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Builders constructing single dwellings no longer need to be accredited under the federal Building and Construction Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme in a red tape cutting reform welcomed by the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
Reforms to the tendering processes for Australian government funded construction projects have, in particular, been welcomed by the residential building body's chief executive - industry policy and media, Graham Wolfe.
"The removal of the requirement for builders to be accredited under the federal Building and Construction Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme when constructing single dwellings is welcomed," said Wolfe.
"With the cost of accreditation running into tens of thousands of dollars, the return from being eligible to work on commonwealth projects often won't stack up for small to medium builders."
He said that small businesses faced an unfair burden as a result of the previous red tape-laden requirements, especially in comparison to large businesses with the capacity to absorb the costs.
"The ultimate loser is the taxpayer through less efficient more expensive public works projects," he said.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

HIA welcomes removal of builder accreditation requirement

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South Chinese developer Shunlide Group’s Australian offshoot, Surewin Pty Ltd, are set to build 62 new apartments in Ashfield in the company's first Australian project.
Marketed as <a href="https://www.onevictoriastreet.com.au" target="_blank">One Victoria</a>, the development is located on 2,958 square metre land surplus to the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club at 1 Victoria Street.
General manager of Surewin Australia Edward Cheung said that it took them five years to acquire the site.
“We selected international-class firms to partner with, and we’ve worked closely with the local council to ensure the apartments provide the prime living environment for the suburb yet still maintain realistic prices,” he said.
The six-storey building will see upper level apartments with views to the Sydney CBD to the east and Chatswood to the north.
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/Ashfield%20cutaway.jpg" alt="">
Ray White Erskineville’s Peter Shield expects a high level of demand.
“Ashfield is a naturally beautiful suburb surrounded by parklands and recreational attractions, and very convenient to the Sydney CBD via rail, bus or car,” said Shield.
“Surprisingly though, Ashfield has been largely neglected by quality developers, and apartments here have been primarily built to a price for investors.”
He notes that their research has found subdued median prices in <a href="/news">Ashfield</a> as a result, with the median sitting at $590,000, compared to <a href="/news">Summer Hill</a>’s $650,000, <a href="/news">Croydon</a>’s $667,000 and <a href="/news">Five Dock</a>’s $735,000.
“The apartments are 15% larger than Ashfield’s average, and all have at least one secure car space,” he said.
There are three studios available, at 44 square metres internally plus external space of up to 19 square metres, from $545,000.
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/Ashfield%20interior.jpg" alt="">
A further 14 one bedroom apartments from 52 to 58 square metres internally and external space spanning up to 21 square metres are priced from $595,000 upwards.
Two bedrooms, with the most options at 33 apartments, span from 81 to 95 square metres and the externals range up to 99 square metres. They are priced from $755,000.
Finally, there are 12 three bedroom options that are available from $995,000. They span 115 to 129 square metres with externals up to 96 square metres.
Each apartment comes with a 5.5 metre storage cage in the basement. There are 80 car spaces in the development.
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/Ashfield%20kitchen.jpg" alt="">
One Victoria is being designed by Nettleton Tribe, with a third of the site to be landscaping and communal space, with a central courtyard for residents.
Body corporate levies have been estimated at $600 per quarter for one bedroom apartments, $800 for two bedroom apartments and $1,100 for three bedroom apartments. Strata Choice came up with the estimations.
Deicorp is constructing the development, and work is scheduled for early-2015.
The expected completion date currently sits in mid-2016.
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Asian developer’s first step into Australia with 62-apartment Ashfield development

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Tasmania has been ranked third on a global listing of leisure islands, or 'getaway' location where ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) purchase second, third or fourth homes.
The new Candy GPS Report with research by Savills explains that most leisure island real estate is at the heart of the additional home market for UHNWIs and that these purchases are “nearly always discretionary” and a result of economic conditions providing excess cash.
This does leave those markets more exposed to economic downturns, the report notes.
The research came from Savills World Research and Wealth X, based on the volume of UHNWI additional home ownership. 
Ranking first and second are the USA’s Hawaiian Islands and Martha’s Vineyard respectively. Australia took out two spots in the top 10, with Tasmania ranking third and the Whitsunday Islands are sixth. Also featuring in the top five were Spain’s Balearics and Greece’s Ionian Islands. The rest of the top 10 was made up by Italy’s Sardinia, Scotland’s Islay, Malaysia’s Pangkor and Thailand’s Koh Samui.
“Leisure islands can be "visible" or "invisible", depending on the nature of amenities and pursuits involved,” the report explains. The USA’s top two rankings are “visible” leisure islands.
The top 10:
<ol>
<li>Hawaiian Islands - USA</li>
<li>Martha’s Vineyard - USA</li>
<li>Tasmania - Australia</li>
<li>Balearic Islands - Spain</li>
<li>Ionian Islands - Greece</li>
<li>Whitsunday Islands - Australia</li>
<li>Sardinia - Italy</li>
<li>Islay - Scotland</li>
<li>Pangkor - Malaysia</li>
<li>Koh Samui - Thailand</li>
</ol>
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Tasmania ranks third in global listings of island playgrounds for the ultra-rich

