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The Australian Financial Review says Labor's budget forecasts have been undermined by revelations that the Parliamentary Budget Office believes the impact of negative gearing and capital gains tax changes are uncertain enough to make revenue forecasts of low reliability.
Its correspondent Laura Tingle writes Labor is heavily relying on its negative gearing/capital gains tax package to shore up its medium term budget position by raising over $37 billion over the next decade.
The Parliamentary Budget Office was actually asked by the Coalition to model a negative gearing and capital gains policy similar to Labor's policy.
The PBO estimated the policy submitted by the Coalition would raise around $6 billion a year by 2026-27, about $800 million less than Labor's published figures, but with a similar trajectory of increasing revenue from 2019-20 onwards.
Around $2.5 billion of this annual revenue would come from capital gains tax and around $3.5 billion from the negative gearing measures.
Tingle writes it was the first time there has been a reliable breakdown of the split in anticipated revenue collections between the two tax measures, albeit with PBO reflection on the uncertainty over the likely revenues.
"The costing is considered to be of low reliability due to uncertainty surrounding behavioural responses, broader economic impacts and assumptions surrounding the growth in the components of net investment income and capital gains", the costings document says.
"This response does not account for the potential broader macroeconomic implications of this proposal. In addition, the reliability of the costing decreases the further into the future the estimates are projected", PBO says.
An internal briefing for the government noted capital gains tax is seven times more volatile than total tax revenue and 2.5 times more volatile than company tax revenue.
This year's budget papers noted that "forecasting CGT is very difficult".
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Doubts on revenues from Labor's negative gearing and capital gains policy: AFR report

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The decision by the NSW government to add a four per cent stamp duty surcharge on residential property brought by foreign purchasers is playing on xenophobia, according to leading real estate agent Malcolm Gunning.
Gunning said the decision should be recognised for what it is, pure greed.  “The government has found a scapegoat in foreign investors and is playing on xenophobia.
"They are choosing to single out Chinese investors when the real reason house prices are being pushed up is self funded retirees who are purchasing properties for their super funds,” Mr Gunning said.   The surcharge came into effect on 21 June, 2016 and the government also announced a 0.75 per cent land tax surcharge for foreign owners from the 2017 land tax year.
Foreign investors will also lose the ability to defer stamp duty payments for off the plan purchases for 12 months and lose the tax-free threshold for the land tax surcharge.   “The government will make $1 billion over the next four years from foreign investors, but refuse to make life easier for first homebuyers by way of incentives for the purchase of existing properties.   “It is important to recognise that this is just a grab for cash from the government and a cop out.
"Foreign investors are an easy target and they aren’t going to continue to invest in Australia if the government makes it harder and harder for them.   “They play an important role in the strength of construction industry and should be a welcome addition to this country.
"They are good for the economy and make a crucial contribution to our society,” Mr Gunning said. 
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NSW property tax for foreigners is playing on xenophobia: Malcolm Gunning

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The eastern penthouse of the Robin Boyd-designed, South Yarra complex, overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, was snapped up mid-week.
It's still intact kitchen and bathrooms illustrated 1962 ideas in Domain Park, the iconic modernist residential tower. It's original David Jones furnishings have disappeared.
The 18th floor apartment sold through Jellis Craig agent Iain Carmichael who was t<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.realestateview.com.au/agencies/13497"></a>elling buyers well over $3 million was expected for the 165 sq m space.
The top floor Domain Road apartment last sold when bought from clothing store chain operator Norman Rockman and wife, Susie. 
Boyd died in 1971, only 52, and a legacy of 158 houses. 
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian Mansion Australia property section.
Domain Park was Melbourne's first air-conditioned residential high rise. 
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South Yarra Robin Boyd-designed penthouse sold

