<html><body>
Aussie Home Loans boss John Symond has raised more than $36,000 over the month of "Movember", with his well-groomed moustache drawing comparisons to Clark Gable and Magnum PI.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/symo.jpg">
Symond was the face of the<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/aussie-john-symo-joins-property-industry-movember-charity-campaign/2012112057966" target="_blank"> Aussie 'SyMOs'</a> – a team of 44 Aussie brokers and employees who all grew moustaches in support of the cancer and men’s depression awareness monthly charity campaign.
The team has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.movember.com/mospace/3785433">ranked fifth out of 19,000 teams who have taken part in Movember</a>.
Speaking to David Koch on Sunrise this week, Symond said he’d asked his mates if he looked more like Hollywood icon Clark Gable or TV star MagnumPI and was told that he looked more Sergeant Schultz from Hogan’s Heroes with his catch phrase: “I know nothing”.
“Very cruel, my friends, very cruel,” said Symond, who plans to shave off his moustache as soon as the clock strikes midnight November 30.
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

John Symond raises $36,000 plus for Movember with Clark Gable/Sergeant Schultz look

<html><body>
Premier Sydney-based real estate group McGrath has reported a 35% drop in full-year after tax profits in a year in which it opened new offices and acquired a number of businesses.

The full year audited results are for the year to June 30 2012, having been lodged with ASIC earlier this month.

McGrath Limited reported profit after tax of $2.25 million compared with profits of $3.49 million in the prior financial year.

A dividend of $2.87 million was declared compared with a dividend of $4.88 million in 2011.

The fall in profits was despite a 5% rise in revenue, which increased from $43.78 million to $45.89 million with cost of sales, employee benefits and occupancy costs rising.

Financing costs and doubtful debts halved.

McGrath also renegotiated the terms of a $6.3 million loan facility with Macquarie Bank.

During the course of the year, McGrath expanded its network of offices to 45 including 38 franchise offices, acquired the sales and rent roll business of Sarah Lorden Real Estate for $2.94 million and acquired the rent roll business of IC Property Group for $1.11 million.

In total, McGrath’s offices generated over $5.9 billion in residential sales from 6,616 transactions and also derived income from property management services.

McGrath sold 1,787 properties over the $1 million mark with new offices opening in Balmain, Crows Nest, Frenchs Forest, Brisbane, Toowoomba, and Dickson (ACT).

In the first few months of the current financial year, McGrath has added a further five offices to its network which now totals 50 offices and over 1,100 staff.

McGrath’s most recent new office opening was a franchise office in Brisbane’s north-east - McGrath Wynnum Manly – which marks its second Brisbane franchise office and third office in total.

The franchisee is Michelle Rodgers, formerly with RE/MAX Manly.

McGrath offices also picked up awards during the year with McGrath Mosman wins best large residential agency at 2012 REINSW Awards McGrath Dickson winning best medium residential agency at 2012 REIACT Awards
“Notwithstanding a challenging real estate market in some price segments, McGrath has continued to expand our geographical footprint and importantly, significant market share increases in our existing areas of business, Geoff Lucas, chief operating officer of McGrath Estate Agents told Property Observer.
“2012 was a year of continued expansion for McGrath.  Most notably the establishment of two significant company owned offices in Balmain and Paddington Brisbane.  We continued investing in our new businesses on the Gold Coast, project marketing division and our franchise rollout.
“All these businesses require initial investment and we are pleased with their substantial contribution to group earnings that will be reflected in the 2013 financial year.”
</body></html>

