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The developers of the $2 billion Central Park mixed-used residential project in Chippendale have signed an historic agreement for a new green energy infrastructure aimed at greatly reducing carbon emissions. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/central-park-s-retail-precinct-set-to-launch-this-spring/2013032659989" target="_blank">Central Park</a> is a joint venture project between Frasers Property and Sekisui House Australia. It is being developed on 5.8 hectares of land that was formerly the Carlton &amp; United Breweries (CUB) site on Broadway.
Construction has commenced on the energy plant, which is touted as being about twice as efficient as a coal-fired power plant. 
It follows a $26.5 million Environment Upgrade Agreement (EUA) with the City of Sydney, <a target="_blank" href="companies/frasers-property-australia">Frasers Property</a>, and Eureka Funds Management.
{qtube vid:=4yw9Gt7rD1E}
This is the only the second such agreement to be signed in NSW, and the City of Sydney’s first EUA. 
The trigeneration plant could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 190,000 tonnes over the 25-year life of the plant, according to estimates from environment consultants WSP group. 
This has the same effect on combating greenhouse gas emissions as removing 2,500 cars from the roads every year for 25 years. 
The plant will run on gas and produce low-carbon thermal energy, providing heating and cooling for the 3,000 residences planned for Central Park and 65,000 square metres of retail and commercial space across 14 buildings in the development. 
Electricity produced by the plant also has the potential to be exported to neighbouring buildings offsite. 
Trigeneration is the simultaneous production of three forms of energy: electricity, heating and cooling. 
A trigeneration system can provide power, hot water, space heating and air conditioning from a single system. It captures heat otherwise lost when generators create electricity, and uses it to generate both hot and cold water. 
The hot water in turn generates an absorption chiller, which operates like a refrigerator. The chiller then creates water at a sufficiently low temperature to be used for air-conditioning. 
When completed, the development will consist of around 2,100 apartments across seven residential towers, student housing, and 50,000 square metres of commercial office space across two towers. 
An additional 20,000 square metres of retail facilities have also been planned, as well as the restoration of 33 heritage buildings. 
A 6,400-square-metre public park will also be part of the development. 
Central Park will be completed in stages, from May 2013 to 2018. 
The energy plant will be completed and commissioned by December 2013. It will be housed in a multi-level subterranean bunker, which is part of the existing historic Brewery Yard building. 
Frasers Property and Sekisui House are currently seeking expressions of interest for an owner/operator of the trigeneration plant, with the owner/operator to be in place prior to the commissioning of the plant in late 2013.
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Sydney’s Central Park residents to get energy efficient heating and cooling system

