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The Melbourne man arrested after an alleged $110 million mortgage fraud, Aizaz Hassan, was writing loans until his accreditation was stopped this week.
Hassan held his credit licence through several lenders since 2011, currently with Australian Finance Group, one of the country's largest mortgage brokerage networks.
His credentials were listed on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=118590288&amp;authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=6a7k&amp;locale=en_US&amp;srchid=1644771001420581775102&amp;srchindex=1&amp;srchtotal=1&amp;trk=vsrp_people_res_name&amp;trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1644771001420581775102%2CVSRPtargetId%3A118590288%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary" target="_blank">linkedin</a>.
The allegations relate to loans between 2008 and 2011, so do not relate to his recent employment. 
 <img src="/images/2015/01/07/Picture%2021.png" alt="">
<img src="/images/2015/01/07/Picture%2022.png" alt=""> 
An AFG spokesperson advised Hassan had been suspended, according to Fairfax Media.
His position was as a finance and operations manager at Cigna Financial, which is part of the AFG network.
Hassan and another Melbourne man, Najam Shah, have been arrested and charged following an ASIC investigation into the alleged use of false documents in support of loan applications valued at about $110 million.
Shah and Hassan have been charged with one count each of common law conspiracy to defraud, according to an ASIC release.
The charges relate to the men’s roles at a Footscray company, Myra Home Loan Pty Ltd trading as Myra Financial Services (no longer trading).
It is alleged that between April 2008 and December 2011, Shah and Hassan conspired to defraud 12 lenders, banks and other financial institutions, by creating and using false documents to support loan applications submitted on behalf of Myra clients.
The false documents included bank statements, payslips, citizenship certificates and statutory declarations. These were predominantly used in support of applications for home loans for house and land packages as well as for the purchase or refinance of existing homes. 
<a href="/expert-insights/finance/arrests-follows-after-12-lenders-caught-in-alleged-110-million-myra-home-loans-fraud">At least 350 loans valued at $110 million were submitted and approved</a> on behalf of Myra clients.
The alleged conspiracy involves submission of false documents for more than 300 loan applications to numerous banks and financial institutions, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, St George Bank, Bankwest, Adelaide Bank, ANZ, Bank of Queensland, Choice Home Loans, Citibank, National Australia Bank, Pepper Homeloans and Suncorp Bank.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

AFG suspends mortgage manager after $110 million Myra Home Loans fraud arrest

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Designed by society 1930s architect Marcus Martin, the revamped 3 Marne Street, South Yarra trophy home has been sold.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3-marne-street-south-yarra/Property-Details-buy-residential-6603443" target="_blank">The recently modernised </a><a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3-marne-street-south-yarra/Property-Details-buy-residential-6603443" target="_blank">five bedroom house</a> has five living areas that sit around its portico with pool, which is now outdoors. 
Its initial asking price was $13 million through conjunctional agents Justin Long of Marshall White and Andrew Baines of Kay &amp; Burton, adjusted by mid-2014 to $12.5 million.
No final sale price has been revealed as to what was secured by rag trader Katherine Strover.
Neurosurgeon David Wallace had sold the 962 square metre holding in 2012, having been there since 1977.
Then listed with $8 million plus hopes, it last sold in 2012 for $6.25 million.
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Marcus Martin-designed 1930s Marne Street, South Yarra trophy home sale

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Two Melbourne men, Najam Shah, 55 of Glen Waverley, Victoria and Aizaz Hassan, 34, of Truganina, Victoria have been arrested and charged following an ASIC investigation into the alleged use of false documents in support of loan applications valued at about $110 million.
Shah and Hassan have been charged with one count each of common law conspiracy to defraud, according to an ASIC release.
The charges relate to the men’s roles at a Footscray company, Myra Home Loan Pty Ltd trading as Myra Financial Services (no longer trading).
It is alleged that between April 2008 and December 2011, Shah and Hassan conspired to defraud 12 lenders, banks and other financial institutions, by creating and using false documents to support loan applications submitted on behalf of Myra clients.
The false documents included bank statements, payslips, citizenship certificates and statutory declarations. These were predominantly used in support of applications for home loans for house and land packages as well as for the purchase or refinance of existing homes. 
At least 350 loans valued at $110 million were submitted and approved on behalf of Myra clients.
The alleged conspiracy involves submission of false documents for more than 300 loan applications to numerous banks and financial institutions, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, St George Bank, Bankwest, Adelaide Bank, ANZ, Bank of Queensland, Choice Home Loans, Citibank, National Australia Bank, Pepper Homeloans and Suncorp Bank.
Property Observer gleans the company was established in 2006 out of Whitehall Street premises.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.
Shah appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and Hassan before a bail justice on 2 January 2015.
Shah and Hassan were bailed on conditions including that they report to police twice a week, surrender valid passports or any other valid travel documents and not apply for any other, not attend any points of international departure and not leave Australia.
Both men are to reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17 April 2015.
Manija Zayee, Shah’s partner and former Myra director, has also been charged on summons in connection with this matter with one charge of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. Zayee is to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 27 January 2015.
It is alleged that Zayee submitted false documents in support of a loan application for a home loan, in her own name, in September 2009.
The matters are being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Arrests follows after 12 lenders caught in alleged $110 million Myra Home Loans fraud

