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<h4> </h4>
GUEST OBSERVER
The federal environment and acting cities minister, Greg Hunt, on Tuesday pledged to increase the number of trees in Australian cities. In a bid to fight higher urban temperatures, the plan will set targets for tree cover.
This is part of a green revolution spreading through the world’s cities. From New York to Singapore, urban areas are undertaking bold “greenspace” initiatives – removing concrete and allowing trees and vegetation back in.
Some of the benefits include replacing the ugly infrastructural trappings of vehicles and motorways as well as cooling cities, absorbing air pollution and minimising runoff. These greenings further have mental health benefits, by bringing residents and visitors alike back into contact with the land.
But what about wildlife? Trees alone aren’t enough to bring back nature. In the rush to create greenspace, we have to make sure we build it in a way to help wildlife thrive. That will take careful thought and planning.
<h2>Nature paved over</h2>
Many of the world’s cities don’t have anything special to offer in terms of nature – either because they never had all that much in the first place, or they’ve long since been lost to urban development.
Melbourne is a case of the latter. James Boyce (in his book 1835) records:
By the time Anthony Trollope visited, then a city of 206,000 “souls” in the early 1870s, the city had already largely turned its back on the Yarra [River], drained the swamps, filled in the lakes and flattened the hills, so that Trollope knew “of no great town in the neighbourhood of which there is less to see in the way of landscape beauty”.
That sounds like many a world city.
London, New York, Hamburg, Madrid, Detroit, Chicago, Seoul and Singapore are among cities that have undertaken bold greenspace initiatives. These cities have recognised the distinct benefits that flow from connecting people back to the natural world.
Detroit and Singapore have strong biodiversity themes and that’s needed too given the global decline in wildlife. Such initiatives help us to view cities from a non-human-centric perspective.
<h2>i-Tree world</h2>
Back in Australia “green infrastructure” has similarly taken hold with councils, property owners and private companies signing up to a national 202020 vision to create 20% more greenspace by 2020. The main underpinning of that “greenspace” is the “urban forest".
While urban forest has a broad definition, cities usually take it to mean tree cover. This has been revolutionised and driven by satellite mapping (known as i-Tree) from the US Department of Agriculture.
This mapping has recently been used to shed light on the performance of Australia’s municipalities. Ranking them according to their percentage of tree cover, parts of Melbourne and Sydney scored badly, with many suburbs having less than 20% tree cover overall. Brisbane scored well, with most areas having more than 50% tree cover.
As cities attempt to increase canopies, it’s worth noting that these trees will have to deal with increasing extreme weather as the world warms.
<h2>Rewilding the city</h2>
However, trees on their own won’t bring wildlife back into our cities. In fact, canopies tend to create spaces for dominant native birds such as the Noisy Miner and Red Wattlebird, which by their behaviour exclude smaller birds.
Birdlife Australia suggests that a dense understory of shrubs up to two metres high is required for small ground birds like thornbills, robins, scrubwrens and fairy-wrens to roost in and make brief forays into grassed areas. Thickets also provide protection from eagles and hawks and other predators.
The Victorian naturalist Alan Reid suggested:
a mixture of fine-leaf and broad-leaf plants with a high percentage of native species, especially at intermediate and ground levels, will provide the greatest opportunities for attracting and holding wildlife.
Private gardens have inadvertently edged towards this prescription, along the way forming “nuclei” for wildlife. To create these on public land, areas will need to be set aside in parklands and other community spaces where small birds and small animals can congregate, breed and flourish.
This may require fencing to counter fox and cat predation, and possibly incorporate bird hides, interpretative apps and surveillance to ensure personal security. We need to give attention to the subtle connections between species.
Wildlife corridors are another construct – in effect they’re flyways for larger birds. Some of these already take advantage of the routes provided by revegetated creek and river banks.
Reid suggests that “corridors as narrow as 5 metres will allow passage of lorikeets and wattlebirds even when gaps exceed 30 metres”.
But if the gaps in 20-metre-wide corridors grow to more than 30 metres they will block many upper-level feeders including butterflies, pygmy possums and marsupial mice.
As the take-up of greening in places like New York, Hamburg and Seoul shows, it’s becoming mainstream in city halls around the world. And we now know that it helps settle the brains of those otherwise enmeshed in asphalt, glass and concrete.
There are some encouraging signs that developers “get it”: witness Singapore building an entire forest in a high-rise apartment atrium. A connection-to-nature element also forms part of the revamped Green Building Council of Australia’s Innovation Challenge Program. Let’s hope it won’t be long before that awareness spills over into popular planning thought.
As the world continues to change under human pressure, we need to make sure our cities can be homes for wildlife too.
Peter Fisher is adjunct professor, Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-fisher-20629" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bringing wildlife back to our cities

