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Developer Stockland is one step closer to commencing its mammoth Caloundra South community development on the Sunshine Coast following a decision by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to discontinue legal action against the declaration of the site as an Urban Development Area. 
The proposed Caloundra South community will be the largest project Stockland has ever undertaken, spanning 2,310 hectares, with plans to build 20,000 homes for about 50,000 residents over the next 20 years. 
The development will also include a large town centre, retirement living villages and opportunities for government and business investment. 
Stockland managing director Matthew Quinn says it welcomes the decision by the council. 
“Caloundra South will deliver 13,500 jobs in the first 10 years of development, provide affordable housing, promote sustainable living and ensure the future prosperity of the Sunshine Coast region,” he says. 
“We look forward to continuing to work with the state government and council as we undertake community consultation and meet our commitments to protecting the environmental value of the site and the nearby Pumicestone Passage.” 
Stockland anticipates the Queensland government will make a determination on the approval for the Caloundra South Development Scheme by the end of the year. 
Following this approval the next step in the process is to lodge and obtain state government approval for the Caloundra South Master Plan, which the developer aims to complete during 2012. 
Should the master plan be approved, Stockland will also need to complete a federal environmental assessment process before construction can commence. 
Preliminary works have already commenced on the Bellvista II residential community, which is an advance land release within the Caloundra South Urban Development Area. The Urban Land Development Authority last month granted approval, with first settlements expected towards the end of 2012.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Challenge to Stockland Caloundra South development dropped

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Property developers are offering greater incentives to financial planners who refer self-managed super fund clients to their projects as the appetite for real estate among the $430 billion DIY super fund sector continues to grow.
The closer ties and increased financial incentives come on the back of recent changes to self-managed super fund rules and the growing investment appeal of property over shares, which have spurred more financial planners to add property advice to their service proposition.
According to ATO figures, during the past year the amount of money SMSFs are allocating to property has jumped 25%.
In May this year property developer Stockland signed an agreement with financial planning group Professional Investment Services whereby it would pay its planners 3% for referring leads that result in a sale.
According to the Australian Financial Review, developers have now upped the ante by reportedly offering commissions of up to 7% for successful referrals.
From July next year financial planners will be banned from receiving commissions from fund managers and other investment providers, but this ban does not extend to receive commissions from real estate developers.
Financial planning group Money Tree provides property advice as well as mortgage lending and investment property sourcing to its client. It promises “exclusive access to some of best investment properties in Australia”.
Besides the volatile share market encouraging a reweighting towards real estate, property has become more attractive following the release of draft ATO rules that allow DIY funds to renovate and improve their properties (provided they don’t have to borrow within the fund to do so) as well as greater clarity about the type of real estate assets that a fund can acquire.
Ray White and Raine &amp; Horne are among the real estate franchises who have already set up referral arrangement with financial planners while McGrath Real Estate is also believed to be considering a partnership with advisers.
However, the move by developers to circumvent real estate agents has drawn concern from industry bodies, with the Real Estate Institute of Australia defending the role of its members in the buying and selling of property and providing property advice.
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Financial planners and developers join forces to entice SMSF investment

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There has been a marked increase in the number of distressed development sites put up for sale, particurlarly in NSW and Queensland, according to research carried out by property valuation group LandMark White.
Almost a third of major investment properties advertised in the Australian Financial Review in August were forced sales, the firm has found, with this figure rising to about 50% for sales in NSW and Queensland.
At the other end of the spectrum, just 5% of properties up for sale in Victoria are distressed sales, with the state building a reputation as a safe haven for developers.
However, according to Vanessa Rader, head of research at LandMark White, the increase in the number of distressed sales put up for sale will not automatically push up yields.
She says yields have stabilised since the GFC, with vendors selling now to cut their losses.
Distressed assets up for sale include <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/raptis-boutique-gold-coast-site-in-receivership-listing/2011100451804" target="_blank">Midwaters, a 1,232-square-metres property at 3496 Main Beach Parade on the Gold Coast</a> that was to be the site of a $48 million 17-storey tower by veteran development group Raptis. The site is being marketed by Stephen Kidd and James Taylor from Colliers under instruction from the mortgagee Wellington Capital with offers due by October 12.
Another distressed asset up for sale is another section of the Martha Cove residential and marina project on the Mornington Peninsula, which is being marketed by CBRE agent Scott Gray-Spencer on behalf of receivers McGrathNichol.
Gray-Spencer says a lot of pressure has been placed on vacant, unapproved land, assets the banks wish to get off their books.
According to receivers KordaMentha, non-incoming producing assets such as development sites are pushing up the number of forced sales.
Berrick Wilson, partner at KordaMentha, says there are a lot of development sites no longer feasible in the current environment.
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Half of NSW and Queensland development site listings distressed

