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Listed property developer Cedar Woods Properties has doubled its profit for the half year to December 31, after securing better project margins. 
Net profit after tax was $18.1 million, up 100 per cent from the previous $9 million. 
Revenue remained steady at $77 million.
It found cost savings in lower development expenses, through cheaper contractors.
It is developing in four states, including the recently acquired a 3.81-hectare infill site approved for 279 dwellings in Wooloowin, Brisbane.
It has announced the expansion of the Williams Landing Shopping Centre, in western Melbourne which opened in December 2014, comprising a Woolworths supermarket, 21 specialty stores and 1,800 m2 of office space.
Cedar Woods is constructing a $6.5 million expansion of the centre. It noted strong price growth on residential lots was being achieved resulting in the higher margins.
The expansion will include a 106-place childcare facility managed by Future Kids and around 1200 square metres of ground floor retail space.
The expansion will be financed by a $30 million facility provided by Bankwest, to fund the expansion and also refinance the existing $23 million development facility that was arranged to build the Williams Landing Shopping Centre in 2014.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Cedar Woods Properties doubles profit for half year to December 2015

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A Hong Kong investor has secured a 123 sq m tenanted retail property in Broadbeach CBD on the Gold Coast for just over $1 million.
The ground-floor property at 3/90 Surf Parade earns a net annual rent of $63,682 representing a yield of 5.8 per cent.
Ray White’s Steven King handled the deal for a Melbourne-based investor.
It had last sold at $690,000 in 1998 
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Gold Coast shopfront sells just north of $1 million

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<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
GUEST OBSERVER
Australian CBD office space is just one percent of global office floorspace, however for such a small market it is remarkably popular with investors.
In our 2015 Global Investor Outlook survey, Sydney and Melbourne were ranked as the second and third most popular destinations in which global investors wanted to target.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
London, which has an office market more than three times larger than Sydney, ranked first.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
Offshore investors now own 17 percent of Australian office stock, around twice as much as they did five years ago. Investment levels continue to rise. In 2015, offshore investors accounted for 67 percent of total direct investment in CBD office buildings. If indirect investment is included, the proportion is a lot higher.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
Australia's strong economy, high transparency and low sovereign risk continue to play a key role in driving investment decisions. However, yield compression is continuing to occur and some investors are beginning to see Australia as too expensive. We consider this is unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in offshore investment in CBD office investment in 2016.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
The key challenge for offshore investors is that although Australia is a particularly popular target, the small size of the market makes it difficult for them to access stock.
 
<a href="/images/2016/02/24/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-24%20at%201.10.27%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/24/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-24%20at%201.10.27%20PM.png" alt="" width="790" height="554">
Nerida Conisbee is national director of research for Colliers International and can be contacted <a href="https://www.colliers.com/nerida.conisbee">here</a>.
 
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Prices soar as offshore investment dominates (Is Australia becoming too expensive?)

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The first Burgess Rawson portfolio auction of the year saw a Vodafone facility on the Gold Coast fetch $6.1 million.
Auctioneer David Scholes advised there was a renewed secure 10 year net lease to June 2025 plus options to 2035.
<a href="https://www.burgessrawson.com.au/buying/QLD/Gold-Coast/Arundel/Office/4P0195#.VszCAYx96AI" target="_blank">Leased to Vodafone</a>, the tenant has been in occupation for 15 years at the strategically positioned telecommunications facility located at Arundel 7 km from the Southport CBD.
It is one of only three Vodafone high tech facilities in Queensland with a site area of 2,738 sqm.
Its annual rental increases are 3.5% until 2020 and 3.25% until 2024, with the tenant paying all outgoings including and tax.
Its net income was $430,000 pa + GST, increasing to $445,050 pa + GST in June 2016.
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Gold Coast Vodafone facility fetches $6.1 million at Burgess Rawson auction