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The historic Victorian regional city of Ballarat is demonstrating above average capital growth in comparison to the rest of Victoria despite slugglish transaction activity, says a new a report from PRDnationwide. 
PRDnationwide <a target="_blank" href="/news">Ballarat</a> principal Neil Jens says developer and consumer confidence is currently very strong despite the drop in sales activity, with enquiries having increased since the start of 2013.
PRDnationwide research analyst Angus McLean says research indicates that sentiment in the region remains positive. 
"With increased consumer confidence the Ballarat area is witnessing a consistency in the housing market which will see home buyers and prospective investors return, setting the scene for a positive 2013," McLean said. 
According to McLean, while residential house and unit purchasers currently remain in a state of flux, the Ballarat Area rental market has become increasingly reliable for investors since June 2012 due to the simultaneous settlement drop in the housing and unit sales numbers. 
"This is in addition to an increase in local investment in the Ballarat Area with $156 million of development expected to be completed by July 2013."
In October last year, the Ballarat West Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) was granted approval by the state government with around 1,300 hectares to be transformed into residential property to support the region's growing population.
The project will see the development of road and community infrastructure to support the 30,000 people who will call the area home once completed.
McLean says the Ballarat area has witnessed consistent capital growth in all residential markets over the past 10-year cycle, although house and unit sales numbers have dwindled 18% and 30% respectively since October 2011.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">Hotspotting.com.au</a>'s Terry Ryder picks  <a target="_blank" href="/news">Ballarat </a> and <a href="/news">Bendigo</a> as standout investment opportunities not only within the state of Victoria, but on a national basis.
"They rank nationally as boom towns with strong future prospects," Ryder wrote in a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/ballarat-and-bendigo-provide-golden-opportunities-for-property-investors-terry-ryder/2013011658807">column for Property Observer.</a>
"The B cities have a lot in common: gold rush histories, strong local economies with ample diversity, proactive councils, plenty of infrastructure development, strong business communities, prosperous tourism industries, lots of real estate investment and generous supplies of affordable dwellings.
"Both have major redevelopments of their hospitals in prospect. Both have significant education sectors, and both have manufacturing businesses that are defying the national trend of downturn in that sector. New roads are being built and airports are being upgraded. National retailers are expanding in both places. There’s even impact from the resources sector, with gold mining undergoing a revival with the benefit of modern technology.
"Both have significant numbers of residents who commute to work in Melbourne. Both will be enhanced by the $5 billion Regional Rail Link, which will shorten the gap (in travelling times) between them and the state capital," he says.
According to PRDnationwide, the Ballarat Area vacant land market has also reportedly seen encouraging interest from developers since April 2012 despite a decline in sales figures.
"With these economic growth indicators as well as increase in enquiry levels in the Ballarat Area and the announcement of the Victorian government offering an additional $16,000 in potential savings for all potential Victorian first-home buyers, including existing homes, the increased likelihood of the Ballarat Area property market stabilizing with expected total sales and median price growth is predicted toward the end of 2013," McLean said.
Photographs of Ballarat courtesy of Tourism Victoria and Flickr.
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Positive sentiment buoys Ballarat property market: PRDnationwide

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Global commercial real estate group Jones Lang LaSalle has reported a big increase in productivity one year after moving to an activity-based working (ABW) environment in its Sydney CBD office at 420 George Street.
Nearly three-quarters (71%) of employees agreed that the new work model increased overall productivity, a <a target="_blank" href="companies/jones-lang-lasalle">Jones Lang LaSalle</a> survey of employees found. By comparison, only 24% of surveyed employees found the previous work environment increased their productivity.
ABW does away with a personal workspace for each employee, while providing different spaces for various work functions, including collaboration, learning, focusing, and socialising.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/jllmarch20five.jpg" width="470" height="370" alt="jllmarch20five">
It has become an increasingly popular option, with the GPT Group, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trends/cbre-embraces-flexible-working-space-in-sydney-office/2013031259832?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=trends">CBRE</a> and KPMG adopting the new model in their offices.
A Colliers International 2012 Office Tenant Survey also revealed that one in three organisations have implemented or are planning to implement ABW.
Jones Lang LaSalle uses an in-house designed ‘WorkSmart’ workplace model, which uses non-assigned desks to create multiple work settings. These include focus desks, ‘hush’ or quiet rooms, discussion pods and ‘touch and go’ areas for employees who go into the office for short periods.
<img alt="jllmarch20two2" height="351" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/jllmarch20two2.jpg">
 
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Australian head of corporate consulting and tenant representation, Tony Wyllie said the low productivity scores before the move to ABW and the high scores following the move demonstrate the value of ABW environments to business operations. 
<img alt="jllmarch20three" height="316" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/jllmarch20three.jpg"> 
“We have seen a number of organisations go down the path of ABW. The organisational benefits of productivity improvements, talent attraction and retention and brand differentiation, as well as the real estate benefits of increased flexibility, improved utilisation and cost efficiency over the long-term are some of the main drivers of this trend,” Wyllie said. 
A 2011 Colliers International White Paper on Activity Based Workplaces found that the trend towards adopting ABWs comes at the same time as companies re-evaluate the utilisation of their real estate assets.
It also found that ABW may be able to reduce the total floor space occupied by an organisation. As a result, companies have found savings of up to 30% from rent and outgoing costs.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/jllmarch20four.jpg" width="470" height="306" alt="jllmarch20four">
The white paper did raise some concerns with employees reporting the the ABW work model focused on the financials of the business, and may lead to a “perceived decrease of humanisation in the organisation.”
Rajiv Nagrath, director of corporate solutions at Jones Lang LaSalle, said its employee survey was a massive endorsement of its new range of workspace areas.
“One of the comments we received from the survey talked about the increased flexibility for the working week and how people are utilising different settings day-by-day depending on the work they need to complete,” he said.
Nagrath said the next evolution for Jones Lang LaSalle was to incorporate some of the feedback from the survey into new features for the WorkSmart concept.
These include the possibility of new technologies to complement their workspace, going beyond the current laptop and wireless environment.
“Facilities for Skype and virtual phones were seen as the next evolution,” Nagrath said.
 