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Bill Morris, principal the Midwood Report, has slammed both the federal government and the Queensland state government for not doing enough to support the state struggling tourism operators.
Speaking to Property Observer, he says funding efforts have been directed almost entirely at the booming mining sector despite 30% of Queensland’s 115,000 registered companies being in the tourism industry.
Morris says tourism operators deserve either a tax break or a GST rebate to compensate for the historically high Australian dollar.
According to the August Midwood Report, areas heavily dependent on overseas tourists have suffered big drops in revenue when comparing the March quarter of 2011 with the March quarter of 2010.
Accommodation takings for Whitsunday Island resorts are down 16% compared to the same time last year, while the Great Barrier Reef islands and adjacent mainland areas (including the likes of Port Douglas) are down 21% over this time period.
Gold Coast takings are down 4% while on the Sunshine Coast they are down 8%. Earnings in Cairns have dropped 1%.
Gold Coast visitor numbers were impacted heavily by the natural disasters of January and February this year as well as by the grounding of Tiger Airways and the general decline in overseas visitors to Australia.
<img src="/images/stories/queenslandtourism.gif">
In the March 2011 quarter the average occupancy rate for hotels, motels and serviced apartments combined was 66.9%, the lowest for over a decade.
While room rates increased by 1% compared with the previous corresponding period, further discounting is expected to impact the results for the next two quarters, the report warns.
The August Midwood report provides commentary on the Australian-Chinese tourism summits held in Cairns and Sydney in June and which will be followed up by a summit in January.
The summit highlighted that Queensland tourism remains heavily dependent on Chinese tourism with the state receiving around 42% of all Chinese visitors to Australia, but only 5% arriving directly.
As a consequence, the Midwood report calls for more direct air access from the Chinese mainland.
Despite the high Australian dollar and natural disasters, the Gold Coast experienced 10% growth in Chinese visitors. Brisbane welcomed 28% more Chinese visitors, with state figures up 25% for the year to June 2011.</body></html>

Queensland tourism industry needs government help: Midwood

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Westpac is offering to put a $1,000 into a Westpac bank account for borrowers who take out a new mortgage valued at over $250,000 as it looks to entice more home buyers.  
The offer is part of its Spring Home Loan Celebration campaign and applies to new Premier Advantage Package home loans until the end of October.  
The cash reward builds on other limited-time incentives offered by the bank including a discount of up to 0.8% per annum off the variable rate home loan, and a 20% discount on the first year of home and contents insurance on a new home.  
To qualify for the $1,000 cash back, customers must set up their home loan repayments by direct debit from their Westpac banking account before the end of October and settle their loan by the end of January 2012.  
Other incentives include:
<ul>
<li>Free APM Property Profile report when customers meet with one of our home finance experts </li>
<li>$0 establishment fee </li>
<li>$0 monthly service fee on Westpac Choice transaction account with no minimum monthly deposit required</li>
<li>$0 annual fee on a selected packaged credit card</li>
</ul>
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Westpac entices mortgage customers with cash offer

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The major banks will struggle to continue to offer discounted mortgage rates in an environment of low credit growth, according to J.P. Morgan/Fujitsu’s Australia Mortgage Industry Report.



Report author Scott Manning says while the current discounting off headline rates is not a new phenomenon, “the speed with which it has developed, and the depth at which it now is, is quite remarkable”.



But he says the current pricing is largely being supported by improving deposit spreads, which would not be sustainable in periods of low credit growth, particularly as offshore wholesale funding markets remained challenging.



“We believe the current pricing is about as competitive as it can get prior to diluting profitability. In this type of environment, retaining existing higher margin customers is imperative,” he says.



The report forecasts system housing credit growth to remain at “mid-single digits” over the coming years, compared with the mid-teen growth rates experienced before the GFC.



Housing credit growth has continued to soften over the last 12 months, driven by a range of factors including ongoing weak business and consumer confidence and concerns over global growth and the European sovereign debt crisis. The average three-month annualised growth rate for housing credit was 6.5%.



Earlier this week, <a href="/news">NAB head of business banking Joseph Healey claimed the bank was not been adversely affected by its mortgage discounting battle with its major rivals</a>.



