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EXPERT OBSERVER
The decision by Ryde Council to reject a planning proposal due to community concerns demonstrates a flaw in the NSW Planning system.
Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale used the fact that around 400 submissions were against a planning proposal for a large development at Macquarie Park as the reason to reject the proposal despite the clear support from council staff in their detailed report.
Mayor Laxale stressed the loss of local amenity and character as a community concern but clearly the project was creating a new local character.
The NSW Department of Planning promotes the importance of community participation as being about ‘preserving local character’ in their draft Community Participation Plan.
Clearly new projects in Planned Precincts and areas around rail stations are going to have a new character that is quite different to the existing local character.
At the Ryde Council meeting many community members said they wanted no development and that they wanted to preserve the existing character of their area.
The Exhibition Draft of the Department of Planning and Environment’s Community Participation Plan lists three reasons why community participation is important.
This includes ‘Community participation creates a shared sense of purpose, direction and understanding of the need to manage growth and change, while preserving local character.’
Clearly the preservation of local character leads to minimal growth and change and this is contributing to the anti-development attitude by some community members in Ryde.
In a pre-election environment a number of politicians are using the government policy of ‘preserving local character’ to lobby communities against new development.
This approach is particularly apparent in Ryde where the local member, Victor Dominello, has encouraged his constituents to be against new development.
This is despite the fact that that half way through the 5 year targets for new homes set by the Greater Sydney Commission for Ryde of 7,600 homes the current numbers are about 10 percent above the half way point but the slowing housing market will mean it is unlikely the GSC target will be met.
We need greater government leadership on the creation of a new local character particularly in nominated Planned and Priority Precincts.
Communities need a clear message that in the areas nominated by the NSW Government for growth that the local character will change significantly.
Community input should them be about the quality of the new urban character and the mix of amenities.
The Urban Taskforce believes the NSW Government should amend it’s planning documents that focus on the preservation of local character in growth areas and replace with the creation of a future local character.
CHRIS JOHNSON is the Urban Taskforce CEO 
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Ryde planning rejection demonstrates flaws in the NSW planning system: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The Victorian election victory by Labor demonstrates that championing growth with infrastructure provision succeeds over scare tactics on immigration.
In the lead up to last weekend’s Victorian election the state opposition proposed immigration cuts to relieve overcrowding in a similar approach to that promoted by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
But the voters rejected the negative spin put on growth and preferred the more positive approach of Premier Daniel Andrews to build more infrastructure to manage the growth.
There is clearly an important lesson for political parties in New South Wales from the Victorian election results.
 It appears that voters prefer the positive approach to managing growth to build a better future city with new infrastructure rather than an approach that halves immigration and slows down growth. 
Many voters are positive about the booming economy that comes with growth and the swing to a more urban city that is occurring in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Urban Taskforce believes that NSW politicians need to champion positive ways to manage growth rather than the recent examples of the government backing down on its own plans in Ryde, the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor and the back down on the code for terrace houses.
It is also important that the NSW Opposition does not exploit fears about the changing nature of Sydney and focus on development as being a problem when it is clearly responding to community needs.
The anti-development rhetoric that many politicians are using in the lead up to the state election next March is generating a negative environment in the planning system at state government and council levels which is reducing confidence in the development sector.
The result is a big slow-down in housing approvals which will inevitably lead to less new homes being built over future years and therefore housing prices going up.
Both the NSW government and the opposition need to develop better messaging about the benefits to the economy of growth and immigration and how this can lead to an even better built environment.
Sydney is going through its biggest restructure in a hundred years as it swings from a low rise suburban city to a city that becomes much more urban with more apartment dwellers. 
The 2016 census demonstrated that 30 percent of Sydney’s homes are now apartments located in more urban areas. 
The politicians must take this 30 percent of voters into account in their messaging as they are likely to become half of all voters within the next 40 years.
CHRIS JOHNSON is the CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia
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Victorian election result demonstrates championing growth can be a winner: Urban Taskforce's Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVER
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The Prime Minister’s proposal to develop an immigration policy from the bottom up needs to be balanced with national leadership on infrastructure.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is proposing that immigration policy is developed by asking cities and towns how many extra people they would like.
But this will lead to towns with no jobs wanting extra people and small cities calling for growth when many people prefer the energy of a large city.
