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GUEST OBSERVER
The Federal government has recently announced six potential sites for a low-level nuclear waste repository: Sallys Flat in New South Wales, Hale in the Northern Territory, Cortlinye, Pinkawillinie and Barndioota in South Australia and Oman Ama in Queensland.
The six were whittled down from an original list of 28 voluntarily nominated sites in a process set up under the National Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012.
The plan is to create a shortlist of three sites in 2016 and by the end of the year nominate the winning candidate. The site is scheduled to be open to receive Australia’s low-level nuclear waste by 2020.
Australia has been trying to construct such a facility for the past 35 years without success. Australia urgently needs a dedicated federal facility to deal with this waste since each year it produces approximately two swimming pools worth of low-level waste (40 cubic metres) and five cubic metres of intermediate-level wastes. There are now around 4,300 cubic metres of waste that needs to be housed.
So, will Australia finally get a nuclear waste site?
<h2>Australia needs a storage site</h2>
Low-level nuclear waste typically comprises items such as lightly irradiated paper, plastic, gloves, clothing, soil and filters typically generated by industry, hospitals and nuclear facilities.
Such low-level waste has been stored for decades at 100 interim sites such as universities or hospitals across Australia while intermediate-level radioactive waste can only presently be stored at the Lucas Heights facility in Sydney.
The issue is particularly urgent for intermediate-level waste disposal since in the next year, 13.2 cubic metres of such waste, the byproduct of past contracts with France and Scotland, will need a home and the only currently available site is Lucas Heights.
Nuclear waste should be buried for at least several hundred years in a geologically stable area with a low water table and preferably away from population centres.
However, the Australian government has yet to be able to convince either state governments or individual landowners to host such a site. It has been unable to overcome a fierce backlash from local residents and environmentalists opposed to it being placed in their local area.
<h2>A brief history of the storage debate</h2>
From 1980 onwards, various Australian governments have attempted to site a low-level waste repository. (An intermediate waste site other than Lucas Heights has barely been mooted given the difficulty in siting even a low-level facility).
By 1992, a site near Woomera, South Australia was nominated. But that choice was abandoned by the federal government due to the intransigence of the SA government which, fearing a political backlash if it was built, refused to countenance a facility within its borders. While the federal government could theoretically have overridden state objections, it was not willing to pay the political price to do so.
In the face of state and territory opposition, the federal government changed tack and only sought out potential sites on Commonwealth land.
In June 2007 the indigenous Northern Land Council proposed an area at Muckaty, 120 kilometres from Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, on behalf of some of the traditional owners. The federal government in September 2007 agreed despite the objections of the territorial government.
To induce the indigenous elders to agree to the siting, the government was willing to pay A$200,000 to the Northern Land Council, for the benefit of Lauder Ngapa Group members, set up an eleven million dollar charitable trust, and one million dollars for education scholarships for the benefit of that group.
But a coalition of other Aboriginal traditional owners of the land initiated Federal Court proceedings to challenge the nomination arguing that they had not been properly consulted nor had legally consented to hosting the site.
While the case was still ongoing the Northern Land Council and the Commonwealth government agreed to withdraw the nominationarguing the issue was proving too divisive among the local indigenous clans.
While the need for a low-level waste repository has never been greater, given the record to date, parties are unlikely to reach agreement by the government’s proposed date, if at all. By international standards, the government offers relatively low compensation to affected locals, which is unlikely to be an effective inducement to allow community acceptance.
Further, the government’s general inability to put in place an effective process for engendering societal and indigenous acceptance despite multiple attempts does not bode well for success.
 
Gerry Nagtzaam is senior lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gerry-nagtzaam-205438" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Australia needs a nuclear storage site, but it’s a long way away

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A $4.8 million Blakehurst home sale topped weekend auction sales across Australia, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The beachfront Princes Highway sale was through McGrath Estate Agents.
With views across Kogarah Bay, the waterfront residence sits on an under utilised sprawling 1,365sqm block.
"While the LEP has not yet been gazetted by council (possibly March next year) the site is proposed by council for units and while some buyers thought there was too much risk we had three bidding," agent Matthew King said.
<a href="/images/2015/11/16/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-16%20at%204.49.08%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/16/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-16%20at%204.49.08%20PM.png" alt="" width="762" height="491">
 
<a href="/images/2015/11/16/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-16%20at%204.49.17%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/11/16/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-16%20at%204.49.17%20PM.png" alt="">
 
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Blakehurst home tops weekend auction sales for McGrath

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Brisbane's newest luxury riverfront project, Banc has been launched offering larger home-style apartments.
Fronting Coronation Drive, Toowong, it will have 33 apartments with the higher levels having up to 230sqm of living space with private lift to door entry. 
The <a href="https://www.bancliving.com/sky-homes/" target="_blank">Banc Sky Homes</a> span levels six to 14 - with two residences per floor.
"Up until now, most high-end downsizers have had to buy and amalgamate multiple apartments to achieve their desired floorplan," said Peter Hutton of Hutton and Hutton.
The project's two and three bedroom apartments are priced from $899,000 and $1,390,000.
Banc is designed by WMK Architects and SJB Interiors is located at 527 Coronation Drive, Toowong. 
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Banc's high-end downsizers pitch in Brisbane's Toowong

