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The majority of economists expect the RBA to cut the cash rate to a new record low of 2.5% on August.
Of the 28 economists polled by Bloomberg just before the weekend, 22 expect the RBA to reduce the cash rate to fall by 25 basis points.
ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan is the most notable exception among the six economists expecting the RBA to hold fire.
The others are from Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch, QIC and TD Securities.
Looking beyond August, no further rate cut is forecast on September 3 with all economists' surveyed maintaining their August positions.
Beyond September and views are quite divergent.
Macquarie Research and Westpac's Bill Evans foresee a 2% cash rate, the former before the end of the year and the later by the first quarter 0f 2014.
However, Shane Oliver from AMP Capital, expects the cash rate to start rising from the first quarter of 2014 to 2.75% and to reach 3.5% by the end of 2014.
The median view is a cash rate of 2.63% (so either 2.5% or 2.75%) by the end of 2014 - suggesting rates could remain low throughout next year.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Economists favour rate cut on August 6: Bloomberg survey

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The four major banks are currently writing around 90% of new mortgages
Three out of the four major banks – NAB, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac - are tipping the RBA to cut the cash rate to 2.5% when its board meets in just over a week (August 6).
ANZ expects the RBA to hold fire until the final quarter of the year.
Currently there is not much difference between the major banks when looking at their standard variable rates, but most customers will be offered between 50 and 85 basis points off that rate, depending on factors including how much they borrow, size of their deposit and their credit-worthiness.
These are the lowest advertised variable and fixed mortgage rates on the websites of the major banks as of July 22:
Standard variable rate offerings:
<table width="347" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
NAB
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
6.13%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.22%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
ANZ
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
6.13%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.23%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
CBA
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
6.15%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.29%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Westpac
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
6.26%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.39%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest discount variable rate offerings 
<table width="461" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Maximum advertised discount
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
NAB
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.28%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
85 basis points
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.22%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
CBA
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.35%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
80 basis points
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.29%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
ANZ
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.43%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
70 basis points
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.23%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Westpac
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.56%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
70 basis points
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.39%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest one-year fixed-rate package offerings
<table width="347" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
NAB
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
4.79%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
5.83%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
CBA
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
4.79%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
5.93%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
ANZ
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
4.85%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.07%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Westpac
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.24%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.31%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest three-year fixed-rate package offerings
<table width="347" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Provider
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
Rate
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
NAB
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
4.99%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
5.75%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
CBA
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
4.99%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
5.84%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
Westpac
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
4.99%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
6.09%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="137" valign="top">
ANZ
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
5.19%
</td>
<td width="114" valign="top">
5.98%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 *A comparison rate includes both the interest rate and the fees and charges relating to a loan, combined into a single percentage figure. All comparison rates recorded here are calculated on the basis of secured credit of $150,000 over a 25 year term. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates.
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The four major banks lowest fixed and variable mortgage offerings ahead of August 6 RBA cash rate decision

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The outlook for the residential building sector is mixed with growth expected in the previously underperforming states of NSW, Queensland and WA, but Victoria to weaken as the Melbourne apartment market cools.
Overall, residential building is forecast to decline 2% in the 2013 financial year, before picking up 9% in 2014/15 and 4% in 2015/16.
Nationally, the recovery will see private detached house starts grow by 2% in 2013/14 and 12% in 2014/15. Another lift of 6% will follow in 2015/16.
At the same time private multi-residential dwelling starts will initially fall by 5% in 2013/14 as the Melbourne apartment market cools, before a bounce back of 5% begins in 2014/15 and a further 1% rise the year after.
However, then a cyclical decline will set in with a 5% contraction in 2016/17 followed by an 8% fall in 2017/18.
“[2013/14] will be a year of change in the mix – from Victoria to NSW, and from high rise to bungalows – before gaining strong traction the following year, in 2014/15,” says Dr Kim Hawtrey, associate director at BIS Shrapnel and author of its Building in Australia 2013 report.
The report forecasts a critical 12 month period for the Australian economy as it transitions away from mining investment into non-mining sectors.
“We’re in for a real nail biter,” says Hawtrey.
“We see an upswing in building but it will be uneven and slower to get going than usual.
“The next 12 months will be a critical test of how quickly the construction sector can take on more of the heavy lifting, and the Australian economy will remain balanced on a knife edge.”
The strongest upswings will occur in the prevously underperforming NSW new home building market and in the the two ‘mining’ states of Western Australia and Queensland.
However, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT are all expected to post declines in 2012/13 and this will continue into 2013/14.
Victoria will undergo an “inevitable correction following several record years of phenomenal home building".
“These markets are generally in oversupply, notably Victoria,” says Hawtrey. 
Overall, BIS Shrapnel says that building, especially home construction, is not responding to low interest rates as might be expected.
“Home building has been punching below its weight and normally low mortgage rates would be stimulating the sector toward clear recovery by now.
"But the antibiotics are taking longer to work this time around.
“High household debt, concerns about the global economy, planning restrictions in some states and lack of land supply are among the factors that explain this new phenomenon," says Hawtrey.
Figures for the financial year to date has residential outperforming expectations over 2012/13, with strong results in the September and December 2012 quarters boosting the calendar 2012 result to 147,970 commencements.
The emergence of tentative growth in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory as well as a softer than anticipated fall in Victoria are behind the positive results.
Leading indicators suggest that growth in these markets will continue and this fits with BIS Shrapnel’s expectations based off its longer term analysis.
However, despite the low interest rates (set to remain low for the immediate future) and improved housing affordability, BIS Shrapnel notes that the recovery in residential building activity has not been as strong or as quick to set in as some commentators would have expected.
“Although the Australian economy has shown more resilience than many other developed economies, it has faced its own struggles,” says Hawtrey.
“Outside the resources sector, activity has been subdued, with many industries struggling with the higher dollar and the public sector pulling back on spending.
“As investment in the mining sector begins to decline economic growth will weaken and unemployment will pick up. This has already begun to happen and is weighing heavily on confidence.
BIS Shrapnel expects that a fall in residential building in Victoria’s will “basically neutralize the rise in NSW” resulting in an overall 9% pick-up in residential construction in 2014/15 and 4% in 2015/16.
“Momentum will build in the undersupplied states of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia driving the national total, whilst declines in Victoria will level out, and South Australia and Tasmania will return to growth off their low levels,” says Hawtrey.
The overall outlook for building (residential and non-residential) is weak with the value of national building commencements is forecast to grow 3% in 2013/14.The sector will then stabilise in 2015/16 (0%) and record falls in 2016/17 and 2017/18.</body></html>