The reality around the world is that people are attracted to larger cities because of the greater job opportunities and the diversity of cultural activities. So most immigrants will be attracted to the larger cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
What Australia needs is national government investment in urban infrastructure to ensure that the cities people want to live and work in have the rail networks and the hospitals and schools that are needed. The most important infrastructure for Australian cities as they transition from a low rise suburban model to a higher rise urban model is a metro rail network like the ones in London, Paris and New York.
Australia needs skilled younger migrants to balance the large number of baby-boomers moving into retirement so that taxation income is maintained.
The Prime Minister should ask cities for growth options based on varying contributions to transport infrastructure. A good example is the federal government’s funding of Sydney’s second airport and related infrastructure. Clearly it is this new infrastructure that generates the possibility of future growth.
Ultimately the discussion on immigration numbers and where growth should occur will be a balance between bottom up opportunities for growth and top down leadership on how to manage growth through new infrastructure. A condition of federal funding for infrastructure must be the minimising of red tape in planning systems which is adding unnecessary costs to housing especially in Sydney. 
The Urban Taskforce believes significant growth can occur in Australian cities like Sydney if new infrastructure is matched with the new growth. We also believe that federal leadership is needed on the benefits of growth and the changing nature of our cities. 
CHRIS JOHNSON is the CEO of <a href="https://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/" target="_blank">The Urban Taskforce</a>.
 
 
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Bottom up immigration policy must be balanced with national leadership on infrastructure

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The announcement that Sydney Markets will move from Flemington to the Aerotropolis in Western Sydney means the existing Flemington site could become a new type of development.
Sydney’s markets were originally in Haymarket close to Darling Harbour but as the city grew they moved west to Flemington closer to the then centre of Sydney at Parramatta.
With Sydney now planned to have three city centres the announcement that the markets will move further west to be part of the third city at the Aerotropolis completes their move to the areas of growth.
This will leave a large site at Flemington ripe for redevelopment.
The Urban Taskforce has asked Sydney architect Tony Owen to develop an exciting vision for the redevelopment of the Flemington site in a manner that retains a number of market uses.
Tony Owen’s proposal (pictured above and below) sets a new standard for urban renewal by incorporating greenery throughout the new built form.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/19/Greenery.JPG" alt="">
Buildings are dripping in greenery and lower height buildings have green roofs that are used for agriculture that could include cows grazing and free range chickens.
There is another great benefit of the proposal in that all the greenery will reduce the heat build up on the site and manage water run off better as well as cleaning the air.
Flemington 2036 is a glimpse into how urban development will occur in the future. The main residential accommodation is in green towers that overlook the shared facilities and markets in the middle of the site.
Tony Owen has cleverly located the tall buildings nearest the highway and commercial areas with lower buildings near existing residential areas.
The amazing potential of the Flemington site is that a whole community can live and work there with 10,000 residents and 4,000 workers all coming together in a park like environment.
What Tony Owen's vision demonstrates is that urban environments can be green and connected to Urban Agriculture. The whole Flemington village will be self sustainable with the food grown on the site.
The Flemington site is well located between the Sydney CBD and the growing city of Parramatta and it has its own railway station.
There is the option of providing a new station on the proposed Metro West line to further connect the site to jobs in Parramatta and in the Sydney CBD.
Redevelopment of a large site like the Flemington Markets must be a leading example of a new approach to urban living.
CHRIS JOHNSON is the CEO of Urban Taskforce
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When Flemington Markets relocate to the Aerotropolis the site can become a new green urban village: Chris Johnson

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A review of housing completions across metropolitan Sydney indicates that many councils are not carrying their fair share of growth.
The Department of Planning’s Housing Monitor lists housing completions across all of Sydney’s councils each month.
The top ten councils are completing more than 2,000 homes each over the last year but the bottom ten councils are only averaging around 200 homes a year.
Leading the development of new homes over the last year are the City of Sydney with 4,351 completions, The City of Parramatta with 4,231, Blacktown with 3,325 and Bayside with 3,073 new homes.
At the other end of the housing supply performance are Willoughby with 201 completions, Randwick with 200, Waverley with 119 and Mosman with only 8 new homes.
The housing completion numbers are taken from September 2017 to August 2018 from the NSW Government’s Housing Monitor for each council across Metropolitan Sydney.
The council areas that should be pulling their weight more are the ones with good rail infrastructure like the North Shore rail line.
It is disappointing to see that Willoughby with its excellent rail connections is in the bottom 10 performers with only 201 housing completions.
Other North Shore councils with rail stations that seem to be not pulling their weight on housing supply include Ku-ring-gai (899), Hornsby (724), North Sydney (638) and Lane Cove (605).
