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Despite the massive surge in property prices in Sydney’s West, the region is still home to the city’s most affordable rental apartments.
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Government statistics reveal median entry level one-bedroom weekly rents are as low as $280 a week.
That secures a one-bedder, mostly unrenovated, around Blacktown and Fairfield.
Carramar offers the cheapest two-bedroom median rentals at $300 a week, $20 less than Cabramatta at $320.
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 Postcode
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Median
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$
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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<td colspan="2">
                                                              Lowest 1 bedroom
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<td colspan="2"> </td>
<td> </td>
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2148 (Blacktown)
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<td colspan="2" width="66">
280
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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<td width="140">
2165 (Fairfield)
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<td colspan="2" width="66">
280
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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<td width="140">
2195 (Lakemba)
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<td colspan="2" width="66">
315
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2145 (Greystanes)
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<td colspan="2" width="66">
320
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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<td width="140">
2144 (Auburn)
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<td colspan="2" width="66">
335
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<td> </td>
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                                                              Lowest 2 bedroom
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2163 (Carramar)
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<td colspan="2">
300
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2166 (Cabramatta)
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<td colspan="2">
320
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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<td>
2165 (Fairfield)
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<td colspan="2">
350
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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<td>
2195 (Lakemba)
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<td colspan="2">
360
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<td> </td>
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2192 (Belmore)
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<td colspan="2">
370
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<td colspan="2"> </td>
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                                                             Highest 1 bedroom
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<td colspan="2"> </td>
<td> </td>
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2000 (Sydney)
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<td colspan="2">
630
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2009 (Pyrmont)
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<td colspan="2">
600
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<td> </td>
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2039 (Rozelle)
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<td colspan="2">
600
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<td> </td>
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2022 (Bondi Junction)
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595
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<td> </td>
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2050 (Camperdown)
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<td colspan="2">
590
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<td colspan="2"> </td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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                                                             Highest 2 bedroom
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<td colspan="2"> </td>
<td> </td>
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2000 (Sydney)
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<td colspan="2">
895
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2027 (Darling Point)
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<td colspan="2">
798
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2061 (Milsons Point)
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<td colspan="2">
798
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2011 (Woolloomooloo)
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<td colspan="2">
795
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<td> </td>
<td> </td>
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2010 (Surry Hills)
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<td colspan="2">
780
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Anglicare Sydney’s recent rental affordability snapshot reviewed some 15,000 properties available on the first weekend of April and found only 76 were affordable and appropriate for households on income support payments without placing them in “rental stress”.
The NSW Fair Trading rental bond data shows the dearest one- and two-bedroom units for lease are all within proximity of the CBD.
The most expensive units have a median rent of $630 for a one-bedder and $895 for two bedrooms.
Two-bedroom tenants pay around $100 a week less in Darling Point and Milsons Point, where the median rent is $798.
Milsons Point leasing agent Andre Pang says new developments have meant rental prices have been steady.
The Rental Bond Board data will be released regularly on the Fair Trading website from later this year.
Victor Dominello, the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, says the open data initiative will allow renters and landlords to compare median rents across NSW.
“We are living in the digital age and open data can be utilised to empower communities and policymaking,” he said.
Lakemba is the third cheapest rental suburb according to the state government figures. The median rental for a one-bedroom Lakemba unit is $315 a week.
An as-new studio apartment near Lakemba train station is available at $290 per week, complete with kitchenette, ensuite and balcony.
Greystanes has median rental price for one-bedroom units at $320 a week.
Auburn is over $50 a week more expensive than Blacktown. Its one-bedroom median unit price is $335 a week.
There are only two two-bedroom properties up for rent on realestate.com.au in Carramar, and they’re both available at $300 a week.
The Rental Bond Board had 537,000 bonds held for the Greater Sydney area, where median rents rose 4.3 percent over the March quarter.
NSW Fair Trading the top 5 postcodes with the highest and lowest median rents (per week) in Sydney for apartments.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Blacktown and Fairfield offer Sydney's cheapest rentals