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The Commonwealth Bank of Australia will relocate its Brisbane headquarters to the 180 Brisbane office tower at 180 Ann Street.
The bank will lease 10,500 square metres in the <a href="https://www.180brisbane.com.au" target="_blank">Crone Partners-designed 34-storey tower</a> on an average 11-year term.
Contenders who missed out included Investa’s 259 Queen Street (formerly the Bank of Queensland headquarters), Grocon and DEXUS Property Group’s 480 Queen Street and Brookfield’s 240 Queen Street, which is where the CBA is ­currently mostly based.
The bank will leave three buildings to take up six floors at 180 Ann Street.
The Australian Financial Review advised the deal was extremely competitive, with an annual face rent around $700 per square metre and an incentive of more than $20 million.
Vacancies in the Queensland capital’s CBD hit 14.7% late last year, the highest level recorded by the Property Council since 1990.
The A-grade 59,100-square-metre tower with floor plates ranging from 1,678 square metres to 2,058 square metres is being developed by Daisho, the company headed by Japanese billionaire ­Katsumi Tada.
Knight Franks Campbell Tait and Graham Clarkson acted for Daisho, which has property holdings in excess of US$1 billion (A$1.23 billion).
Stuart Allison from Independent Corporate Property acted for CBA in the negotiation.
The Daisho Group portfolio includes:
<ul>
<li>192 Ann Street office building developed in 2000 and acquired by Daisho in 2001.</li>
<li>A 510 room hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia managed by the Hilton Group completed in 2004.</li>
<li>The AO retail complex in central Tokyo developed in March 2009.</li>
<li>The Park Hyatt Sydney, acquired in February 2008 and fully refurbished in 2011.</li>
<li>180 Brisbane, early works commenced February 2012, due for completion mid 2015. </li>
</ul>
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Daisho's 180 Brisbane secures the Commonwealth Bank

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A 3.9 x 6.1 metres boatshed, S28 Shelley Beach at Portsea, has been listed with $500,000 plus hopes for 24 January auction. 
Another boatshed on the beach (generic image above) set a record $585,000 in 2011 through RT Edgar Portsea.
In 2010 two young families paid $455,000 for their 22 square metre boatshed as a place to store their beach gear which eclipsed the previous record of $362,000 two years earlier.
The sand-coloured, rendered brick bathing box, S28 has been <a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/property/162240/boat-shed-s28-shelley-beach-portsea/" target="_blank">listed through RT Edgar Portsea</a> agents Warwick Anderson and Ilze Moran.  
"It is a rare opportunity to secure a fully rendered masonry boat shed close to the base of Campbells Road path, in excellent order with clear access to the beach," Moran said.
There are slim pickings for cliff top/beachfront properties among the limited 2015 Australia Day weekend auction offerings, with the prestige offerings offered by private treaty this summer.
Shelley Beach is considered Victoria's most exclusive holiday locale as its offers owners uninterrupted northern views over the bay.
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Portsea boatshed listed with $500,000 plus hopes

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Banker Jon Sutton has been appointed the new chief executive of Bank of Queensland (BOQ).
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Sutton, who joined BOQ in 2012, has been acting chief executive since the departure of Stuart Grimshaw in September last year. Sutton was previously BOQ’s chief operating officer.
He has more than two decades experience in banking and prior to BOQ was the managing director of Bankwest. 
Before that he was executive general manager of Commonwealth Bank Agribusiness.  
<div>
The Bank of Queensland chief executive Stuart Grimshaw resigned to pursue a non-banking opportunity outside Australia at a small financial services company in the United States, the NASDAQ listed Ezcorp which owns the Cash Converters franchise. It also has outlets in Mexico through Grupo Finmark and the UK through Cash Genie.
The bank chairman Roger Davis said the board was disappointed at Grimshaw's departure. Grimshaw had joined BOQ in November 2011, succeeding David Liddy, who had been the chief since April 2001.
</div>
The bank is one of the oldest financial institutions in Queensland, with a network of around 270 branches, including 152 in Queensland, 52 in New South Wales, 23 in Victoria and 34 in Western Australia.
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Jon Sutton to lead BOQ