The Eastern Suburbs, admittedly with smaller councils, that are under performing are Randwick (200), Waverley (119), and Woollahra (73).
These suburbs are close to the quality jobs in the CBD and are very desirable places to live.
The best performers are two councils which are the focus of the Greater Sydney Commission’s ‘Metropolis of Three Cities’ concept in the form of Sydney and Parramatta, The City of Sydney topped the list with 4,351 new homes completed over the last year followed by the City of Parramatta with 4,231 new homes.
The Greater Sydney Commission’s Sydney District Plans identify 5-year housing targets to be achieved by 2021 for each council area.
A number of councils are well on track to achieve their targets including Penrith which needs to complete 1,320 new homes a year and exceeded this in the last year with 2,271 completions.
The City of Ryde has a target of 1,520 new homes a year but completed 2,275 new homes over the last year and Bayside Council has a target of 2,030 new homes a year over 5 years and exceeded this with 3,073 in the last year.
A number of councils are performing below the GSC targets including Randwick which has a low target of 450 a year but only achieved 200 over the last year.
Georges River Council has a target of 960 new homes a year but only achieved 495 completions over the last year.
The Urban Taskforce believes part of the concerns related to over development are coming from councils that are carrying the major housing growth on behalf of Greater Sydney.
There needs to be a fairer distribution of growth across the whole of Sydney particularly where good public transport infrastructure exists or is being constructed.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/11/15/Housing%20Completions%202018.JPG" alt="">
CHRIS JOHNSON is the CEO of Urban Taskforce 
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Sydney’s growth is not being spread evenly across councils: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVER
With the Sydney CBD filling up fast with new development the Urban Taskforce believes that a long term plan is needed to continue Sydney as the leading global city in Australia by developing the Pyrmont Peninsula.
There are a number of early pointers to the rethinking of Pyrmont as a high rise spine to match Sydney’s CBD.
The regeneration of Darling Harbour with its high rise hotel has begun the change.
The proposed 61 storey tower for the Star Casino begins a rethink of heights on the peninsula along with the proposed tower at Harbourside.
The announcement of the design for the new fish markets in Blackwattle Bay means the existing site will be redeveloped presumably with high rise apartments and the move of the Power House Museum to Parramatta could open up new development on that site.
The Urban Taskforce asked Sydney architectural firm LAVA to develop a vision for how the Pyrmont Peninsula could look over the next 20 to 40 years as Sydney continues to grow (pictured in title).
The new development would establish a mixed-use precinct with an entertainment flavour.
We see the peninsula next to the Sydney CBD as being a genuine mixed use precinct with entertainment and hospitality uses as well as being a focus for IT and creative industries.
The peninsula would support the long term proposals for the Bays Precinct.
Clearly public transport will be essential for the new uses so we support the location of a station on the Metro West line as it connects to Parramatta via the Bays Precinct and Sydney Olympic Park.
The metro station should be located so that it serves the Star Casino and the new Fish Markets development.
There is also an opportunity for more ferry connections that are turn-up-and-go between the CBD and the Pyrmont peninsula.
The vision developed for Pyrmont is the work of the internationally renowned architects LAVA who were the European Architects of the Year in 2017.
Sydney director Chris Bosse and his team have developed the long term vision to generate discussion about how Sydney may look as the city reaches 8 million people over the next 40 years.
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Pyrmont can become the next high rise peninsula as support for Sydney’s CBD: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The recent Greater Sydney Commission policy on industrial and urban services land across Sydney is too narrow in its scope.
An ‘Information Note’ and a policy document from the Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC) ‘Thought Leadership Series’ titled A Metropolis that works outlines the GSC’s policy on employments lands and advises planning authorities to take a very narrow view of land use across metropolitan Sydney.
The advice is issued in a pre-election environment where concerns have been expressed by some community groups about the extent of apartment development in Sydney.
While the GSC’s policy picks up on the Greater Sydney Region Plan objective on industrial and urban services land it does not refer to the exception to the objective for the Parramatta Road area as outlined on page 133 of the Region Plan.
This leaves land owners in an uncertain position on the relevance of the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy which gave clear envelopes and new uses for current industrial land in the corridor.
The GSC document implies that there is a significant shortage of industrial land across Sydney but major areas are planned for industrial use south west of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, the extension to the Western Sydney Employment Hub and areas of proposed industrial land in the North West and South West of Sydney.These land areas need to be released.
