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Mirvac, the developer of the inner-Sydney Harold Park project, has taken the unusual step of commenting on the campaign of opposition to the proposed development.
It has accused the local Balmain Greens MP Jamie Parker of fuelling opposition by “misinformation”.
Mirvac’s response came ahead of this weekend’s public meeting that FLAG Harold Park has asked Parker to chair as part of the campaign “to stop the overdevelopment” of what was previously the Harold Park paceway.
The City of Sydney’s Central Sydney Planning Committee will shortly decide on the first of the development applications for the development. Parker has suggested there are significant community concerns about bulk, scale and density, the lack of affordable housing, and 700 additional vehicle movements per hour in peak periods that would affect surrounding suburbs including Glebe, Forest Lodge and Annandale.
Mirvac had submitted applications for Harold Park that were compliant with the site-specific planning controls and reflected the City of Sydney’s vision for the inner city, says Mirvac development chief John Carfi.
“Despite being provided facts, Mr Parker has continually communicated inaccurate information to the public about items relating to the proposed development.
“This has caused unnecessary community concern and undermines the detailed and thorough rezoning process completed by the City of Sydney,” Carfi says.
“This debate is being fuelled by misinformation.
“The impacts of extra residents in this location were modelled, and considered by the City of Sydney in formulating the site specific planning controls which were subsequently approved by Central Sydney Planning Committee and Council, then legislated by the NSW state government.
“In relation to traffic, Mirvac took the extra precaution of commissioning further traffic studies by specialist transport engineers before submitting its development applications.
“The RTA was also involved at every stage of the process.
Carfi says “Mr Parker’s demands for further studies were an attempt to delay the project and pressure consent authorities into reducing the size of the development which has already been set as part of the rezoning legislation.”
He says as one of the last remaining substantial inner-city sites suitable for residential development, Harold Park represents a very important role in the vision envisaged by the planning authorities.
“Sydney is a growing city with an urgent need for additional housing. In fact so urgent, that the state government is taking steps to fast track the rezoning of more land on the outer fringe of Sydney.
“But at the same time there is an equal need for housing in the inner-city, close to jobs and importantly public transport. Harold Park is in the enviable position of being close to the Jubilee Light Rail station, a range of bus services and cycle-ways.
“Not only that, it is an easy 2.5-kilometre walk to the Sydney CBD”.
“If Sydney is to be a liveable city, sustainable residential development is needed in the inner-city where people are not reliant on private cars. Harold Park meets that need,” Carfi says.
He says there will be a dedication of 38,000 square metres of land, more than 35% of the site area, to the City of Sydney for public open space. There will also be an $8.5 million payment to the City of Sydney to embellish the public open space.
 
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Mirvac accuses Greens MP of 'misinformation' over Harold Park campaign

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McGrath boss John McGrath suggests choosing the best agent to sell your property is the second most important decision in real estate, after choosing the right property to buy.
“From my experience many people are too casual in their approach to this crucial decision," he says.
“They ring a couple of agents and choose the one who gives them the highest valuation or has the lowest commission."
He says prospective vendors should create a series of questions to ask agents:
<ul>
<li>What do you think my property is worth? How have you come up with that figure?</li>
<li> How does my house present? What can I do to maximise the sale price?</li>
<li>What’s the best method for selling my property? Auction or private treaty? Why?</li>
<li>What’s an approximate time frame?</li>
<li>What’s it going to cost me?</li>
<li>Why should I hire you?</li>
<li>How long have you been working in this area?</li>
<li>What comparable homes have you sold in this area lately?</li>
<li>What’s the state of the market?</li>
<li>How long is it taking you to sell well priced listings at the moment?</li>
<li>What marketing strategy do you suggest? Why?</li>
<li>How much will be spent on marketing? Why?</li>
<li>How much traffic does your website get?</li>
<li>What will you do to introduce buyers to my property?</li>
<li>Do you have a list of recent vendors I can speak to?</li>
</ul>
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The 15 questions to ask when hiring a real estate agent to sell your property: John McGrath

