built properties.
"An investor-driven recovery is much more likely to put upward pressure on prices and is less likely to induce new dwelling supply, which is the opposite of what the Reserve Bank wants, and what the country needs," Saul Eslake, chief economist of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"If [this] is right then I think that would be a very regrettable development from a social point of view."
It echoes comments by columnist Robert Gottliebsen, who predicts there will be a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/robert-gottliebsen-forecasts-mother-of-all-dwelling-booms-driven-by-property-investors/2013081864307?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=news">“mother of all dwelling booms”</a> led by property investors.
"Australians are going to rush for bricks and mortar," he wrote on Business Spectator, saying the boom will come from three reasons.
"First is a dramatic push to lift the demand for dwellings by banks offering cut mortgage rates thanks to Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens.
"But second, and just as importantly, there is reluctance by banks to fund new supply.
"In any commodity if you inflate demand and squeeze supply, prices go through the roof.
"Thirdly taxpayers will subsidise the boom via a massive increase in the use of negative gearing via both personal and superannuation tax breaks.
"Longer term, that will damage the economy and the Reserve Bank will have to take responsibility for pulling the price boom trigger.”
 
<hr>
CORRECTION: This article has been updated since initial publication. Saul Eslake tipped a property "recovery" as compared to the initial report of him tipping a property "boom".
 
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Property recovery to be led by investors: Saul Eslake

<html><body>
Director of property advisory group Chan &amp; Naylor Ken Raiss has called for a rate increase by the Reserve Bank of Australia in what he calls a dose of tough medicine.
He has dismissed recent rate cuts by the RBA saying they are sugar fixes trying to stimulate near term future growth.
“While approximately 35% of home owners have a mortgage and therefore may have an excuse to briefly celebrate, the flow on benefits of an interest rate cut are futile for business lending, job creation or for older Australians in particular who rely on income derived from savings,” said Mr. Raiss.
He says a gloomy forecast of 2.2% economic growth and a 6.7% 2014-15 unemployment rate by the National Australian Bank shows the economy is unwell and needs some healing.
“Now that Australia’s economic well-being has been laid bare, any further saccharine fuelled rate changes will do more harm than good, as it hides the real world of a sick economy,” Raiss says.
He says a near-future rate rise may seem anathema to many but combined with economic reform it may be the "tough medicine" required to restore the country to pre-2007 levels.
“The new Government must cease abrogating monetary policy to Treasury,” Raiss says.
“Whilst some tough tax related questions now need to be asked, we also need to focus on restoring the health to the vital organs of a functioning economy, namely employment, growth and sustainability.
“A future rate rise may make borrowing more expensive, but enlightened homeowners that have jobs will be happy to pay this slight impost, as will those who depend on their income and living standards from higher interest rates.”
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Chan & Naylor calls for RBA rate rise tough medicine

<html><body>
Negative gearing will not be addressed by either a Labor or a Liberal government in the near future, Labor senator Doug Cameron has told Triple J’s youth programme Hack.
“Negative gearing is a huge issue that is raised with me continually. The government at this time has said that we’re not going to deal with negative gearing,” he told Hack recently.
“But there are a range of issues that we will have to look at and maybe negative gearing will have to come into that mix in the future. But zoning, infrastructure costs, excessive regulation, outdated planning policies, and transaction taxes, as well as negative gearing – these are all issues that we will have to look at.”
Liberal senator Marise Payne, also on the <a href="https://soundcloud.com/triple-j-hack/hack-wed-14-august">election housing special</a> of Hack said they won’t be touching it either.
“We don’t have that in contemplation at the moment. But I think that some of the issues which increase the challenge for purchasing for young people in particular are exacerbated by the lack of land that is released for construction,” Payne said.
“That not only pushes up prices but increases the housing shortage. While those land releases policies are often dealt through the state and local governments it doesn’t stop the commonwealth government from assisting where that is a problem.”
Meanwhile Joel Pringle from Australians for Affordable Housing told Tony Eastley on Radio National that negative gearing fails to deliver new housing.
“What we know is that negative gearing as it currently stands is a failed policy. It doesn’t deliver new housing. Over 90% of negatively geared properties are actually existing housing stock,” he said on Thursday.
“So it’s not lowering rents in the way it’s meant to be. So we know it’s failing to deliver on its aim.”
Meanwhile economist Saul Eslake has told The Border Mail he believes negative gearing should be abolished as keeps prospective home buyers out of the market.
“It has not been an effective instrument for increasing the supply of housing, which would be a legitimate policy objective,” he said.
“Negatively geared investors enjoy tax breaks, which, of course, are funded by higher taxes on the rest of us indirectly, in order to compete with would-be owner-occupiers to drive up the price of established housing.
“It is hard to think of anything that would do more to make it easier for people, especially young people who want to buy their own property, than to abolish negative gearing.”
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Negative gearing a non-debatable topic for both parties

<html><body>
Chris Gray has the latest Residex figures on his property show tonight.
Purchase or Pass airs on the Business Channel at 6.30pm.
Tune in or check the Property Observer website for Purchase or Pass updates.
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ChrisGrayEmpire"><img alt="chrisgraytweet-aug-16-one" height="185" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/chrisgraytweet-aug-16-one.jpg"></a> 
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Chris Gray has latest Residex figures

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Alistair Walsh

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