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The purchasers of Cubbie Station have spent $20 million on a cotton ginnery in South Queensland.
The Chinese and Japanese group bought the Dirranbandi ginnery from Singaporean group Olam International, according to The Australian Financial Review.
CS Agriculture are backed by Shandong Ruyi and Australian wool trader Lempriere Group.
CS Agriculture say they do not plan to cut out local producers from sharing the ginnery’s capacity.
Olam obtained the ginnery as part of its 2007 purchase of the Queensland Cotton business for $166 million.
The CS Agriculture deal comes after discussions of a joint-venture between Olam and CS Agriculture stalled earlier this year. CS Agriculture obtained development approval to build its own ginnery at Cubbie Station before returning to negotiations.
Cotton gins separate cotton fibres from their seeds.
The purchase is part of the station’s vertical integrations strategy.
Cubbie station is Australia’s largest cotton farm which <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/cubbie-station-officially-sold/2012101257136" target="_blank">sold in October last year.</a>
In April Qiu Yafu, who headed the Cubbie Station cotton acquisition, bought the Sydney waterfront property known as the <a href="/news">Bang &amp; Olufsen house for around $34 million.</a>
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Cubbie Station owners buy another Queensland cotton plant

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Westpac chief Bill Evans anticipates a continuing stop-start recovery for the housing market.
He says house prices have only just returned their 2010 peaks as income levels increased 10% and says further recovery will be uneven.
"We expect Australia's housing recovery to continue to be a 'stop-start' and uneven one," Evans says in a weekly update.
“There are headwinds that are yet to fully impact with some markets facing increases in new dwelling supply (VIC, WA) and the mining downturn to play through fully to housing (WA, QLD).” 
He says the housing market has experienced a diverse performance best illustrated by changes in six month annualised price increases compared to three months ago - Sydney prices are up by 14.7% compared to 8.2% in July, Melbourne is up 4.5% v 5.1% in July; Perth is up 6.8% v 10.5%; Brisbane is up 1.7% v 1.2%; and Adelaide is up 0.2% v 2.4%.
Westpac expects households will be more restrained with their balance sheets with a reluctance to increase debt.
And they will be more cautious about job security which would impact first home buyers and upgraders.
On Friday the RBA will release its monetary statement policy which will give an indication of its economic forecast.
Evans says if the RBA maintains its forecast of 2.5% GDP growth for the year to June 2014 it will effectively be confirming it expects growth in the first half of 2014 to be stuck at a below trend annual pace of 2.5%.
And if the RBA maintains its expectations of 2.5% to 3.5% growth for the year to December 2014 it will effectively be forecasting a lift in growth pace in the second half of 2014 to a 3.6% annualised pace.
“That is a big call – the growth pace lifting from a 2.5% annualised pace in the first half of 2014 to a 3.6% annualised pace in the second half,” Evans says.
“Our forecast is for a more reasonable 3% annualised pace in the second half of next year. Nevertheless we expect the Bank will maintain a somewhat upbeat outlook.”
Westpac expects the RBA to maintain its view that the economy is growing at sub-trend pace and will continue to do so to mid-2014.
“We expect that over the course of the next few months it will have to temper that bullish view on the second half of 2014 and see the need for more policy support to arrest the current sub trend growth momentum,” Evans says.
Westpac is more than confident the RBA will keep rates unchanged.
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Westpac's Bill Evans predicts stop-start housing recovery