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Light rail upgrades within Sydney's inner east is tipped to push up the value of local apartments by a possible 20 percent, a real estate agent has predicted.
Greencliff executive director David Butt said additional and improved transport in and out of the CBD is key to residential planning as fewer apartments are sold without car spaces and options such as car sharing are becoming more popular. 
"Potential investors are aware that the light rail and the redevelopment of George Street into a pedestrianised street is going to have a huge flow-on affect to residential buildings on or near the street with more people wanting to live in these apartments and the rentals and sales prices are increasing as a result," he said.
“We are actually seeing prices increase as construction progresses – the further along construction is delivered, the higher prices grow.
"Providing additional and improved transport in and out of the CBD is key to residential planning as fewer apartments are sold without car spaces and options such as car sharing are becoming more popular."
<a href="https://dulwichgreen.com.au" target="_blank">Dulwich Green</a>, (above) a development project marketed by Greencliff, is located just 10 minutes to Dulwich Hill Light Rail Station, part of the newly completed Inner West Light Rail Extension.
The start of the light rail construction around the Lumiere Residences at 101 Bathurst St, (below) managed by Frasers Property, had piqued interest in further sales, he said.
<img src="/images/2016/01/28/Lumiere.jpg" alt="" width="1465" height="2191"> 
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Apartments on the new Sydney Light Rail corridor likely to see price growth of up to 20 percent

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Homeowners trying to sell their homes on their own — for-sale-by-owners (FSBOs) — are courted by emerging disruptive websites.
Most of them want to save money on real estate commissions, rather than because they feel they don’t need a professional to sell their home.
Recent data from a National Association of Realtors survey in the United States shows that less than 10 percent of FSBOs actually sell.
The Inman site listed some of the top reasons why FSBOs fail in real estate.'
1. Owners do not know how to screen potential buyers and fail in the closing process.
2. Owners fail to solve buyer’s queries.
3. Owners don’t understand the concept of ‘golden time’, as according to this concept, homeowners get the most money for their homes shortly after of putting the property on the market. 
4. Owners fail to understand the contract procedures.
5. FSBOs don’t know how to handle the home building inspection findings.
6. FSBOs incorrectly price their homes too high.
7. FSBO homes lack exposure.
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Property 101: Why for sale by property owners fail

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Just five days before Christmas, a $36 million trophy home at Vaucluse was bought by billionaire supermarket chain owners from China, Huang Qiaorong, who with her husband, Zhang Xuansong, is co-owner and director of China’s Yonghui supermarket chain.
Agents had listed <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/9-coolong-road-vaucluse-nsw-2030-2010930119" target="_blank">the 1480 square metre harbourfront property</a> two years ago with $35 million plus hopes. It settled January 11 this year through McGrath and Sothebys.
It was sold by Alistair Walton, a former chairman of the local Goldman Sachs outfit, who was appointed consul-general and senior trade commissioner to Houston last October by the Turnbull Government.
Alistair and his former wife, Gilly had commissioned the Coolong Road residence by<a href="https://luigirosselli.com/residential/coolong-road" target="_blank"> architect Luigi Rosselli </a>following their 2002 purchase at a then record $14.72 million from retired bookmaker Bob Blann.
The three-storey residence on a north-facing block comes with guest quarters, garaging for nine cars, a tennis court and pool, all within gardens designed by William Dangar.
There is also a private jetty and slipway.
Rosselli recalled "a high level of diplomatic and political skills were required" after the development application was subject to "venomous objections from the neighbours on either side of our project."
"It was like being in the middle of the Maginot lines," he advised.
"Despite this neighbourly war, we obtained a building permit in less than four months." It was built by Alvaro Bros.
It became known as the brief 2011 rental of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.
Fairfax Media noted the new owner of the property, Ms Huang, is a permanent resident, based in Canberra, and did not require any approval to buy property in Australia. 
Her husband debuted on the Forbes list of China’s billionaires last year with a net worth of $1.35 billion.
Within days of the December 20 exchange another Vaucluse trophy residence, Villa Igiea, <a href="/news/inside-the-52-million-villa-igiea-vaucluse-the-2015-runner-up-trophy-home-sale">was sold for $52 million</a> on New Year’s Eve by expat entrepreneur Wayne Burt to 27-year-old property developer Shangjin Lin.
Also in Vaucluse, the all-time highest Australian trophy home sale price of <a href="/news/james-packer-and-erica-baxter-sell-vaucluse-trophy-la-mer">$70 million was set in August</a> when casino tycoon James Packer and his former wife, Erica, sold to the Hunters Hill based property developer billionaire Chau Chak Wing.
The median price for a home in <a href="/news">Vaucluse is $3,700,000</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Chinese supermarket billioniare buys $36 million Vaucluse harbourfront