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The listed fund manager Argo Investments has become a substantial investor in the listed real estate group McGrath.
Argo, the second biggest investment company on the Australian Stock Exchange, has acquired just over a million McGrath Limited shares since April - paying between $1.10 and $1.20 a share – to take its stake to 5.02 per cent.
Argo, founded in 1946, is a is a long-term value investor with a market cap of almost $5 billion.
McGrath floated at $2.10 in December with its shares at $1.18 on Friday.
Founder John McGrath remains the biggest shareholder in McGrath Limited with almost 28 percent of the company. 
Shane Smollen, who sold his 10 McGrath franchised offices back to the company pre-IPO in exchange for cash and shares, has a 5.59 percent stake.
Its former chief operating officer Geoff Lucas owns more than 4 percent.
The investment manager and value investor, Perpetual owns around 13 percent.
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Argo secure 5 percent stake in McGrath

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The Singapore-based real estate crowdfunding specialist CoAssets has listed on the Australian Securities Exchange today. 
The company with an $85 million market capitalisation has raised $6.55 million at 40¢ a share ahead of the ASX listing. 
The peer-to-peer crowdfund facilitator specialises in funding of up to $5 million and has raised $S45 million ($43.7 million) in residential and small business projects since it started in 2013 in Singapore,
Operating mainly in south-east Asia, it is looking to replicate its business in Australia.
It anticipates demand for residential development funding after local banks clamped down on lending to smaller developers. 
CoAssets will provide $100,000 to $500,000 mezzanine funding for property developers.
It will charge 3 per cent to 5 per cent of total funds raised. 
CoAssets expects cost of funding and therefore return on investment to investors to be between 4 per cent and 15 per cent. Investors can invest as low as $1000. 
It was previously listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia in 2015.
Its chief executive Getty Goh said it has five boutique Australian residential projects in its pipeline. 
CoAssets operates under an ASIC class order relating to business introduction services and provides financial products online through its Australian corporate representative, Melbourne Securities Corporation Limited.
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Crowdfunding CoAssets lists on ASX

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Businessman Dr Gary Weiss has been appointed to the Board of the Australian Rugby League Commission. 
ARL Chairman John Grant said Dr Weiss brought an impressive mix of business and sporting experience to the Commission. 
He said Dr Weiss who was educated in New Zealand and the US is well known and highly regarded in the corporate sector both in Australia and overseas. He is currently Chairman of Ridley Corporation and Secure Parking and is Executive Director of Ariadne Australia. 
He has served on the Boards of some of Australia’s leading companies including Westfield Group, Tower Australia, ClearView Wealth and Tyndall Australia. 
Dr Weiss also has a strong background and interest in rugby league. 
He was a director of Brisbane Broncos Ltd (formerly Pacific Sports Entertainment Ltd), an ASX-listed company which owns the Brisbane Broncos and was a member of the Roosters Chairman’s Club for more than two years. 
"He is his own man and will bring his intellect and experience to what is a robust but collaborative commission.
"He has a wealth of business experience and has indicated he has the time to devote to one of his keen interests in life, rugby league." 
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Veteran property player Gary Weiss appointed to ARL Commission

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Research on the last election results show seats with the higher numbers of property investors bucked the swing against the Turnbull government.
Analysis by Australian Demographic Strategies, headed by former Labor senator John Black, found seats with large number of investment property owners and people who were negatively geared “voted for the Coalition and swung far less towards the ALP”.
“When we ranked federal seats by per capita investment properties, the top four seats — Reid and Bennelong in NSW, Kooyong in Victoria and Curtin in WA — swung towards the Coalition by an average of 2 per cent, despite a ­national swing of 3 per cent to Labor,’’ ADS reported in an article in The Australian.
“The bottom five seats for per capita investment properties — Bass and Lyons in Tasmania, Macarthur and Chifley in NSW and Blair in Queensland — swung an average of 7.5 percent to the ALP.’’
Treatment of investment property was a significant policy difference between the Coalition and Labor at the July 2 Federal election.
Bill Shorten proposed to limit negative gearing to new properties from July 1 next year and cut the capital gains tax discount from 50 per cent to 25 per cent.
Malcolm Turnbull argued that Labor policy would "smash" property prices and deter investment.
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Labor's negative gearing policy helped keep it from office: research