McGrath profits fall in year of expansion and acquisitions

<html><body>
Half of all property investors hand over the entire management of their rental properties to an estate agent, according to a survey by consultants BDRC Jones Donald.
The landlords are better informed and have more profitable investments as a result, the survey concluded. 
Overall, more than three-quarters (77%) of landlords involve a property manager in some aspect of their rental portfolio and tenant management with less a quarter self-managing their investments and tenants.
Around 12% of landlords surveyed said they used a property manager just to collect the rent.
On average, landlords that use a property manager are better informed of the return they are getting from their investments than those that self-manage their investments - though in both cases a high proportion of property investors have no idea of the rental yield their properties are achieving.
Just less than a third (32%) of the landlords surveyed that said they did use a property manager said they were unaware of the rental yield on their investment, compared with 40% of landlords that self-manage their rental properties.
The survey also suggests that<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/landlords/property-investment-proceeds-not-an-alternative-to-full-time-job-australian-buy-to-let-landlord-survey/2012112658109" target="_blank"> landlords that use a property manager are better off financially</a>, finding that a higher proportion (51%) of property investors that use a professional property manager achieve a positive yield on their investments compared with 36% of self-managing investors who achieve a positive yield.
In addition, property investors that use a professional property manager are more likely to earn a positive cash flow stream from their investments.
“The Australian Private Property Investor Study found that the majority of private investors rely on the professional advice and support of real estate agents to maximise their investment returns,” says BDRC Jones Donald managing director, Dr Roger Donbavand.
“When you consider that Australian investors have seen five changes to the official cash rate in the last two years and the poorest super returns since 2007, it’s no wonder landlords are reaching out to professionals to ensure investment success,” he says.
One in four of the 500 landlords surveyed by BDRC Jones Donald plan to increase their rent over the next six months, with almost half of those surveyed noticing an increase in tenant demand and an increase in rents in other rental properties in their market.
The full report can be purchased from <a href="https://www.jonesdonald.com.au/" target="_blank">BDRC Jones Donald</a>.
</body></html>

One in two property investors hand over full control of portfolio to property managers: survey

<html><body>
These are the five key slides investors should take note of from the recent Property Observer webinar:  <a href="/news">“The portfolio: Where property fits in your wealth-creation strategy”</a> presented by Peter Handberg, financial adviser at WHK.
Property weightings in your portfolio depend on your risk/return preference
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/11/whk1.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/whk1thumb.gif"></a>
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
Where property should fit in as part of your investment and cashflow timeline
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/11/whk2.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/whk2thumb.gif"></a>
 
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
Five smart foundations for investing
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/11/whk3.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/whk3thumb.gif"></a>
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The pros and cons of investing personally or through your super
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/11/whk4.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/whk4thumb.gif"></a>
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
The 10 things you need to know about investing property through your SMSF
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" rel="shadowbox" href="/images/stories/2012/11/whk5.gif"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/whk5thumb.gif"></a>
The full webinar presented by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whk.com.au/">Peter Handberg of WHK</a> can be viewed on <a href="/news">Property Observer’s webinar page</a>.
</body></html>

Five key slides: Where property fits into your wealth-creation strategy

<html><body>
Nearly a third of residential lots released by big land estate developers on Melbourne's fringes are being returned by mid-sized home building companies, who can't find smaller home builders and or end-use homebuyers.
The statistic has been uncovered as part of The National Land Survey Program carried out by jointly by Research Four and property consultants Charter Keck Cramer.
According to the Melbourne chapter research of the National Land Survey Program, 30% of new land activities for the September quarter were cancellations.
The September quarter figures indicate that cancellations are rising with the 12 month cancellation rate averaging 23% of monthly activity.
This compares with a cancellation rate of averaged only 4% of monthly activity during the property boom from June 2009 to December 2010.
Cancellation rates are highest in the west (Melton) and north of Melbourne (Mitchell, Hume, Whittlesea) with the south east (Cardinia, Casey) having notably lower level of cancellations relative to lot sales.
Property Observer understands that Stockland projects represents a sizeable proportion of residential land that has been returned recently.
Stockland and other residential developers sell blocks of residential land in new master-planned communities to home building companies, which then market house and land packages at buyers.
The latest report provides further evidence of the challenges facing Melbourne greenfield land developers and comes as the HIA recorded a 12.1% fall in detached new home sales in Victoria over October.
Colin Keane, director of Research Four and the National Land Survey, says the current “slump in form for the Melbourne Greenfield market has not been helped by a rise in the number of blocks of land being handed back to developers".
"Builders are unable to carry or sell on vacant land at the level which they experienced during the property boom. This situation has not been helped by a shift of first home buyer demand back to established property over new house and land."
In addition, first-home buyers don’t have the added incentive of the $13,000 state government handout, available for new home purchases, which ended in June.
Rory Costelloe, of Villawood Properties told Fairfax that developers that required buyers to put down only a small holding deposit of just $500 or $1000 on a residential block were the “really experiencing the problem”.
“This situation could market the beginning of a more conservative relationship between builder and developer as both struggle with lifting activity,” Keane says.
According to the September quarter Melbourne land report prepared by Oliver Hume, in terms of the 139 residential projects in Melbourne, Wyndham contains 24% of all projects, followed by Whittlesea and Casey with 22% and 17% respectively.
</body></html>

