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The Australian construction industry continued to decline in November but at a more moderated pace, according the latest report by the Australian Industry Group and the Housing Industry Association.
The performance of construction index increased 4.9 points to 39.6 in November, still short of the 50-point level that distinguishes contraction from growth.
The increase represents a reduction in the rate of decline of both house building and engineering construction but commercial construction and apartment building activity declined at a steeper rate.
"The construction sector remains very uneven with the residential and commercial construction sub-sectors considerably weaker relative to the resources-project linked engineering construction sub-sector,” says Australian Industry Group director of public policy Peter Burn.
“Commercial construction continues to contract and businesses completing projects related to the fiscal stimulus package are not finding sufficient private sector work to keep fully occupied.  While still far from satisfactory, the sector overall appears to be pulling back from the accelerating pace of decline reached in August and September," Burn says.
There were reports of an improvement in workflows from resource-based projects and a rise in customer enquiries in the house building sector linked to the positive influence of the recent interest rate reduction, the report found.
New orders again declined across the industry, although the rate of contraction was the slowest in six months. Consistent with this, falls in activity, supplier deliveries and employment all moderated, the report found.
Senior economist at Housing Industry Association Andrew Harvey used the report to call for further stimulus of the construction industry.
"[The report] again highlights the current fragile state of residential building with activity continuing to contract and looking a long way from an eventual return to growth,” Harvey says.
“There’s no hiding from the fact that house building activity has contracted for 18 straight months and apartment building activity has now contracted for 19 straight months.
“When you consider this long-lived decline in residential building activity alongside recent dismal building approvals it is clear that the federal government needs to urgently turn its attention to stimulating new home building in this country.”
 
 
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Construction industry decline slowing: AIG

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<table width="255" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
postcode
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
suburb
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
Median unit price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2912
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">GUNGAHLIN</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$325,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2913
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">FRANKLIN</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$325,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2606
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">LYONS</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$326,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2606
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">CHIFLEY</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$342,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2615
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">HOLT</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$355,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2605
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">CURTIN</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$358,885
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2607
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">FARRER</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$360,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2905
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">THEODORE</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$365,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2615
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">DUNLOP</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$366,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="69">
2615
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="89">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">LATHAM</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="97">
$370,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
 
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The top 10 suburbs in the ACT with the cheapest unit prices: RP Data

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/december7gunter]}
The former New York home of German playboy and billionaire Gunter Sachs is on the market for US$38.5 million.
The Paul Rudolph-designed home was built in 1966 and has been occupied by designer Roy Halston Frowick, head of Fiat Gianni Agnelli and Gunter Sachs.
Sachs, who committed suicide in a Swiss chalet earlier this year, bought the 930-square-metre home with Agnelli in 1990 and later bought Agnelli out.
The East 63rd Street home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms spread over four levels. It is listed by <a href="https://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&amp;listingid=2259675" target="_blank">Corcoran </a>agents Noble Black, Carmen Marques Perez and Bonnie Pfeifer Evans.
Behind the imposing facade of steel and glass is a slate entry hall that leads into the vast expanse of a living room with 9.5-metre ceilings and skylights.
During Halston’s occupancy the home was the home of parties in New York and played host to Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol, Truman Capote and Bianca Jagger.
The townhouse has three living rooms, one dining room, a study, two kitchens, a terrace and a solarium.
The architect described the home as being “a world of its own, inward looking and secretive … created in a relatively small volume of space in the middle of New York City.”
“Varying intensities of light are juxtaposed and related to structures within structures. Simple materials (plaster, paint) are used, but the feeling is of great luxuriousness because of the space. The one exposed façade reveals the interior arrangement of volumes by offsetting each floor and room in plan and section.”
A nearby house on East 75th Street sold for US$36,500,000 in August this year.
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Playboy Gunter Sachs' former New York home on the market

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Victoria is leading a national increase in medium-density approvals, home to two-thirds of medium-density home approvals across Australia over the past year, according to the latest report by Bankwest.
Over the last year 38% of national home approvals were for medium-density dwellings, up from 31% five years ago.
Victoria has the most, with 21,235 approvals, 36% of the national total of 59,276. This is closely followed by NSW at 16,397, which represents 28%, and Queensland at 10,300, which represents 17%.
“Melbourne might be considered the café capital and this is helping to fuel demand for city living. says Bankwest retail chief executive Vittoria Shortt.
“Factoring in affordability, a tight rental market and lifestyle choices it is not surprising to see a trend towards higher density living.”
The Australian Capital Territory has the highest percentage of approvals, with 66% of all approvals being medium density, followed by the Northern Territory at 57% and New South Wales at 49%.
ACT also grew the most over the five years, with a 23 percentage point increase over the five years.
Perth was the only state capital where the share of medium-density approvals didn’t increase. Shortt puts this down to rising incomes and land availability combined with an outdoors lifestyle.
“With gen Ys entering the market looking at the inner city as a preferred location, coupled with baby boomers that are starting to downsize, this trend towards medium density looks set to continue,” says Shortt.
The trend is predominantly taking place in capital cities with 77% of medium density approvals taking place in the city. <img src="/images/stories/tugg.gif">
Source: Bankwest 
ACT’s Tuggeranong took the guernsey for the biggest turnaround. In the 2006 census just 12% of dwellings were medium density but in the last five that has increased to 74%.
Five out of 10 suburbs with the most densification were in the ACT.
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Victoria leading surge in medium-density housing: Bankwest