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The 40 hectare Bowral estate, Carinya, home to horse breeders Luke and Sally Kean, who was a former dressage champion, has been sold to the Chiba family for $4.8 million.
The stables have since been expended significantly to create a base for their European Dressage Horses business, including a stable complex designed by architect Ken Latona.
An Olympic-size covered dressage arena, fencing, vet and quarantine facilities and separate accommodation have also been added.
The main residence has also been extended and now comes with a heated swimming pool and tennis court.
The couple have five children decided to scale down locally to something more manageable.
The listing came on at $5.5 million.
Luke Kean, general manager at YourShare Financial Services, and Sally Latona, a former state dressage champion, bought Carinya, in 2008 for $4.4 million from liquor store owners John and Penny Lawless.
The Keans were the buyers of Ripley, the six-bedroom French farmhouse at Burradoo.
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Carinya, the rural Bowral estate sells at $4.8 million

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GUEST OBSERVER
Over 90 new strata laws will come into play later this year and of the 90 these are some changes that will most likely make a difference to your everyday.
1. Parking 
Owners corporations will be able to reach agreements with local councils to allow parking officers into their schemes to issue fines to rogue parkers. 
Not only rogue parkers but residents who park over the lines of their parking spaces on to common property or leave their cars in visitor parking (however briefly) could also be ticketed. 
2. Fines
Almost all fines will be paid to the owners corporation, but this won’t be a cash cow for over-zealous committees; they still have to go through the same tribunal process. 
3. Short term rental
Owners corporations can now set limits on the number of people allowed to live in an apartment provided the upper limit is no less than two adults for each bedroom. Failure to abide by this law could result in fines from $11,000 to 22,000.  
4. Smoke 
Simply, an owners corporation can make a strata by-law banning smoking throughout an entire strata building. Orders can also be made against residents who smoke or allow their cigarette or barbeque smoke to drift into other units and landlords can be held liable to their tenants for second hand smoke exposure. 
5. Pets 
The new strata by-laws will not remove a scheme’s ability to make its own rules about pets. However, if the new model by-law is adopted, the request to keep a pet cannot be unreasonably refused. If the owners believe approval was unreasonably withheld, they can apply to the Tribunal. 
6. Renovations
New rules mean hanging pictures; coat hooks and filling cracks can go ahead while “minor alterations” – such as kitchen or bathroom renovations, installing timber or tile floors and replacing wiring or power points no longer need a special resolution by-law. But be aware there are other laws that allow owners corporations to charge owners for any damage caused to common property.  
7. Levies 
Owners corporations will be able to get compensation if a developer promised unrealistic low levies at time of sale. By the time the owners have to pay the actual bills for services, the developer is out of the picture. Now owners can pursue them for compensation through the tribunal (NCAT). 
8. Strata contracts
Strata manager contracts will be limited to one year in the first year of a building’s life and three years thereafter. The one-year initial contract gives strata manager’s ample time to prove themselves to the committee … or otherwise. The subsequent three-year contracts allow owners corps to change strata managers more easily if the relationship isn’t working out.  
9. Votes 
The biggest technological changes in our lives have been in communication. Voting electronically, via Skype calls, by email and even good old-fashioned snail mail will be introduced. 
10. Tenants
Tenants now have a right under the new laws and will be able to attend owners corporation meetings, no matter how many of the lots are tenanted in their scheme. They may vote if they hold a proxy (giving them voting rights on a lot owner’s behalf). 
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Adrian Mueller, is senior lawyer at J.S Mueller &amp; Co and can be contacted <a href="https://muellers.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Property 101: Top 10 NSW strata law changes in November 2016

