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ASIC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against companies associated with Jamie McIntyre and the 21st Century Group in relation to their promotion and sale of interests to investors in five land banking schemes.
ASIC alleges that the schemes are unregistered managed investment schemes and that the 21st Century Group companies and Mr McIntyre have been unlawfully carrying on an unlicensed financial services business.
The five schemes are promoted and advertised as:
<ul>
<li>Botanica, located at 805 Archer Rd, Kialla, Victoria 3631</li>
<li>Secret Valley Estate, located at  955, Old Sydney Road, Bylands, Victoria 3762</li>
<li>Oak Valley Lakes Estate &amp; Resort, located at  124 Booth Road, Brookhill, Townsville, Qld 4816.</li>
<li>Bendigo Vineyard Estate &amp; Resort, located at  51 Andrews Road, Bendigo, Victoria 3551</li>
<li>Melbourne Grove Estate, located at  1491 Dohertys Road, Mount Cottrell, Victoria 3024</li>
</ul>
ASIC understands that there are over 100 investors in the schemes, which have been promoted to investors, including through seminars, by entities associated with Mr  McIntyre's 21st Century Group. Companies associated with Mr McIntyre and the 21st Century Group are also the developers of the schemes (development companies). 
On 21 August 2015, the Federal Court of Australia accepted undertakings from each of the defendants, including Jamie McIntyre, that until further order or agreement with ASIC, they would not promote the developments, act in furtherance of the developments, receive, solicit or dispose of any funds in connection with the developments, remove any assets from Australia or charge any assets and dispose of or destroy any books and records in relation to the developments. 
The undertakings allow the defendants to make interest payments in relation to the loan entered into by Bendigo Vineyard Estate Pty Ltd for the Bendigo Vineyard Estate &amp; Resort development.
On 10 August 2015, the Federal Court accepted undertakings from Messrs Jamie and Dennis McIntyre that until 5 November 2015, they would give notice to ASIC of any travel outside of Australia and would deliver their passports to their solicitors. 
The matter has now been set down for hearing on 8 October 2015 at 10:15am.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Jamie McIntyre gives Federal Court undertaking to stop promoting his land banking project

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Abacus Property Group has sold its Doncaster development site to the Chinese group Jinshan Investments for $22.6 million. 
The site at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-doncaster-501604049" target="_blank">682-684 and 686 Doncaster Road</a> is 300 metres from Westfield Doncaster.
The 4245-square-metre parcel of land is approved for 296 apartments.
It has a permit for an 11-storey building and 519 sq m of retail space.
Jinshan is best known for its controversial acquisition of Melbourne's Palace Theatre, formerly the Metro Nightclub, with plans of turning it into a Starwood W Hotel. 
The listed investor Abacus Property Group, with its joint venture partner Crema Group, expected $20 million-plus offers, the Australian Financial Review suggested last month for the residential development site perched on Doncaster Hill, in the heart of Melbourne's leafy eastern suburban belt.
Their permit allows for an 11-level building, designed by Peddle Thorp Architects.
The syndicate paid $11.55 million in April last year, then $5,225,000 in March this year for next door.
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Doncaster development site sold by Abacus to Chinese buyers