The major banks are offering discounts of about 1% to some customers through mortgage brokers and higher through bank branches.
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Mortgage discount wars unsustainable: JP Morgan

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Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond expects the RBA to cut interest rates on November 1 at its Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
“The next rate cut is not far around the corner. The Reserve Bank should, and I think will, cut interest rates in November,” Symond has told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program today.
Symond says the RBA is “finally waking up that our economy is stalling outside the mining sector”.
“I think they should have cut interest rates by a ¼% in October to give consumers some reason to go out there and start buying and helping retailers and manufacturers.”
A similar sentiment was expressed by CommSec economist Craig James, who says the odds for a Melbourne Cup day rate cut are “narrowing”.
James places importance on the next set of quarterly inflation figures due out on October 26.
“If inflation figures this month are on the low side – and I expect few retailers would be putting up prices in this environment … the RBA will give serious thought to a rate cut,” he says.
James says another factor is the Aussie dollar. If it continues to fall further, it could provide stimulus to the economy, which could push up prices.
The low dollar has already had an impact on petrol prices, which hit a four-month high last week to around $1.44 a litre.
Mark Bouris, chairman of financial services group Yellow Brick Road, is also calling for a November rate cut and has been calling for one since the beginning of June.
Yellow Brick Road is campaigning for a rate cut as part of its “RBA Appeal” - an initiative “created to educate the Reserve Bank of Australia on the plights middle Australians are facing under the threat of higher interest rates”.
John Mcgrath, CEO of McGrath Real Estate, does not like to speculate on where interest rates are going, but did comment in his Spring Market Review that interest rates are a key factor in market confidence.
“A key factor is interest rates. If the RBA moves to decrease rates further, this will supersede many macro-economic issues for the average buyer. Buyers have been concerned about interest rates moving upwards and we really need to see a rate reduction that puts the steep rises of the past 18 months behind us. With three-year fixed rates now below the variable, this indicates the banks’ belief that interest rates are on the way down,” he says.
Expectations of a rate cut in November are also growing among the major banks.
ANZ economists Warren Hogan and Katie Dean say the RBA’s monetary policy statement released yesterday following the decision to keep rates at 4.75% “presents a clear shift of tone”.
“The RBA has opened the door for a modest easing of policy, lowering both its short-term growth and 2012-13 inflation forecasts for Australia,” the economists say.
“A 25bps interest rate cut in November, followed by another 25bps of easing in February, now looks increasingly likely. This will be contingent on a modest core inflation outcome for the third quarter. ANZ is forecasting core inflation to rise 0.6% in the third quarter, opening the way for a rate cut in November.”
To get the rate cut over the line, Hogan and Dean believe three conditions will need to be met: namely confirmation that inflation is under control, further evidence that the labour market has softened and a further deterioration in global conditions.
CBA economist James McIntyre says the RBA statement represents a shift further away from a tightening bias, driven by the global uncertainty, but the bank remains “not yet convinced of an RBA cut”.
“The board noted that outside the confidence measures there was little evidence yet of the effects of recent turbulence on economic activity.  The expected weaker growth outcomes remain just that, an expectation.  For now the RBA board's weighing of the inflation question remains unanswered.  But, Europe has not yet reached its endgame either.  Either way, answers should arrive in the near term,” he says.
But McIntyre says a rate hike is now “clearly out of the question until a resolution in Europe is found and global uncertainties ease”.
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John Symond betting on Melbourne Cup Day rate cut

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The growth of 24-hour gyms in NSW is being hampered by a lack of suitable space as franchisers look to expand their businesses, according to a new report by CBRE. 
Operators are seeking spaces of between 300 square metres and 500 square metres in retail strips and bulky goods centres in close proximity to larger traditional gyms. 
Recently US-based Anytime Fitness opened its 100th franchise in Thornton, NSW, choosing a site in the local Supa Centre. About two-thirds of its franchises are located in NSW. 
Anytime Fitness was recently named top franchisor in the <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/smart50-2011" target="_blank">2011 SmartCompany Smart50 Awards</a>, which recognised fastest-growing small to medium-sized enterprises in 2010-11.
Jacinta McDonell Jimenez, who founded the business alongside her brother Justin McDonell,<a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/franchising/20110323-jacinta-mcdonell-jimenez/2-2" target="_blank"> told SmartCompany that site selection is a challenge</a>.
“Site selection is really where we get stuck just because of our parking requirements and the size of our tenancies sometimes makes it a little bit tricky, especially when you’re getting into tight metropolitan areas. Sometimes council requirements can be challenging as well,” she says.
CBRE senior negotiator Shane Cook recently negotiated three long-term leases with Anytime Fitness, with franchisees committing to 349 square metres at the House and Home centre at Nowra on the NSW South Coast, 510 square metres at the Lake Haven Mega Centre on the Central Coast and 368 square metres at the Blacktown Mega Centre in Sydney’s west. 
“The 24/7 gym operators target exercise-conscious professionals looking to work out close to home but also reduce non-essential spending,” Cook says. 
“These fitness clubs have smaller space requirements, typically between 300 square metres and 500 square metres, which, coupled with limited staff costs, results in lower overheads.” 
Another 24-hour operator, Jetts Fitness has 145 franchises with 19 in NSW. Fifty-nine franchises are in Queensland. 
 