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GUEST OBSERVER
Yesterday's Q4 CPI numbers showed the RBA's preferred measures of underlying inflation are at the bottom edge of the 2-3% target band. The trimmed mean was 2.1% y-o-y (market had 2.1%), while the weighted median was 1.9% y-o-y (market had 2.1%) and the average of the two was running at 2.0% y-o-y. These numbers were in line with the RBA's own forecast for Q4 from its November official statement.
Importantly, the RBA also remains more focused on the recent lift in jobs and activity indicators, so we expect them to be on hold next week. However, with inflation at the bottom edge of the target band and growth unlikely to be above trend this year, we think another cut is likely around mid-year (pencilled in for Q2).
Facts
The trimmed mean rose by 0.6% q-o-q in Q4 (market had 0.5%) and by 2.1% y-o-y (in line) while the weighted median was up 0.5% (in line) and 1.9% y-o-y (market had 2.1%). The CPI excluding 'volatile items' was up 2.1% y-o-y in Q4, which was unchanged from last quarter.
CPI inflation was 0.4% q-o-q and 1.7% y-o-y (market expected 1.6%).
Tradable inflation was 0.5% q-o-q and 0.8% y-o-y (up from -0.3% previously). Non-tradable inflation was 0.4% q-o-q and 2.3% y-o-y (down from 2.6% previously).
The largest positive contributions to inflation in the quarter were from alcohol and tobacco (up 2.7% q-o-q, driven by an increase in tobacco excise) and recreation and culture (up 1.6% q-o-q, driven by higher prices for domestic and international holidays).
The largest negative contributors in the quarter were transport (-1.4% q-o-q due to lower petrol prices) and communications (-2.4% q-o-q due to falling prices for telecommunication equipment and services).
Implications
Underlying inflation this low is usually a recipe for an RBA cash rate cut. But not this time: or at least not yet. Late last year, the RBA Governor, Glenn Stevens, made it clear that the RBA was prepared to be more tolerant of low inflation, for a number of reasons, including: that low inflation is a global force, so the RBA may not be able to do much about it; that the RBA already has its cash rate at a record low of 2.00%; and, that the RBA sees risks to financial stability if it cuts further and were to drive an additional lift in housing prices.
Importantly, for the moment, the RBA can afford to tolerate low inflation because the jobs and activity indicators have been lifting. The unemployment rate fell to a two-year low of 5.8% in December and a key survey also shows that business conditions have been around 7-year highs recently (albeit falling back a little in the December print). While the labour market and activity surveys are still holding up, the RBA is unlikely to cut rates. This pretty much rules out a cut next week.
However, as today's CPI numbers confirm, underlying inflation is no constraint on the RBA's scope to cut rates, if they deem it necessary and useful for supporting growth. At the same time, we expect growth to remain a bit below trend this year and recent global developments, particularly in China, suggest the risks to the growth outlook are tilted to the downside. 
A fourth year of below trend growth is expected to continue to weigh on the outlook for Australian inflation. The recent fall in oil prices is also a clear downside risk to the inflation outlook. In short, we do not see enough growth momentum to get inflation back to the mid-point of the target band this year.
What will trigger the RBA to move?
In our view, some pullback from the strong pace of jobs growth or the high level of business conditions, combined with a continued cooling of the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets may be enough to convince the RBA that another cut may be needed. 
Of course, a further fall in the AUD, perhaps to US60-65 cents, could do the work for them, but the currency does seem to be quite sticky around the US70 cent level.
<a href="/images/2016/01/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-27%20at%202.43.19%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-27%20at%202.43.19%20PM.png" alt="" width="705" height="320">
 
<a href="/images/2016/01/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-27%20at%202.44.53%20PM.png">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-27%20at%202.44.53%20PM.png" alt="" width="825" height="369">
Paul Bloxham is chief economist (ANZ) for HSBC . Daniel Smith is economist. They can be contacted <a href="https://www.about.hsbc.com.au/hsbc-in-australia/management-team" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Inflation is low, but unsurprisingly so: HSBC's Paul Bloxham