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The multi-national eight-month investigation by WA's major fraud squad, Australian Federal Police and authorities in South Africa and Nigeria has resulted in a year's jail for the convicted mastermind.
Ntuen Promise Ekenmini tried to sell a $780,000 home in the Perth suburb of Falcon using forged documents.
The Nigerian court heard the attempted fraud began when after a property manager of a Mandurah real estate agent was contacted in December 2012 by a man claiming to be the owner of a home managed by the agency.
He requested property documents, which were sent through by the property managers and contact details changed.
He used a Yahoo email address in the name of one of the real owners, who was a Johannesburg resident, and requested that all future correspondence be forwarded to this new email address and all phone contact to be made through a new mobile phone number.
The agency then received a request to sell the property and a sales agreement with false signatures was sent, along with copies of fake passports of the two owners and forged documents purporting to be from the Australian High Commission in Pretoria confirming their identity.
The agency staff became suspicious, WA's fraud squad was contacted and they pretended to go ahead with the sale to try to identify the fraudsters.
"It had generally been thought that people attempting to perpetrate frauds from Nigeria were beyond the reach of the law," Consumer Protection assistant commissioner Gary Newcombe said.
"This prosecution shows that, while difficult, prosecution is not impossible.
"The imprisonment of Mr Ekenmini should send a strong message to other potential fraudsters in Nigeria that they are not beyond the law."
Detective Senior Sergeant Dom Blackshaw of the Major Fraud Squad (WA Police) noted in 2013 the arrest represented a major breakthrough in the investigation of real estate fraud in Western Australia where there were two successful and five attempted frauds reported over the past five years.
“Six of the seven cases involved owners who live in South Africa, have investment properties in Perth which are rented and have had their identities stolen. There is now clear evidence of a link between criminals in South Africa and Nigeria," detective Senior Sergeant Dom Blackshaw said.
The first successful property fraud in Western Australia was reported in September 2010 when home owner Roger Mildenhall, based in South Africa, discovered his investment home in Karrinyup, Perth had been sold for A$485,000 in August 2010 without his knowledge or consent by the agent who was managing the property on his behalf.
In April 2011, a home in Ballajura, another suburb of Perth, owned by a couple who were living in Nigeria at the time, was sold for $410,000 allegedly by Nigerian fraudsters without the knowledge or permission of the real owners. The fraudulent sale was not reported until August 2011 when the owners returned to Perth wanting to inspect the property.
In both these cases the funds were transferred to bank accounts in China.
In November 2011, the Codes of Conduct for WA real estate agents and sales representatives and settlement agents (conveyancers) were strengthened to incorporate strict identity verification guidelines for all transactions, particularly involving overseas owners.
The Western Australian government’s land titles office, Landgate, has also put in place strict fraud prevention measures.
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Jail for Nigerian mastermind behind 2012 Perth property fraud

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The annual rate of combined capital city home value growth across Australia slowed to 7.9% in December 2014, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
There was a 9.8% increase during the 2013 calendar year. The national residential median currently sits at $575,000.
The Core Logic RP Data Home Value Index showed that the annual rate of combined capital city home value growth peaked at 11.5% over the 12 months to April 2014.
“We would anticipate that the rate of growth will continue to slow through 2015 despite the low interest rate environment,” according to CoreLogic's Cameron Kusher.
Over the final quarter of 2014, capital city home values increased by 1.6%, with Perth (+2.8%), Sydney (+2.3%) and Brisbane (+1.8%) recording the greatest quarterly gains, while values fell in Darwin (-1.7%) and Canberra (-3.4%). 
The capital gain on houses compared to units was higher, with house values gaining 8.4% over the calendar year compared with a 5.1% increase in unit values, given there hasn’t been the same ramp up in building approvals for detached housing compared as with multi unit dwelling approvals.
Based on the median price across the combined capital cities, houses are attracting a $100,000 premium over apartments.
The national rate of growth has varied between a fall of -0.6% in Canberra to an increase of 12.4% in Sydney, followed by Melbourne at 7.6%. 
<img src="/images/2015/01/01/chart-jan-5-one.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic RP Data.
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2014 national residential price growth 7.9%, but slowing: CoreLogic RP Data

