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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
When the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) recently released its recommendations on how the government should balance the budget, it prefaced it with the statement “No economic problem in Australia is graver than the persistence of large budget deficits”. But precisely the opposite is true.
To understand why, it’s necessary to explain the economic work of David Alan Aschauer. Work that appears to have been ignored in the current discussion about budget deficits.
Aschauer investigated the effects of government spending on infrastructure in increasing of the rate of return on private investment and hence on the volume of investment in the private sector. His work has been accepted by an extremely wide range of economists. It is not new. His most-quoted article was published in 1989.
Moreover, Aschauer is a neoclassical economist; that is he belongs to what is currently the dominant school of economics. Since 1989 there have been many articles published by Aschauer and his followers.
Aschauer himself summed up his work in the following quote:
“On neoclassical grounds expansions of public investment spending should have a larger stimulative effect on private output than equal-sized increases in private consumption expenditure. Specifically, public investment is argued to induce an increase in the rate of return to private capital and, thereby, to stimulate private investment expenditure.
The empirical analysis indicates that movements in public investment bring forth movements in private-sector output which are four to seven times as large as the public sector outlays.”
Of course, there can be, and have been, arguments about the size of the effects that Aschauer estimated in his empirical work. The general tenor of these is that the figure is more likely to be closer to the lower end of Aschauer’s range than the top.
But when researchers at UNSW made estimates for Australia, they arrived at a figure they described as “very similar to Aschauer’s (1989) findings for the United States". They concluded that “public capital plays an important role in private production, a role which may often be overlooked”.
This provided evidence, they believed, of the positive relationship between public capital and productivity in the private sector in Australia in the 30 years before they wrote their article.
Both Aschauer and the Australian researchers Glenn Otto and Graham Voss used aggregate data – data for the whole public capital sector and for productivity in the private sector as a whole.
Their striking and important results do not remove the need for governments to pick public investment projects that are more likely to increase private sector productivity. The models they and Aschauer have used are too simple to give convincing answers to the question, which requires the use of much more sophisticated models. However, they do cast doubts on the likelihood of politically motivated public investment projects contributing anything to long-term growth in Australia. And they were not writing in an election year.
Current discussions about budget deficits largely ignore the work of Aschauer and are much poorer as a result.
If some attention had been paid to this work the gloom and doom of CEDA’s recent report would have been greatly reduced.
John Nevile is visiting emeritus professor, UNSW Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-nevile-139716" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Balancing the budget mantra overlooks benefits of infrastructure spending

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Australian cricket captain Steve Smith has taken a shine to Balmain property.
He has snapped up another investment on the pensinsula. His investment portfolio now stands at $4 million plus.
This one is a contemporary apartment in a boutique conversion of the Tin Sheds.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-balmain-121952010" target="_blank">It has two bedrooms</a>, a study and two entertaining terraces.
The property had been up for auction, then listed at $1.375 million.
After being on the market for 58 days, McGrath Balmain agents Karl Howard and Ben Munro Smith secured the sale earlier this month.
Smith was likely back in Australia following the national team's poor performance in the T20 World Cup in India to oversee the sale.
He will want to secure a rental before his side head to West Indies for the Tri-Nation Series in West Indies where they play also play South Africa.
He paid $2 million for a knock-down re-build in the east, and work has already begun in knocking down the dilapidated three bedroom cottage.
The deal included DA-approved plans for a two-storey home with basement parking by architect firm Connor &amp; Solomon.
With a two storey apartment, Smith has lived in Coogee since he paid $1.75 million in 2007.
His property portfolio also includes a $435,000 off-the-plan apartment Sans Souci which he bought in 2011 and a two bedroom apartment in Marrickville which he paid $635,000 for in 2013.
Smith is now the Australian captain across all forms of the game and was the first Australian captain since Warwick Armstrong in 1920 to go unbeaten through his first 10 Tests.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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Steve Smith takes shine to Balmain investment