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Texan billioniare Jim Clark and his wife, model Kristy Hinze-Clark have relisted their Point Piper bolthole, headlining Sydney's somewhat limited early spring prestige offerings. 
The apartment just doesn't suit their family lifestyle anymore. 
Their 320 square metre apartment is one of the whole-floor residences within the <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/3-38-wolseley-road-point-piper-nsw-2027-2012221106?sp=1" target="_blank">Sienna harbourfront block</a> on Wolseley Road.
They paid $7.65 million through estate agent Jaime Upton in mid-2009 when it was being developed by builder Michael Bezzina.
Jamie Upton, of Jaime Upton International, has the latest listing. No formal price indication has been given, but the couple are understood to desire $8 million plus on their third marketing attempt.
The Point Piper apartment has been the periodic bolthole of the couple, who have instead rented summer vacation houses including the Vaucluse mansion, Villa Igiea and more recently on Coolong Road, Vaucluse.
The couple and their two daughters, Dylan and Harper are likely be back this Christmas as Jim, the Netscape co-founder, sails again on Comanche in the 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race, this time probably with Kristy.
The beachfront garden apartment immediately underneath has also been listed through LJ Hooker Double Bay agent Bill Malouf who says it would work to combine them both.
The complex has 180-degree harbour, city and Bridge views, offering contemporary luxury, privacy and security. 
The Clark-Hinze apartment features an expansive free-flowing floorplan with a covered balcony.
Its second to none finishes include heated Israeli rose stone slabs, blonde burr walnut timber featured walls, cream silk carpet, onyx and sandstone, plus fully integrated marble Miele gas kitchen.
There are generous living and dining spaces framed by retractable doors opening to a large terrace.
It has three ensuite bedrooms including the master suite with a spa bath and balcony access overlooking a sandy beachfront. 
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Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze-Clark have another shot at selling Sienna, Point Piper apartment

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Mandalay House, a 4200-square-metre Mediterranean-style trophy home mansion located 11 kilometres from Airlie Beach, has had its asking price reduced to $19 million.
The six-bedroom, nine bathroom house, is located at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://sydneysothebysrealty.com/5141735" target="_blank">383 Mandalay Road</a>, Whitsundays. It is listed through Carol Carter at Sothebys International, inconjunction with Ray White Whitsundays.
The property developer Neil Murray has dropped his initial asking price of $25 million to a more “realistic” $19 million, telling News Ltd papers the past year had been about testing the water.
“We’ve had a lot of inquiries from overseas, but also a lot locally,” he said.
“If this house was in Sydney it would be worth $35-$40 million.”
Title Tattle suggests even more, not that it is relevant.
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Whitsundays' Mandalay asking price reduced to $19 million

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"We've been inundated with buyers," Crown Group chief executive Iwan Sunito said. 
The total value of the off the plan apartments sold had reached $350 million at 3pm Saturday in the Infinity by Crown Group's Green Square project.
"After years of planning and hard work it's immensely satisfying to see hundreds of buyers leaving here happy.
"We released 326 apartments and 105 apartments sold in the first hour.
"It's great to see so many people proud and excited to own their own piece of Infinity by Crown Group." 
Some 60% of the buyers were investors and the rest owner-occupiers, the Australian Financial Review noted, with exchange e-contracts on an iPad for one-bedroom units to penthouses priced from $650,000 to $3.5 million.
Some 70 of them were local buyers of mostly Asian descent. Construction of Infinity by Crown Group will be completed in 2019.
Infinity By Crown is the latest multi residential complex offering from Crown Group, designed by Japanese pioneer and Sydney based architect, Koichi Takada.
Ambitious in design, the landmark tower is located at the gateway of the Green Square town centre. 
Infinity by Crown Group challenges conventional residential apartment design with a unique looped shape at 301-303 Botany Road Zetland.
Crown Group CEO Iwan Sunito says <a href="https://infinitybycrowngroup.com.au/" target="_blank">the building’s curved form</a> ensured a world-class development with architectural significance.
“The project draws on Crown Group’s 18 years’ experience developing residential property in Sydney and will showcase the world’s best in innovative residential design," he said.
Awarded the UDIA NSW Concept design award, the unique looped shape with a void in its north-facing façade will allow natural light to penetrate a central landscaped plaza and apartment balconies.
The amenities on offer will include a fully-equipped gym, music room complete with baby-grand piano, media theatre and a sky lounge with Sydney CBD views.
The collection of 401 luxury apartments were price from $650 000.
 <img src="https://infinitybycrowngroup.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/apartments01.jpg" width="550" height="172">
Crown Group Project and Commercial Sales Director Roy Marcellus said the building’s resort-style pool and elegant interiors has attracted particular interest from potential buyers. 
 Infinity by Crown Group will also be home to 75 luxury serviced apartments.
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Infinity by Crown Group at Green Square in high demand