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There are many things that can be done incorrectly when selling your property. From listing with the wrong agent, to trying to hide the problems with your home, they’re not always obvious to the new property seller.
RE/MAX WA managing director Geoff Baldwin explains that there are seven of the most common mistakes made by home owners when selling.
Here are his seven mistakes to avoid:
<ol>
<li>
Overpricing resulting in the property “staling” itself to the market. History shows that the best price is achieved in the first 30 to 42 days on the market. The most asked question by interested buyers is “How long has it been for sale?” The longer the property has been on the market the less a buyer will generally offer because they know the interest and hence the competition has dissipated. 
</li>
<li>
Listing for the lowest fee rather than with the best agent. Often people say they want a cheaper agent because every cent counts however, just as we look for the best doctor or the best accountant, so to should we seek out the best agent in our area and they will rarely be the cheapest. A few thousand dollars perceived saving in commission can mean a $20,000 loss in sales price through lack of skills and/or resources. The time to negotiate on commission is when the agent has done the job and has an offer on the table, not when you list. If the offer is a good one, be happy to pay the commission, if it is not up to what was indicated then that is the time to talk commission. 
</li>
<li>
Overcapitalizing the home for the neighborhood. This happens with additions and upgrades being made, the cost of which simply cannot be recouped. Overcapitalizing cost millions of dollars in WA each year. 
</li>
<li>
Hiring an agent based on non-business factors ie: they are a relation or a family friend.   Make sure you're hiring an experienced and proven agency with a great track record. It might be nice to hand over your largest asset to your nephew who has just got his sales certificate - but you could end up losing a friendship and thousands of dollars. 
</li>
<li>
Getting emotionally involved in the sale of the home. This is one of the biggest challenges home sellers face when putting their house on the market. Once you decide to sell your house, it's no longer a home, but a product. The property needs to be prepared as a product, marketed as a product, and priced as a product. Let the buyers get emotionally involved as it will be their new “home”. 
</li>
<li>
Covering up problems. Home buyers today are much more informed about building and maintenance issues. For example, if during a closer inspection the potential buyer finds faults with the swimming pool, bore, structure, etc they quickly lose interest because they will then believe other problems may have been hidden. 
</li>
<li>
Not allowing the selling agent to do their job. For example, some owners do not like home opens and others do not want a sign out front. The result is they hamper the process, exclude a large number of potential buyers from knowing about or viewing the property and reduce competition and the chance a good offer. Once a home owner chooses a reputable and experienced selling agency they should allow them to use their skills to do their job unhindered.</li>
</ol>
Source: RE/MAX WA.
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Property 101: Seven mistakes to steer clear of when selling your home

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Some 11% of Australians are planning to sell the family home to fund their retirement, according to the latest MLC Quarterly Australian Wealth Sentiment Survey.
Of the 2,100 participants in the September survey, 8% responded that they are planning to draw down equity in their home, while 40% have no plans to sell their family home.
A further 42% said that they are unsure about whether or not they will use their home to fund their retirement.
Interestingly, men where less inclined to sell the home to fund their retirement, with 45% not willing to take this option, compared to 34% of women.
NAB Wealth group executive Andrew Hagger said that Australians must plan carefully for retirement.
“Australians are looking to rely on the family home to help fund their retirement and cut back spending on their children and home to make their savings last,” said Hagger.
“While the level of concern about financial sufficiency in retirement fell this quarter, half of all Australians still aren’t confident they will have enough to fund their retirement and around one in six are not investing at all.”
{mijopolls 56}
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Will you sell your home to fund your retirement?