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The legendary Collingwood full forward Peter McKenna has his Richmond home listed for May auction.
It is an Edwardian cottage at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/8-malleson-street-richmond-vic-3121-2012744820" target="_blank">8 Malleson Street</a> listed through Jellis Craig agent Luke Schickling, who has $1 million plus hopes for the three-bedroom property.
McKenna, who kicked 874 goals playing 180 games for Collingwood between 1965 and 1975, is considered of the game’s all-time greats.
It was bought at 1998 auction costing $306,750.
It goes to May 14 auction.
Collingwood's median house price is $907,500, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Peter McKenna lists Richmond Edwardian cottage

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The pace of capital gains rebounded from the relatively flat numbers recorded in March, with dwelling values increasing by an average of 1.7 percent across the CoreLogic RP Data combined capitals’ index.
The latest figures now take the combined capital city dwelling values measure 3.3 percent higher over the first four months of 2016.
Across the country, housing market trends remain mixed, however, CoreLogic RP Data research director Tim Lawless noted that the improvement in the rate of capital gains has been ‘broad-based’ during 2016 with every capital city except Perth recording a lift in dwelling values over the calendar year to date.
<a href="/images/2016/05/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-02%20at%2011.18.13%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-02%20at%2011.18.13%20AM.png" alt="">
“The results show value growth moved at a faster pace compared with the final three months of 2015 when capital city dwelling values slid 1.4 per cent lower off the back of weaker market conditions in Sydney and Melbourne.
“While we’ve seen capital gains moderate substantially after peaking last year in Sydney and Melbourne, dwelling values continue to trend higher, just not as fast.
"The annual rate of growth in Sydney peaked at 18.4 percent in July last year and has since moderated back to slightly less than half the peak rate of growth, at 8.9 percent over the most recent twelve month period,” Mr Lawless said.
Melbourne’s housing market continues to show a level of resilience to a slowing trend, however the annual growth rate has fallen from a recent peak of 14.2 percent to the current annual growth rate of 10.1 percent; Melbourne was the only capital city to see double digit growth over the past twelve months.
Perth and Darwin remain as the only two capital city markets to experience a decline in home values over the past twelve months, with Perth values down 2.1 percent and Darwin values 3.7 percent lower.
“With recent month-on-month increases in home values in these two cities, the declining trend rate is now levelling.
"This may be an early sign that these markets are beginning to find their cyclical trough after more than a year of annual declines.”
<a href="/images/2016/05/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-02%20at%2011.20.46%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/05/02/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-02%20at%2011.20.46%20AM.png" alt="">
Over the current growth cycle, which commenced broadly in June 2012, capital city dwelling values have moved 34.4 percent higher, led by a 52.7 per cent rise in Sydney home values, and a 37.1 percent lift in Melbourne values.
Brisbane experienced the third highest rate of dwelling value growth over the growth cycle to date; dwelling values in the city are now up 18 percent. 
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Dwelling prices rise for fourth consecutive month in April: CoreLogic RP Data

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The Colin Irwin designed Silvermere Farm near Narooma on the NSW South Coast has $4.75 million hopes.
The property boasts lake with jetty on its 124 hectare private peninsula.
Listing agent David Nolan of WebsterNolan suggested that his buyer demographic was the semi retired, 50-65 year old.
The farm comes with architect designed residence enjoying panoramic views.
It was the Nowra-based architect Colin Irwin at 1 Architecture who designed the series of wave-inspired pods, with views from every room out to the estuary and the open ocean. 
It is set 10 mins from Narooma and Tilba Tilba , 45 mins from Moruya airport and 30 mins from Bermagui.
The highly fertile pasture improved soils are currently running Angus cows and calves, Dorper ewes and lambs
There is guest accommodation and manager’s residence.
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Silvermere Farm, NSW South Coast offering