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Company director Pat Handley has listed Shandon, his restored 19th-century Robertson homestead in the Southern Highlands.
The 17 hectare estate comes with <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-nsw-robertson-120017953" target="_blank">$5.25 million hopes</a> through Margaret McCauley.
The former Westpac chief financial officer and his wife, Dianne bought it for $4 million in 2004 from the Tilley clan.
The Pearsons Lane house incorporates the 1860s stone residence built for the Pearson family. The Tilley brothers had the old silo adjacent converted by architect Kathy Barnsley into guest accommodation, topped off by a glass lookout.
The Handley's have upgraded their home in the US state of Montana, and will keep Palm Beach as their main Australian base.
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Shandon, the Robertson, NSW southern highlands farm relisted

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The comedic radio broadcaster Hamish Blake sold his Fitzroy terrace on the eve of today's August 29 scheduled auction.
The Gore Street home was bought in 2012 for $1,265,000 with its extensive renovations including the striking red and blue facade.
Hamish Blake and wife Zoe Foster Blake were expecting $1.55 million plus for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house. <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/60-gore-street-fitzroy/Property-Details-buy-residential-9293186" target="_blank">No sale price has been revealed</a> in the REIV results, with the agency upping their price guidance to $1.6 million plus during the marketing campaign.
<div class="pd-content-heading-dark">
<div class="pd-content-heading-dark-inner">
<h2>FITZROY SALES &amp; AUCTION RESULTS</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div class="pd-table">
<div class="pd-table-inner">
<table><tbody>
<tr>
<th>Address</th>
<th><img src="https://www.realestateview.com.au/portalimages/icons/auction_bed.gif" alt="Bed Icon Image"></th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Type</th>
<th>Method</th>
<th>Sale </th>
<th>Agent</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8  Cremorne  St</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>$1,250,000</td>
<td>House</td>
<td>Passed in </td>
<td>29/08/2015</td>
<td>Chambers Fitzroy</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15/ 2  King William  St</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>$482,000</td>
<td>Apart</td>
<td>Auction Sale</td>
<td>29/08/2015</td>
<td>Nelson Alexander</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>167  Moor  St</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>$1,540,000</td>
<td>House</td>
<td>Auction Sale</td>
<td>29/08/2015</td>
<td>Nelson Alexander</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>66  Nicholson  St</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>$2,575,000</td>
<td>House</td>
<td>Auction Sale</td>
<td>29/08/2015</td>
<td>Caine RE</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>56  Westgarth  St</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>$1,000,000</td>
<td>House</td>
<td>Vendor Bid</td>
<td>29/08/2015</td>
<td>R T Edgar </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60  Gore  St</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>undisclosed</td>
<td>House</td>
<td>Sold Before Auction</td>
<td>28/08/2015</td>
<td>Nelson Alexander</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
The property still appeared as available on the Nelson Alexander website on Monday, despite the weekend formal REIV sale notification.
Melbourne vendors secured a clearance rate of 78 per cent this weekend compared to 73 per cent last weekend and 73 per cent this weekend last year. 
There were 941 auctions reported to the REIV today, with 738 selling and 203 being passed in, 85 of those on a vendor bid. 
The Fitzroy offering came with rooftop terrace has city skyline views.
The radio host and his author wife have paid a record $4.25 million in Richmond for a home (below) featured on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.completehome.com.au/articles/grand-designs-australia-richmond-inner-city-house/36365" target="_blank">Grand Designs Australia in 2013</a>. 
The three-bedroom, four-bathroom Richmond house was designed by neilarchitecture for Darren and Ruth Rogers.
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<div id="Content_Content_propertyPhotos_MainImage_MainImagePlaceholder" class="img-wrapper"><img class="js-first-image" src="https://b.domainstatic.com.au/w800-h534-8733637_1_pi_150319_100547" alt="79a rowena parade richmond VIC 3121"></div>
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They built the home on a block bought in 2009 for $920,000 with the works cost estimated at $3.3 million.
 