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/feb3lynwood]}
<img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Lynwood Farm (pictured above), the charming three-storey timber house with widow’s walk set on 5.8 hectares at Robertson, has been listed for sale by Peter and Janie Marshall. For more than 100 years, the NSW Southern Highlands property was a dairy farm set among stands of remnant rainforest. It comes with a terraced garden of drystone walls, an apple walk and peony garden, spring water, bore, three tanks, citrus orchard, Hornbeam hedge and a paddock for stock. The grounds also have an original one-bedroom cottage plus separate guest accommodation above the double garage.
The interiors include wide oak floor boards from England and a Chinese Chippendale timber staircase, all overseen by Janie Marshall, who for a long time until she eased herself to her Highlands lifestyle, was the  favoured decorator of well-heeled hecticly demanding Sydneysiders who wanted their soft, rather 1950s English glamour interiors, given she trained at the Inchbald school in London. Title Tattle seems to recall she did Altona’s interiors along with Thomas Hamel for the Handburys. Given the climate in the Southern Highlands, Lynwood comes with double glazed windows, hydronic central heating and open and gas fires. Its listing agents Michael Maloney at Richardson and Wrench Bowral and Drew Lindsay of Drew Lindsay Real Estate are seeking $5.3 million. 
For buyers seeking to run a bigger farm, Richardson &amp; Wrench agent Philip Dwyer <a href="https://www.randw.com.au/43037/" target="_blank">has an adjoining 40 hectares on Vandenberg Road for sale </a>with another vendor at $1.69 million.
<img src="/images/stories/benacre.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Benacre, a 1870s bluestone Adelaide mansion (pictured above), has been listed by wine industry entrepreneur Rory O’Neill and his wife, Cathryn. O’Neill is director of the wine label Australian Domaine Wines. It was built for Henry Scott, the Adelaide mayor and his wife, Emily Gooch, who named it after her ancestral home in Suffolk. After its last major subdivision in the early 1970s, the two-storey house sits on a 6,600-square-metre block at Glen Osmond. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom heritage-listed Victorian Italianate mansion has grand formal rooms with marble details, parquetry floors and hand-painted friezes. There’s a modern extension plus gourmet kitchen that opens to the saltwater pool. The Toop and Toop listing agent Lew Toop has been advising buyers that they were hoping for close to $6 million.
<img src="/images/stories/thebeachhouse.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Ian Duffell, the former Virgin Entertainment executive, has spent $2.7 million to buy into Investec’s The Beach House development on Campbell Parade Bondi. Ranging from 65 square metres to 250 square metres, the initial mid-2009 off-the-plan sales in The Beach House (pictured above) started at $740,000 for one-bedders. The project was overseen by architect Brian Meyerson, with interiors by Burley Katon Halliday, after the specialist banking group secured the site from publican Cyril Maloney for $41 million in 2007. The Beach House is a four- to five-level, 40-apartment building next to Hotel Bondi, with a retail and cafe precinct that's been recently finished. The nearby Swiss-Grand Hotel is soon to begin the marketing that accompanies its much-anticipated $100 million conversion into 95 apartments, along with hotel rooms and retail by developers Allen Linz and Eduard Litver.
<img src="/images/stories/cammaray.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Alcatel’s former South Asia Pacific president Ron Spithill, and his wife, Patricia, have listed their north-facing Cammeray waterfront house (pictured above). The modern Cowdroy Avenue house sits on a 472-square-metre block with jetty and deep-water marina berth. The house cost $2.4 million when newly completed in 1999. It’s listed through John Conroy at Century 21 Resnekov for March 8 auction. Ron has an extensive background in the telecommunications industry and is a former president of the Telecommunications Industry Association of Australia. He joined Alcatel in 1962 when it was called ITT and was with the company until his 2005 retirement. The couple spend much of their time in Europe with regular trips to New Zealand, where he’s on the board of Telecom NZ.
<img src="/images/stories/wyuna2.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Former Hawthorn premiership player, the Toyota car dealer Bruce Stevenson and his wife, Julia, are selling their Portsea property (pictured above). The Tasmania-based couple are seeking $2.8 million plus through Kay and Burton agent Linda Boulter.  The four-bedroom Wyuna Court house has a tennis court, a pool and a gym. The outdoor entertaining area includes a wood-fired pizza oven. The Portsea property was bought from Michael and Deborah Cook in 2005 for $1.37 million. Offers are due February 24. Stevenson was in the 1971 Hawthorn team that beat St Kilda by seven points.