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Caledonia Investments seems set to walk away from its ­hostile takeover bid for ALE Property Group, owner of a $900 million pub portfolio.
The largest investor in ALE Property lobbed its $770-million all-cash takeover offer in October.
But the Australian Financial Review's authoritative Street Talk column says Caledonia is expected to formally withdraw after prolonged talks with the company failed to strike a deal on the offer at a 74% premium to ALE's net tangible asset value.
ALE owns a $900 million portfolio of 86 pubs which are operated by ALH, a joint venture between Woolworths and Bruce Mathieson.
Woolworths is ALE's second largest shareholder with around an 8% stake.
Led by Mark Nelson, the Sydney-based private investment group holds around 26% of ALE, which engaged Macquarie Capital for its defence.
Caledonia, which hired Moelis &amp; Company, was set up in 1992 to manage the fortunes of the Darling family and later adding the Nelson and Vicars families.
It has $2.8 billion under management.
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Caledonia Investments takeover bid for ALE pub portfolio languishes

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John McGrath has pinpointed the infrastructure projects set to trigger price growth in benefitting suburbs.
Major projects in Brisbane are shortening the city commute and unlocking affordable outer suburban areas previously dismissed by city families for being too far to travel for work, he noted on his Switzer blog.
"This is providing growth stimulus for local property prices."
Brisbane 
New projects Moreton Bay Rail - 2013-2016 
<img src="https://www.switzer.com.au/assets/8133/20151109mcgrath2_normal.png" alt="" width="374" height="121"> * by car Inner City Bypass (ICB) - completed 2002
<img src="https://www.switzer.com.au/assets/8134/20151109mcgrath3_normal.png" alt="" width="373" height="109"> 
 
He pointed out that history shows that major infrastructure can have a direct and meaningful impact on property prices, pointing to the 2002 Inner City Bypass.
He identified the Moreton Bay Rail as among best new projects currently underway that he felt will have a big impact on local property prices. 
Moreton Bay is home to 350,000 people, making it Australia’s third largest LGA and one of the fastest growing, with the population to tip 500,000 by 2031.
The $1.147 billion project involves a new 12.6km dual-track rail line, with every full train taking 600 cars off the road.
There will be six stations at Kippa-Ring, Rothwell, Mango Hill East, Mango Hill, Murrumba Downs and Kallangur connecting to the existing Petrie to Brisbane city line.
 
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Moreton Bay Rail to boost Brisbane price growth: John McGrath

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The Malaysian horse racing tycoon, and architect, Teo Ah Khing and his wife Ivy are expanding their Southern Highlands farm.
They already own The Chase, the historic trophy homestead on 40 hectares at Sutton Forest, which was bought for $5.8 million last year.
Now they have paid $4.85 million for the adjoining 32 hectare property which is a tourism vineyard.
It was bought through Ray White Rural agent George Southwell from Southern Highland Wines which has been owned and operated by three families: Rossi, Corradi and Colloridi for almost two decades.
Around 10 hectares of vines are planted producing wines under the SHW Estate and Oldbury Reserve labels. The vineyards are producing sauvignon blanc, shiraz and pinot noir.
Across Oldbury Road, and surrounded by sweeping lawns, hedged and walled gardens and exotic trees, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-sutton+forest-7594107" target="_blank">The Chase</a> homestead comes with a cottage, stables, barn and cattle yards as well as a pool and tennis court.
The restored and extended house comes with 3.35-metre-high Wunderlich ceilings.
Teo Ah Khing's China Horse Club has been a big new comer at recent Inglis yearling sales.
Teo heads Desert Star, the parent company of the China Horse Club which has re-introduced the sport of horseracing in China. 
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Malaysian horse racing tycoon, Teo Ah Khing expand Southern Highlands farm into neighbouring vineyard

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Australia's richest person, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, has bought Glencoe Station in NSW's Dubbo district, according to The Land.
It is for her expanding Wagyu beef operation.  
The 10,000-hectare property purchase was from the former Meat and Livestock Corporation chairman Dick Austen.
The property's Hartley Grazing Company listed 1000 angus cows for sale in Fairfax's The Land newspaper heightening bush rumours that Mrs Rinehart's intention is seemingly to replace the angus with the Wagyu breed.
Glencoe Station was bought off-market deal through Colliers International agent Richard Royle.
Her plans to buy four cattle holdings in Western Australia fell through after a breakdown in negotiations earlier this year, but she purchased the Kimberley region Fossil Downs cattle station in a sale worth about $30 million. 
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Gina Rinehart buys Glencoe Station