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It’s not uncommon for lenders to increase their stable of products, reduce rates or even offer cash back incentives to appear more attractive to consumers.
Now online lender loans.com.au is in on the act, launching their value pack, which includes free property reports, financing planning and a conveyancing voucher with their home loan, which was named Australia’s cheapest in 2014 by Mozo.
The pack includes a 4.54% interest rate, with 4.56% comparison rate, a $150 conveyancing voucher, 100% offset facility, “Loan Tracker” service, $500 worth of financial planning and competitive home and contents insurance rates.
Kim Cannon, managing director of Firstmac, who are behind loans.com.au, said that the market has been flooded by borrower incentives in recent months, making it difficult to identify good value.
“The true cost or value of a home loan shows in the comparison rate, so borrowers should always look for the lowest interest rate and the comparison rate should be very close to the interest rate,” said Cannon.
Despite this, he doesn’t consider their new value pack to be a gimmick “like cash back that coincides with the date”.
“The value pack offers customers tangible benefits in a timely way, with property reports to help make the purchasing decision with confidence, discounts and vouchers to make conveyancing and insurance cheaper, Loan Tracker to streamline the application process, and financial planning to keep financial goals on track.”
Previously, <a href="/expert-insights/finance/competition-among-lenders-heats-up">Property Observer reported that six lenders have cash-back offers for home loan customers</a>. These include NAB, Newcastle Permanent and Commonwealth Bank, which are all offering up to $1,000 cash back. Heritage Bank and Homeloans.com.au are offering $600 and Austral Mortgage is giving back $500. A further 11 offer to waive fees.
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Lenders add whistles and bells to remain competitive

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The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales’ September 2014 Vacancy Rate Survey revealed that rental markets across Sydney and New South Wales are tightening, with an overall fall of 0.1% to 1.7% for Sydney.
REINSW president Malcolm Gunning said that it was in outer Sydney where the largest declines were seen over the past few months, currently hitting 10 month lows, but that declines were seen across the board.
Here are the results:
<ol>
<li>Outer Sydney: 1.4% (a 0.2% decline) 
</li>
<li>Mid-North Coast: 1.4% (down 0.2%) 
</li>
<li>Albury: 1.6% (down 0.1%) 
</li>
<li>Central Coast: 1.7% (down 0.3%) 
</li>
<li>Inner Sydney: 1.8% (steady) 
</li>
<li>Middle Sydney: 1.9% (down 0.3%) 
</li>
<li>Illawarra: 2.0% (steady, despite a 0.5% rise in Wollongong) 
</li>
<li>Northern Rivers: 2.7% (down 1.0%) 
</li>
<li>Riverina: 2.8% (down 0.6%) 
</li>
<li>Hunter region: 3.1% (down 0.2%, with a 0.8% fall in Newcastle) 
</li>
<li>Orana: 3.2% (up 1.1%) 
</li>
<li>Central West: 4.3% (up 0.5%)</li>
</ol>
Source: REINSW.
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NSW's tightest rental markets: REINSW

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Industrial property has been on a high growth trajectory, with many investors beefing up the industrial aspect of their commercial property portfolio, according to Colliers International’s research director Mark Courtney.
Courtney explains that the increasing scale of distribution centres and warehouse facilities, combined with strengthening returns in industrial property is pleasing for investors holding the assets.
"Major industrial markets have experienced consistently strong levels of investment at around $2.6 billion for industrial investment sales, above $5 million per annum in recent years," said Courtney.
However, is this growth trend expected to continue?
Currently, from an investment perspective, industrial property is a clear leader among commercial property, according to June quarter 2014 Investment Property Databank statistics.
Total returns have strengthened since December 2012, with an 11.7% increase in industrial total returns, compared to 11% result achieved in retail and the 9.6% return for office properties.
There was a 12.1% result in the June quarter, the highest quarterly increase since March quarter 2008, according to Colliers International's Industrial Second Half 2014 report. This high returning environment is what Colliers believes to be the primary factor driving industrial acquisitions from all types of buyers.
<img src="/images/2014/10/22/chart%20oct%2022%20two.jpg" alt="">
“The strength of these returns suggests a positive trend going into 2015,” the report notes.
Here’s Colliers’ state by state rundown of the industrial markets:
Sydney
<ul>
<li>Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have been prominent in the second half of 2014. 
</li>
<li>Scarcity of stock has led to intense competition among institutional investors for prime assets. 
</li>
<li>Domestic buyers dominate investment activity. 
</li>
<li>Strong sales volumes in 2014 year to date. 
</li>
<li>Private groups strongly buying industrial land and assets over the period. 
</li>
<li>Sydney South had the greatest transactional volume by value (residential highest and best use draw card may have been a contributing factor).</li>
</ul>
Melbourne
<ul>
<li>City fringe industrial market is becoming more tightly held (due to residential rezoning and the closure of Holden and Toyota facilities). 
</li>
<li>Northern market investment sentiment is buoyant for industrial property, mainly for prime and secondary investments. 
</li>
<li>North institutional appetite is still strong.</li>
</ul>
Brisbane
<ul>
<li>Institutions have maintained their interest in the market. 
</li>
<li>Fife Capital and 360 Capital Industrial Fund strengthened their holdings, buying in the south-west. 
</li>
<li>Blackstone, Australia TradeCoast and the Industrial REIT  made investments in south Brisbane.</li>
</ul>
Adelaide
<ul>
<li>Institutional investors active, including Cromwell, Charther Hall and 360 Capital buying over the past two years. 
</li>
<li>Total sales value boosted by Goodman's sale of Coles distribution centre in Burton (at $153 million to Charterhall, this was the largest industrial transaction ever seen in Adelaide)</li>
</ul>
Perth
<ul>
<li>Demand coming from wide buyer spectrum. 
</li>
<li>Private investors, in particular, are prominent.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/2014/10/22/chart%20oct%2022%20one.jpg" alt="">
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Will industrial property continue to perform?