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Buying in regional areas can allow investors with a lower budget to start building a property portfolio, according to Buyers agent Cate Bakos from Empower Wealth.
Bakos spoke to Property Observer as part of the How the Experts Buy series.
{qtube vid:=8nk6V7bXj_w&amp;feature=youtu.be}
Bakos says buying in the right areas of Ballarat can give buyers capital growth of 6% to 7%.
The key is understanding what the residents of regional towns are really after.
Whereas buyers in cities might look towards easy access to public transport as a prime indicator of value, those in regional areas put less of an emphasis on this.
Bakos tells buyers to look for established houses in the inner suburbs of Ballarat which are well insulated and on larger plots of land close to major employers.
Areas like Mount Clear and Mount Helen are close to the University of Ballarat, IBM, and goverment services like the Australian Tax Office and the emergency services.
Depending on the property some investors would do well to gear their property towards sharehouses for contractors.
She says many residents of Ballarat actually commute to Melbourne and are looking for larger more luxurious properties than they can afford in Melbourne.
She says yields in Ballarat are around 5.5% to 6.5%. Properties between $200,000 to $240,000 can have rental yields above 6% and properties between $240,000 to $280,000 yield around 5.8%.
Cate was recently awarded the Buyers Agent of the Year award by Your Property Investment magazine.
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Cate Bakos on investing in Ballarat and regional areas: How the experts buy 

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Locksmithing is an art shrouded in secrecy for many investors. We spoke to Justin Fankhauser from TopLock to try and unlock the secrets of home security.
Property Observer is starting a weekly Day in the Life series to have a closer look at some of the people who deal with real estate every day and see what lessons there are for property investors.
{qtube vid:=1f3CHUJANaE&amp;feature=youtu.be} 
Most of his jobs are taken up by rekeying jobs – people want to change the key to the property but don’t want to switch the full locks out.
He says this is especially important when moving into a new property, you never know who else might have keys. It’s a quick job but it gives tenants and owners a sense of security.
Justin says a lot of private landlords don’t realise they should be doing this and most of those jobs come from professional property managers.
Even off-the-plan properties should be rekeyed before anyone moves in. In big apartment developments master keys are given to all contractors while they work on the building. That means when you move in any number of people could have a master key to your property so it’s important to rekey.
A lot of renovators are putting internal locks on bedroom and bathroom doors to give their tenants more privacy. It’s a simple thing that tenants really appreciate.
Insurance premiums go down when there are deadlocks installed on all external doors and window locks on all the windows.
They also go down further when alarm systems or camera systems are installed.
 
This is the day (and the night) in the life of a locksmith.
8am: Justin arrives at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.toplock.net.au/">Toplock </a>factory in Northcote to start the day. He's on night shift as well today so he'll be working through the night. His dispatcher is already at work and has a full list of jobs ready for him and the growing team of locksmiths.
8.10am: Justin leaves for his first job. It’s a house in Coburg. It’s not too far and Justin makes good time.
8.40am: Justin arrives at the house and talks to the owner. The owner’s husband lost his wallet with a spare key hidden inside last week. His address was written on his drivers license and the owner thought she heard someone trying to open the back door last night. It’s a simple rekeying job.
9:00am: Rekeying is a quick job so he’s done in 20 minutes. He invoices the owner and heads back to the car to get his next job. It’s an industrial office out in Keilor East.
9:30am: Justin arrives at the office. He has a quick chat and gets started. The new tenants want to put locks on the three internal office doors. He switches out the old knobs with new keyed knobs. He boxes up the old ones so they can be reused if need be. Some of the doors weren’t quite latching properly but a quick bit of chisel work clears it up.
10:00am: He invoices the client and heads back to his office.
10:30am: Justin has a lot of administration to do. With the recent expansion of his business he spends more and more time running the administrative side of the business while his team of locksmiths run all around Melbourne.
2.30pm: He’s finished his administrative work and it’s time to hit the road again. He has a call out to a renovator in Brunswick who needs some work done.
2.45pm: It’s an old terrace being refurbished and the owners want internal locks put on all the bedroom and bathrooms. Tenants like it especially if they’re sharing a house. It gives them some extra privacy.
4.00pm: The whole house now has locks. It took a while to resit some of the doors and get them latching properly. He heads back to his car to get his next job. A nearby real estate agent wants the locks rekeyed for a new tenant.
4.20pm: He arrives at the Carlton house to rekey the front and back door. It’s a quick job for Justin.
4.40pm: He gives the new keys over to the agent and heads back to the office to prepare for the night shift.
7:00pm: Justin’s rested and eaten and ready to start the night shift. Once a week someone has to take the night shift and be prepared for all sorts of jobs.
9:00pm: The first night job comes early. It’s a call from Richmond where someone has locked themselves out. He heads over to let the tenants back in on a rainy night.
9.20pm: The traffic isn’t so bad at this time of night so Justin gets there quickly. He lets the tenant back in using a pick gun and heads back to the office.
11:00pm: Another call from someone locked out in Collingwood.
11:15pm: They’re drunk but nice. He lets them in with the pick gun again. All documentation is completed and ID is sighted to make sure it’s the right person.
2:00am: No one calls until 2am. He wakes up to take the call. Someone gets a quote, decides they don’t want the job and don’t take the job.
3:00am: He gets another call. The person is calling from a public phone box and needs to be let back in. They have bars on their windows so they couldn’t smash it.
3:00am: He lets them back in with the pick gun again and heads off.
7:30am: The night shift ends with no other call outs and Justin is free to go home and sleep.
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A day in the life of a locksmith - unlocking security secrets