<img src="/images/stories/moncur.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The Paspaley family, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/title-tattle-sussan-ceo-naomi-milgrom-spends-%246.2-million-to-buy-her-byron-bay-neighbour/2011070150674" target="_blank">who bought in Bellevue last year for $9.4 million</a>, have listed their redundant sandstone Woollahra cottage (pictured above and below). It last traded for a bullish $3.87 million in 2005. Di Jones agent Kim Jones has the Georgian sandstone Moncur Street listing for February 21 auction.
<img src="/images/stories/moncur2.jpg">
Of course it’s her former family home, given Kim’s parents, the prominent late 1980s estate agents Bill and Di, owned it between 1990 and 1999. They paid $595,000 and sold for $2.3 million. Title Tattle gathers Bill and Di have secured new digs themselves, buying in The Residence, the College Street residential tower overlooking Hyde Park. Their $3.9 million apartment purchase was actually among the first off-the-plan purchases, in the block according to RP Data.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
<img src="/images/stories/stanwellpark1.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The award-winning photographer Sean Izzard and his wife, architect Amanda, have listed their contemporary Stanwell Park residence (pictured above) for March 3 auction. It’s listed through Amanda Moore and Vanessa Denison-Pender at McGrath Thirroul with $1.3 million-plus hopes. It takes in views of the ocean and Bald Hill escarpment. The architecturally designed home is set in landscaped tropical gardens on a 550-square-metre block, which cost $425,000 in 2001. The Izzards' house was built about six years ago to a design by Amanda. Closer to the ocean, businessman Peter Holmes a Court's clifftop home reputedly sold to Phil Staub, the executive chairman of General Pants, a retail group which owns Surf, Dive and Ski, Jetty Surf and Billabong, just days before Christmas for $1.9 million.
<img src="/images/stories/sanctcove.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The sales were small beer, rather than champagne cork popping, at the Gold Coast auctions during January. At Sanctuary Cove, the four-bedroom house of Ted Kunkel (pictured above), the former Fosters boss turned Billabong chairman, sold before last weekend's big Ray White auction for an undisclosed figure. Set on Bay Hill Terrace, the expansive house was built after the 804-square-metre lakefront reserve block had cost $500,000 in 2002 when bought from Mulpha. It comes with a Florida room with conservatory-style pool overlooking the sixth, seventh and eighth holes of the Palms Golf Course.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The boss of Freemantle Media Ian Hogg has spent $5.7 million in Mosman. It was previously the abode of the chairman of the Commonwealth Bank, David Turner, and his wife, Julia, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/commbank-boss-david-turner-upgrades-in-mosman-without-a-mortgage-title-tattle/2012020153209" target="_blank">who have upgraded Mosman abodes, without the bother of finding finance for the new home</a>. The Turners then spent exactly $10 million on their unencumbered beachfront reserve house. It was bought from the Royal Bank of Scotland's head of Australian equities operations, Randolf Clinton.
<img src="/images/stories/seedstraem.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Seadream47 (pictured above), the double-storey Mt Martha residence with 180-degree coastal views from Red Hill to Portsea, is under offer. Expected to fetch more than $3 million, it features five bedrooms, four bathrooms, formal and informal spilt-level living areas, plus home office, gym, spa and infinity pool. It been home of the structural engineer Harry Lambis since he designed it about six years. It was listed by Kay and Burton agents Rob Curtain and John Couper.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/feb17spender]}
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Title Tattle aims to tell you first – often before it happens – so stand by for the listing of Headingley House (pictured above), the Woollahra home of John Spender. It was his diplomat father, Sir Percy Spender, who bought it from the Kater pastoralist family in 1949 for £11,676. Little wonder John Spender has been most ponderous in whether to let go of the house. Of course two years ago Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer were allowed through Headingley House when Spender first thought he might get something like $18 million.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">And don't say that Title Tattle told you, but the Sydney accountant to the stars Anthony Bell has been quietly seeking out buyer feedback on the two Bondi Beach penthouses he's keen to sell. Bell, and his wife, television presenter Kelly Landry, are keen to buy a luxury eastern suburbs house – more so since the birth of their baby daughter, Charlize, five months ago.
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Former Virgin exec Ian Duffell buys into Bondi development: Title Tattle