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The trophy estate, Fernhill at Mulgoa has returned to the market.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mulgoa-122554922" target="_blank">Set on 383 hectares at the foot of the Blue Mountains</a>, its stunning seven bedroom sandstone residence was completed in the 1840s for the Cox pioneering family.
Fernhill’s heritage-listed Greek Revival temple style homestead is set high on the hill with sweeping valley views from its classic colonnaded porch. Inside features a 16-seater dining room and sprung ballroom.
Marketing on the $30 million plus estate commenced on the weekend through Ken Jacobs at Christie's International.
The debenture firm Angas Securities has moved to offload the property after its complex put and call sale option to South African businessman Simon Tripp and his wife Brenda eventually fell through.
Angus took on the holding in 2011 after property developer Warren Anderson vacated the property, located around an hour’s drive west of the Sydney CBD.
Anderson, who housed stuffed animals in the ballroom, was forced to depart after a long court battle with receivers following the break-up of his 42-year marriage.
It was furnished with Regency antiques, paintings and French Empire clocks, on the back of Anderson's 20 years success in consolidating development sites for Coles New World.
The Adelaide-based boutique financier, are still seeking permissions to develop 100-lot plus housing on its outer perimeter of the entire 654-hectare property.
Picnic race meetings were held during the brief occupancy of the entreprenurial Simon Tripp and his wife Brenda to provide income for the costly estate.
Fernhill has a great thoroughbred history, as one of the greatest racehorses that ever trod the Australian turf, Yattendon died at Fernhill in 1880.
Winner of the Sydney Cup in 1866, Yattendon produced Melbourne Cup winners Chester (1877) and Grand Flaneur (1880).
The stables are the oldest buildings on site having housed the Irish stonemasons who worked on the sandstone residence designed by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis.
Fernhill was built by William Cox, an engineer who oversaw the road that passed over the Blue Mountains, for his son Edward.
It remained in the ownership of the Cox family until 1896, when it sold to the Wright family, of Wright, Heaton and Co, who billed their firm as the most extensive carrying firm in the colony.
Anderson bought it from John Darling IV in 1980 for $2.8 million. Darling paid 22,500 pounds in 1955.
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Fernhill at Mulgoa boomerangs back onto market

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The backpacker killer Ivan Milat's home at the time of his 1994 arrest, in quiet Cinnabar St, Eagle Vale, hit the market earlier this month, then became big news on the weekend.
By this morning the listing had been pulled briefly from websites as the gutted owner tweaked the words to remove the street address.
They hope it won't be now difficult to sell the four bedroom brick home with its dark past.
It last sold in 2006 at $386,000 having been sold by the Milat family in 1995 at $160,000.
It was priced at $685,000 to $715,000 through Century 21 Premier Reality.
Milat was convicted of the murders of seven backpackers in 1996 after their bodies were found in the Belangalo State Forest, near Berrima in 1992 and 1993.
Milat is serving seven consecutive life sentences in Goulburn super-maximum security prison.
The special operations police arrested him at the home in 1994.
Ivan Milat bought in 1992 with his sister Shirley Soire for $50,000, with the siblings selling it in 1995 at $160,000.
Century 21 Premier Reality agent Susan Parkes told The Sunday Telegraph that prospective buyer feedback was that “it’s a lovely home."
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Milat home relisted two decades after its dark past

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Barry Plant, head of the Victorian estate agency that bears his name and which is in talks with LJ Hooker about creating a joint venture company, said the Melbourne trust fund missing millions matter would not affect their ongoing talks. 
It was revealed last month in The Australian Financial Review that LJ Hooker and Victorian real estate agency Barry Plant were in the final stages of talks about creating a joint venture company.
The two businesses account for 6.7 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively of the national volume of real estate sales.
LJ Hooker has 700 franchises in Australia and New Zealand.
Barry Plant has 80 franchised offices in Victoria – with an 11.5 per cent state market share by volume.
It also has two offices in Gold Coast and Adelaide.
Any joint venture that would keep the two brands distinct.
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Barry Plant says LJH talks will continue