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63499/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVERS
More than 25,000 delegates will meet in Quito, Ecuador, in October to set out the United Nations' New Urban Agenda for member states.
The Habitat III conference will mandate the UN’s work in cities and settlements for the next 20 years. But Australia, one of the world’s most urbanised nations, is yet to play a major role in negotiations.
If you haven’t heard of the Habitat conference series, you’re not alone. Steered by one of the UN’s smaller organisations – UN-Habitat – it is the key negotiation process within the UN for planning the development of cities and human settlements.
Unlike the annual “Conference of the Parties” held by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, these events take place only once every 20 years. The Habitat conference has been held twice previously: in Istanbul in 1996, and in Vancouver in 1976.
Since then, humanity has crossed an urbanisation milestone. Half the world’s population now lives in cities. At the time of Habitat I, just over one-third were urban dwellers. Habitat III and the New Urban Agenda therefore represents a watershed moment for urban development globally.
<h2>Setting the New Urban Agenda</h2>
The 1996 Habitat Agenda called for sustainable development and access to adequate shelter. These goals have driven progress in many places. For instance, provision of adequate housing is now included in many national constitutions.
The Habitat Agenda also formed a platform for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed in 2000. The MDGs expired in 2015 and were superseded by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals lie at the centre of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Habitat III, unlike Habitat II, builds out of these targets, not the other way around. The New Urban Agenda is therefore aiming to implement these goals in cities, particularly SDG 11: to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. 
The current version of the agenda, the “zero draft”, was released at the end of July 2016, having undergone a series of revisions at preparatory negotiations. Unusually for the UN, this included direct feedback from civil society and other stakeholders, following public release of the draft.
The draft New Urban Agenda recognises that decisions about how we house, feed and mobilise urban populations will have a critical impact on human wellbeing and sustainability. Key focus areas include guiding national urban policies and systems of urban governance. The draft also has a strong emphasis on citizen participation and democratic processes.
What sets the agenda apart from its predecessors is the elevation of pressing global issues, such as urban informality, gender equity and disaster and climate resilience. It also recognises cities as drivers of economic and social development.
It is estimated that 70% of global economic activity is in cities. Cities also account for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. The agenda will therefore be critical in achieving the COP21 targets agreed in Paris last year.
The current draft is not without controversy. Inclusion of the “Right to the City” has already stalled talks. And the future role of UN-Habitat is being hotly contested.
In its current form, the agenda redefines informal settlements and sectors as assets with the capacity to promote economic growth. It also recognises the right to equal access to jobs, urban infrastructure and affordable housing, emphasising design, participation and empowerment in meeting the challenges of informal settlements.
The key challenge for the New Urban Agenda will be distributing implementation to the thousands of cities that need development assistance across the world. Crucially, it is unclear who will monitor and evaluate progress, and how.
<h2>Australia missing in action</h2>
Unlike the Paris Agreement, the New Urban Agenda is not intended to be a legally binding document. Instead, it aims to provide guidance to member states and UN agencies. However, several nations are yet to engage with the Habitat III process, either through preparatory meetings or by submitting country-level urban reports.
The Australian government has so far been absent from the Habitat III process. In regional thematic meetings the Australian chair has remained empty, despite our heavily urbanised population, regional investment in urban development, and urban policy expertise.
The agenda represents a key opportunity to reflect on Australia’s role in engaging with pressing urban development questions at home and abroad.
Establishment of Australia’s first minister for cities by the Turnbull government in 2015 was seen as a strong platform for redefining an Australian national urban policy. However, the portfolio was short-lived, being downgraded to an assistant ministry six months later.
Australian cities face many challenges associated with sustainability and population growth. These include housing affordability and deficits in provision of essential infrastructure and services.
Stronger federal government leadership on national and international urban policy could promote economic prosperity and the sustainability of urban settlements at home. It could also improve Australia’s ability to engage with our Asia-Pacific neighbours on shared urban challenges, such as urban migration, the health and social impacts of climate change, and managing environmental resources for current and future generations.
More than 30 representatives of Australian non-governmental organisations, municipalities, peak bodies and universities are registered to attend Habitat III. However, it is not yet clear whether the government will be participating in the Quito negotiations.
Despite its challenges, the New Urban Agenda is persuasive. It will inspire urban actors to champion its cause and drive its implementation. It will undoubtedly be used to frame funding policies of important bodies like the UN Development Program, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Fulfilling our UN member state role in Habitat III is an opportunity not to be missed. Through Quito, we can reinvigorate our national urban policy, build our regional profile and leverage and export our urban expertise. But, more importantly, by taking our seat at the table we will be playing our part in the transition of humanity into a sustainable, urbanised world.
Hayley Henderson is PhD Candidate in Urban Planning, University of Melbourne and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hayley-henderson-288490" target="_blank">here</a>.
Alexei Trundle is PhD Candidate, Australian-German Climate &amp; Energy College, University of Melbourne and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexei-trundle-11956" target="_blank">here</a>
André Stephan is postdoctoral research fellow, University of Melbourne and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andre-stephan-14991" target="_blank">here</a>.
Hesam Kamalipour is PhD candidate and research assistant in Urban Design, University of Melbourne and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hesam-kamalipour-288498" target="_blank">here</a>.
Melanie Lowe is research fellow, McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/melanie-lowe-288493" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors for The Conversation.
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Habitat III: the biggest conference you’ve probably never heard of