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The Brisbane home featured in the latest Selling Houses Australia 2012 series debut makeover still awaits new owners.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/property/selling-houses-australia-series-5-yeronga-supplier-list.aspx">four-bedroom, two-bathroom 1960-built bungalow</a> remains listed for sale at $625,000.
The vendors are happy in the meantime to take $600 a week in rent.
Listed through Liz Baillie at The Wilson Team RE/MAX Colonial Riverside, the Yeronga house went to auction last September<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/audiences-sold-on-andrew-winter-s-selling-houses-australia-with-record-ratings/2012020253229"> after its $60,000 makeover by Andrew Winter’s team</a>.
The vendors, Paul and Gloria, had previously had it listed with $570,000-plus hopes before its renovation, which was needed following the January 2011 flood. This was reduced to $529,000 hopes shortly before Winter’s arrival last August.
It last traded at $328,000 in 2001.
For advice an expert commentary on lessons to learn from property reality TV, download our free eBook <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/ebooks/free-ebook-lights-camera-auction-lessons-from-the-property-reality-television-shows" target="_blank">Lights, Camera, Auction!</a>
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Brisbane house featured in Selling Houses 2012 premiere still awaiting buyer

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Andrew Winter’s Selling Homes Australia achieved record ratings in its 2012 series debut.
The show’s average audience was about 115,000 – who rather than watch the cricket tuned into the program on Foxtel Lifestyle. Viewers peaked at 152,000.
It seems assured to remain the top-rating non-sports program on subscription television.
The 2012 series kicked off with a<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/brisbane-house-featured-in-selling-houses-2012-premiere-still-awaiting-buyer/2012020253230" target="_blank"> flood house makeover in the Brisbane suburb of Yeronga</a>.
The previous best average audience score was when it showed a Frankston extreme mess makeover, which had a 114,000 average audience rating when it aired midway through its fourth series last year.
Winter’s profile is steadily more known across Australia following a roadshow late last year sponsored by News Ltd local papers, where he gave seminars sponsored by RP Data.
<img src="/images/stories/sellinghousesoz2.jpg">
Last year’s debut program on a North Rocks makeover was watched by an average 91,000 people, which was its highest season debut since its premiere in 2008 at 72,000 average audience with an Austinmer makeover, based on OzTam data.
There were 68,000 average viewers per program after its 2008 launch.
Viewers dipped to 49,000 in season two, then jumped back to 62,000 in season three.
There were typically 108,000 viewers in its fourth series last year when Winter accepted Astra Awards for the Viewers’ Favourite Personality (second year running) and for the third year running, the Viewers’ Favourite Lifestyle Program.
Selling Houses began on Britain's Channel 4 amid the property boom in 2002 when Winter, then a London real estate agent, was plucked from obscurity to present the program.
He rivalled Property Ladder's Sarah Beeny and Location, Location, Location's Phil Spencer until his migration, with his wife Caroline and their three daughters, to the Gold Coast in Australia.
Winter, who is represented by the Harry M. Miller Group, has dispensed advice this year suggesting with another year comes a new property outlook.
He suggests important New Year resolutions for buyers and seller in the market for 2012 should include:
1. I will not place my house on the market unless I seriously want to sell and understand that the price I am finally offered may not be what I hoped for.
2. If I am selling, I will not leave it all to the agent. I resolve to get involved, read the text in advertisements and online, check the pictures, questions all aspects of the marketing campaign and listen to the agent’s advice and give them a chance to explain.
3. I will not underestimate the power of first impressions when selling. I will not leave the toilet seat up, beds will be made, windows will be shining, the whole place will feel clean, and no sign of pets other than pictures of them.
4. As a buyer, I will acknowledge that in reality my requirements will change during my search and I promise to be realistic with my expectations.
5. I promised to do my research and know there’s no such thing as “guaranteed capital growth”.
6. If I see a home I really like I will be prepared to pay market value and not get upset when the sellers, who are normal, sane beings, refuse my mad, crazy and insulting low offer.  I will try to secure the home at the right price, but make sure any low offers are based on facts and market conditions or because the seller needs to sell quick. If I do make an offer under those circumstances, I resolve to act quickly.
 
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Audiences sold on Andrew Winter's Selling Houses Australia, with record ratings

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Merrendee Station, the Mudgee farm of the late Douglass Baglin, the revered photographer, has been listed for sale at $3.25 million.
With a carrying capacity of 350 to 400 cows and 2,000 sheep, the property has been listed at $2,238 per hectare through Geoff Bartlett at O’Brien Bartlett First National Real Estate Mudgee.
Baglin, who was at the forefront of heritage property preservation starting in Hunters Hill in the 1960s, died in late 2010 aged 84 at Redleaf Manor, Concord.
He left one of Australia’s most extensive image libraries. Many of his photos were donated to the State Library, including more than 7,000 Hunters Hill negatives and transparencies.
He had been part of the vanguard of the Australian conservation movement, having lived in one of the oldest homes in the area, Villa Floridiana, from 1956-88. More than 80 books feature his photos, including Sandstone Sydney and Dinky-di Dunnies. He was Australia’s official photographer for The America’s Cup Challenge in 1967. One of his first commissions was as part of Sir Edward Hallstrom’s 1959 expedition, where he filmed the first European contact with New Guinea’s pygmies in Jimmi River Valley.
Douglass and his late wife, Elaine Baglin, bought the property in 1987.
He is buried next to his wife at Merrendee Station.
The first owner of Merrendee was Sarah Lowe, who came to the Mudgee region following the 1832 death of her husband, who had been the chief magistrate of Camden and Campbelltown.
After the 1857 gold discovery, a town soon sprung up on the banks of Meroo River, with the township of Merrendee hitting about 6,000 people. About one-third of those were Chinese.
The Lowe family ownership ceased in the early 1900s, when Sydney Webb purchased the property and commissioned the architectural firm Hudson and Carmichel to design a stone home in 1918. The manager’s residence was built in 1993.
NSW Valuer-General Philip Western today released fresh valuations for the 12,824 properties in the Mid-Western Regional local government area, which had rural land values generally remaining steady over the past three year, with larger rural holdings showing a slight increase in value.
He noted the value of rural residential land had generally shown a moderate increase in value due to continued local demand.
Hobby farms south of Mudgee, around Rylstone and Bylong, however, had experienced a slight fall in value.
Village land values had generally remained steady over the three-year period, with the exception of land in Ulan, which showed a slight increase in value, mainly due to demand from the Ulan coal mine.
Typical rural land values were:
•             296 hectares at Dolomite Road, Mount Knowles valued at $246,000
•             215 hectares at Glen Alice Road, Dabee valued at $363,000
 
Typical rural residential land values were:
•             10.2 hectares at Castlereagh Highway, Galambine valued at $200,000
•             10.2 hectares at Adelong Road, Tallawang valued at $86,500.
 