According to Cook, the trend towards smaller, low-cost gyms has left larger traditional fitness clubs scrambling to compete through the introduction of different services and the expansion of their facilities. 
Gym group Fitness First has also been expanding signing a 10-year lease over 2,281 square metres of space on the ground, first, second and third floors of MBF building on 116 Adelaide Street, in the Brisbane CBD. 
Since expanding into Australia in 2000, Fitness First has established more than 90 clubs across the country, with Adelaide Street lease representing its third gymnasium in the Brisbane CBD. 
The new health club is due to open next month. 
Global health club chain Virgin Active has also been in expansion mode since opening its first Australian club in late 2008.  It has one club in Melbourne and three in Sydney.
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Gyms struggle to find space to stretch

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ACT’s industrial market is set to improve in the long term and could be a good place for investment, according to valuer Herron Todd White. 
According to its Canberra valuation team, the ACT offers “some good opportunities to invest for the long term with the industrial demand likely to improve over time as the economy responds to increased population growth”. 
Investors looking for accelerated returns might consider bulky goods stores and showrooms in the industrial suburb of Fyshwick, the report says, as demand remains high and rental growth is likely to outperform neighbouring light industrial suburbs of Mitchell and Hume over the coming 18 months. 
The report says that unlike other capital city industrial markets, the ACT industrial market is “comparatively stable with demand restricted to those businesses that provide direct services to the ACT population”. 
However, there are some weaknesses in the market, with valuers noting that a decrease in construction within the ACT over the past 12 months has a flow-on effect in reduced demand or floor space to store building and construction materials. 
“While an exact figure is difficult to obtain due to the lack of leasing transactions, we estimate that rents have fallen by up to 7% in some markets.”
Overall, the general sentiment about the Sydney industrial market remains gloomy, with property owners in a “holding pattern”. 
But latest report does suggests investors consider strata industrial units in south Sydney or Artarmon, where the rental growth outlook is more positive than other Sydney markets.
Another exception to the otherwise lacklustre Sydney market has been the upper end of the market, where there has been a “flurry of activity” with several large firms including Big W, Volkswagen and Dick Smith pre-committing to new facilities, spurring new development in central and western Sydney. 
“The sale of the St Leonards Corporate Centre for $86.7 million and the rumoured sale of Sir Joseph Banks Corporate Park in Botany for $78 million has restored some faith at the top end of the market,” the report notes. 
Investors should steer clear of the lower end of the market where rental growth has been constrained. 
“Discussions with industrial agents across Sydney reveal that sales to investors have been minimal in the first half of 2011, with several industrial strata unit projects completed in the past two years remaining unsold,” Herron Todd White’s Sydney valuers have observed.
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Sydney industrial market in a 'holding pattern': Herron Todd White