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GUEST OBSERVER
There is no better indicator of the success of a city than the numbers of people who want to visit, live and work there. But this success creates demand for space, which is increasingly hard to come by in a growing number of world cities. This is especially the case on constrained land and historic sites, where expansion potential is limited. 
<h2>Worldwide increases in tourism</h2>
According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, worldwide international tourist arrivals reached 1,138 million in 2014, a 4.7% increase over the previous year, and have already increased by 4% in the first half of 2015.
The Savills 12 Cities Report (which examines worldwide trends) found that nine of the 12 cities included in the report were featured in the top 20 worldwide for international overnight visitors. London topped this list with 18.8 million overnight visitors in 2014, and a huge 300,000 visitors every night.
Although cities in Australia tend to receive a smaller amount of international visitors in comparison to some of the world's top tourist destinations, international visitation is still increasing. According to Tourism Research Australia, Australia saw a 7% increase in international visitors in 2015, which has also led to a growth of 10% for international visitor spend.
This growing trend means that world cities need to consider how to accommodate an increasing number of international visitors. International business people, if they continue to invest in a city, will want to spend time there. The quality, availability and convenience of accommodation – owned or rented – is an important component of city investability and economic success.
<h2>The question then becomes how to accommodate all these visitors</h2>
Governments will need to look at ways to sustainably develop and increase the density of their cities, and extend their reach, or a combination of the two. This means construction and transport infrastructure are likely to remain high on the list of priorities for some time to come.
In addition, certain businesses such as Airbnb have emerged over the past five years to revolutionise how we perceive available space in a city. Instead of building new space, Airbnb connects travellers with pre-existing space (rooms, apartments or whole houses already built). 
New technology and the digital space has allowed this new accommodation platform to disrupt the traditional travel industry, and Airbnb has already hosted more than 50 million guests worldwide, with 1.5 million properties currently listed around the world. 
<h2>Lack of space leads to rising rents </h2>
The inability to keep pace with accommodation demand has created cost pressure, which is why rising rents are a common feature of world cities.
The average accommodation cost per person in the Savills Executive Unit (SEU)* and their household in the 12 cities featured in the Savills 12 Cities Report is now $74,945, compared to $68,538 in December 2008. So despite the recession of 2008-2010, when average live/ work accommodation costs fell by 5%, rents are rising faster than city GDP growth in most jurisdictions.
The biggest rise has been seen in San Francisco, but high live/work rental growth has also been seen in other cities since 2008; New York, Los Angeles, London and Sydney have all seen rents spike between 18% and 28% during this time.
To learn more about the trends across world cities, view the Savills 12 Cities Report <a href="https://pdf.euro.savills.co.uk/global-research/12-cities---h2-2015.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
Tony Crabb is Savills Australia’s national head of research and can be contacted <a href="https://www.savills.com.au/blog/author/109174/Tony" target="_blank">here</a>. 
 
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How will the world’s top cities cope with the increase of visitors? Savills' Tony Crabb

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The home of Sydney’s Rockpool Bar &amp; Grill and Spice Temple, 66 Hunter Street is about to come to the market.  
Set within the City Mutual Trust building, the 2,019 sqm space holds two restaurants.
“66 Hunter street comes with long term leases to Australia’s most awarded chef, Neil Perry, who will continue to operate arguably two of the best restaurants in the country at this wonderful location,” listing agent, Miron Solomons of Colliers International said.
"The asset is located in the heart of Sydney’s financial district, and with such a highly regarded, long term and stable tenant in place it will always be highly sought after by a local and international investors. 
The property is being sold by US based investor, David Doyle who has decided that selling the asset in the current market would free up capital for him to explore future opportunities.
Doyle is Perry's business partner.
The international expressions of interest campaign closes March 2 with $30 million plus tipped.
It follows the successful sale of Rockpool restaurant Bridge Street last October for more than $8 million.
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The home of Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple, 66 Hunter Street on market