Typical hobby farm land values were:
•             106 hectares at Kyewong Road, Windeyer valued at $86,000
•             64.8 hectares at Coxs Creek Road, Coxs Creek valued at $85,000
•             41.6 hectares at Razorback Road, Running Stream valued at $107,000
•             64.8 hectares at Cliffdale Road, Turill valued at $101,000
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Photographer Douglass Baglin’s former Mudgee farm up for sale: Title Tattle

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Craig-Lea, which sits on a 561-square-metre holding in Glebe’s Toxteth estate, has been listed for sale.
It has undergone a major recent sympathetic renovation, which has triggered its $3.8 million-plus hopes.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-glebe-nsw-2037/136357/?searchID=13369623">six-bedroom Mansfield Street residence</a>, which comes with three Travertine bathrooms, has a distinctive "barnfloor" Dulux paint colouring exterior.
It’s been listed for February 25 auction through Michael Glynn at McGrath Estate Agents.
It last sold at mortgagee sale by Westpac in 1996 at $625,000. It’s a late Victorian, probably late 1880s, which sat neglected for a considerable time. For the greater part of the last century it was a boarding house.
The McGrath website gives two Glebe comparables – a $4.2 million <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-glebe-nsw-2037/93966/?searchID=13369459">six-bedroom 1886 Toxteth Road  house</a> on 607 square metres sold in April last year.
There was also a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-glebe-nsw-2037/137132/?searchID=13369582">five-bedroom Arcadia Road house</a> on about 450 square metres that sold before its December auction at an undisclosed price but is understood to be about $3.8 million.
The median sale price for houses in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Glebe </a>is $975,000, according to RP Data.
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Glebe's Craig-Lea listed with $3.8 million-plus hopes after much-needed reno

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With $1.05 million unaccounted, NSW Fair Trading is investigating Warilla real estate agency Dougmal Harcourts after appointing Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as an independent manager to the Illawarra region agency.
Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe says Fair Trading was notified of a significant deficiency in trust accounts by the licensee-in-charge last month.
The real estate agency side of the business is now closed.
The large real estate agency and strata management scheme operates across the southern Illawarra region managing 236 strata schemes, involving approximately 1,800 properties.
Stowe said says $200,000 is unaccounted for in the agency’s trust account, affecting seven groups of consumers in the process of buying a property.
“Approximately $850,000 out of a total strata sinking fund pool of $4.3 million administered by the agency is unaccounted for,” the Commissioner says.
“There should be no immediate impact on the day to day operations of the 236 schemes, however the loss of nearly 20% of the sinking fund pool will be addressed in the course of the investigation and by the manager.”
Stowe says claims to the Property Services Compensation Fund must be made in writing to the Fair Trading Commissioner within 12 months of a person becoming aware of the failure to account, or within two years of the date the failure to account took place, whichever period ends first.
“Fair Trading is contacting these consumers to advise them of the situation and how they may make a claim on the Property Services Compensation Fund,” he says.
 
 
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Missing $1 million trust funds prompts Fair Trading investigation into Warilla agency Dougmal Harcourts 

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The chairman of the Commonwealth Bank, David Turner, and his wife, Julia have upgraded Mosman abodes, without the bother of finding finance for the new home. They pocketed $5.7 million and spent exactly $10 million on their unencumbered beachfront reserve house.
It was bought from the Royal Bank of Scotland's head of Australian equities operations, Randolf Clinton. Turner was appointed to the Commonwealth Bank board in 2006 and has been chairman since February 2010. His extensive experience in finance, international business and governance has included Cobham Plc, Brambles Limited and Mobil Oil.
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Commbank boss David Turner upgrades in Mosman without a mortgage: Title Tattle

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New home sales fell in December 2011, according to the Housing Industry Association.
The survey of Australia’s 100 largest builders recorded a 4.9% decline in seasonally adjusted sales during the month.
“New home sales were essentially flat over the December 2011 quarter, inching up by 0.2%,” HIA chief economist Dr Harley Dale says.
Building approvals will record a fall for the December quarter and new home loans will likely do the same, Dale says.
“Leading new housing indicators therefore ended 2011 on a weak note.”
<img src="/images/stories/hiafeb1.gif">
Detached house sales fell by 7.7% in December 2011 but rose by 2.1% over the quarter. Multi-unit sales jumped by 29.4% in the final month of last year, but dropped by 15.7% over the December 2011 quarter.
“The intensification of bad news regarding Europe, question marks over labour market prospects in Australia, and avoidable delay and uncertainty as to whether banks were going to pass on the Reserve Bank’s second rate cut conspired to drive a fall in new housing contracts as the holiday season approached,” Dale says.
He suggests the weakness revealed in the HIA - JELD-WEN New Home sales report reflects a combination of subdued demand and an excessive cost base driven by high and inefficient taxation.
“Short-term monetary and fiscal policy stimulus together with a revitalised program of longer-term structural reform is required in early 2012,” he adds.
The volume of detached house sales declined in three out of five mainland states in December 2011, falling by 4% in New South Wales, 10.5% in Victoria and 20% in Queensland.
Sales increased by 12% in South Australia and by 6.8% in Western Australia.
 
 
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New home sales fell nationally in December 2011 but picked up in South and Western Australia: HIA

ASX-listed developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/stockland">Stockland</a>&nbsp;is continuing its push back into the new apartment market, filing plans for a prominent gateway site between Collingwood and East Melbourne.

The development giant, which moved back into the new apartment space when it announced Stanton Place in Sydney's Rosebery and have since filed plans for a 50-storey tower, are jumping into the off the plan Melbourne market.