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The exposure of the big four banks to commercial property lending has further increased. 
Australia's four major banks contributed about 70 percent of the latest increased exposure to commercial property.
Analysis from CLSA, NAB has the highest percentage of gross loans to commercial property at 10.3 percent or about $60.2 billion.
Westpac is second at 8.2 percent, through less than a third of the 35 percent it had during the tumultuous early 1990s.
CBA sits at 7.2 percent and ANZ had the lowest exposure to commercial property.
Australia's banks saw their biggest quarterly increase in exposure to office towers during the December quarter, rising almost $3 billion to $74.56 billion, the largest quarterly change since the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority began the 2008 data series.
Australian banks increased their commercial property exposures by $5.46 billion in the December quarter to $244 billion.
Exposures in office accommodation make up 30 percent of all commercial property while retail property made up 23 percent.
There were increased exposures in every sector of commercial property except tourism assets, the Australian Financial Review noted.
Exposures in commercial residential and land developments rose by a collective $1.8 billion in the December quarter.
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Commercial Property 101: Big four banks ratchet up commercial property exposure

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Frasers Property Australia (formerly Australand) has secured its first tenant in Horsley Drive Business Park, which will be the first six star Green Star industrial precinct in Australia.  
Martin Brower Australia has entered into a 20 year lease for an 18,559 sqm facility comprising warehouse and 3,000 sqm office space. The facility will accommodate dry store, chiller, freezer and chilled staging areas in the warehouse. 
Frasers Property is focused on delivering direct and real benefits to our customers by reducing their total occupancy costs and operating expenses, whilst also improving their health and wellbeing.
Over 300 people will be located in Martin Brower Australia’s new facility.
Horsley Drive Business Park is a 20.4 hectare site owned by the Western Sydney Parkland Trust (WSPT) and is located on the corner of Cowpasture Road and Horsley Drive. Frasers Property has entered into a development agreement with WSPT to deliver a high quality industrial estate with a mix of facility types.
Jackie McArthur, managing director of Martin Brower Australia the business were supply chain partners to McDonald’s globally, and will service approximately 300 restaurants from this site which is ideally located with accessibility to Sydney’s major transport networks.
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Martin Brower takes Horsley Drive Business Park lease

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ASIC has accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from Mr Rankothge Bandula (Ben) Jayaweera. The EU permanently prevents Mr Jayaweera from providing financial product advice to any retail client. 
Mr Jayaweera is a director and authorised representative of Growth Plus Financial Group Pty Ltd (Growth Plus) in Brisbane, Queensland.
Mr Jayaweera recommended that clients invest in an unregistered aqua agriculture investment scheme, which was operated by Growth Plus, without reasonably considering the clients' goals and financial situation. The recommended investments were not consistent with the clients' risk profile and exposed the clients' superannuation benefits to inappropriate levels of risk.
ASIC had concerns that Mr Jayaweera may have:
<ul>
<li>Act in the best interests of clients in relation to personal advice;</li>
<li>Ensure the advice provided to clients was appropriate; and</li>
<li>Ensure that when providing advice, he prioritised his clients' interests before his own or that of Growth Plus.</li>
</ul>
Under the EU, Mr Jayaweera will permanently cease to provide financial product advice to retail clients. Additionally, he will not be involved in any capacity in the provision of financial product advice to retail clients.
Download the EU <a href="https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asics-registers/additional-searches/enforceable-undertakings-register/" target="_blank">here</a>.
Background
ASIC's  review of advice provided by Mr Jayaweera was commenced after the Financial Ombudsman Service Limited notified ASIC of the non-payment by Growth Plus of a determination relating to advice provided by Mr Jayaweera. 
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ASIC order over aqua agriculture investment scheme 