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The Victorian Supreme Court has jailed a lawyer for five years for selling a home that wasn’t his to fictitious identities to repeatedly claim the first home owners grant.
Anthony Robert Coleman, 47, pleaded guilty to theft, having a deficiency in a trust account and 12 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception, Ninemsn reports.
When his client Eric Smith died in 2002 he pocketed $32,000 from the estate intended for charity and then sold Smith’s Brunswick West unit to the non-existent Pat Bateman, the name of the protagonist in American Psycho, played by Christian Bale in the 2000 film adaptation.
Coleman claimed the first home owners grant for Bateman. He then transferred the unit to a real client, Kaylene Nugent, without her knowledge.
He then transferred the unit to the fictitious Craig Young and then Max Power, a name used by Homer Simpson in in episode ‘Homer to the Max’.
In that episode, a television show called Police Cops also has a hero named Homer Simpson. Initially Homer is happy with coincidence until the character is changed from a hero to a bumbling idiot. After suffering taunts he changes his name to “Max Power”, gaining new friends.
Coleman finally sold the property to a genuine buyer for $214,000. He kept the money.
Coleman also avoided paying stamp duty on a Point Cook property after selling it to false identity Kylie Ann Moore.
A psychological report found Coleman admired some of his criminal clients for their lavish lifestyles and the attention they received from women, Ninemsn reports.
In total he earned $327,000 for his deceptions and was ordered to pay $309,000 in compensation to Smith’s estate.
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Homer Simpson lawyer jailed for five years for first home owners rort

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A Sydney dance teacher awaiting trial on 63 sex abuse charges is suing the landlord of his former dance school premises for the cost of the bond and legal fees.
Grant Davies, who is on remand on charges from 10 former students, is seeking $21,000 from Sasona Pty Ltd, which owned the Chiswick studio where he and his sister Rebecca Davies operated the school, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Davies says the landlord changed the locks and refused to return the rental bond after the siblings closed the school in the weeks following Davies’ May arrest.
But the landlord is reportedly countersuing for more than $50,000, saying they need $25,000 remove alterations made without permission and $30,000 in other costs.
The case goes to court next month. Davies will also be back in court to face allegations of a decade of abuse.
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Alleged sex abuser sues former landlord for bond

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Perth’s Fremantle Council has shortlisted three architects to design a $45 million development that forms part of its $220 million Kings Square Project.
The shortlisted architects are Fremantle based firms CODA and Kerry Hill Architects and Melbourne-based McBridge Charles Ryan.
The final winner will be announced in mid December.
“Quality sustainable development is what Fremantle needs and this competition, judged by an independent expert panel, will go a long way to ensuring the development we build today becomes the heritage that future generations can be extremely proud of,” Mayor Brad Pettitt says.
The three were picked from an initial list of 53 and will be given a $20,000 honorarium.
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Fremantle council shortlists three architects for $45m development