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The Los Angeles-based Academy Award-nominated actor Toni Collette, the star of the TV series United States of Tara, and her musician husband, David Galafassi, have sold in Bronte, just short of three years after they bought.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bronte-108317326" target="_blank">The Sydney property</a> (picture above on prior sale) sold for $5.75 million the week before Christmas after an off-market listing.
With gum tree in its front yard, the very private 1,100-square-metre hillside estate has limited ocean views.
It was sold to the Dewar family from Burraneer, who have a 1920s sandstone home on a 4,500 square metre waterfront block in the Sutherland Shire.
The recently sold Bronte property was the home they bought amidst their prior property play which ended in court proceedings against the couple.
It cost $5.5 million in December 2011, so would not have covered their initial $325,000 stamp duty purchase outlay.
Onthehouse puts its estimated value rage at between $5.5 million and $6.2 million
Core Logic RP Data gives <a href="/news">Bronte's median house price</a> as $2.2 million, up from $1.8 million in late 2011.
The couple had decided in 2011 that rather than undertake an expensive Bronte renovation, at their then Bronte home, they’d buy elsewhere.
They<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/actor-toni-collette-and-muso-david-galafassi-fall-for-the-charms-of-contemporary-inner-city-paddington/2011110752250" target="_blank"> quickly secured a $6 million Paddington property</a>, but then struggled to find a buyer for their redundant unrenovated hillside Bronte house.
Their 1885 Bronte weatherboard cottage that cost $4.4 million in mid-2009 was eventually sold for $3.5 million, in a swap with buyers elsewhere in Bronte.
Property Observer is not aware of any recent Sydney acquisition by the Galafassi couple who reportedly holidayed at Port Macquarie, returning to Australia for the festive season, the Sydney Confidential column reported.
Galafassi grew up in Port Macquarie.
The entertainment industry couple probably won't be able to stay renting again in Bronte as the redundant house of media tycoon Lachlan Murdoch and his wife, model Sarah, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/lachlan-and-sarah-murdoch-re-list-their-bronte-house/2011092251653" target="_blank">which sold last year,</a> through Christies International agent Ken Jacobs recently settled with the buyer emerging as the Weinstock family.
Ariram and Helen Weinstock paid $10 million with son, Simon having a 1/100th stake in the acquisition.
Collette finished recently filming Miss You Already in London alongside Drew Barrymore, in which she shaved her head to play a character with breast cancer.
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Actor Toni Collette sells her Bronte home 