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The Bondi hoarders' property was withdrawn again from auction last night, after the Bobolas family bought an auction reprieve.
In yet another chapter in its saga, it was the fourth auction that failed to go-ahead.
The family have had to outlay some $340,000 in two installments to keep the sheriff at bay.
There were around 17 interested parties at the offsite auction room, but the property was pulled just 20 minutes after its scheduled 5pm auction.
The owner Mary Bobolas had been at the sheriff's office at 4.25pm with cash to stop the auction. They needed to pay a further $160,000 to meet the newest set of cleaning and legal bills.
Earlier this month they had secured a temporary legal stay that stopped another auction only to have the court's direct the auction proceed tonight because their wads of cash was not enough.
A $2 million sale had been anticipated due to its prime location and 550 sqm block size that last sold in 1973 at $15,000.
The Boonara Avenue offering was listed under instructions of the NSW Sheriff's Office.
It was the fourth time that the marketing failed to end in any under the hammer sale.
There was another unexpected delay last month.
Previously the owner Mary Bobolas dodged the sale of the property February last year by coming up with $180,000 to pay Waverley Council's cleaning and legal bills just hours before that scheduled auction.
The drawn out process has seen buyer interest wane as when it was first listed in 2015, 63 contracts had been handed out. Last month it was in the 30s. This time interest was down to around a still impressive 17 attendees. 
The council's solicitors wrote to the Bobolas family in November asking for settlement of the outstanding money to avoid the sale but they received no funds.
Raine &amp; Horne agent Ric Serrao was commissioned by the NSW Sheriff's Office to sell the property so that clean-up costs can be recovered on behalf of the council.
Rubbish flowed out of the door and onto the property frontage on the latest listing images despite a 10 truck clear up in July last year.
There were no inspections possible for prospective buyers.
Ric Serrao couldn't even access the property so there were no internal photos or floor plan available.
A 2008 study by John Snowdon, professor of psychological medicine at the University of Sydney, showed a increasing prevalence of cases of severe domestic squalor.
At least one in 1000 elderly people are living in appalling squalor, with most having dementia, alcoholic brain damage, schizophrenia, frontal lobe damage, and a few had obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care issued guidelines for agencies ranging from local councils to the RSPCA that confront the problem, suggesting a heavy-handed approach can cause huge distress, and typically did not take long for the squalor to rise again. 
This article was first published in the Daily Telegraph.
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Bondi hoarders pay to stop auction

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GUEST OBSERVER
Earlier this month, Secret Agent released our findings on the price per square metre of apartments in the secondary market.
Now we look closely at apartments in the upper tier of Melbourne property, exclusively those that have sold for above $2 million.
Each floor plan was manually measured for its internal habitable space, and the final measurement excluded external walls or structural elements, outdoor space, car spaces and storage cages. Sales were included only if a price and scaled floor plan were available. 
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Key findings:
This study included 12 penthouses, which are typical assets in the top end of the market.
More than half of the sampled apartments have a North-facing aspect, balcony or terrace. This is the most desirable orientation for optimum natural light and passive heating. 
Apartments in the $2million plus market were 59 percent more expensive on a per square metre basis than the rest of the market (below $2million).
On average, 3 bedroom apartments sold at a higher cost per square metre than 4 bedroom apartments (Table 2).
5 of the apartments were located in period or Art Deco buildings, while the rest were constructed from the 1990s onwards. Most of these newly built apartments were designed by renown architects such as Fender Katsalidis, Robin Boyd, Woods Bagot, Ashton Raggatt McDougall, Bates Smart, or boutique developers such as Neometro. For this study, 32 apartments sold between the 1st of May 2015 to 31st of May 2016 were analysed.
The average sale price for these apartments was $2,571,469. The sample mostly consisted of apartments from the central, inner East and inner South of Melbourne. The average price per square metre for $2million plus apartments was $13,653. The results by suburb are shown in Table 1.
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While the average size of apartments below $2million does not appear to deviate much (between 61sqm and 80sqm in sampled suburbs), this does not seem to be the case for the top end of the market. Apartments in the central region (Melbourne, Southbank, Docklands) are on average bigger than the inner East and inner South apartments. 
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 For more information, <a href="https://secretagent.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Square metre rates for Melbourne's $2 million plus market: Secret Agent