They are hoping to create a mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/79-81-victoria-parade-collingwood-vic-3066">79-81 Victoria Parade</a>, replacing an existing commercial building with a scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/john-wardle-architects">Wardle</a>&nbsp;for 478 apartments,&nbsp;ground-floor retail, new public open spaces and a publicly accessible pedestrian laneway.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72dbbca9-3918-4073-afad-a0c0c35be8e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20pers.png?VersionId=bzMVUKKxvwuNK1m0v_td126Rgct32uk_" />

The design report identifies the public realm as a central driver of the proposal.

"Collingwood has limited access to high-quality parks and public open space, and the proposal delivers valuable new areas for respite, social interaction and fine-grain retail activity."

The development would deliver a diverse mix of housing, including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside townhouse-style residences. Two basement levels are proposed beneath the development, providing resident and retail parking as well as extensive bicycle facilities.

Wardle's design draws heavily on Collingwood's industrial character, using articulated building forms, brickwork and robust materials inspired by the suburb's warehouse and manufacturing heritage. The built form has been broken into a series of smaller volumes to better respond to the surrounding streetscape while extensive communal gardens, rooftop amenities and shared resident spaces are integrated throughout the project.

<img alt="First look: Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b2135ed-65df-4253-ad53-f216f06bd467" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/stockland%20podium.png?VersionId=l1B6Hqn8zs772VxH6L1fDPg0KHshan9v" />

The planning documents describe the existing office building as offering little engagement with the public realm, with the redevelopment intended to create a more permeable and active neighbourhood destination.

"The proposed scheme presents a significant opportunity to deliver a vibrant retail plaza and a local neighbourhood hub serving both existing and future Collingwood residents."

The 79–81 Victoria Parade site occupies a strategic location about 1.5 kilometres east of Melbourne's CBD, at the threshold between Collingwood and East Melbourne. It is well served by tram services along Victoria Parade and sits within walking distance of St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy Gardens, the Fitzroy activity centre and a broad range of employment, retail and hospitality destinations.

Joel Robinson

Stockland plans new mixed-use neighbourhood precinct for Collingwood gateway site

An 1880s timber cottage that has survived Kangaroo Point's transformation from riverside suburb to high-density apartment precinct is set to become the centrepiece of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/zephyr">Zephyr Group</a>'s proposed Banksia development.

Rather than see the locally heritage-listed Alpha Cottage as an obstacle to navigate, plans integrate the landmark home into a new 18-storey residential tower, giving one of the suburb's oldest surviving residences a new role as the project's communal hub.

The development application covers a 1,177 sqm amalgamated site at 127-133 Lambert Street and 30 Shafston Avenue, where Zephyr Group plans to deliver 64 apartments above three basement levels. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/joe-adsett-architects">Joe Adsett Architects</a>, the proposal carefully weaves the retained heritage cottage into a contemporary residential scheme, with the tower elevated above the historic building to preserve its presence within the Lambert Street streetscape.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f9dc5bdb-d691-4c60-bf2b-c3ed405a3e75" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Banksia.png?VersionId=Jh4bjlewU.o8HXWt0V4KaFA_lPcF7KWM" />

Named after the native Australian Banksia flower, the project draws inspiration from its distinctive form through curved balconies, sculpted planter boxes and cascading subtropical landscaping that soften the building's profile.

As the design report explains: "The tower's identity is defined by its feature facade, drawing direct inspiration from the Banksia wildflower. The building departs from traditional rigidity through the use of elegant, GRC-moulded planter boxes that appear as if shaped by the breeze."

Plans propose 64 apartments, comprising 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom residences, across an 18-storey tower. Residents would have access to rooftop amenities including a swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, private cinema, dining spaces and landscaped recreation areas, while more than half the site is dedicated to planting and open space.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16041b5f-033e-47fa-8fbe-9886e072c1f2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pool.png?VersionId=kpx5w4EbLx0_TdWfDoD1vrSs0_cZ5Ao1" />

The heritage component is the defining feature of the proposal. Constructed in the early 1880s and occupied from at least 1883, Alpha Cottage is recognised by Brisbane City Council as an important surviving example of Kangaroo Point's nineteenth-century residential development and as a representative transverse-gable timber cottage. Despite extensive redevelopment across the peninsula, the building has retained a high degree of its original form and internal fabric.

As part of the redevelopment, the cottage will be carefully relocated a short distance within its original allotment to facilitate construction before being returned to a prominent position along Lambert Street. Original verandah elements will be dismantled, catalogued and reinstated, while significant internal features, including timber flooring, wall linings, joinery, doors, windows and hardware, will be retained. Later additions, including the enclosed rear verandah, will be removed to better reveal the building's original form.

Once restored, Alpha Cottage will accommodate the building manager's office, mail room and parcel facilities, providing an active everyday use that supports its long-term conservation rather than preserving it as a static display. The heritage strategy also maintains landscaped space around the building, allowing it to remain visually distinct beneath the new tower.

<img alt="First look: Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="43b027e1-576e-4624-a66c-7cc54ea8b7be" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/banksia%20tower.png?VersionId=2W6E2yfkj2AQlWlLeV986grA5zB9f817" />

The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that "the proposal secures the ongoing occupation, maintenance and conservation of Alpha Cottage," finding the development would result in "no more than a minor impact on the cultural heritage significance" of the building while ensuring its long-term future.