 
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Jones Lang LaSalle reports big jump in productivity following move to activity-based working model

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A historic farm in Tuerong on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, is available for purchase for the first time since 1939, seeking offers in excess of $17 million.
The farm is an operating Angus stud and crossbred sheep farm, and is one of the last remaining large farms operating in the Mornington Peninsula.
There are a number of schools, as well as Toorak College and a TAFE close by.
In addition, there are a number of wineries, restaurants, galleries and golf courses in the <a target="_blank" href="/news">Tuerong</a> vicinity.
It is about an hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD, and the Mornington Freeway is within 4km. <a target="_blank" href="/news">Safety Beach</a> and <a target="_blank" href="/news">Point Leo</a> are minutes away from the property, while Sorrento and Portsea are a 20-minute drive away.
Moorunga Farm at <a target="_blank" href="https://sale.tuerong.com.au/">80 Old Moorooduc Road, Dromana</a>  is being sold in three stages.
The first stage up for sale is Males Block, a 133.85h (330 acre) block on one title, with possible subdivision into three separate 110 acre titles (STCA), for $6.6 million.
Males Block offers 200 acres of permanent pastures broken up into 11 paddocks, most of which are serviced by central graveled laneways. These paddocks are suitable for cattle, sheep, horses, goats, or vineyards.
This block also offers unobstructed views to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/birthplace-of-former-prime-minister-stanley-melbourne-bruce-listed-by-st-kilda-nuns/2012100556999">Port Philip Bay</a>, and contains a number of house sites.
No houses or dwellings have been constructed on the site, except for a hay shed.
Homestead Block, which spans 212 acres, will be for sale at the second stage for $5.5 million. It comprises a main house with five bedrooms and two cottages, four machinery sheds, a butcher’s shed, sheep yards, a shearing shed, a pump shed, and a netted fruit and nut orchard.
The final stage will see the 157 acre Irrigation Block being sold, which is asking for $5 million.
It is listed for sale by <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/VIC/Tuerong/?adid=2010104888" target="_blank">Michael Phoenix from RT Edgar </a>on behalf of Moorunga Farm director and owner Bruce Brockhoff.
Moorunga farm is being sold because Brockhoff wishes to retire, and to take the opportunity to see his daughter compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/tuerongmarch25one.jpg" width="470" height="311" alt="tuerongmarch25one">
Current Victorian farm offerings, including a <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.farmbuy.com/Listing_Display.aspx?ListingID=99510" target="_blank">180-hectare holding at Camperdown Victoria</a> (pictured above), 194 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. The farm is described by First National Real Estate agents as an "outstanding, high-productive, well-balanced dairy farm situated in prime tightly held area".  The property is for sale at $2,447,500, representing $5,500 per acre or $13,597 per hectare.
A 186-hectare irrigation dairy farm (pictured below) in Yarram District is rated a 300-cow farm. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.farmbuy.com/Listing_Display.aspx?ListingID=102490" target="_blank">It's for sale at $3,600 per acre, or a total of $1,652,400</a>.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/tuerongmarch21two.jpg" width="470" height="310" alt="tuerongmarch21two">
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Historic Moorunga farm seeking $17 million-plus offers

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Woman have edged in front of men when it comes to Australian home ownership, according to figures compiled by the ABS from 2011 census data.