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Capitol Grand, South Yarra has announced it is set to commence demolition works after its initial 120 luxury apartment sales.
Melbourne's developer community however believed the $800 million South Yarra tower, Capitol Grand project, which is now offering up to two million Qantas Frequent Flyer points to off-the-plan buyers, was too expensive to succeed, according to the Australian Financial Review.
The Fairfax Media newspaper also added the Qantas deal was viewed as "an ominous sign as incentives usually creep into markets when demand falls or there is an over-supply."
<a href="https://apartments.lkproperty.com.au/capitol-grand-melbourne/?gclid=CMjohY3RjcsCFQF_vQod6c0MXw" target="_blank">Apartments in Capitol Grand</a> start from $610,000 for a 50 square metre one-bedder with two-bedders starting from $1 million.
The most expensive penthouses are priced at an "eye-watering" $25 million, which the paper noted made it more expensive than the $20 million paid for the penthouse atop Australia 108, the Southbank skyscraper now under construction which will be the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere upon completion in 2019.
The project received development approval at VCAT in July last year after the height was raised from 38 to 50 stories, which at 180 metres will be the tallest building outside the Melbourne CBD. It is on the former Capitol Bakery site.
LK Property Group's Larry Kestelman, the founder of internet provider Dodo, told The Australian Financial Review 120 out of the 400 apartments had now sold, the majority to local buyers. 
"We have enough sales on the board to commence demolition in next couple of weeks.
"A demolisher has been appointed and the site's been hoarded up.
"We're half-way through the tend process to appoint a builder," he said.
The project, at the corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Streets, will be funded by Mr Kestelman's "independent financial arrangements" and does not have international stakeholders or partners.
"The news will surprise some in Melbourne's developer community, who believed the project was too expensive to succeed," the paper reported adding the Capitol Bakery site had a track record of failed projects, the most recent in 2011. 
Some $100 million in sales were inked in the first 10 days of sales last August after a Melbourne appearance by actor Charlize Theron, who spruiked the development at the Australian Grand Prix.
Capitol Grand South Yarra won the prestigious Best Luxury Development Asia Pacific award at the iProperty.com Awards, held by one of Asia’s largest online real estate portals.  
Three years ago, LK Property Group created the partnership with Qantas Loyalty on other projects.
“We have had an excited response about the Qantas partnership from buyers in our other developments," a spokesperson advised.
"Potential buyers walk into an apartment and start talking to the agents about their travel plans, so we know it’s a great partnership to have been able to secure with Qantas Loyalty.
"Capitol Grand South Yarra buyers could take advantage of the offer to escape the Melbourne winter and put points towards the longed for European sojourn."
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Capitol Grand, South Yarra set to commence demolition after 120 luxury apartment sales

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One of New Street, Brighton's oldest properties has stood the test of time and has been rewarded, with a $2.95 million weekend sale.
New Street land sales took off when the railway extension and the tram from St. Kilda arrived in the 1860s, with <a href="https://www.marshallwhite.com.au/110-new-street-brighton-352381/" target="_blank">110 New Street Brighton</a> long regarded highly.
Marshall White agents Kate Strickland and Gerry Gordon secured the sale at the February 20 auction.
The property had last traded for $1.85 million in 2008. 
The renovated and extended 1888 Victorian cottage honours its architectural heritage, with the original slate roof and the brick chimney it's oldest exterior features.
Despite the renovation, the Baltic pine floors and original fireplaces have been maintained.
The 883 sqm family home has four bedrooms, three living areas, two bathrooms and a study.
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1880s New Street, Brighton trophy home sold

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UBS Australia boss Matthew Grounds is on the move, but not going anywhere far. The Mosman trophy home - bought for $11 million in 2007 with wife, Kimberley - has be become redundant listed for sale.

Ofcourse being a Mosman merchant banker he's staying on the suburb's property merry-go-round upgrading to a nearby $14 million acquisition.

<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mosman-121944094" target="_blank">Their redundant five bedroom home</a> looks over Grotto Point towards the Heads. It's an easy walk to Rosherville Reserve, Chinamans Beach, Balmoral Beach and The Esplanade café scene.

The Phillip Corben designed 2007-designed contemporary home was updated with interiors from Burley Katon Halliday around 2009. Not sure who signed off on the Entertaining terrace with uplifting views built-in Beefeater BBQ Entertaining terrace with uplifting views built-in Beefeater BBQ There are striking seagrass wall panels and limewash timber floors with lots of white timber door panelling.

The space is all linked by a four person internal lift. All bathrooms have underfloor heating.

Its 733sqm of landscaped gardens including a 12.5m heated swimming pool and hedge framed level lawn in its cul-de-sac setting.

The Grounds family demolished a large Federation house on a 1680-square-metre block after paying $14 million to Patrick Allaway, the chairman of Saltbush Capital Markets, and his wife, Libby.

The Grounds maintain a Palm Beach retreat with Lleyton Hewitt and Bec Cartright as their neighbours for a time.

He briefly made the 2009 BRW Rich List with an estimated $40 million.

This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telgraph.

 Related developments:

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29139]
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UBS merchant banker Matthew Grounds on Mosman property merry-go-round

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<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/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of 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."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Jonathan Chancellor

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