One in three Melbourne residential lots being returned to developers by building firms: report

<html><body>
A steep 12.1% drop in new detached house sales in Victoria in October has highlighted the challenges facing residential developers in the state.
In contrast NSW new detached home sales increased by 4.7% over October to lead a modest 3.4% national rise over the month, according to the Housing Industry Association monthly survey of Australia’s largest home builders.
Detached new home sales increased by 3.2% in South Australia, and 3.7% in Western Australia, but were down by 4.3% in Queensland.
Excluding the fall in Victoria, detached sales would have posted a rise over the month of 2.4%
HIA chief economist Harley Dale called the October result “modest” but “a move in the right direction”.
The pick-up in home sales follows a 0.9% rise in residential construction activity over the September quarter as recorded by the ABS, which Westpac and CommSec said pointed to an upswing in the sector.
Most of the monthly increase was the result of an increase in the sales of apartments.
The HIA New Home Sales report showed a substantial 31.4% increase in the sale of multi-units in October while detached house sales fell by 2% in October, the fifth decline in six months.
“Scratching below the surface, new home sales in October were a mixed bag. Within the weak headline result for detached houses there were modest increases for New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia, albeit from very low bases,” says Dale.
“Detached house sales in Victoria were a big drag on the aggregate result in October, slumping by 12.1%. If you take that result out of the mix then detached house sales actually posted a rise of 2.4%.”
“We need to see evidence emerge in coming months of a stronger, broader based recovery for new home building.
“The fact we don’t have that evidence now is precisely why the Reserve Bank of Australia should cut interest rates next Tuesday.”
“Further action on rates next week would bolster the chances that we see a sustained recovery in new home building in 2013. Right now the jury is still out on that,” he says.
</body></html>

Steep fall in Victoria new home sales prevents stronger October recovery: HIA

<html><body>
The Senate Committee report into the post-GFC banking sector has called for an independent "root and branch" inquiry into the Australian financial system.
“While Australia avoided the worst of the crisis, this should not be allowed to result in complacency about the structure and performance of our financial system.
“There is now an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive examination of the banking sector and to debate what the post-crisis sector should look like and whether it is delivering what Australians want from it,” says the report.
The report follows more than 150 submissions from banks, mortgage brokers, borrowers, the RBA, non-banks and other industry participants as well as public hearings.
The inquiry was triggered over concern surrounding the handling by Bankwest of its loan book and a major focus of submissions related to the bank’s treatment of small business borrowers.
“Most of the evidence received by the committee was from aggrieved borrowers of Bankwest who alleged mistreatment by the bank after Bankwest was acquired by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis,” says the Senate committee report.
While noting the “many sad and distressing stories” that are now a matter of public record, the committee said the more challenging times presented by the GFC “placed extra stress on less robust and more speculative projects.
“In many cases, loans were sought for ventures that were a considerable risk even during the more stable economic environment that existed prior to the GFC."
 But the committee said this explanation did not apply to every case, “nor does it excuse Bankwest”.
“Under its previous owners Bankwest was willing to enter into these loans.
 “When its small business borrowers are experiencing difficulties, Bankwest has a duty to make genuine attempts to work with the borrower, to clearly explain what is happening and why, and to treat them with courtesy.”
As a consequence, the report calls on the Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) to meet with small business representatives to “develop a code of practice specifically relating to lending to small businesses” which provides greater transparency in lending contracts” and give SMEs access to valuation reports.
The report also acknowledges the “multiple upward pressures on the cost of funds since the crisis and it is likely that costs will remain elevated”.
“Banks continue to adjust to higher post-crisis funding costs as they compete for available deposits and rollover longer-dated wholesale funds obtained at lower pre-crisis prices,” says the committee’s report.
It calls for further steps to support the recovery of the securitisation market, which has “helped enable stronger competition in the sector” and recommends the abolition of the foreign investors’ withholding tax, recently doubled by the government, if it can be accommodated in the budget.
The tax is charged on income paid to foreign investors who invest in managed schemes, many of which fund large infrastructure and property projects in Australia.
The committee says the tax “distorts funding decisions and is an impediment to foreign banks competing in the Australian banking sector”.
“The tax burden may also be simply passed on to borrowers.”
</body></html>