Residential building recovery to transition from “high rise to bungalows” as NSW picks up Victoria’s slack: BIS Shrapnel

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The finance arm of Yellow Brick Road has changed the way it authorises companies and individuals that offer home loan advice under its Australian credit licence, through its 150 plus franchise network.
This following concerns from ASIC. YBR Finance has directly authorised over 100 individuals working in YBR branches as credit representatives (loan writers).
ASIC considered that the national credit licensing framework also required YBR to authorise the companies which operate the branches as the companies also act as intermediaries between the licensee and the consumer. 
ASIC acknowledges YBR's co-operation in responding to this issue and says the franchise group is now in the process of authorising the corporate entities directly under its licence.
Those entities can sub-authorise employees or they can be directly appointed under YBR’s credit licence.
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Yellow Brick Road upgrades credit licence structure following ASIC concerns

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Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond paid at least $100,000 to $150,000 after tax every month to lawyers over a five year period to defend his reputation after receiving a $7 million tax bill from the Australian Tax Office based on poor advice from a former partner of law firm Gadens.
The tax bill with penalties - paid in full in 2008 - related to a restructuring of the Aussie Home Loans business to facilitate a loan Symond sought to build his Point Piper mansion.
Speaking to Ross Greenwood on 2GB Money News this week following Supreme Court Justice Robert Beech-Jones ruling last week that he had received “aggressive and wrong” advice by former Gadens partner Ross Seller in 2003 and 2004, Symond said the court case was about protecting his reputation as well as receiving justice.
John Symond built his reputation on the back of Aussie Home Loans offering ordinary Aussie battlers a fair go when it came to home loan deals with his catch-phrase “We’ll save you” and by his promise to keep the major banks honest.
“It was primarily about reputation, that was the main thing I was concerned about,” said John Symond to Ross Greenwood.
He told Greenwood he received a letter from the tax office after they completed their investigations, which he says showed “no signs of me, nor any of my companies, trying to avoid paying income tax”.
But to clear his name took many years and millions of dollars.
“I went for at least five years paying at least $100,000 to $150,000 after tax dollars every month to lawyers,” said Symond.
“[Gadens] gave me terrible advice and caused me to pay unnecessarily millions of dollars in double taxation to the tax office
“Even the tax office admitted they were never out of pocket a dollar,” he said.
Symond's mansion in Point Piper on Sydney harbour was completed in November 2006.
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Legal bills were $100,000 a month plus for five years: John Symond