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Auckland property prices rose sharply in November, according to Barfoot and Thompson sales figures, in their largest monthly growth since March and the second largest monthly growth the agency has recorded.
The average sale price increased $13,724 or 2.5%  from October’s values, reaching $567,489, according to the agency. This is up from $553,743 at the same time last year.
The March increase was $59,303.
The agency had 894 sales in November, up 23% from October and up one third from November last year.
"For the past four months the Auckland market has been ticking over quietly, but with the coming of summer, the end of the international rugby tournament and a degree of certainty as to the outcome of the general election, buyers and sellers felt the time was right to act," says Peter Thompson, managing director of Barfoot and Thompson.
High-value properties did particularly well, according to Thompson.
"The top end of the market was once again extremely active and in November we sold 75 homes for $1 million or more," he says.
Thompson says the prices are close to their 2007 peak values and the growth looks likely to continue with December listings.
"Given the number of properties we have listed for auction in December and new listings in the pipeline, we anticipate that the strong sales pattern of November will continue right up to the Christmas break.”
“We’re experiencing a December with three full weeks of real estate selling, whereas traditionally it stops at the end of the second week, we’re doing auctions right up to the 21st and 22nd. We are expecting to see figures for December substantially more than previously,” he told The National Business Review.
West Auckland did well, with the number of listings increasing almost 80% from November 2010 numbers.
The agency’s November average property prices in central Auckland decreased from $307,294 in November 2010 to $236,989.
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Auckland property prices spike up in November: Barfoot and Thompson

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Median apartment rents in Canberra reached record levels during 2011, according to new research by Colliers International.
The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment hit $440, the highest rent to date for Canberra.
“This is great news for anyone who owns a rental property or is thinking about investing in any of the great medium-density developments that will be coming onto the market in 2012,” says Colliers International state chief executive Paul Powderly.
He put the increase down to the low vacancy rates of just 1.6%, the second lowest in Australia. The national average is 3%.
“Canberra is fortunate to have low unemployment, high average weekly earnings and a growing population, and these factors have contributed to the rise in rental returns.”
He says this is also affecting property prices in Canberra.
“The latest RP Data-Rismark data shows we were the only market to record an increase in home values in October, and unit values rose 8.3% during the month, compared to a 0.7% lift in house values.”
Powderly says pundits are predicting that November’s interest rate cut will lead to an even greater increase in activity in the property market next year.
From January to September 2011, 67% of dwelling approvals were for medium-density dwellings.
In November Property Observer <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/canberrans-moving-in-closer-together-as-medium-density-living-on-the-rise/2011111652326">reported that units represented 44% of the Canberra real estate market.</a>
Between 2012 and 2014 potentially 2,600 new apartments will be released in the inner north and south, according to the report, but Powderly does not expect an oversupply.
“Based on the figures released this week I expect there will be strong investor and owner-occupier demand for these new properties.”
“The other safety net is that developers have to obtain high levels of pre-commitments in order to secure financing, so these projects will only go ahead if there is a demonstrated market for them.”
 
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Canberra median unit rent hits record high: Colliers