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The Christmas break didn't stop a Sydney trophy home listing from securing its next owner. And like the top sale of last year, it too is located off the harbour.
Details remained unconfirmed but the Eastbourne Road, Darling Point property joined the top 2014 sales list in eighth place.
The expectations of its listing agent Alison Coopes, who had the offering with Sothebys International, were a bullish $25 million plus. Any sale above $20.5 million put into eighth place.
"Evocative of Hollywood glamour by night and bathed in our great bright northern sun by day, the white sculpted spaces are perfectly appointed," the <a href="https://www.alisoncoopes.com" target="_blank">Agency by Coopes</a> marketing suggested. 
It offer six bedrooms and eight bathrooms within its 936 square metre space. It traded at $4,825,000 in 2003 pre-renovation when bought by AsheMorgan head Michael Rothner and Lisa Rothner.
The concept plans were prepared by architect Bruce Stafford.
<a href="/news/point-piper-clears-its-prestige-property-listing-cobwebs-in-2014-he-said-she-said">The past year’s list of the top 20 Sydney house sales</a>, updated by Property Observer, show price consolidation and a clearing of the cobwebs, particularly at Point Piper where the six highest priced properties on the list had languished on the market for years.
The Darling Point sale was however a snappy sale, listed by private treaty only in mid-November.
Again, Sydney's eastern suburbs proved dominant with 16 of the top 20 sales in 2014, and Mosman made a resurgence with four properties, a significant increase on its 2013 single appearance.  
Tenders close pre-Christmas on the Darling Point home of the Rothner family, so it was heralded as likely to make it onto the revised list. 
Property Observer commentators, Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok, offered their analysis of the annual list highlighting three trends.
<ul>
<li>
A non-waterfront property topped the list for the second time in the past three years. Villa Del Mare, a lavish residence set on the elevated high side of Wolseley Road, looks unchallengable in holding <a href="/news/julia-ross-sells-villa-del-mare-the-point-piper-palazzo-trophy-home">this year’s poll position at $39 million</a>. The lavish home was sold by recruitment queen Julia Ross who bought the residence for $21.5 million in 2005 – at the time, it was a record price for a non-waterfront property, and also the second highest price paid for a house in Australia. The last time a non-waterfront property topped the Sydney list was 2012 when a hillside Rose Bay estate sold for $21.5 million through Alison Coopes.  
</li>
<li>For the second year running, a buyer from China purchased the top-priced Sydney property. In October, Villa Del Mare was snapped up for $39 million by Golden Fast Foods Pty Ltd through Ken Jacobs of Christies and Bill Malouf of LJ Hooker Double Bay. Last year Property Observer <a href="/news/guangzhou-evergrandes-chinese-billionaire-owner-xu-jiayin-tipped-as-villa-del-mare-point-piper-buyer">shed light on the China connection</a> of Golden Fast Foods Pty Ltd by following a paper trail seemingly leading to the Chinese billionaire, Xu Jiayin, chairman of Evergrande, an integrated corporation specialised in residential building, cultural tourism, FMCG, agriculture, dairy, livestock farming and sport industry with 460 billion yuan worth of total assets and 80,000 employees.  In 2013 the top priced property was Altona, the Point Piper waterfront bought for $52 million through Alison Coopes. Just three of the top 20 priced properties in 2014 were purchased by buyers from China, although sometimes it's a little tricky to ascertain the purchaser origins. </li>
<li>
Piper Piper retained its poll position of Sydney’s most expensive real estate with the prestigious harbourside suburb claiming the six top-priced properties for 2014. However, each of these properties had been for sale for years. For sale for the longest period was the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/simon-family-point-piper-sale-swings-pendulum-back-to-the-harbourfront">Simon family’s Wolseley Road waterfront residence</a> which traded eight years after its initial listing. 
</li>
</ul>
Below are the 20 sales of the year (all prices in millions):
<ol>
<li>$39 - Point Piper, 63 Wolseley Road         </li>
<li>$37 - Point Piper, 112 Wolseley Road       </li>
<li>$31* - Point Piper, 106 Wolseley Road      </li>
<li>$30.5* - Point Piper, Wentworth Street      </li>
<li>$30 -  Point Piper, 130 Wolseley Road       </li>
<li>$30* - Point Piper, 60 Wunulla Road     </li>
<li>$26* - Rose Bay, 12 Dumaresq Road   </li>
<li>$25* - Darling Point, 21 Eastbourne Road </li>
<li>$20.5 - Bellevue Hill, 12 Ginahgulla Road   </li>
<li>$19 - Bellevue Hill, 17 Carrington Avenue</li>
<li>19* - Vaucluse, 29 Coolong Road</li>
<li>18 - Vaucluse, 8 Wharf Road    </li>
<li>$16.3 - Mosman, 9 Curraghbeena Road        </li>
<li>$16 - Bellevue Hill, 8A Ginahgulla Road   </li>
<li>$16* - Vaucluse, 2 Loch Maree Place</li>
<li>$16* - Mosman, 8 Burran Avenue</li>
<li>$15.6 - Mosman, 21 Carrington Avenue    </li>
<li>$15.45 - Vaucluse, 2a Vaucluse Road      </li>
<li>$14 - Vaucluse, 9 Hillside Avenue</li>
<li>$13 - Vaucluse, 1 Loch Maree Place</li>
</ol>
*    Sale reported, but not settled
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Cracking $25 million Darling Point trophy home sale over Christmas break

A trio of Queensland property groups have unveiled plans for a $300 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Noosa Bowls Club site, a proposal that would deliver more than 200 new homes in one of the Sunshine Coast's most supply-constrained markets.

Kilter Property, Frank Developments and Calile Malouf Investments are behind the plans for the 1.8-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-noosa-drive-noosa-heads-qld-4567">99 Noosa Drive</a>, which would transform the long-vacant site into a new residential precinct featuring 208 apartments, retail, hospitality and public space.

The proposal comes as Noosa continues to grapple with housing affordability and a shortage of permanent accommodation, particularly for key workers. The site's location in Noosa Junction, close to shops, public transport and employment, aligns with the direction of Noosa Council's Housing Strategy, which encourages higher-density housing within established activity centres rather than continued urban expansion.