The Urban Taskforce believes that the proposed ‘retain and manage’ approach to industrial land in the Eastern City is too restrictive and will eliminate many sites that could provide large precinct developments that incorporated jobs, infrastructure including parks, child care, health and community centres and residential development.
Community concerns about the extent of apartment development in Sydney can be partly resolved by incorporating infrastructure, parks and community services for education and health within a mixed use development.
An example is East Village in Zetland that incorporates a car service centre, a medical centre, a Montessori Academy and a supermarket as well as a sky park and 206 apartments.
Another example is Central Park on Broadway where child care, health centres, parks and community facilities are provided along with the apartments.”
The Urban Taskforce proposes a new approach to balancing Sydney’s growth along with the need for urban services and industrial uses as outlined in our 6 point plan:
1. Ensure that at least 10,000 hectares of industrial land is zoned in North West and South West Sydney and around the Aerotropolis.
2. Release fifty percent of the Retain and Manage industrial land in the Eastern City and the Central City for mixed use development that includes urban service uses.
3. Identify industrial land in the Eastern City and the Central City that is economically unviable but would provide sites for mixed use precincts with significant housing as well as jobs.
4. Develop a more detailed analysis of urban service uses that are compatible with mixed use development and define the percentage of job producing areas within mixed use zoning.
5. Develop a more detailed analysis of industrial uses and their preferred location in the city including freight and logistics.
6. Establish a high level assessment body to give guidance to land owners and developers on which lands are appropriate for mixed use development that includes urban services.
The Urban Taskforce is developing its own Thought Leadership Report on the changing nature of jobs in metropolitan Sydney and where industrial and urban service jobs are best located.
The report will also look at ways to diffuse the current concerns about new apartment development by proposing an approach that can provide infrastructure and community uses with a mixed use development that also includes jobs.
Chris Johnson is the Urban Taskforce CEO 
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Greater Sydney Commission approach to industrial land is too narrow: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The announcement by the NSW Government that stamp duty will be pegged to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a welcome small step towards reducing the cost of selling a home says the Urban Taskforce.
The announcement by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet that the rate of increase in the average rate of stamp duty will be reduced is a small step forward in addressing the cost of housing.
The Urban Taskforce has argued for some time that the transactional tax on selling a home is a distortionary tax as it discourages owners to sell.
This is particularly critical as the ageing population nears retirement and many large family homes are occupied by only one or two people.
It would seem to be desirable to free up these homes for families and for retirees to move to a smaller home at this stage in their lives but the stamp duty cost is a disincentive to do this.
Unfortunately State Government Treasuries around Australia have become wedded to the massive income they get from stamp duty so they are not keen to phase out this tax. The exception is in the ACT where the government is phasing out stamp duty and replacing this with a land tax.
The Urban Taskforce believes that land tax, where smaller payments are made annually related to the value of the land, should replace stamp duty as a fairer way for states and territories to gain income from property rather than adding a tax to the sale of a house.
With house and apartment sales dropping in NSW stamp duty is reducing and this will impact on the state budget. We are concerned that in a pre-election environment the NSW government seems to be taking an anti-development approach to new housing and that this will slow down the production of new housing particularly in Sydney.
This will clearly flow on to a reduction in the number of jobs generated by the housing industry in NSW which are currently around 300,000.
The NSW Government must factor in the impact on jobs that would flow from proposed policies which seek to dramatically reduce migration with a flow onto the number of new homes needed each year.
The Greater Sydney Commission’s recent plans for Sydney’s growth over 20 and 40 years should be the framework that growth is managed within. This is particularly so as the plans were supported by a long term transport plan and an infrastructure plan.
Chris Johnson is the CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia
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NSW stamp duty reform a small step forward: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVER
New research by the Grattan Institute and CommSec reveal NSW is slipping further and further behind Victoria in the key areas of economic growth, unemployment and construction work completed.
Disappointingly, for the second year in a row, NSW has failed to keep pace with Victoria, slipping further behind in relative economic growth according to the CommSec’s latest ‘State of the States’ report. This is very alarming and has significant negative consequences. Part of this decline is due to the state government’s complex planning system, which is hindering housing production and making homes even more unaffordable.
A report by the Grattan Institute notes that both NSW and Victorian state governments are facing significant population pressure. However in the lead up to the state election, the NSW government has adopted a populist ‘anti-growth’ rhetoric, suggesting migration intake should be halved, winding back critical planning reforms designed to increase housing supply and exempting key electorates, such as Ryde, from additional growth.