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Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster sell in Fitzroy

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Ensuring housing supply, dwellings that meet social and demographic demands and providing greater mobility across different tenure types are the minimum changes the Department of Social Services believes to be necessary should current housing policy be reformed.
Not seeking to outline any specific reforms, the Department of Social Services pointed out areas for improvement to the inquiry into home ownership.
"The Department does note that any future reforms should include a focus on improving the effectiveness of housing supply and the collaboration of jurisdictions with respect to the broader policy settings influencing the operation of Australia’s housing market. 
"In relation to improving housing supply, there are a number of avenues that could be explored. For example, in the context of the Reform of the Federation White Paper process there may be scope to examine the effectiveness of the NAHA in incentivising the states and territories to ensure housing supply is better able to respond to increases in housing demand. 
"With respect to better aligning the broader policy settings influencing housing supply and demand, this will require increased, and ongoing, collaboration by all levels of government. 
"Mechanisms to facilitate such collaboration may be looked at as part of the Reform of the Federation White Paper process, although increased informal collaboration may be just as effective as more formal mechanisms. 
"The roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth and states and territories, in respect of housing assistance and homelessness services, are currently being examined as part of the Government’s Reform of the Federation White Paper process. 
"Potential reforms to the current roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth and the states and territories, around the provision of housing assistance and homelessness services, may improve the alignment of current incentives in relation to housing demand and supply.  
"However, this process is unlikely to materially impact the broader policy responsibilities of either level of government in terms of their impact on housing supply and demand. 
"There have been over 25 inquiries and significant reports related to housing policy and planning since the last National Housing Strategy was completed in 1991. 
"The most comprehensive of these reports were the Productivity Commission’s Review into First Home Ownership in 2004, the 2008 Senate Inquiry on Housing Affordability in Australia, the Australia’s Future Tax System Review in 2010 and the 2015 Senate Inquiry into Affordable Housing.
"However, housing affordability, and with it the level of home ownership, across Australia, has continued to fall over this period notwithstanding the recommendations and findings of these reviews. 
"The limited impact of previous reviews underscores the proposition that, without reforms to existing structural policy settings, the current issues with housing affordability will not recede, and indeed are more likely to intensify given the current low interest rate environment. 
"This will likely lead to an increase in the number of Australians being excluded from owning their own home, which is likely to put further pressure on the private rental market and in turn community and public housing and CRA [Commonwealth Rent Assistance]." 
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Department of Social Services outlays minimum housing reform changes