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Perth is leading growth in the Australian hotel market, which has remained strong this year despite poor performance in the Australian tourism sector, according to the latest report by Deloitte.
Hotels were buoyed by increased business travellers as the strong Australian dollar put tourists off.
The overall RevPAR (revenue per available room) is forecast to increase 6% to $94 in 2011 and to $101 in 2012.
In Sydney occupancy rates will finish at 86% despite the opening of the 171-room The Darling in Darling Harbour and the addition of 247 rooms to Meriton’s new Haymarket property.
The expected RevPAR of $163 in Sydney is up 8.7% from 2010. Room rates are expected to grow 10.5% in 2012.
Melbourne is expected to have 80% occupancy rates for 2011 with room rates projected at $181, 4% higher than 2010 rates. In 2012 Melbourne room rates will hit $195 with room occupancy expected at 81.3%, pushing RevPAR up 10%.
Brisbane has had a flurry of building activity, with Meriton marketing 150 short-stay units in its new Riverside Soleil, the Infinity building on Herschel Street expected to follow suit after opening in 2013, a 368-room project on Elizabeth Street to be announced soon, a new 216-room project on Mary Street opening as soon as 2013 and the proposed 400-room Tabcorp hotel at the State Library opening in 2015.
This means a lower occupancy rate for 2011 in Brisbane, and RevPAR is expected at 6.5% for 2011 and reaching 10.7% in 2012.
Perth occupancy rates of 84.5% are expected for 2011 with an 11% growth in room rate to $174. This makes Perth the fastest-growing hotel market in the country, with an expected year-end RevPAR improvement of almost 14% over 2010.
Perth RevPAR is expected to grow 18.6% in 2012 driven by an expected 17% growth in room rate.
“Whilst occupancies are at record levels, development of new accommodation facilities remains difficult in Perth, though recently announced government incentives may see the initiation of some much needed new hotel rooms being constructed,” the report says.
Adelaide continues to attract development despite it being Australia’s smallest hotel market, with the conversion of the CML building by Adabco Pty Ltd and a proposed Medina Grand near the Treasury building expected to open in late 2013, and the proposed airport hotel and a new hotel by the Hines Group in Grenfell Street expected for 2014.
“The proposed new airport hotel would potentially benefit from a significant uplift in travel once the Olympic Dam project gains approval [and] further additions to supply in the Adelaide CBD are likely to result in lower room occupancy levels and hold back growth in average room rates,” the report says.
Adelaide room occupancies are expected at 73% for 2011 and will continue to drop to 72% in 2012. Average room rates will increase 1.6% in 2011 to $144, growing to $148 in 2012.
Darwin 2011 room occupancies will finish at 72%, up from 70.6% last year.
“This upward trend should continue through the forecast period, with only limited supply additions in sight, being six resort rooms in the Sky City project adjacent to the casino in late 2012, and 96 rooms in the Soho project, aiming for completion in early 2013,” the report finds.
Darwin room rates will grow 6% for 2011 to $149, and a further 8% in 2012 to top $160, Deloitte expects.
There’s trouble in Surfer’s Paradise, with Gold Coast occupancy rates expected at 65.9% for 2011, dropping 2.3% from 2010. The expected year-end room rate is $133, just $1 above the 2010 result.
Gold Coast occupancy rates are expected at 66.7% for 2012 at an average rate of $136, representing a modest 3.4% RevPAR growth.
Tropical North Queensland had modest occupancy improvements, “helped by an absence of new supply and possibly also by troubled operations being forced to close their doors, resulting in a (small) net reduction of available rooms in the market,” the report says.
Occupancy will be at 57.3% for 2011 at an average rate of $117 in Far North Queensland, $2 below 2010. In 2012 occupancy rates are expected to reach 60%, although room rates are not expected to grow much until 2013.
 
 
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Perth leads strong hotel sector: Deloitte

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<table width="351" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
Media unit price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3825
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">NEWBOROUGH</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$68,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3825
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">MOE</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$123,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3377
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">ARARAT</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$140,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3840
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">MORWELL</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$143,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3636
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">NUMURKAH</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$149,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3629
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">MOOROOPNA</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$150,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3644
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">COBRAM</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$156,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3465
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">MARYBOROUGH</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$164,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3500
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">MILDURA</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$167,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="67">
3556
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="190">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">CALIFORNIA GULLY</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="93">
$170,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
 
 
 
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Top 10 cheapest Victorian suburbs for units: RP Data

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Property developer Stockland will sell the undeveloped parts of its Melbourne Tooronga project to the Coles division of Wesfarmers, with settlement in October 2013.
The deal covers 7.7 hectares of land at stages two to five of the Tooronga apartments, which was originally planned to be a 785-apartment housing complex.
The development was expected to be worth up to $593 million in revenues in June 2010, but a poor performance in Stockland's apartments division led to a decision to exit the sector.
“This sale is another important step forward in the wind down of our Apartments business,” says Stockland Residential chief executive Mark Hunter.
Stockland will retain ownership of the Coles anchored-shopping centre on the site, which opened in August 2010. The centre was valued at $48.7 million as of June 30.
The undisclosed sale price is said to be above impaired book value.
The site was subject to impairment in the 2009 financial year and the surplus will be excluded from the group’s underlying profit.
 
 
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Stockland selling undeveloped parts of Melbourne Tooronga site to Coles

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<table width="348" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"></table>
<table width="348" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
Rental median (weekly)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">HAYMARKET</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$695
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">BIRCHGROVE</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2041
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$650
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">PYRMONT</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2009
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$650
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">SYDNEY</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2000
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$640
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">BALMAIN</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2041
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$610
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">WATERLOO</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2017
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$572.50
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">BOTANY</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2019
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$560
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">WOOLLOOMOOLOO</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2011
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$550
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">ERSKINEVILLE</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2043
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$550
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="136">
<a target="_blank" href="/news">ROZELLE</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="106">
2039
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="106">
$547.50
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: RP Data
 
 
 
 
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Ten most expensive suburbs for unit rentals in Sydney: RP Data

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Alistair Walsh

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