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GUEST OBSERVER
Last week saw a slew of economic data released in the US, Australia, and China.
Perhaps the most carefully watched was the US employment report, showing that the US economy added 151,000 jobs last month, leaving the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.9 percent.
This was a solid, not stellar result. But interestingly, the August report is notorious for being revised upward in later months. So the final number could come in higher if recent history is a guide.
The reason the jobs number was so closely watched was because many people – including yours truly – thought that another 250,000-ish gain would lead the Fed to a 25 basis point rate hike at their next meeting. That move by the Fed is still definitely possible, but the news lowered the odds a bit.
In another positive signal about the US economic recovery, the Conference Board’s consumer-confidence index rose to 101.1 in August, up from 96.7 in July.
Also positive was the Australian business investment plans for 2016-17. It beat expectations at $105 billion, although still down nearly 10% on the prior year.
ABS figures revealed a sharp jump in apartment approvals, with the July figure coming in at 11,393 – more than 15% higher than the previous year. This helped offset the 3% year-on-year decline in housing approvals. Still, apartment approvals in particular are lumpy, so it’s dangerous to read too much in to one month’s number.
On the less positive side, Australian retail trade figures were flat in July, putting the year-on-year increase at a modest 2.7%. This is on the back of just a 0.1% rise in June.
There was good news out of China, with the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) up to 50.4, the best result since October 2014, and up from 50.0 the months before, also beating market expectations.
All in all this was a fairly positive week for global economies (especially if you forget about the basket case which is Europe).
There will be a good deal of central-bank watching over coming weeks, though. Philip Lowe takes over as governor of the RBA, and Guy Debelle was announced as his deputy – an excellent choice.
September 20-21 is the Fed’s Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) next meeting, which will be telling about the future path of interest rates – both in the US and Australia.
If the Fed hikes that will put downward pressure on the Australian dollar. The RBA seems uncomfortable with the current level of the local unit, and they would probably welcome a weakening, which would give them more wiggle room on their own cash rate.
And although it wasn’t “data” exactly, Prime Minister Malcolm Turbull recently reminded us of the benefits of free trade, in the leadup to the G20 Summit in Hangkhou. His admonition that “One important way in which the G20 summit can promote open trade policies is by assisting members to do a better job of measuring and communicating the benefits,” is well taken as populism seems increasingly the political order of the day around the world.
At least one piece of positive news surrounded the event, with China and the US ratifying the Paris climate deal on the eve of the summit.
Action on climate change and a boost for free trade would make for a very successful summit. Let’s hope our PM supports the former, not just the latter.
Richard Holden is professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, UNSW Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">here</a>.
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All eyes on the central bankers

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A record price was set for a Surry Hills, inner Sydney warehouse at weekend auction when purchased by North Shore buyers.
It fetched $7.95 million some $400,000 higher than the $7.45 million prior top price.
The weekend buyer secured a 780-square-metre four-bedroom three-level warehouse in Bennett Place, a mid-19th century building that had undergone a transformation by designers Hare &amp; Klein (above).
The space came with a four-car garage, artist’s studio, plus plenty of open-plan living areas with lofty ceiling and industrial throwbacks. 
The Bennett Place warehouse previously held the suburb record the last two times it traded, for $5.71 million in 2012 and then $3.1 million in 2009. Not sure it was a record price when it was sold at $350,000 in 1991.
Artist Melinda Marshman and medico husband, David sold the warehouse which sits on the Marshall Street corner having bought it for $5.71 million in 2012 when bought from sculptor Gaby Porter.
The 1870 building, first recorded in Sands Directory as being a carriage and livery stable, has 760 square metres of floor space.
The earlier record stood since last year at $7.55 million, when Mark Ainsworth bought the nearby one with a distinctive heart-shaped pool.
It ranks among the more authentic of the warehouses of Surry Hills that once housed the city’s rag-trade industry. 
The $7.55 million sale last year secured a heart-shaped pool as the centrepiece of 450-square-metre converted warehouse once owned by Stuart Membery. 
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Surry Hills warehouse among the weekend auction top sales

A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Jonathan Chancellor

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