The data shows that 61% of women own their own homes compared with 58% of men who have embraced the great Aussie dream.
The gap is even wider among singles, with 65% of single-female households owning their own home compared with 55% of single-male households, the ABS figures obtained by the Herald Sun reveal. 
This has led to changes in the way estate agents are marketing properties given the rise in home ownership among the fairer sex. 
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Ferntree Gully</a> real estate agent Billy Schroeder told Property Observer that more vendors are staging properties as a result. 
“It’s more like a display. Especially in the kitchen, a lot more people are baking cakes and burning candles,” he said. 
The release of the ABS data comes as a new survey found that the kitchen was the most important room for all prospective homebuyers, but especially so for women.
Nearly 49% of 612 prospective homebuyers surveyed online by mortgage broker Loan Market picked the kitchen as the most important  room when attending an open home inspection.
Around 59% of female respondents picking the kitchen as their most important room in the house compared with 37% of men.
Conversely and not surprisingly, 56% of men picked the living room as their most important room in the house compared with just under a quarter of women.
Schroeder said female property buyers are distinctly different to male buyers, as they are “a little bit emotionally attached.”
He also noted that female buyers tend to focus more on the kitchen and outdoor entertaining areas, while male buyers tend to gravitate towards the living area – as highlighted in the survey.
Loan Market spokesperson Paul Smith says the results of the survey shed some important insight into the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/western-australia/perth-s-housing-market-is-reacting-to-pent-up-demand-david-airey/2013031359851">real estate market</a> as buying activity accelerates into autumn and as auction clearance rates continue their strong results.

“We’re seeing a steady stream of confidence return to the real estate and home finance market and with lots of great stock on the market buyers are going to be very selective on the properties they inspect,” Smith says.

Smith says many buyers wouldn't necessarily be assessing a property on its existing fixtures and features but rather its scope for renovations and improvements.

“Often when a buyer shows interest in a property it’s because of the potential they see in certain rooms of the house or unit. Today’s buyers have become astute at assessing how much effort and additional money may be required to get the property to that point,” he says.

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Kitchen appeal: Women outnumber men in home-ownership stakes

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Yagoona, the first suburb in Australia to get a McDonald’s restaurant in 1971, was the top performing unit market in Sydney in 2012, according to the Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW)’s latest quarterly report.
Located 20 kilometres southwest of the CBD, unit prices in Yagoona increased 22.7% to a median of $400,000 over 2012.
This was from 84 sales over the past year.
The average increase for unit prices in Sydney from 2011 to 2012 was 3.8%.
Professionals Bankstown agent Ross Gravaris says a new development along the Hume Highway could have pushed the median unit price up.
Gravaris told Property Observer the area is popular among first home-buyers as well as investors, as properties often see good rental returns.
He also says that properties in Yagoona are generally quite affordable, with many young families purchasing properties there.
“One side of Yagoona is very affordable, while the other side closer to Bankstown is a bit expensive,” he said.
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/Townhouse/NSW/Yagoona/?adid=2009918233" target="_blank">26 Brunker Road</a> (pictured below) sold for $395,000 this month.
<img alt="yagoonamarch21one" height="283" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/yagoonamarch21one.jpg">
It last sold for $167,500 in 1997, according to RP Data records.
Another recent sale was a two-bedroom apartment at 149 Auburn Road, which sold for $325,000 through Goldstar Partner Real Estate. It last sold for $284,000 in 2007.
Gravaris also noted that some buyers choose Yagoona as “Bankstown is a bit out of reach [in terms of prices]”.
Some areas of <a href="/news">Yagoona</a> are within walking distance to <a target="_blank" href="/news">Bankstown</a>, making it a popular choice amongst residents who enjoy the proximity to Bankstown without the extra price tag.
Gravaris cited Bankstown’s shopping and recreational facilities as a big draw for Yagoona residents. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/centro-buys-coffs-harbour-mall-from-syndicate-for-%24655-million/2013012358920" target="_blank">Centro</a> Bankstown is close by, while Bankstown Oval is a popular local sporting ground.
There are also a number of private and public schools in the area.
The 2011 Census showed that 18% of residents have a Lebanese background and 12.3% of residents have a Vietnamese background, indicating that Yagoona is a culturally diverse suburb.
Yagoona is also relatively accessible by public transport. Yagoona train station, situated next to Hume Highway, is part of the CityRail Bankstown line. A trip to Central Station in the Sydney CBD takes approximately 30 minutes.
The southwestern suburb of <a target="_blank" href="/news">Leumeah</a> experienced the second highest annual growth in unit prices with a rise of 15.7% to $248,000, followed by <a target="_blank" href="/news">Wentworthville</a> with a 11.8% increase in median unit prices to $369,000.
Sydney suburbs with an above-average increase were*:
<img alt="yagoonamarch21two" height="404" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/yagoonamarch21two.jpg">
Source: REINSW
*Suburbs which recorded less than 50 sales for the year were not included.
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Yagoona is top Sydney unit suburb with 22.7% growth in 2012: REINSW