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Demand for inner-city Melbourne land from Asian developers has reached “unprecedented” levels over the last 18 months, according to Savills Australia. 
Savills agents have negotiated the sale of more $100 million worth of development sites over the last 18 months in Melbourne, with more than half of this amount spent in September on two sites. 
In the last two weeks Savills had sold a 3,200-square-metre site with potential for more than 500 apartments at 224-250 La Trobe Street for $29.2 million, and an 8,000-square-metre office building on a 900-square-metre site at 150 Queen Street for $25.5 million, the latter earmarked for residential conversion by purchaser Chip Eng Seng of Singapore. 
Another major development site – a 2,250-square-metre site with a permit for 368 apartments at 420 Spencer Street, West Melbourne – is currently on the market for around $17 million, with significant local and Asian interest already registered. The site is being marketed by Savills head of division for city sales and investments Clinton Baxter and Nick Dempsey via expressions of interest closing on October 14. 
Before these purchases, Asian developers have spent an average of $12.5 million per month buying up another six sites, with buying activity kicking off in March 2010. 
Other Asian buyers had included SP Setia and Mammoth Empire Holdings both from Malaysia along with many mainland Chinese private developers. 
According to Savills divisional director of CBD sales and investments Nick Peden, buyers from China, Singapore and Malaysia have been attracted by Australia’s financial stability and Melbourne’s comparatively inexpensive land values 
“With the global economy experiencing some uncertainty, Australia, and more particularly Melbourne, is the destination of choice for Asian developers seeking to secure development land for high density apartment projects,” Peden says. 
“Melbourne offers sustained population growth, inexpensive land compared to home markets, the potential for significant growth, the benefit of freehold title, and it’s stature as the world’s most liveable city,” he says.
“This Asian demand really is unprecedented.” 
Clinton Baxter says the agency has sold 17 properties with residential development potential since March last year with more than half of those to off-shore Asian purchasers. 
“What has changed recently for these buyers, and particularly Asian developers, is Melbourne’s relative stability in an increasingly uncertain global economic climate. 
“In many cases they have a significant, additional,  competitive advantage over local developers by being able to source funding from off-shore, and in doing so enjoying cheaper costs of debt whilst avoiding the onerous capital restrictions of the local banks. 
“Given the current enquiry we have on the books we expect sales to Asian buyers to continue to play a significant hand in the sale of development sites across Melbourne,” he says.
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Asian investors snapping up Melbourne development sites: Savills

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mrcb">MRCB International</a> has commenced construction on its latest Gold Coast apartment development, Maris, on the site of the former Sundale Motel in Southport.

The start of construction by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">Binah</a> follows an exceptionally strong sales campaign, with more than 90 per cent of apartments sold since launch. Every purchaser has been local, an&nbsp;indicator of confidence in both the development and Southport's evolution into a thriving CBD.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maris-southport-20-queen-street-southport-qld-4215">Maris</a> will deliver 192 residences across 20 levels. The project forms part of MRCB's Australian and New Zealand development pipeline now exceeding $1.6 billion in gross development value, alongside a growing portfolio of projects globally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=350663]

The company also commenced construction on its $600 million 26 Vista residences in Surfers Paradise last year, following strong sales momentum, with over 70 per cent of residences sold.

Maris has been designed to meet evolving buyer demand, offering architecturally designed layouts suited to long-term liveability. The approach reflects a growing preference for quality and adaptability among Gold Coast buyers.

Positioned next to the Broadwater in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/southport-qld-4215">Southport</a> CBD, Maris sits directly opposite the Broadwater Parklands light rail station and within easy reach of retail, dining and lifestyle precincts, placing residents at the centre of one of the Gold Coast's most connected and rapidly maturing urban centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=372756]

Maris will offer a full suite of resort-style residential amenities, including a pool, gym and sauna, along with a rooftop level featuring decks, lounges and dining and yoga areas that command sweeping views across the Broadwater and out to the ocean.

Binah, a New South Wales headquartered company co-founded by Amen Zoabi and Khalil Hafza in 2008, has expressed its excitement at establishing its first partnership with MRCB.

Binah's Managing Director Khalil Hafza said partnering with MRCB on Maris is a significant moment for Binah.

"MRCB's financial strength and a track record that speaks for itself give this project a solid foundation, and this marks the beginning of what will be a long and successful relationship.

"With the right people, systems and partnerships behind it, Maris is set to become a significant addition to the Gold Coast's premium residential market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=350664]

MRCB International CEO Ravi Krishnan said the project's progression to construction reflects both sustained demand and tightening conditions across the apartment sector, as well as MRCB's continued confidence in the Gold Coast market.

"Commencing construction at Maris is a significant step and reflects the depth of demand for quality apartments in well-connected urban locations," said Krishnan.

"Across Southeast Queensland, new apartment supply remains constrained, particularly in established precincts with infrastructure and amenity already in place. Projects like Maris are increasingly critical in meeting that demand, especially on the Gold Coast and in the city's CBD precinct."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134403 project_image_fid=372761]

Krishnan said Southport's ongoing transformation, supported by infrastructure investment and long-term planning, was underpinning renewed buyer confidence.

"We're seeing a clear shift back towards well-located urban centres where infrastructure, connectivity and amenity are already established," said Mr Krishnan. "Southport is evolving into a more mature CBD environment, and that is being reflected in buyer behaviour."