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Mackay investors may start a class action law suit against the council for levying higher rates against property investors.
A protest group headed by investors Ayril Paton and Peter Crossan have petitioned against the council’s move to increase rates by $200 to $500 a year for investor properties.
There is reportedly more than $20,000 in a trust fund ready to bankroll a possible law suit.
“We're waiting to try and raise enough funds before we take the (Mackay) council on,” Crossan told the Central Telegraph.
“We delivered about 1200 objections to the council about a month ago and they said they couldn't change the budget for this year and it was a fair chance they wouldn't change it for the next year.
“If we're successful I'm sure it will flow onto other councils. By doing this it will probably set a precedent.”
It reports 12 councils have adopted the new rates policy, including the Central Highlands council which raised $1.2 million from the levy in one year.
Crossan says any legal challenge would be based on Xstrata's win against the former Bowen council, in which a judge ruled the miner had been rated as a multi-billion dollar entity and not on its true land value.
Mackay council have imposed the new rates system on about 10,000 properties.
Harcourts principal and property owner Mandy Hall previously told the paper it would deter people from investing in the region.
“We should be trying to encourage people to buy in our region, not discourage them," she said. "Their timing is poor, with the market the way it is at the moment and landlords are achieving less rent than they have achieved in years.”
 
Rents in <a href="/news">Mackay</a> have reportedly dropped between $50 and $100 over the past six months.
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Mackay investors gear up for council rates legal challenge