Senate committee calls for comprehensive banking sector inquiry, code of conduct between banks and SMEs and abolition of withholding tax

<html><body>
Stockland has confirmed the appointment of UBS investment banker Mark Steinert as the property developer's next managing director and CEO, replacing Matthew Quinn.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/markstockland.jpg">
The appointment was made by Stockland chairman Graham Bradley, who said it was a unanimous board decision.
Steinert had beeen tipped as new CEO by The Australian's Bridget Carter just over a week ago.
Steinert will join Stockland on January 14, succeeding Quinn, who has been managing director since 2000.
Quinn will remain in his position until January 11 "and will provide counsel and support as requested for three months from his end date to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership".
“The Stockland board is delighted to welcome Mark as our new managing director and CEO. Mark has a track record of successfully managing large business operations, an extensive background in the property sector and a strong reputation among property investors," says Bradley.
“Mark has a track record of successfully managing large business operations, an extensive background in the property sector and a strong reputation among property investors," says Bradley. 
Steinert says he is “honoured and excited to take up this opportunity to lead a truly great Australian company”.

He will be only Stockland’s fourth managing director.


Steinert’s appointment was also supported by Quinn, who said the incoming managing director had the "right qualities to drive the company’s long-term success".


</body></html>

Stockland confirms UBS banker Mark Steinert as new managing director

<html><body>
The chief executive of the Victorian government’s urban renewal and development authority, Places Victoria, has stepped down as one in four jobs have been cut among staff from the organisation.
Sam Sangster resigned after six-and-a-half years with Places Victoria.
Places Victoria replaced the previous development authority VicUrban last year and overseas large scale urban renewal projects such as Docklands, house and land releases across Melbourne and Victoria and other commercial developments such as urban renewal projects in Wodonga and the Officer Town Centre in Cardinia Shire.
Yesterday, Places Victoria announced that a “number of positions would become redundant in response to a downturn in the property development market and a subsequent repositioning and restructuring of the organisation”.
The restructure, which will see full time job numbers cut from188 to 135 by March next year enabling the organisation to “reduce its portfolio of undeveloped land assets and maintain a focus on the identification and development of large precincts along with the identification of urban sites, that have further housing and workplace potential’ .
Sangster will step down early next year having only been appointed CEO in November last year.
“Places Victoria has to balance delivery of services to the urban development sector with meeting the policy objectives of government. The reduction in portfolio, restructure and redundancies are a reflection of the same pressures that the private sector is facing,” said the organisation in a statement.
His resignation follows chairman Peter Clarke stepping down on full pay in August while an ASIC investigation is resolved regarding the collapse of Australian Property Custodian Holdings Ltd, manager of the Prime Retirement and Aged Care Property Trust. Clarke was a director of APCHL. ASIC is investigation allegations that directors breached their duties.
Deputy chairman Ken Fehily is standing in as acting chairman for the duration of the investigation until a resolution is reached.
Places Victoria reported a loss of $18.8 million in its 2011-12 annual report amidst a “challenging economic environment for the property development industry”.
The annual report included property write-downs of $42 million due to the downturn in the market.
 