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GUEST OBSERVER
Not too long ago, robots were giant, caged things, mainly found in automotive manufacturing lines. Social robotics was a new field of research pursued by the best and brightest in university research labs.
In the past few years, however, it seems that social robots have finally come of age. All of a sudden, the market is teeming with products. Some are distinctly humanoid.
The rise of social robots
Softbank Robotics’ Nao, Pepper and Romeo all have a head and two arms. With their stylised designs, they deftly avoid the “uncanny valley” of human-machine interfaces (realistic enough to look human, but non-human enough to look spooky).
Others are more subdued in their anthropomorphism. Blue Frog Robotics’ Buddy sports an animated face on a screen, and scoots around on wheels. Jibo is yet more subtle in its ability to evoke humanity, with its stationary base and a head that can turn and nod.
Taiwanese electronics manufacturer ASUS recently joined the social robotics explosion with its Zenbo home robot. Tyrone Siu/Reuters
What is a social robot, and what makes it special?
In her seminal paper, “Towards sociable robots”, Professor Breazeal, inventor of Jibo, describes social robots as follows:
“(Social robots have) the ability to interact with people in an entertaining, engaging, or anthropomorphic manner.”
The most noticeable quality in the interactions between a person and a social robot is the emotion. This can be partially achieved via a speech-based interface. For example, Amazon is reputedly working on an enhancement to Alexa, the virtual assistant that lives inside the Echo device, to help it understand emotion. China’s Turing Robot goes a step further, and claims that its Turing Robot OS already understands emotion.
However, Dr. Breazeal’s research has demonstrated that adding non-verbal cues via physical gestures can have a profound effect in increasing people’s engagement, trust and confidence with the robot. In her 2010 TED talk, she discussed how people interacted with a robotic diet-and-exercise coach significantly longer than they did with the exact same coaching program running on a computer. A disembodied voice coming out of a mobile device, or a cylinder on the kitchen counter, leaves a lot of engagement on the table.
A solution, or a gimmick?
So, social robots can be great interfaces. However, an interface, even one that embraces emotion, is only useful as long as it connects people to a solution that solves a problem. And therein lies the challenge. What do these robots do? What problems do they solve?
And the reality is, no one has really made it past the cool factor, and arrived at a killer app that will take the mass market by storm.
Let’s look at the Softbank Robotics product line. Nao and Romeo are research platforms, designed for developers – not ordinary people. Pepper is the first consumer-facing solution that is designed to interact with end users out of the box. It has been deployed as a store attendant in a variety of retail settings. It is also being tested in Japanese homes as a companion robot.
But what is Pepper’s job description in the store? A store representative can greet customers, help them find items, and ring up purchases. Pepper can greet customers. Is it addressing a real need, or is it a gimmick?
Household robots are still a ways away
As Pepper has some emotional intelligence, one could make the case that it can be a great companion robot in the home. Let’s look at who needs companionship at home.
Children or elderly people come to mind. Children would gladly play with a robot. But a robot is no substitute for an adult. Any parent or caregiver of a young child knows this. And elderly people do need companionship. But what they crave is time with those they love, not companionship with a machine. Anybody who has cared for an elderly loved one knows this.
To their credit, Softbank Robotics’ website makes it clear that the robot companion is meant to complement, not replace, people. However, it is not clear to what extent today’s social robots can lessen the load for caregivers. The effectiveness of companion robots will improve in time, but there is work to do.
Last but not least, there is the holy grail of service robots in the home. What about a robot helper that can clean and cook? Alas, the technology in sensing, navigation and manipulation is so far behind the real challenges of a messy household that a truly useful robotic helper is years away. The best that today’s technology can offer is special purpose devices like the Roomba, or AI driven bar tending machines.
As a long time robot enthusiast, I can’t wait to see robots become ubiquitous in the home. Right now, the interface is more advanced than what the robots can do. Only when the back end meets the front end in sophistication will we really start to see truly useful robots in the home.
Elaine Chen<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elaine-chen-269390" rel="author"></a> is senior lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elaine-chen-269390" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Robots are moving in to our homes, but there’s no killer app