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There is not enough stock coming to market in Sydney and Melbourne, pushing prices up into what some are calling a possible bubble, according to Charles Tarbey, the chairman of Century 21 Australia and New Zealand.
Prices are being pushed up by low interest rates, higher buyer interest and strong foreign investment but there is 17% less stock on market than last year, Tarbey says.
“We’re not getting the amount of stock that we need to meet the demand which is pushing prices up in certain areas and some might say to a bubble status and there are areas where are people paying probably a little bit more than they should,” Tarbey told Property Observer.
“But if the market keeps riding along then they’re going to be covered.”
He says part of the reason stock is so low is because owner occupiers are hesitant to buy something to replace their sold property, given the lack of choice.
He says some people are paying well over the odds but that they’re not too worried about it.
“The word bubble has been used so many times over the last few years. There have been plenty of people screaming out about it. People are probably trying to sell books on the back of it.” Tarbey says.
“The reality is if you’re going to have some competition, and you are getting that in selected suburbs where there is the absolute minimum of stock for sale, you will get people bidding more.
“You will see people paying $100,000, $200,000 over the reserve price and it doesn’t seem to bother people too much.”
The high prices are pushing some buyers into regional areas, but Tarbey advises investors to try and buy something in metropolitan regions.
“The biggest mistake most people make is in their first investment is they look for something they like, rather than something they can afford.
“It’s not bad to go out into the suburbs, into some of the areas you think are not so great.
“There’s suburbs which you might not have even thought of investing in which have now become very strong owner occupier areas and people are modernising their homes. And those areas will increase in price.”    
Transcript  
We’ve been tracking the market place since January last year on four key areas – auctions stats, listing numbers coming into the market place, property in terms of the rental increases and movement and vacancy rates.
Both Sydney and Melbourne have been the star performers, more so Sydney. It’s had a high clearance rate for a number of weeks now, in the 70s and touching into the 80s. And the same with Melbourne. Melbourne hit 74% last week and Sydney hit 79.1%. The clearance rates are pretty strong when you look at them market and that happened before spring started.
There’s no definition in terms of what the market’s like in whether its spring or winter it’s whatever you can get on the market for sale now. If it’s good there are buyers there for it and that’ the real key issue. It’s the shortage of property for sale.
The number that we have on properties coming in. We’ve only had three weeks in a row now with increases going back. Three weeks ago it was plus 0.96% over the week before and the week after that was 2.15% and last week was only a mild increase of 0.48%. So we’re not getting the amount of stock that we need to meet the demand which is pushing prices up in certain areas and some might say to a bubble status and there are areas where are people paying probably a little bit more than they should. But if the market keeps riding along then they’re going to be covered.
Why aren’t more properties coming to market if it’s doing so well?
A lot of sellers have the same issue, when they sell they have to buy. And if there’s nothing on the market for you to buy you’re not going to list your property for sale. Over this time last year we’re now down something like 17% plus on the amount of stock on market from this time last year. So it’s even worse: you have lower interest rates, a higher buyer interest in the market, Chinese investment being very strong but we have 17% less stock.
The word bubble has been used so many times over the last few years. There have been plenty of people screaming out about it. People are probably trying to sell books on the back of it if you look at the conversation that is being had.
The reality is if you’re going to have some competition and you are getting that in selected suburbs where there is the absolute minimum of stock for sale you will get people bidding more. You will see people paying $100,000, $200,000 over the reserve price. And it doesn’t seem to bother people too much.
Mostly when you look at the market place out there now and particular in those selected suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, many of the first home buyers which we would traditionally be sending out into the suburbs to buy their first home are $1.5 million on their first home. Because a lot of the younger couples are taking longer before they get married. They’re well established in their careers. They’re professional people, probably two incomes, so they’re able to buy their first home at probably a significantly higher price than what we I might have been buying a home for or the first home buyers of my generation would have been.
So you’ve seen first home buyers closer to the city?
Well they’d like to, but the struggle is they’re just competing. If you go to the auction arena now there are a lot of people out there. And you’re going to have to spend money to get into at least the ring to bid and a lot of people may not be able to afford to spend that money just to turn up on the day.
Some people don’t have a choice and often they’ll move out into regional areas and country towns because it’s cheaper and the rental returns are higher but they’ll sit there a much much longer period of time because the capital growth is so much longer.
A lot of people look to rental return but it’s not about that it’s about capital growth as well as rental return. The biggest mistake most people make is in their first investment is they look for something they like, rather than something they can afford. It’s not bad to go out into the suburbs, into some of the areas you think are not so great because the gentrification process that’s going in many of the suburbs across Melbourne and Sydney is quite interesting. There’s suburbs which you might not have even through of investing in which have now become very strong owner occupied areas and people are modernising their homes. And those areas will increase in price.
People talk about hot areas and that’s the worst place to buy because everyone else is already there. You have to look for the suburbs in between the hot suburbs and we could name a dozen of them without offending someone but the reality is there are good suburbs which you don’t hear about which have good services and they’re the ones you want to go in and look where it’s not hot where there aren’t people busting to get in and buy something. There is opportunity but you’ve got to be prepared to buy something that you may not want to live in.
Anything they are talking about you’ll probably find around it are good locations with good services that might not look active at first – they’re the ones to go to. At the end of the day what you can buy is what you can afford to purchase. And if that’s what it is then that’s what it is. But just keep in mind it’s important to look for capital growth.
Capital growth comes stronger in capital cities than in regional areas. There are some regional areas where of course that in past times suffered very strongly and there are coastal areas, discretional spending areas, that really suffered, 50% price drops. So there are some opportunities there but you are taking a bit of a risk. It’s not until the equity market starts flowing that the money really gets solid that people start buying holiday homes again that you’re going to get that capital growth.  
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Lack of stock behind price rises: Exclusive interview with Charles Tarbey

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Residential development sites in south east Queensland are being snapped up, according to Ray White Special Projects.
It reports there is a shortage of good quality residential sites  given strong demand.
“Sites attracting the most interest include in-fill sites, particularly those with development approvals in place, and sites which can demonstrate demand for the completed product and generate a reasonable rate of sale,” Ray White’s Mark Creevey says.
He says high profile developers including public companies as well as interstate and overseas developers are becoming more aggressive.
“Since the middle of the year we have seen more confidence in the market as a result of lower interest rates, more favourable lending conditions, improved take up of completed residential stock and the end of political uncertainty,” Creevey says.
"There is now a shortage of good quality residential development sites in SEQ due to the depth of demand for the product.”
But development sites with uncertain development approval futures or delivery timelines are still struggling to attract interest.
"There are still challenges in securing funding to purchase properties without approvals in place but banks do have a growing appetite to lend for qualified sites," Ray White’s Tony Williams says.
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South east Queensland development sites being snapped up

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

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La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

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Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Alistair Walsh

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