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Daniel Grollo’s Grocon development group is partnering with private developer Harry Stamoulis on plans to build a $600 million office tower at 555 Collins Street.
An earlier proposal by the Stamoulis Property Group to build a 404 metre tower on the Western side of Collins Street, just behind the Rialto Tower, was deemed too tall and there were also concerns it would cast a shadow over the Yarra River.
Grocon and Stamoulis are working on a proposal for an office tower to feature around 60,000 square metres of prime space and are already seeking out potential anchor tenants, reports the Australian Financial Review.
There is currently a 24 storey building on the site built in 1975 and owned by the Stamoulis Property Group. It is leased to NAB, with the lease due to expire in 2014.
The partnership with Grocon, should add gravitas to the Stamoulis proposals – the Rialto Tower at 524 Collins Street, once the second tallest building in Melbourne after the Eureka tower was developed by the Grollo family and completed in 1986.
It is all part of efforts to regenerate the less glamorous Western end of Collins Street with construction now underway of the 26 storey 55,000-square-metre office building at 567 Collins Street on the site of a former ‘black hole’.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/richard-branson-s-virgin-active-group-virginactiveoz-exercises-leasing-deal-at-leighton-properties-567-collins-street-development/2013060661996">567 Collins Street, being built by Leighton Contractors</a> and due for completion in 2015, was acquired by Investa Office Fund (IOF) and Investa Commercial Property Fund (ICPF) earlier this year and has signed Richard Branson's Virgin Active gym group as ground floor tenants with other tenants including law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth who will lease 8,800 square metres.
GPT has recently “revitalised” its premium grade 530 Collins Street, which now has a 5.5 star NABERS Energy rating.
Office space in the tower was advertised for lease last year via an advertising campaign that included street performers and tram advertising, which won Jones Lang LaSalle the REIV’s 2012 Commercial &amp; Industrial Marketing Awards.
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Daniel Grollo's Grocon joins forces with Harry Stamoulis on 555 Collins Street tower project

Investor magazines' 2011 unit hotspots are more misses than hits two years on

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Tiernan O’Rourke has been appointed as the new chief financial officer at Stockland as part of the management shake-up by chief executive Mark Steinert.
O’Rourke will commence in the role on October 20 with current CFO Tim Foster remaining on board until the end of October to ensure a smooth transition.
Steinert announced in May that Foster would step down later in the year once a replacement had been appointed.
O'Rourke is currently chief financial officer at Transfield Services Limited and was previously finance chief at Australand.
A month again, Stockland appointed Andrew Whitson as group executive and chief executive of Stockland's residential business following the departure of Stockland’s former head of residential, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/australian-capital-territory/stockland-executive-team-shake-up-as-tim-foster-and-mark-hunter-sacked/2013050861155" target="_blank">Mark Hunter in May</a>.
At the same time Stephen Bull promotedgeneral manager development and design (commercial property) as its new group executive and chief executive of retirement living following the resignation of David Pitman.
Steinert took over as new Stockland boss in January, replacing Matthew Quinn.
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Stockland appoints former Australand executive Tiernan O'Rourke as new finance boss

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A rate cut in August is not inevitable but underlying inflation trends mean the RBA has the justification it needs to cut the cash rate to 2.5% says the Australian Financial Review’s economics editor, Alan Mitchell.
His analysis of the inflation data and broader economic trends suggest it will be a complicated decision for the RBA.
Mitchell says the situation is complicated due to the need to rebalance the economy and for the RBA to “induce a revival of non-mining business investments”.
This is happening to a degree as the most recent NAB business survey revealed but Mitchell says the “investment outlook still looks soft”.
An issue is the Australian dollar, which stopped depreciating in the first week of July and which has since risen slightly – a fall in the dollar will help non-mining sectors of the economy such as tourism, manufacturing and retail.
Mitchell also highlights the difficulty in assessing the true impact of inflation given the different measures used to work underlying inflation – inflation with volatile components stripped out.
He says one measure of underlying inflation has it running at the bottom of the RBA’s 2% to 3% target band, while another shows it running in the top half of this target.
“The lower of the two measures of underlying inflation is more reliable and a simple average of the two readings still has inflation in the bottom half of the target range,” he says.
Fellow AFR economics writer David Bassanese says while underlying inflation could have been lower, it’s “probably good enough” for a rate cut.
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A rate cut in August is “justified” but inflation and economic picture “complicated”: AFR's Alan Mitchell

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Listed commercial property trust Dexus has acquired a 14.9% investment in the Commonwealth Office Property Fund.
The fund holds prime-grade office assets worth $3.7 billion, including a 50% share of  the premium grade 5 Martin Place office tower in Sydney, due for completion in 2015, with law firm Ashurst to occupy 44% of the 31,000 square metres of office space.
Dexus says the investment is consistent with its investment in high quality Australian office properties.
The investment comes <a target="_blank" href="/news">one day after the Commonwealth Bank</a> announced that it had submitted non-binding proposals to internalise the management rights of the Commonwealth Office Property Fund, the CFS Retail Property Trust and the Kiwi Income Property Trust.
All three are managed by the banks’ wealth management arm, Colonial First State Global Asset Management.
This is believed to be as part of plans by the bank to exit the real estate funds management business.
The Australian Financial Review reports that Dexus and GPT are mulling a possible takeover bid for the office fund. They may also bid for the management rights.
Both have strong ties to the funds management business - Dexus chief executive Darren Steinberg was previously managing director of property for Colonial First State Global Asset Management while Carmel Hourigan, head of investment management at GPT, is a former fund manager of the Commonwealth Property Office Fund.
The AFR also names Mirvac, Investa Property, Brookfield and Blackstone as possible bidders for the office fund.
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Dexus acquires 14.9% of Commonwealth Office Property Fund as big players circle

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

Joel Robinson

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

Sherpa Group has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at Flourish Soleira in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with Flourish Amargo, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

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The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

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What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

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Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

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After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

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Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

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ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

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From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

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Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Larry Schlesinger

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