The draft plans include 48 affordable-by-design apartments and 48 rooming accommodation units aimed at key workers. Around 2,000 sqm of ground-floor retail and food and beverage space would activate the street frontage, alongside a new public town square and landscaped open space.

<img alt="Noosa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2dd02f53-1360-4e51-801e-bfd61a6c980e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-26%20at%208.44.34%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=x1iNs3BSMN6Jy7YUwaBZMHRrrKX2hMpy" />

&nbsp;

Frank Developments Founder and Director Frank Licastro said the development would continue the company's focus on architecturally-led residential projects while addressing one of the region's biggest challenges.

"Not only will this project exude a sense of luxury, it will also enhance not only the built environment but also the surrounding community," Licastro said.

"Noosa's success relies on the people who live and work here. Providing well-designed accommodation for key workers is critical to supporting the local economy and ensuring the Shire can continue to thrive."

Kilter Property Co-Founder Huw Williams said the focus was on delivering additional permanent housing while creating a mixed-use destination that benefits both residents and the wider community.

"Our focus is on delivering a well-considered mixed-use project that provides more permanent housing options, supports local workers and businesses, and delivers an exceptional product for the local market," Williams said.

"The redevelopment vision aligns with the long-term evolution of Noosa Junction as a vibrant activity centre, creating a destination that enhances the area's character while delivering significant economic and community benefits."

Calile Malouf Investments, best known for its role in Brisbane's James Street precinct and The Calile Hotel, will bring its place-making experience to the project. The company recently commenced construction on The Calile Noosa hotel and says the residential development will complement its growing investment in the region.

CMI Director Cal Malouf said the aim was to create a walkable precinct combining housing, retail and hospitality while remaining true to Noosa's character.

"We see a similar opportunity in Noosa to deliver a vibrant, walkable destination that combines exceptional housing, hospitality and retail in one integrated project," Malouf said.

Brisbane-based Cavill Architects has been appointed to design the project.

Joel Robinson

Noosa Bowls Club to be redeveloped into mixed-use apartment precinct

One of Brisbane's last major riverfront redevelopment opportunities has taken a significant step forward, with Lendlease selected as the Queensland Government's preferred development partner for the former Visy site in South Brisbane.

The seven-hectare industrial site, positioned between South Bank and West End and 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, will be transformed into a mixed-use precinct expected to deliver more than 4,000 new homes alongside extensive public open space and riverfront parkland.

The project is one of the largest urban renewal opportunities currently planned in Brisbane and is expected to play a key role in accommodating the city's growing population ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Plans for the precinct include a network of riverfront promenades and boardwalks, new public plazas, parkland, amphitheatre-style gathering spaces and shared pedestrian and cycling links designed to reconnect the long-isolated site with the Brisbane River.

The Queensland Government is targeting delivery of the first homes and key public spaces before the 2032 Games, allowing the precinct to begin contributing new housing and public amenity well before the broader masterplan is complete.

The redevelopment is also expected to support more than 3,000 jobs across planning, construction and ongoing operations.

For Lendlease, the appointment adds another major urban regeneration project to its Queensland portfolio. The developer has operated in the state for more than 70 years and has delivered a number of large-scale mixed-use precincts in partnership with government.

Lendlease Development CEO Claire Johnston said the project represented one of Brisbane's most significant redevelopment opportunities.

"The transformation of the former Visy site represents a rare opportunity to reimagine one of Brisbane's most significant riverfront locations, deliver thousands of much-needed homes, and create long-term legacy," Johnston said.

"In partnership with the Queensland Government, we have the opportunity to create a new riverside destination that will help shape Brisbane's growth and how people experience the city for decades to come.

"This is exactly the type of large-scale, city-shaping development that will provide lasting benefits for Queensland, bringing together housing, jobs and world-class public spaces."

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the riverfront transformation would deliver a thriving new community precinct.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering this golden opportunity to unlock a riverfront jewel for all Queenslanders,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment to reshape a significant slice of Brisbane and deliver lasting benefits – thousands of new homes, and public spaces for all Queenslanders to enjoy well beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – unlike Labor’s plan which would have delivered zero benefits and zero new homes.

“Queensland is well and truly open for business and through partnership with the private sector, we are accelerating delivery while ensuring strong housing, community and economic outcomes."