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The push of global retail brands into Australian capital city malls and high streets continues this week with global retail brand Zara putting the finishing touches on its latest store in the expanded Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong, which launched today.
Zara, UK fashion giant Topshop and David Jones are anchor tenants in the new Highpoint Fashion Mall, which complements the Fresh Food Market and Eco Mall which opened last year.
It is an Australian first for a shopping centre to house both Zara and Topshop under one roof.
Topshop opened its Highpoint store today with Zara to start trading from next week.
It is part of a $300 million redevelopment of the Centre, with the 30,000 square metre increase in retail space completed in two stages – all of which is now leased.
The completion of the redevelopment leapfrogs Highpoint from 12th biggest shopping centre in Australia to third biggest – behind the Chadstone Shopping Centre in Malvern East and Westfield Fountain Gate in Narre Warren.
The shopping centre, in Melbourne’s west, is co-owned by GPT and the Highpoint Property Group.
Zara forms part of Spanish retail company INDITEX and has more than 1,700 stores across 85 markets.
The other Zara stores in Melbourne are on Bourke Street Mall in the CBD, in Westfield Doncaster and in the Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Zara’s flagship store, which is in Westfield Sydney, opened in April 2011.
Amancio Ortega, the major shareholder of Zara with 60% of the business, was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/amancio-ortega/">fastest mover on the annual Forbes magazine rich list</a> released this month.
With his net worth increasing by US$19.5 billion to US$57 billion, he is now the third richest man in the world, after Mexican telecoms mogul Carlos Slim and Microsoft’s Bill Gates.
Ortega also has a real estate portfolio worth about US$4 billion, with properties in Madrid, London, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York.
Born in Spain in 1936, his father a railway worker in Leon, Ortega opened his first Zara store in downtown A Coruña, Galicia, Spain in 1975.
The arrival of both brands to Melbourne’s inner west comes as Colliers International projected that international retail brands would open 300 stores in Australian capital cities in the next few years.
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Zara to open in Melbourne’s Highpoint mall as Amancio Ortega’s wealth hits $57 billion