Construction at Maris is anticipated to be completed in 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134403]

Joel Robinson

Construction commences on MRCB’s $200m Maris Residences in Southport

Moonee Valley Park’s latest residential release <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveline-at-moonee-valley-park-moonee-ponds-100-thomas-street-moonee-ponds-vic-3039">The Eveline</a>, has achieved a new benchmark for off-the-plan apartment sales in the suburb, with the sale of The Alexandra penthouse selling for $5,435,000.

Positioned on the top floor of a 16-level residential building, the three-bedroom, three and-a-half-bathroom penthouse features uninterrupted city skyline views across the future Valley racetrack.&nbsp;

The landmark sale comes as momentum at the precinct continues to build, with the Moonee Valley Racing Club progressing works on its new racetrack ahead of the 2027 Cox Plate. The transformative development will see MVRC reimagine the beloved Valley as a vibrant year-round entertainment and lifestyle destination.

Alongside a world-class racing experience, the historic precinct will be activated with events, hospitality and public green spaces designed to attract broader audiences, while breathing new life into one of Melbourne’s most iconic destinations.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=142519 project_image_fid=372786]

Development partners <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hamton">Hamton Property Group</a> and Hostplus have delivered five residential stages over the past four years, the most recent in November 2025 with Trackside House and Stonepine House. The flourishing community is now home to almost 500 families.&nbsp;

The latest residential release, The Eveline, has recorded strong demand since launching publicly last July, securing more than $200 million in sales to date, satisfying its pre sales hurdle for construction to commence.&nbsp;

Hamton Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM said, the sales&nbsp;team have been overwhelmed by demand for these unique homes in this unique project.

"Buyers continue to be predominantly hyperlocal and attracted by the 40 hectare botanic masterplan in Melbourne’s inner north west," Hameister said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=142519 project_image_fid=372788]

Hamton’s Sales and Marketing Director Fergus Humphries said the team has achieved more than 70 sales over the past eight weeks, including the penthouse purchase by a local buyer.

"These results reinforce that, even in a challenging market, purchasers continue to be drawn to quality projects that offer more than just a home, they offer a lifestyle.”

Designed by Cera Stribley, the penthouse has been created with entertaining in mind, spanning close to 400 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space, including multiple terraces designed to capture sweeping views across Melbourne’s skyline, the new Valley racecourse and sunset views over Moonee Ponds.

Moonee Valley Park is one of Melbourne’s largest urban renewal projects, transforming the iconic racecourse site into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood integrating homes, parklands, retail, racing and community amenities.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=142519]

Moonee Valley Park penthouse sets suburb record as sales surge clears construction benchmark

A company linked to one of Australia's largest privately owned cattle businesses has lodged plans for a new residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newstead-qld-4006">Newstead</a>, continuing the rapid transformation of one of Brisbane's most sought-after, inner-city precincts.

Bottletree Holdings, an entity associated with Stanbroke Managing Director Brendan Menegazzo, has submitted a development application for a 28-storey mixed-use tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-longland-street-newstead-qld-4006">9 Longland Street</a>, a site that made headlines last year when it changed hands in an off-market transaction that reportedly set a benchmark land rate for the suburb.

The proposal would replace an existing two-storey commercial building on the 1,510 sqm corner site with a Bureau Proberts-designed tower comprising 76 apartments, ground-floor retail, office space and a suite of resident wellness amenities.

<img alt="9 Longland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c710a836-568e-4382-bc91-3c34b8e80a8b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Vy.mQWBc7GA_a.vIBdxKqRC9XGjWalo2" />

According to planning documents lodged with Brisbane City Council, the development would comprise a mix of 36 two-bedroom apartments, 24 three-bedroom apartments and 16 four-bedroom residences, positioning the project firmly at the premium end of the market. The apartments would sit above a podium containing retail and commercial space, with three levels of communal recreation facilities spread throughout the tower. The proposal also includes 198 car spaces and 95 bicycle spaces.

Bureau Proberts has drawn heavily on Newstead's industrial heritage in developing the architectural response.

"Occupying a prominent corner in the heart of Newstead, the proposal draws from the area's industrial lineage of robust brick warehouses to deliver a distinctly contemporary response," the architects said in the design statement.

"It is conceived as a subtropical sanctuary and elevated private retreat embedded within one of Brisbane's most vibrant lifestyle precincts."

The design seeks to reinterpret the traditional Queensland vernacular through wraparound verandahs, deep shading elements and permeable facades that respond to Brisbane's subtropical climate.

<img alt="9 Longland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25524f59-395c-4825-8fad-9b639822fa8a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.42.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=dlWlbpCc_g3Y6yTLGqRVKvGJvO2ubMJ3" />

Planning documents describe the building as embodying the principles of "buildings that breathe", a design approach increasingly favoured in Brisbane's apartment market as developers focus on natural ventilation and outdoor living spaces.