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Melbourne's weekend auction clearance rate of 71% was up on the 68% of the prior weekend and 66% the same weekend last year.
There were 1243 auctions reported to the REIV this weekend. 
The cheapest apartment (above) was <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/8-85-buckley-street-noble-park/Property-Details-buy-residential-9709126" target="_blank">$188,000 at Noble Park</a> with a one bedroom villa that was offered as an investment.
It was leased to July 2016 with monthly rent of $210 per week, reflecting 5.8% gross rental yield. It was last advertised for rent at $200 a week in 2012, and at $120 a week in 2005.
Ray White's marketing sought $150,000 plus buyers.
The cheapest house sold for <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3-carnarvon-place-melton-west/Property-Details-buy-residential-9637904" target="_blank">$212,000 at Melton West</a> having last sold in 1990 at $100,000.
There were about 11,800 residential sales in the month of October - up eight per cent from the same time last year.
TOP 5 HOUSES
1. 520 Barkers Road, Hawthorn East $4,361,000
2. 38 Richmond Terrace, Richmond $4,320,000
3. 23 Widford Street, Hawthorn East $4.300,000
4. 7 Maysbury Avenue, Brighton $3,750,000
5. 16 Tollington Avenue, Malvern East $3,565,000
 
TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES
1. 3 Carnarvon Place, Melton West $212,000
2. 22 Washington Street, St Albans $330,000
3. 222 Eastbourne Road, Rosebud $330,000
4. 26 Jade Crescent, Wyndham Vale $331,000
5. 2 Tawny Court, Truganina $335,000
 
TOP 5 APARTMENTS
1. 2A Collins Street, Ormond $1,825,000
2. 10/1 Monaro Road, Kooyong $1,820,000
3. 5A Edgar Street, Brighton,$1,770,000
4. 62A Bulleen Road, Balwyn North $1,550,000
5. 2/2 Hilda Street, Balwyn $1,450,000
 
TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS
1. 8/85 Buckley Street, Noble Park $188,000
2. 3/88 Corrigan Road, Noble Park $233,000
3. 4/552 Moreland Road, Brunswick West $250,000
4. 3/1152 Heatherton Road, Noble Park $264,000
5. 14/2 Berry Street, Essendon North $285,000
Source <a href="/news">REIV</a>
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5.8% Noble Park villa rental yield offering Melbourne's cheapest property: REIV

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Swimming champion James Magnussen couldn't sell his speculative Ryde investment apartment at its onsite weekend auction.
The auction started and ended on a $740,000 bid when offered by its LJ Hooker Ryde City listing agent Neil Moorjani.
The swimmer had foreseen his real estate investment hobby might become more serious at the end of his time in the pool.
Magnussen Enterprises Pty Ltd paid $623,000 earlier this year for the Gladstone Ave unit.
Set in a <a href="/expert-insights/buying/james-magnussens-ryde-property-flip-auction-test">1960s red-brick walk up block</a>, the three-bedder had been listed with $750,000 hopes.
Auctioneer Greg Smith sought an $800,000 opening bid from the small crowd. It now has an $805,000 asking price.
He suggested that $740,000 would be "cheap buying." Negotiations took the highest post-auction offer to $762,000.
Bought in original condition in the block of six, the Drummoyne based Magnussen, along with a builder mate, renovated the 88 sqm apartment over the past few months while he was in recovery from major surgery on his shoulder.
The ­total refurbishment, including new open kitchen and bathroom, cost about $50,000. 
The property, with district views, could yield a $680 weekly rental tenants, auction investor attendees were advised.
Magnussen spent $935,000 in 2012 on his own Drummoyne flat which was seemingly well bought as it had traded at $910,000 in 2007.
 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Swimming champion James Magnussen flip yet to succeed at Ryde property 

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One of reportedly only three apartments remaining in the Melbourne CBD Manchester Unity building fetched $770,000 at weekend auction.
Agent Meadow Partners had been offering a pre-auction price range as $730,000 plus.
The buyer was Dr Kia Pajouhesh, the managing director of Smile Solutions, who will expand his dental practice in the 1930s building.
<a href="https://www.meadowspartners.com.au/property/1005220-collins-street-melbourne/" target="_blank">The 1005/220 Collins Street offering</a> with 94 sqm space had windows overlooking Melbourne Town Hall from its Swanston Street aspect.
It last traded at $591,000 in 2009.
In 2012 Kia Pajouhesh, the Melbourne dentist who established Smile Solutions, bought the 39th whole-floor Royal Domain Tower sub-penthouse. With 557 square metres space it was sold by Joanne Cookes, the wife of former Venture Stores Group owner Colin Cookes.
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Smiles all around after Manchester Unity, Melbourne auction

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

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Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

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While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

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The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

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Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

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Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

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A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

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“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

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The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

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The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

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The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

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Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

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The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

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The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

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Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

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Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

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Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=364995]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

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Jonathan Chancellor

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