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Dark and dreary workstations may be a thing of the past with the introduction of a new way of working that does not include a personal workspace.
Companies such as GPT Group, Macquarie Bank, Microsoft, and KPMG have jumped on the activity-based working (ABW) bandwagon.
A Colliers International 2012 Office Tenant Survey also revealed that one in three organisations have implemented or are planning to implement ABW.
Most recently, CBRE Sydney has adopted the ABW model, following in the footsteps of its Amsterdam office.
Other CBRE offices around the world are expected to adopt a similar fit-out model.
The ABW model abolishes assigned workstations, while embracing a broader workspace categorised according to activities, providing different spaces for collaboration, learning, focusing, and socialising.
CBRE Sydney, which has relocated to new offices within 363 George Street (pictured below), is Australia’s first CBRE office to take on the ABW model. Its new office boasts diner-style booths complete with plush cushioning, large windows with a gorgeous view of the harbour, and round wooden tables.
<img alt="cbremarch13one1" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/cbremarch13one1.jpg">
The interiors were designed by WMK Architecture in partnershp with CBRE.
John Andreas, director at WMK Architecture said CBRE’s new workplace went beyond ABW, but was a "tailored, real world solution which acknowledges what people actually do in the workplace and delivers a unique environment that combines a sophisticated business approach with a contemporary lifestyle flavour".
The fit-out has allowed CBRE to reduce its space requirements by over a quarter and cut down the number of work stations to 200, after finding that only two-thirds of staff are in the office at one time.
CBRE President &amp; CEO, Australia &amp; New Zealand, Tom Southern said the new office was a positive development in the evolution of CBRE Sydney.
“Our new workspace has given us the unique opportunity to increase collaboration, enable greater flexibility and instigate change in the way our people work,” says Southern.
“To meet our practical needs we have integrated a lot of clever ways to work, and we’ve invested in a range of new features and technology.”
“The activity-based workplace is a broad concept, and one on which every organisation has a differing definition. A tailored version of the ABW model, designed to suit our specific needs, has been applied to our new Sydney office.”
<img alt="cbremarch13two2" height="377" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/cbremarch13two2.jpg">
The colour scheme of CBRE’s new premises also reflects the vibrancy of the new working model. Neutrals like dark brown, grey, and black take centre-stage, while dollops of lime green keep things fresh and interesting.
“The design we have selected has a modern, progressive feel that truly reflects our business and our culture as well as providing an interesting take on the traditional corporate space,” says Southern.
The new office has also allowed the CBRE Global Corporate Services (GCS) operations to join the Sydney CBD office through a smarter management of technology and space.
As a global property services firm, CBRE’s NSW managing director James Patterson said it was important that CBRE was forefront of these types of changes.
He has witnessed a transformation in staffing operations despite the short time they have spent in their new office.
“During the course of a day, our people undertake many different activities that require different work settings with various levels of collaboration. The new office incorporates a variety of work spaces for staff to choose including work stations, think tanks, quiet rooms, meeting rooms, a CBRE Bar (known as the CBar) for client entertaining, and a substantial staff breakout area,” he says.
<img alt="cbremarch13three3" height="419" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/03/cbremarch13three3.jpg">
Jo-Anne Harrison, head of CBRE project management, says the change has been mostly well-received by staff, in spite of initial reservations about moving to the ABW model.
Sustainability was also a key consideration when planning for the new office commenced.
CBRE head of sustainability for Asia-Pacific Rebecca Pearce says they have reconsidered many of the company’s operating procedures to reduce carbon emissions.
“Energy efficiency improvements will be achieved through new lighting (with occupancy sensors) to office and client areas and new IT equipment that has been selected and set up for optimal energy savings both inside and outside the office, reflecting our new flexible working arrangements.”
“Our new fit out has been planned to optimise the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and the 363 George building management team continue to work on improving base building related IEQ measures,” she says.
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CBRE embraces flexible working space in Sydney office

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A women’s-only real estate group, ‘Women in Real Estate’ has been launched on real estate and property social network Housenet.com.au. 
While Housenet itself is open to both genders, this group is made private and applicants need to be approved before becoming a member. 
Men are not allowed. 
‘Women in Real Estate’ is moderated by women prominent in the industry, including mortgage broker Jane Slack-Smith, Sydney agent Claudine Gibson, and Lisa Goodwin from Smart Tours Property Videos. 
Jane Slack-Smith of Investors Choice Mortgages feels there is a need for such a group in a traditionally male-dominated industry. 
“A lot of the issues women face aren’t that different from men, but it’s how we deal with them that differs,” Slack-Smith told Property Observer. 
The group aims to be a support network for those in the industry. Any woman dealing with real estate can join, ranging from mortgage brokers, real estate agents, to investors. 
“It’s a safe place to ask the silly questions for newbies and not to be heckled, judged or somehow marked. We do things differently and genuinely want to support women in the real estate profession,” Slack-Smith says. 
Response has been enthusiastic since its inception, with more than 50 members already part of the group. Slack-Smith says she also receives daily email enquiries. 
“We’ve been getting a lot of interactions; the group’s very social,” she says. 
Popular topics of discussion include the safety of real estate agents, tips on maintaining work/life balance, as well as advice on advertising properties without a list price. 
Inner west agent for Planet Properties Claudine Gibson also feels that Housenet is a valuable online resource for building their businesses. 
“Housenet has been a great way for me to connect with others in the industry. I enjoy reading interesting blogs, keeping up with news and events relevant to my job. It’s a great stepping stone to building a successful online real estate profile,” she says.
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Women’s-only real estate group launches on Housenet.com.au

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

Diane Leow

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