Joe Adsett Architects have designed the tower to sit above the heritage building rather than overwhelm it, creating a clear visual separation between old and new. The development's flowing balconies, integrated planting and organic façade respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate while complementing the restored cottage below.

Banksia occupies a prominent corner in Kangaroo Point within walking distance of the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Brisbane River, ferry services, QUT, the CBD and the Woolloongabba precinct. The site also benefits from direct access to active transport infrastructure and sits within an area earmarked for continued higher-density residential growth.

Zephyr Group's Banksia to wrap new Kangaroo Point tower around 1880s Alpha Cottage

Buying into a masterplanned community often means committing to a vision still years from taking shape. At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>, that vision is already visible.

Residents have moved into the completed first stage, landscaped spaces are established, and the next chapter is now underway. Stage 1 has been completed and settled, with Stage 2 now selling off-the-plan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> combines attainable apartment living with sustainability initiatives rarely seen at this price point, including rooftop solar, battery storage and a resident EV-sharing program.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6RNt3AvtBpI?si=JUhuCV2ZRXsYaoJZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Located on Schofi​elds Road, just moments from Tal​lawong Metro Station and Schof​ields Train Station, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been designed to appeal to a broad mix of buyers, from first-home purchasers looking for a foothold in Sy​dney's property market to downsizers seeking a connected, low-maintenance lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> has been conceived as a thoughtfully planned masterplanned community that will evolve over multiple stages, with buyers now able to secure one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a neighbourhood that is already beginning to establish its identity.

One of the project's defining features is its focus on sustainability. Solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure have been incorporated throughout the development, reflecting a long-term approach to both environmental performance and everyday convenience.

Sustainability sits at the centre of the development's vision, with solar energy systems, battery storage and future EV charging infrastructure integrated throughout the community.

That emphasis on future-ready living extends beyond the technology. Landscaped communal gardens, outdoor gathering spaces and plans for a future retail precinct aim to create a neighbourhood where residents can access daily conveniences without travelling far from home.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351027]

The apartments themselves have been designed with liveability front of mind. Rather than chasing maximum density, the focus has been placed on creating practical homes with generous natural light, usable layouts and strong connections to outdoor space.

Importantly, these design principles have been applied consistently across the one, two and three-bedroom apartment offerings.

The appeal of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> is also closely linked to its location within Syd​ney's rapidly evolving north-west growth corridor. Over the past decade, major infrastructure investment has transformed the area, with new transport links, business precincts and community facilities reshaping suburbs like Talla​wong and Schofiel​ds.

The agent says buyers are increasingly recognising the area's long-term potential.

"Typical buyers that we're finding across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> especially are your first-home buyers, your investors, your upsizers as well as your downsizers," Hawes says.

Connectivity remains one of the project's strongest drawcards. Residents have access to both Tallaw​ong Metro Station and Schofi​elds Train Station, providing links to the Sydn​ey CBD, Norw​est Business Park, Macquari​e Park and other major employment hubs. Retail centres including Rous​e Hill Town Centre and Sch​ofields Village are also nearby, alongside schools, parks and future healthcare infrastructure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351031]

For Stage 1 resident Roji, it is the balance between convenience and comfort that has defined the experience of living at Kew.

"For me, it's a balance of quality and convenience," she says. "Everything I need is right here."

"If I wanted to catch the train, Scho​fields Station is just around the corner. Tallaw​ong Metro connects me to the city."

More importantly, she says, the development has delivered something that cannot be measured in floorplans or specifications.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> feels like home."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149637 project_image_fid=351024]

As Stage 2 enters the market, that lived experience may be one of the project's strongest selling points. Buyers are not purchasing into an untested concept or a future promise. They are joining a community that is already taking shape.

Ongoing investment in transport, retail, healthcare and public open space continues to strengthen the appeal of Syd​ney's north-west growth corridor, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a>'s established first stage provides buyers with a tangible sense of the community's future direction.

For a limited time, buyer can secure a new home at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kew-tallawong-23-27-schofields-road-tallawong-nsw-2762">Kew Tallawong</a> with just a $10,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149637]

Kew Tallawong: A growing community taking shape in Sydney's north-west

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a> has received development approval for its 51-storey mixed-use tower at 153-157 Walker Street, North Sydney, set to be one of the tallest mixed-use residential-led buildings in one of Sydney’s most sought-after commercial and residential addresses.

Lodged as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following a comprehensive public exhibition and submissions process, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">the project</a> will deliver 296 apartments, alongside a 170-room, luxury hotel, activated retail and significant public domain improvements.

Situated just 200 metres from Victoria Cross Metro Station, on one of the largest developable sites in North Sydney, the development will rise to 234 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in the suburb. With an end value of approximately $1.5 billion, the project responds directly to the NSW Government’s mandate to accelerate housing delivery in well-located, transit-connected areas.