Early works on the precinct are expected to commence in April 2027.

Lendlease selected to deliver transformative South Brisbane riverfront precinct

Eddy Haddad's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/level-33">Level 33</a> is levelling up its approved Wollongong development, as the coastal city south of Sydney continues to prove popular in the high-density development space.

Level 33, a longtime developer in the Wollongong area, has gone through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority to upsize its approved two-tower development on the corner of Crown Street and Gladstone Avenue, just 100 metres from Wollongong Station.

The developer currently has approval for 252 apartments across two buildings rising to 19 storeys. It is now seeking approval for 33 and 38-storey towers that would deliver 467 apartments, including 67 affordable homes.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bka-architecture">BKA Architecture</a>, the development would comprise apartments above a three-level podium with around 1,100 sqm of retail space, along with basement parking for 448 vehicles.

According to the Urban Design Report by BKA, the proposal has the capacity to "reinforce the precinct's identity by strengthening links between health, education, and transport services, while also contributing to Wollongong's ongoing evolution as a key regional centre."

Wollongong is somewhat in vogue. Between Level 33 and Urban Property Group, the two developers have several thousand apartments planned across the city.

Level 33 is currently delivering Easterly Wollongong, one of its most boutique projects to date with just 21 high-end apartments, as well as Atchison &amp; Kenny, a 329-apartment development due for completion later this year.

The developer plans to redevelop the 13,088 sqm WIN Grand megasite into <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crown-square-216-238-keira-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Crown Square</a>, a new $500 million precinct with nearly 600 apartments. It also has more than 900 apartments planned for the former Bunnings Warehouse site at the intersection of Gipps and Flinders streets.

Urban Property Group is also playing a major role in the city's transformation. Its five-tower Keira Place precinct will deliver more than 800 homes, and it has recently lodged plans for a further 300 apartments near Wollongong Station.

First look: Level 33 upsizes Wollongong apartment towers

Just a week after filing plans for the final stage of its major Keira Place masterplan, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has unveiled another significant housing proposal in Wollongong, this time targeting a prominent site opposite North Wollongong Station.

The developer has lodged a State Significant Development Application for a 38-storey mixed-use tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-4a-flinders-street-north-wollongong-nsw-2500">4-4A Flinders Street</a>, around one kilometre north of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/keira-place-wollongong-120-122-smith-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Keira Place precinct</a> currently taking shape on the edge of the CBD.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 38-storey North Wollongong tower as Keira Place expansion gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b6428f1-6405-4038-8476-897de440e90d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/flinders%20podium.png?VersionId=QLqEvK0OuCEwRC47oHNftrw2B1YqaHF8" />

Designed by Studio.SC, the proposal comprises a 38-storey mixed-use development containing 303 apartments, including 45 affordable housing units, alongside 174 co-living residences. The scheme also includes ground-floor retail space, extensive landscaping and public domain improvements.

Studio.SC noted in the proposal it "outlines a vision for a landmark transit-oriented mixed-use development centred around North Wollongong Station, designed to support the city’s future growth while responding to the NSW Government’s housing and planning reforms."

The architecture firm said the proposal responds to the opportunities and constraints shaping future growth within the 400-metre catchment of the station and represents "a coordinated and future-focused approach to urban intensification, contributing to the long-term evolution of North Wollongong as a connected, walkable and high-density station precinct."

The site occupies a strategic corner bounded by Flinders Street, Station Street, Stafford Street and the Princes Highway, directly opposite North Wollongong Station.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 38-storey North Wollongong tower as Keira Place expansion gathers pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7863adad-1f71-4022-b850-f44b252738fd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/flinders%20podium%20a.png?VersionId=WsU7av0g8_8R2tGHWxgHeFSlhu7yeY1V" />

The proposal follows Urban Property Group's recent submission for the second and final stage of Keira Place, which would deliver a further three buildings comprising 657 homes opposite Beaton Park. It builds on the first stage, which features 150 apartments across two towers and recently commenced construction.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said breaking ground on the first stage marked a significant milestone for Wollongong and reflected the developer's long-term commitment to regional cities.

"Today's groundbreaking is about turning approvals into homes and moving quickly to deliver much-needed housing in Wollongong's city centre," Elias said.

"Keira Place will provide a diverse mix of homes close to jobs, transport and services, while setting a high benchmark for quality, durability and consumer protection."