</body></html>

Victorian government’s urban development CEO resigns amid job cuts and market downturn

<html><body>
Capital city hotels will continue to appeal to both local and offshore institutional investors due to rising demand from both overseas Asian visitors and more Australians choosing to travel locally, according to the latest hotel outlook report from Deloitte Access Economics.
However, much of the strong pick-up in domestic travel is business related, with a negligible rise in the number of Australian travelling domestically for holidays over the past 12 months, meaning regional hotels and coastal resorts are set to continue to struggle.
According to Deloitte, nationwide occupancy rates reached 65.9% in the year to June 2012, up from 64.8% over the year prior, but occupancy rates are much higher for capital city hotel markets, where many overseas buyers have made acquisitions and launched new developments.
The research firm forecasts that growth in the average room rate of 3.7% per year will underpin average annual revenue per available room growth of 4.3% over the next three years.
Perth has strongest outlook and represents very strong demographics for investors with a current occupancy rate of 86% for the year to June 2012, suggesting very little spare capacity, especially during the week when business travel is at its peak.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/11/deloittenov29.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/deloittenov29thumb.gif"></a>
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
The opening of the 236-room Fraser Suites (pictured below) in October will help ease capacity constraints, and Deloitte forecasts occupancy rates to rise to 88.2% in the year to June 2015.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/fraserssuites1.jpg" width="470">
Mining-related construction activity, set to peak in 2014, will place added pressure on Perth room rates, which are forecast to increase by 10.3% per annum over the next three years.
Yields are forecast to grow by 11.3% per annum over the same period, rising from $165 in the year to June 2012 to $257 in the year to June 2015.
Sydney occupancy rates are forecast to rise from 85.4% currently to 87.7% in the year to June 2015, with revenue per available room (RevPAR) expected to grow by 4.5% over the next three years from $162 for the year to June 2012 to $185 for the year to June 2015.
Melbourne’s occupancy rate is expected to rise from 80.5% currently to 85.5%, with RevPAR forecast to grow by 6.2% per annum over the next three years, while Brisbane occupancy rates are forecast reach 81.9% by June 2015. Apart from the Mosaic Grand Chifley, opening next year, there is little in the supply pipeline. Brisbane room rates are forecast to grow by an average of 5.7% per annum over the next three years, while growth in yields is expected to be 6.2% per annum.
Deloitte forecasts international visitor arrivals to grow by an average of 4% per annum between now and June 2015 and international visitor nights to grow by an average of 4.3%.
The number of international visitors coming to Australia grew relatively modestly in the year to June 2012, but numbers are expected to pick up, with Deloitte forecasting above average growth.
“The headline growth in international arrivals continues to mask vast divergences across source markets, with China growing at double-digit pace while some traditional source markets (including Japan and the UK) contract.
“Over the next three years, more than 75% of the growth in international visitor nights will be from Asian travellers. Asia is, and remains, the key, and China continues to present a huge and long term opportunity,” says Deloitte Access Economics’ Lachlan Smirl.
"Local travel activity is also rebounding strongly, with domestic growth at their strongest in a decade,” he says.
“Domestic overnight trips increased by 5.8% for the year to June 2012, while domestic visitor nights grew by 6.7%,” Smirl says.
“Domestic visitation has now almost returned to pre-GFC levels and our forecast for growth in domestic visitor nights has been revised upwards, to an average of 1.3% per year over the next three years.
“This positive news is tempered slightly, however, by the mix of domestic travel type, with almost all of the growth in domestic visitor nights attributable to business travel and those visiting friends and relatives.
“Business visitor nights increased 9.2%, while friend and relative visits grew 13.8% in the year to June 2012. Domestic visitor nights by holiday travellers rose by just 0.4%, continuing the trend of sluggish growth in the domestic leisure segment.
“Looking forward, there are strong indications that the domestic tourism market is moving to a positive trend and, while the growth outlook is still moderate, the story is very much an encouraging one.”
</body></html>

Perth heads strong capital city hotel outlook with business travel trending upwards: Deloitte

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Larry Schlesinger

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News