<img alt="Freecity gets green light for mixed-use residential and hotel tower in North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="192ec455-94bf-4e01-83ef-922b1b269d67" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Freecity%20-%20Walker%20Street%20North%20Sydney%201%20RESIZED%20.jpg?VersionId=Bzqp0SBHCDvLAHjA4QXkjuGoOEIh73Jl" />

The apartment mix will cater to a broad range of buyers, with 65 studio and one-bedroom apartments, 139 two-bedroom residences, 35 three-bedroom apartments, 48 four-bedroom homes, and nine penthouses. Residents will have access to a dedicated amenity level on Level 33, featuring a swimming pool with views towards the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and North Sydney CBD, as well as a gym, library, shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor entertaining areas.

The hotel will occupy the lower six levels of the building and include meeting and function spaces, a wellness centre with gym, yoga studio, swimming pool and sauna, further strengthening North Sydney's growing hospitality offering.

At ground level, the development has been designed to improve pedestrian connections through the precinct. More than 700 sqm of retail space will activate the street frontage, while a landscaped through-site link connecting Walker Street, Little Walker Street and Doris Fitton Park will provide new public open space with seating, paving and extensive native landscaping.

Freecity Group Co-Founder and Joint CEO Tony Sun said the project represents one of the most significant development opportunities currently available in North Sydney.

"This is one of the most significant development sites in North Sydney and it comes at a pivotal moment for the precinct," Sun said.

"North Sydney is undergoing a genuine transformation, and this project will contribute housing the city urgently needs while creating a landmark destination."

Executive Director of Development Michael Romano said demand for both residential and hotel accommodation would continue to strengthen as the Metro precinct matures.

"The structural demand for high-quality housing and hotel accommodation in North Sydney is compelling, and will only grow as the precinct continues to evolve around the new Metro station," Romano said.

Architectus has designed the tower, orientating the apartments to maximise views towards Sydney Harbour while introducing a sculpted façade intended to respond to light, wind and the surrounding skyline.

Architectus Principal Marko Damic said the design sought to create a tower that contributes to the public realm as much as the skyline.

"We wanted to design a tower that doesn't just sit in the skyline but actively participates and contributes to city life," Damic said.

First look: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use apartment and hotel tower in North Sydney

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> have celebrated the topping out of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf,</a> marking a significant milestone in the delivery of one of Syd​ney's most anticipated waterfront communities.

Located on Sydney's harbourfront at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a>, the project has now reached its highest structural point, with construction progressing strongly towards completion in 2027. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone was celebrated on-site with project partners Phoenix Property Investors, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Versatile Construction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, consultants and stakeholders, to recognise the collective effort behind the transformation of the historic waterfront site into a vibrant new residential, marina and lifestyle destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240] 
&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will deliver a mix of waterfront residences and terraces, complemented by a private 36-berth marina, waterfront dining opportunities and a revitalised foreshore designed to reconnect the community with the river's edge. 
&nbsp; 
Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said the project represented a rare opportunity to create the next chapter in Sydn​ey's long history of successful waterfront precincts. 
&nbsp; 
"Throughout Sydney, some of the city's most sought-after addresses have emerged from carefully considered waterfront precincts such as Woolloom​ooloo Wharf, Walsh Bay and Breakfast Point," Brown said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362566] 
&nbsp; 
"What makes these places so successful is that they become much more than residential developments," Brown said.

"They bring together homes, hospitality, marina facilities, public spaces and a strong sense of community in locations where future supply is incredibly limited."

Brown has long described absolute waterfront land in Sy​dney as "finite."

"Once these opportunities are developed, they are rarely replicated. That's why Syd​ney's waterfront precincts have consistently demonstrated strong demand and long-term value growth over many decades. 
&nbsp; 
"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is one of the few remaining opportunities to secure a residence within a masterplanned waterfront community that combines direct water access, marina ownership opportunities and a genuine village lifestyle just moments from the Sy​dney CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362564] 
&nbsp; 
PERIFA Founder and Managing Director Fabrizio Perilli said the project reflected a shared commitment to delivering exceptional places that create long-term value for residents and the broader community. 
&nbsp; 
"The topping out milestone is a significant achievement for the Versatile Group and a testament to the collaboration between all project partners, consultants and contractors involved," Perilli said. 
&nbsp; 
"Beyond the residences themselves, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> will establish a new waterfront destination that celebrates the history, character and lifestyle of this unique location while creating a lasting legacy for future generations."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291195] 
&nbsp; 
Construction is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile">Versatile Construction</a>, with structural works now substantially complete across the precinct. Attention will progressively shift to the construction of the waterview terraces, apartment façades, services and interior fit-out works over the coming months. 
&nbsp; 
With limited residences and marina berths remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> continues to attract strong interest from owner occupiers and downsizers seeking a premium waterfront lifestyle within close proximity to Putne​y Village, Rh​odes, Top Ry​de and the Syd​ney CBD. 
&nbsp; 
As one of the last opportunities to secure a residence within a new masterplanned waterfront community on Sy​dney Harbour, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-harbourfront-precinct-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a> is expected to remain a highly sought-after address for years to come.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Jonathan Chancellor

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