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GUEST OBSERVER
Where the land, or the interest in the land, is worth $2 million or more, the new law requires the purchaser to withhold 10 percent of the purchase price and send it to the ATO unless the vendor has obtained a ‘clearance certificate’ from the ATO and provided it to the purchaser prior to settlement.
This obligation arises regardless of whether the vendor is a foreign resident or not.
Parliament recently passed legislation amending the taxation law to impose withholding obligations on the purchasers of certain Australian assets – generally property purchased from a non-resident.  However, the changes will affect most purchases of property in Australia!
The amendments impose a 10 percent withholding obligation on purchasers of ‘Taxable Australian Real Property’ (generally, this means an interest in Australian land) from certain foreign residents, as well as certain ‘indirect Australian real property interests’ (such as shares in companies that own a lot of land) and options to acquire such assets.
The amendments will generally apply where the contract to purchase an applicable asset is signed on or after 1 July 2016.
Example
On 1 August 2016, Harvey enters into a contract to purchase a residential property in an affluent Sydney suburb for $2.5 million, with settlement proposed to occur on 1 October 2016.  He does not know whether the vendor is a foreign resident.
Despite many requests from Harvey’s lawyer, the vendor refuses to obtain a clearance certificate from the ATO to give to Harvey.
As Harvey is acquiring Australian land with a market value greater than $2 million and he has not received a clearance certificate from the vendor by the time settlement occurs, Harvey will be required to withhold and pay to the ATO $250,000, whether or not the vendor is an Australian resident.
The vendor will be able to apply for the certificate online BUT it is the purchaser’s responsibility to request it from the vendor. Ultimately, the purchaser is relying on their agent or solicitor to organise everything for them. Makes us wonder how many will forget so make sure you have a good one.
For more information, click <a href="https://xperion.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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Property 101: Seller and buyer obligations with $2 million plus clearance certificates

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GUEST OBSERVER
There is no doubt that the vote in favour of Brexit will generate a period of renewed uncertainty in the prime London residential market.
Some demand, especially from investors, will be delayed and in some cases redirected to other markets – although the significance of these trends should not be overstated. 
Demand for prime London property rests on a wide range of drivers – most of which are unaffected by the referendum decision: the scale of London’s business cluster, depth of skills, education, lifestyle and language.
It is not easy to identify an obvious alternative destination for investors despite short-term nervousness.
While we are entering a period of renewed uncertainty in the UK and London market, ongoing issues around EU and especially Eurozone stability, which will be highlighted in the run up to French and German elections, are likely to counter this risk and shore-up London’s safe haven appeal.
 
Liam Bailey is partner, Global Head of Research for Knight Frank and can be contacted <a href="https://www.knightfrank.com/research" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Brexit and the impact on prime London real estate investments: Knight Frank's Liam Bailey

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The outer Melbourne property once the home of underworld wife, Roberta Williams during the height of gangland war in the early 2000s, failed to sell at weekend auction.
With its notorious past now long behind it,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hillside-122665654" target="_blank"> 20 John Paul Drive, Hillside</a> was marketed as a big family home.
The top bid was $610,000 when passed in to a young couple.
Before the auction, the listing agents indicated they thought its prior link to Ms Williams, the former wife of late crime figure Carl Williams, could give it a boost.
It came with price expectations of more than $590,000 through the Barry Plant agency.
The property sold for $280,000 in 2000 to the Williams clan and then to the current owners for $450,000 in October 2003.
Roberta Williams had Dhakota, her only child with the drug trafficker Carl, in 2001 while she owned the house. 
Carl Anthony Williams, who died in jail in 2010, was arrested in 2004 and convicted in 2007 of several gangland murders.
The five-bedroom house is larger than most in the Hillside area where the median is $470,000, according to CoreLogic.
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Former Melbourne gangland home fails to sell

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Beenleigh, the fringe Brisbane to Gold Coast locality, was again the location of the nation's cheapest sale.
Some $231,000 was paid for a two bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-beenleigh-122721650" target="_blank">90 sqm Hawthorne Street unit </a>last sold at $295,000 in 2009, at the height of the first home buyers' frenzy in the Logan district.
There were two registered bidders, both investors, who were excepting $285 a week tenants attracted by new carpets.
The Kalua complex's most recent sale was the adjoining 90 sqm apartment that sold earlier this month also through the Harcourt's selling agent Susan Foley at $213,000 having previously selling at $300,000 in 2009.
The earlier offering was advised as a $280 a week rental which sold to a local investor who was one of three registered bidders.
The cheapest price at any auction across the long weekend ending June 14 was $213,000 at Beenleigh.
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Beenleigh, again, the cheapest weekend property auction opportunity

Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
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Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

Joel Robinson

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368853]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available.

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

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.

Jonathan Chancellor

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