The NSW government lacks clear, strong leadership to effectively manage population growth and is constantly caving to every action group opposed to change. As a consequence housing supply has dropped off, especially in accessible areas close to transport and services, where housing is most suitable. Home ownership is declining, and more and more people are spending a large percentage of their income on housing costs.
The Grattan institute report suggests that the NSW government must go further to ensure enough housing is built, particularly in established suburbs. The NSW planning system is hugely complex and obtaining approval to build new homes is a risky and onerous process. There are huge delays in processing development applications and rezonings. This just adds to the cost of housing production and deters investment.
The Grattan report also suggests that all states should follow the lead of the ACT and replace ineffective stamp duties with broad-based property taxes. 
The Urban Taskforce has always supported a broad-based property tax as a much fairer and equitable method of taxation, as opposed to inefficient stamp duties. We applaud the ACT government for introducing this approach.
Chris Johnson is the Urban Taskforce CEO
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It's unsurprising that NSW is 2nd to Victoria: Chris Johnson

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Despite a pre-election anti-development environment in Sydney there are many quality examples of urban renewal with-in Sydney as well as Singapore, London and New York. Local politicians should learn from these projects.
The Creating Communities Conference attended by over 300 people last Friday demonstrated many examples of how to create quality development that give a positive rebuttal to the anti-development rhetoric that is occurring in the lead up to next year's NSW election.
It was very timely to see so many excellent urban developments from around the world to remind us in Sydney that growth and new developments can add excitement and positive new places for communities to live, work and relax.
Gordon Adams, the Head of Planning at the Battersea Power Station Development Company, explained the importance of political leadership to drive this massive urban renewal project in London. The projects size was large enough to get the London Underground's Northern Line extended to the site and this has generated a ripple effect of urban renewal in the surrounding areas.
Ultimately Battersea (pictured above) will have 3,500 apartments, 15,000 jobs including the biggest Apple office in the UK, parks, child care, restaurants and community facilities.
The combination on metro rail, a centre for jobs and a large number of new homes has created a new city within a city.
Marianne Kwok, Design Director, Kohn Pedersen Fox in New York was the key master planner for that cities major urban renewal project at Hudson Yards over underused railway yards. A new station was added to the New York subway and the famous elevated pedestrian network of the High Line weaves through the site and the buildings.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/10/17/Hudson.JPG" alt="">
Hudson Yards (pictured above) will have 4,000 new homes, 1 million square feet of office space, three new parks, child care, shops and restaurants and some amazing public art works.
Rahul Mittal, Director Design, Cistri Singapore gave a detailed overview of how similar Singapore was to Sydney in population terms but that Singapore was much denser but still very liveable.
He positioned Singapore as an example of how the balancing of new development with an extensive metro rail network and a strong greening policy can lead to positive results.
The mood at the Creating Communities Conference was very upbeat about how quality new development can add value to the residents and workers in new precincts and how a level of excitement can occur with new stimulating developments.
A number of emerging Sydney urban renewal projects were presented that matched the quality of the international examples.
Dominic Sullivan outlined the rationale behind PAYCE's Melrose Park proposed development, Neil Arckless from Lendlease presented the mixed use precinct of Darling Square. Sasha Kovic and Scott Clohessy from Frasers Property outlined the concept behind the Ivanhoe project that will house social, affordable and market housing as well as a new school and parklands.
The greenfield housing development at Willowdale was presented by Stockland's Sophie Pickett-Heaps along with Stockland's focus on building communities. Toga's Fabrizio Perilli gave an excellent outline of his Surry Hills Village project that carried the laneway culture of the suburb into this new development.
With a multitude of quality urban renewal projects presented from different world cities and from different parts of Sydney there is no doubt that the development industry is making a very positive contribution to the future of urban living.
The current negative debate about over development in Sydney needs to be balanced by the very positive examples of how other cities have passed through this growth phase and by the emerging examples of quality development across Sydney.
The Urban Taskforce calls on all politicians in the lead up to the NSW election next March to take a positive approach to quality new development rather than encouraging the fear of change in their electorates that will create an ant-development attitude to garner short term votes.
Sydney needs politicians that are committed to the long term future of Sydney for future generations. 
Chris Johnson is the Urban Taskforce CEO
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Political leaders must learn from quality urban renewal projects: Chris Johnson

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

Chris Johnson

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