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Despite suggestions Ernst &amp; Young is close to selling the Kidman family’s ­vast cattle estate, new potential buyers have reportedly emerged.
The Melbourne based Fox family who own Linfox have been pinpointed as a late interested party.
Fairfax Media suggested the $3 billion Linfox logistics empire founded by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox - now largely run by three of his sons Peter, Andrew and David - had the desire and financial capacity to lodge a serious bid for Kidman.
Andrew Fox runs the company’s property division and is understood to have held recent talks with senior government officials about making a potential offer.
The preferred Hunan Dakang bidders had been thought as set to re-emerge with an Australian partner to buy all the Kidman property except the defence sensitive Anna Creek at a price a little below the original bid at $370 million.
Australia's biggest private rural landholding, which includes the world's largest cattle station, is up for sale by the pioneering pastoralist company, S. Kidman and Co. 
Eleven cattle stations covering more than 100,000 square kilometres are being offered through Ernst and Young Adelaide.
S. Kidman and Co. is 98% owned by members of the Kidman family, represented by 58 shareholdings. Not all wanted to sell, The Land reported earlier this year, adding last financial year the company reported a net operating cashflow of $9.3 million and paid dividends of 20 cents a share. 
But it recorded a net after tax loss of $1.4m as herd numbers declined 15 per cent because of tough seasonal conditions to 182,350 head, and their livestock market value fell about $10 million to $97.4 million.
The cattle king Sir Sidney Kidman's first purchase was in 1886: Owen Springs south-west of Alice Springs.
The business still has cattle stations across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. 
Anna Creek Station in South Australia's outback, with defence security proximity concerns, is the largest at 23,000 square kilometres. 
The other holdings include Helen Springs in the Northern Territory and Ruby Plains in Western Australia, Durham Downs, Durrie, Glengyle, Morney Plains, Naryilco and Rockybank in Queensland; Innamincka, Macumba and Tungali in South Australia where the company is headquartered.
Property Observer first reported the S.Kidman first cattle empire was set for sale on 14 December here.
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Fox family keen on Kidman farms?

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The Blairgowrie home built by Jane Parker, one of the creators of clothing and homewares brand Country Road, has been listed on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula.
The 5700 sqm holding, <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/44-knox-road-blairgowrie-vic-3942-2012343508" target="_blank">Pirates Bay, at 44 Knox Road</a>, overlooks national parkland, the bay and the township. It was last sold in 1997 by Parker.
There is a five-bedroom-plus-study house. There's six outdoor entertainment decks – one with a heated pool.
The grouds have a tennis court amid established gardens.
Kay &amp; Burton’s Liz Jenson and Gerald Delany have $4 million plus hopes.
Parker had helped establish Country Road with her brother Stephen Bennett in 1974. 
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Home built by Country Road pioneer Jane Parker lists in Blairgowrie

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Suffolk Park, the Byron Bay's fringe hamlet, is set to become far more fashionable.
International model Gemma Ward and her photographer partner, David Letts are rumoured recent buyers at the beachside locaility.
<a href="https://www.realestateofdistinction.com.au/properties.php?id=12861493" target="_blank">The $1.6 million outlay</a> by the boho couple has been pinpointed as a nondescript two storey property which only has dense trees between it and the patrolled Tallow Beach via a sandy track.
It is tipped to be an occasional retreat for the couple and their two year old Hawaiin born daughter Naia.
The pair's appreciation for the far north coast emerged when they were attendees at Byron's Bay's popular Easter jazz festival Bluesfest last year, attending with her model friend, Nicole Trunfio.
They were back again last August with Gemma posting three instragram photos of their extended holiday saying "love Byron." 
In 2009 Ward, who divides her time between Australia, Los Angeles and New York, spent weeks renting a beachside mansion at Suffolk Park with Nicole Trunfio.
Gemma made her Australian Fashion Week debut at only 15 years old from Perth and went on to become the youngest model to appear on the American edition of Vogue. 
In 2007, Ward earned $3 million from her doll-face looks, to be ranked by Forbes magazine as the 11th most highly paid model in the world.
After a six year hiatus from modelling, she returned in 2014 with a busy time since including work for Prada, Country Road and Ellery.
Showing off her androgynous side, Gemma made a surprise appearance in Milan earlier this month where she walked in the Calvin Klein autumn 2016 menswear show.
While I was sipping on my yellow flower mango lassi at their local Suffolk Park cafe this week, there was no sign of the beach loving couple who were instead being papped on a hot day at Bondi Beach.
Suffolk Park has long been the poor cousin to Byron's big name locaities, Belongil and Wategos.
Suffolk Park's top price stands at $3.2 million while $10 million was paid last year at Belongil. Wategos hit the highs of $15 million for a colonial style house in 2009.
Bookended by the Tallows and Tuckeroo Beach gated communities, Suffolk Park has attracted the likes of Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page and coal tycoon David Knappick, who recently secured the beachfront record late last year from a Dubai-based expatriate. 
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Gemma Ward makes Byron Bay's Suffolk Park fashionable

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."

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[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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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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