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Australia's home ownership and affordability issue is likely to escalate unless governments at all levels start working in a coordinated manner, according to the Housing Industry Association.
In the submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, HIA observed that reforms in tax, planning, construction infrastructure and land supply could improve the home ownership difficulty that Australia is facing.
"A number of the taxes imposed on the housing sector, and on new housing in particular, are inefficient. The Australia’s Future Tax System report, commonly referred to as the ‘Henry Tax Review’ found that among the vast array of taxes paid by the housing sector, about half of them were highly inefficient. In particular, the Henry Tax Review highlighted: 
<ul>
<li>stamp duties; the existing land taxes; </li>
<li>the effects of zoning on raw land prices; </li>
<li>excessive requirements in the building code; </li>
<li>the effects of planning delays and uncertainties in planning on risk premiums and finance charges of developers; and, </li>
<li>inefficient and excessive costs within infrastructure charges. </li>
</ul>
"One prominent example is stamp duty on property conveyances. Stamp duty on residential property conveyances generated an estimated $9 billion in revenue in 2013/14. Research undertaken for the HIA by Independent Economicsdemonstrates that stamp duty is the most inefficient tax in Australia’s entire taxation system. 
"As a tax on moving, stamp duty on conveyances discourages households from moving home when this decision may better suit their needs in terms of size, location or other amenities. Thus, households do not get the best use out of the available housing stock." 
HIA argued that governments should support infrastructure funding and delivery, including access roads, sewerage systems, water pipes, electricity lines, telecommunications links and community facilities to provide a better environment for new developments.
"Currently, much of the infrastructure for new housing is paid for upfront by developers, with the costs being passed on to builders and ultimately new home buyers. This results in very detrimental effects on the affordability of both new and existing homes. 
"Many infrastructure charges are set by local government, often with little transparency around how the charges are calculated and a lack of clarity from local government in terms of what they deliver in return for the charges.
"The development assessment (planning approval) process in Australia is not harmonised and remains fragmented across the states and territories. 
"Whilst there is a degree of consistency in approach, there is a vast difference between jurisdictions, and more crucially between more than 500 local governments, with respect to which residential buildings require detailed assessments and which may be authorised using a single technical building approval. 
"Significant variations also exist in the administrative processes which support the regulatory requirements for planning assessments. These variations see builders managing layers of red tape and costs to prepare applications and the associated time delays that go with preparing this information."
It is important government maintain land supplies in order to improve housing affordability. HIA has called on governments to create a body responsible for collecting and reporting on land information in an efficient timely manner.
"Australian continues to fail to develop a national reporting scheme for land supply which allows direct comparison of the pipeline for new housing. 
"While some jurisdictions currently report information on land that has been ‘zoned’, land that has approval for subdivision and land that has been completed and is ready for sale, there is no holistic data collection, analysis and reporting mechanism to track and advise our nation’s land supply pipeline. 
"Further, there are six key stages in the land supply pipeline and these should all be collected, analysed and reported. 
"Rezoning of land within areas identified for urban development under metropolitan or regional strategies needs to be more streamlined, including significantly improved coordination of external agencies such as environmental approvals, bushfire management restrictions and the like, which local governments are not well resourced to manage."
Australia supports a national building code, with all state and territory jurisdictions adopting this through their respective regulations. But the way in which this code is adopted provides scope for local government to intervene through their planning approval processes.
"The Australian Building Codes Board has been seeking reforms in this area. However, there appears to be limited appetite by state jurisdictions to make significant changes that would effectively prohibit this conduct by local government."
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Reform needed to curb home ownership difficulty: HIA

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Reporting all residential property transactions within 24 hours of contracts being exchanged to a central body is just one recommendation Curtis Associates has made in their submission to the inquiry into Home Ownership.
Curtis Associates believes exchanging contacts of buyer and seller, agreed price, improvements made to the property and its cost would help create a fairer housing market in Sydney.
Curtis Associates said that there is an obsession with the drama of auctions and their clearance rates as well a, an obsession with median prices as a measure of market performance. 
"Agents are presently free to choose what data to report, when to report it and more important, what data not to report - especially if it conveys a downbeat impression of the property market.  
"Prices paid at auction are usually higher than those negotiated in a cooler private treaty environment; the latter of which account for about 75% of all transactions per week.  
"The auction results published by APM each Saturday night/Sunday morning exclude mid week auctions and thus account for less than that 25% of all such transactions."  
"It is submitted that comparing movements in raw median prices is like comparing apples with oranges. 
"Acceptance of the practice of keeping some sales prices confidential; the most absurd illustration of which being sellers who assert confidentiality over a price paid at a public auction. 
"For someone attending such an auction, that price is not only freely available, it is often a source of entertainment culminating in applause. For someone later researching the same price remotely, the result is a silent 'Price Withheld'." 
"In the equities market, such discriminatory withholding of information would almost certainly be unlawful." 
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Reporting property transactions to a central body necessary: Curtis Associates

The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

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.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

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.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

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.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

Jonathan Chancellor

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