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Melbourne's auction market saw around 1260 auctions on Saturday which, Domain economist Dr Andrew Wilson noted, exceeded the previous record for any April weekend.
Melbourne reported a strong 74 percent clearance rate, the same as Sydney which hosted its second busiest Saturday so far this year.
But the dead heat between the two auction capitals was of limited interest with media attention on more horrendous matters.
In Melbourne it was the missing millions after six LJ Hooker offices were closed by Victorian Consumer Affairs given trust account irregularities.
And in Sydney it was the listing of the former home of the backpacker killer, Ivan Milat.
It was the Eagle Vale home at the time of his 1994 arrest, in quiet Cinnabar St (above).
The four bedroom brick home with the dark past last sold in 2006 at $386,000.
Ivan Milat bought in 1992 with his sister Shirley Soire for $50,000, with the siblings selling it in 1995 at $160,000.
It is now priced at $685,000 to $715,000 through Century 21 Premier Reality agent Susan Parkes who told The Sunday Telegraph that prospective buyer feedback was that “it’s a lovely home."
In 1996 Milat was convicted of the murders of seven backpackers after their bodies were found in the Belangalo State Forest, near Berrima in 1992 and 1993, and is serving seven consecutive life sentences in Goulburn super-maximum security prison.
There's already talk of jail after millions in deposits are claimed to have gone missing from the trust accounts of six LJ Hooker offices in outer Melbourne. 
There have been varied counter claims of a hacking or an elaborate conspiracy, but it appears no-one is giving them much credence.
Consumer Affairs Minister Jane Garrett said those responsible would feel the full force of the law.
"This is horrendous behaviour," Ms Garrett told reporters on Saturday.
"We changed the locks on these offices as soon as we found out irregularities had occurred."
Some 20 homeowners, along with 80 rental tenants, are caught up in the matter after irregularities were found in a LJ Hooker franchise in Glen Waverley and its associated branches in Keysborough, Mount Waverley, Burwood, Doncaster and Box Hill.
The branches are operated by husband-and-wife, Joseph Ngo and Judy Thanh Truc (also known as Judy Nguyen), who were named LJ Hooker’s Best Team of the Year in 2015.
“Houses around Melbourne, and certainly in these areas, are very expensive,” Ms Garrett said.
Ms Garrett said anyone found to have misused trust money could face very significant charges and jail time.
“We take an absolute zero-tolerance approach to this,” she said.
“This is other people’s money. Like lawyers you hold it on trust … [if you] abuse that trust, you’ll feel the full force of the law.”
CoreLogic RP Data reported Melbourne was host to 1,272 auctions, making it the busiest of any of the capital city markets for auctions by a long run.
The preliminary clearance rate for the city was 74 per cent this week.
There were around 800 Sydney auctions.
Preliminary results for Brisbane show a 49 per cent clearance rate.
The number of Adelaide auctions rose to 129 this week, with agents securing a 64 per cent success.
Perth's clearance rate was 46 per cent. Canberra’s clearance rate fell from 73 per cent last week to 67 per cent. 
The national result sits at 71 per cent, up marginally from a final auction clearance rate of 69 per cent last week, but lower when compared to one year ago at 78 per cent.
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Melbourne weekend auctions break April records

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Mundarlo's Deltroit Station, one of the standout pastoral holdings of the Eastern Riverina, has been listed for sale.
It is less than three years since it was bought by the Brisbane-based investment company, Australian Pastoral Group (APG).
The 2548 hectare (6296ac) grazing and cropping property, with 1902 homestead situated 33 kilometres south of Gundagai in the Hillas Creek valley, was bought by APG in 2012.
It became the administrative flagship of APG, a company established by Alan Hayes, who was previously the founding chief executive of Paraway Pastoral Company for Macquarie Bank.
APG’s two other stations, the 141,000ha Neumayer Valley in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the 6000ha “Kinbeachie” at Goondiwindi in south-west Queensland are also for sale through Inglis Rural Property.
Offers are closing May 19, with Inglis’ sales manager, Sam Triggs, suggesting in the $18-$20 million range, given the property’s proven productivity and high standard of improvements.
Taken up as a selection in 1866 by William and John Richardson, Deltroit Station remained in Richardson descendants’ ownership for nearly a century.
Subsequent owners included US-based King Ranch principal Robert Kleberg, the Adelaide-based Barr-Smith family, and former Lumley Insurance chairman Anthony Crichton-Brown who was the 2012 vendor.
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Deltroit, Mundarlo listed by APG

A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.

The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.

Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.

Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.

<img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" />

Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.

Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.

Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.

The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.

International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".

The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.

The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.

Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.

The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.

After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.

Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.

He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a>

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Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

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Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

Jonathan Chancellor

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