The tower itself would rise above a heavily landscaped podium designed to reference the woolstore architecture that helped define Newstead and neighbouring Teneriffe for generations. At ground level, fine-grain retail tenancies would activate Longland Street, Wyandra Street and the existing Wyatt Street laneway, further extending the pedestrian network that has become a hallmark of the Gasworks precinct.

The application notes that more than 54 per cent of the site would be dedicated to landscaping and deep planting, while approximately 1,750 sqm of communal recreation space would be delivered across multiple levels.

<img alt="Planning" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fed3b189-1054-4b68-af5f-b0befc4a66e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.42.19%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=gqeE3cjsbnLAfeTUKA1HtPZfqDs6S4Xa" />

Bottletree paid $22 million for the 1,510 sqm development site, equating to more than $14,500 per sqm, a reflection of the strong demand for development opportunities in Newstead. The suburb continues to attract both developers and buyers, underpinned by the ongoing evolution of the Gasworks and Teneriffe precincts into some of Brisbane's most sought-after lifestyle destinations.

Brisbane City Council's Sustainable Growth Strategy and Inner City Strategy both identify Newstead as a priority growth precinct capable of accommodating additional housing density due to its proximity to employment hubs, public transport and lifestyle infrastructure.

The proposed tower joins a growing pipeline of high-end apartment developments in the suburb. Fortis recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a>, a 65-apartment owner-occupier-focused development on Kyabra Street, while Consolidated Properties Group is preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a 227-apartment waterfront project on Skyring Terrace.

Meanwhile, builder-developer BPG is planning its own Newstead project on Maud Street, comprising just over 100 apartments and more than 1,380 sqm of dedicated wellness and resident amenity spaces, further highlighting the shift towards lifestyle-driven apartment developments in Brisbane's inner-city market.

Newstead apartment boom continues with Longland Street tower plans

ALAND has taken the next major step in delivering its vision for Leppington Town Centre, lodging State Significant Development plans for a $549 million residential precinct that would bring more than 1,200 new homes within walking distance of Leppington Station.

The proposal, now on public exhibition, forms the Residential Core Precinct of the broader Leppington Town Centre masterplan and would transform a 4.3-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/156-166-rickard-road-leppington-nsw-2179">156-166 Rickard Road</a> into a high-density mixed-use neighbourhood comprising nine residential buildings rising between six and 25 storeys.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc20982d-a0a9-4989-8fb3-680ca9fdcd10" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=l5EEyS6Dkf_SLDQkwDeyAU2nXkSZP2RW" />

The development has been designed by Rothelowman and is being pursued through a State Significant Development Application alongside a concurrent rezoning request under the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

If approved, the project would deliver 1,206 dwellings, including 784 build-to-sell apartments, 208 build-to-rent apartments, 189 affordable housing units and a nine-storey serviced apartment building containing 112 rooms. The proposal also includes around 7,400 sqm of non-residential floor space, new public open space, communal recreation areas and a new internal street network.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4f80d3b-cb05-4068-8a87-808317807a99" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=KfPqh1JBuxc53IWntEzGHAeBaCLmRmum" />

<h2 data-end="1990" data-section-id="s6350" data-start="1941">A key piece of Leppington's future town centre</h2>

The site sits around 250 metres from Leppington Station, which opened in 2015 as the terminus of the South West Rail Link and has long been earmarked as the catalyst for the suburb's transformation from a rural fringe location into a major strategic centre for Western Sydney.

Leppington has become increasingly important following the announcement of the Western Sydney International Airport and the emergence of Bradfield City Centre, with government planning identifying the precinct as a significant location for future housing and employment growth.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ca0f098-affc-48c0-80d3-468ea090a20c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.26%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=o3mwgBFT6H9YUllI0JR.JfLsUYQy1CTa" />

According to Rothelowman, the proposal responds directly to Leppington's unique position between its agricultural past and its urban future.

"The site offers an opportunity to weave together multiple layers of history, from its ancient connections to Country along the ridgeline between two waterways and its origins as part of the Cumberland woodland, to its more recent agricultural uses, and its future as a new residential community," the architects said in the design report.

The architects said the project aims to establish a high-density residential typology that combines apartment living with extensive landscaping and public open space.

"The design responds by establishing a high-density typology that combines the convenience and amenity of contemporary apartment living with a renewed native landscape."