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The 65 acre, 820-lot masterplanned development Habitat on Davis Creek will launch this weekend.
Located in the western Melbourne suburb of Tarneit, the development will feature 14 hectares of open space.
Habitat on Davis Creek will be the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/satterley-property-group-launches-two-new-developments-in-melbourne-s-west">second residential development launched this month from Satterley Property Group</a> in Melbourne’s west, following Upper Point Cook’s release three weeks ago where 35 lots sold within the first three hours of launching.
Habitat on Davis Creek will launch on Sunday 26 October with house and land packages available from $300,000, to upwards of $450,000. The sale is on a first come first served basis, with 38 lots to be released.
Satterley’s Victorian general manager said that the development provides affordable housing and will be at the forefront of the Riverdale Precinct Structure Plan, including a proposed Riverdale town centre, future train station, school and local town centre.
“The precinct plan outlines the vision and delivery of new infrastructure and how Tarneit will support the expected population increase of 25,000 new residents over the next 20 years,” he said.
“The proposed new suburb or Riverdale will see 12,000 new homes, as well as a raft of new infrastructure projects, such as a transit-ready major town centre, sporting facilities, more than twenty neighbourhood parks, three primary schools, and a secondary school injected into the area.”
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Masterplanned development in Tarneit, Melbourne to launch this weekend

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A new complex in Sydney’s Hurstville offering apartments is set for official release this year.
Offering a total of 227 one, two and three bedroom apartments across 15 levels, <a href="https://www.imperialhurstville.com.au/" target="_blank">Imperial Hurstville</a> is being marketed through Colliers International from $560,000 plus.
Developed by PietyTHP and designed by award-winning Stanisic Architects, the complex will include two communal sky gardens, located on levels 7 and 10. Some of the apartments offering city skyline and Botany Bay.
A display suite is now open at 23-31 Treacy Street, Hurstville. Expressions of interest are currently open, but no official launch date has been released.
Imperial Hurstville is walking distance from Hurstville train station and the local Westfield shops, while a retail level is expected to be built on the ground floor.
PietyTHP is also the developer of Bay Pavilions in Lane Cove, Focus Parramatta, Brittany in Sutherland and a ‘coming soon’ Hercules Street, Ashfield development.
The site itself has not managed to completely avoid controversy.
Local paper The Leader reported in 2012 that Hurstville Council had given up its fight to stop development on the site, at the time 21-35 Treacy Street, from occurring after losing in the Land and Environment Court. Payce Consolidated was behind the planned development at the time.
The concept plan allowed for 16 storeys, where the council allows six storeys. It was looking to bring 257 dwellings at 55 metres in height.
The Leader notes that in 2012 the development of the site was being referred to as “Punch Towers” by locals. It seems the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 allowed for this higher use development.
The Australian reported that Payce began selling their three quarter stake in the site earlier this year.
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Imperial Hurstville set to officially launch

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

Joel Robinson

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

Jennifer Duke

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