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/urban-property-group-unveils-trio-of-towers-for-next-stage-of-new-wollongong-precinct-keira-place">Urban Property Group unveils trio of towers for next stage of new Wollongong precinct, Keira Place</a>

First look: Urban Property Group plans next major Wollongong tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/arada">Arada Australia</a> has wasted little time expanding its ambitions in Campsie, lodging plans for a second major project in the rapidly transforming town centre just months after unveiling its three-tower One Campsie proposal on Beamish Street.

The UAE-backed developer has now taken aim at one of the suburb’s most strategically positioned sites, filing a State Significant Development Application for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/10-north-parade-campsie-nsw-2194">33-storey mixed-use tower</a> at 10 London Street and 43 North Parade, directly opposite the future Campsie Metro Station. The proposal is currently on public exhibition and represents another significant vote of confidence in Campsie's emergence as one of Sydney’s key transit-oriented growth centres.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the development would deliver 156 apartments above a podium containing retail and commercial space, creating a new residential and commercial gateway to the town centre. The scheme also includes a four-level above-ground parking podium and a dedicated residential amenity floor featuring wellness and recreation facilities. At least 10 per cent of the apartments would be allocated as affordable housing for a period of 10 years.

The proposal occupies a 1,631 sqm site bounded by London Street, North Parade and Dispensary Lane, immediately adjoining the future Metro station precinct and just metres from Beamish Street’s retail and dining strip. According to the Urban Design Report, the project seeks to deliver "a great place that prioritises human-scaled experience and provides spatial improvements to the area."

<img alt="First look: Arada doubles down in Campsie with 33-storey Metro-front tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="175a8324-015b-4856-abe3-ce6f23199fa7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium%20campsie.png?VersionId=742UGwXFhFBX4GEl6wX4PYIWREAgn6il" />

Woods Bagot describes the tower as a key marker within Campsie's next phase of growth.

"Located directly opposite the new Campsie Metro Station on North Parade, 10 London Street is a thoughtfully composed 33-storey mixed-use tower that contributes to the ongoing transformation of the town centre," the Architectural Design Report states. The report says the project is intended to provide "high-quality homes within a vibrant, connected urban environment, while helping define Campsie's future skyline."

A strong emphasis has been placed on the public realm. The ground floor incorporates over 500 sqm of retail space and active frontages along both London Street and North Parade, while the podium is wrapped by extensive landscaped planting intended to soften the building's scale and strengthen the pedestrian experience. The development would also widen surrounding footpaths and improve connections between the Metro station and the broader town centre.

Above the podium, residents would have access to more than 1,400 sqm of communal amenities, including a pool, gym and landscaped recreation spaces. A distinctive green-wall treatment extending across four podium levels forms a major architectural feature, helping differentiate the project within the emerging high-density precinct.

The tower's design is closely tied to the broader Campsie Town Centre Master Plan and the arrival of Sydney Metro. The Urban Design Report notes the proposal "directly supports the Campsie Town Centre Master Plan by delivering new homes in a location explicitly identified for growth, improved accessibility, and high-quality urban renewal." It adds that the project contributes to the master plan's vision for a strengthened town centre supported by thousands of new homes around the future Metro station.

<img alt="First look: Arada doubles down in Campsie with 33-storey Metro-front tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bfd17654-253e-489a-bade-6278d63db412" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/base%20campsie.png?VersionId=3roJPMQGs36dazpkhvpvbDDP73Ld.Ica" />

The application follows Arada Australia's recently lodged One Campsie project at 124–142 Beamish Street and 16–18 Ninth Avenue, where the developer is seeking approval for 346 apartments across three towers rising 24, 32 and 39 storeys. Together, the two proposals would cement Arada Australia as one of the most influential developers shaping Campsie's future urban form.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-arada-files-for-trio-of-apartment-towers-in-campsie-town-centre">First Look: Arada Australia files for trio of apartment towers in Campsie town centre</a>

Arada Australia entered the Australian market in 2024 and has rapidly assembled a significant development pipeline across Sydney. Alongside its Campsie holdings, the developer is soon to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wattle-green-2-fishburn-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Wattle Green</a> in Castle Hill, and has expanded its local operations following its acquisition of construction firm Roberts &amp; Co.

Located around 14 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, the site sits at the centre of one of Sydney's fastest-changing middle-ring precincts. The Metro conversion of Campsie Station, combined with Canterbury-Bankstown Council's master planning framework, is driving significant residential intensification around Beamish Street and North Parade, with thousands of new homes expected over coming decades.

Jonathan Chancellor

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