<h2 data-end="3541" data-section-id="1ko88s2" data-start="3485">Nine buildings arranged around parks and public space</h2>

The proposal has been designed around a landscape-led framework rather than a traditional podium-and-tower approach.

Across the site, approximately 7,500 sqm of public open space would be delivered through a network of north-south and east-west linear parks, connecting into the wider Leppington Town Centre open space network. A further 8,000 sqm of communal open space would be provided for residents.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5113abf-5440-4610-9cdc-60a0d41a407e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.12.55%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=k8zLMj4yZS4hStmGzZJfosjj5iArwIek" />

Rothelowman said the design seeks to maximise landscaping at ground level by concentrating development into compact tower footprints.

"Buildings are carefully lifted and distributed to minimise disturbance to the natural terrain, allowing the ground plane to remain open, permeable, and led by landscape," the design report states.

Rather than creating a continuous podium edge, the design team has focused on allowing landscaping to extend beneath and around the buildings.

"The ground plane is conceived as an extension of the surrounding environment, allowing landscape to flow up to and beneath the built forms."

The architectural language also draws on the area's natural landscape, with Rothelowman describing a material palette influenced by local gum trees, bark textures, creek systems and sandstone tones.

<h2 data-end="4971" data-section-id="s69utu" data-start="4922">Affordable housing and build-to-rent component</h2>

One of the more significant aspects of the proposal is the diversity of housing typologies.

In addition to traditional apartments for sale, the scheme includes a dedicated 25-storey build-to-rent building with 208 apartments and a 22-storey affordable housing building containing 189 homes.

The affordable housing component represents almost 16 per cent of the total dwellings proposed within the Residential Core Precinct.

<img alt="ALAND" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f87e6808-e462-44c6-bfa8-a3de1816f2e3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-22%20at%209.33.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WTsRKiUAyWw18S5S98yQB5oVuDcnJTxB" />

Community consultation undertaken ahead of the lodgement found support for additional housing in the area, particularly given ongoing affordability challenges across South West Sydney. Survey work conducted with local residents found housing affordability was one of the poorest-rated aspects of living in Leppington, while a majority of respondents were open to additional housing within the local government area.

The site's proximity to Leppington Station was identified as the most positively viewed aspect of the proposal, while public open space and affordable housing provisions also received majority support.

<h2 data-end="6184" data-section-id="1ngkie4" data-start="6140">Part of Leppington's broader expansion</h2>

ALAND will be a significant contributor to the broader vision for Leppington Town Centre, which is expected to accommodate more than 25,000 residents as the precinct evolves over the coming decades.

Located within Sydney's South West Growth Area, the 440-hectare Leppington Town Centre has been identified by the NSW Government as a strategic centre spanning both the Liverpool and Camden local government areas.

In 2023, Liverpool City Council and Camden Council, supported by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, prepared a draft planning proposal to rezone land and amend development controls across a number of sites within the town centre.

The proposal outlines a new vision for Leppington Town Centre, reducing the amount of land allocated for business park uses while increasing land zoned for commercial development, housing and open space. The changes are designed to optimise land use across the precinct and support the delivery of a more walkable, transit-oriented centre anchored by Leppington Station.

&nbsp;

ALAND plots 1,200-home Leppington masterplan

Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a>&nbsp;has enlisted renowned architecture firm Koichi Takada Architects to design its latest new apartment development.

The new 34-storey tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/57-berwick-street-fortitude-valley-qld-4006">57 Berwick Street, Fortitude Valley</a>,&nbsp;will have 189 apartments, complete with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/byculprit">byCULPRIT</a>. The upper levels&nbsp;capturing views across the Story Bridge, city skyline, ranges, bay and river.

Residents will have access to a rooftop amenity floor with facilities including a pool, spa, sauna, hot and cold treatment, meditation garden, gym, yoga studio, private dining, BBQ, games lounge, wine display wall, work library, meeting rooms and outdoor work areas.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK</a> Founder and Managing Director, Arpan Kohli, said it will be a project "Brisbane hasn't seen before."

&nbsp;

"To deliver a project of this calibre, you need the right people involved," Kohli said.

"Koichi Takada Architects and byCULPRIT set the benchmarks for design excellence, and this project reflects that - a building of genuine architectural significance in one of Brisbane's most coveted locations, sitting between Howard Smith Wharves and the James Street precinct."

TRK recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/laya-residences-taigum-203-beams-road-taigum-qld-4018">LAYA Residences in Taigum</a>, 88 three-bedroom townhouses starting from $1,495,000. They have another apartment site in Indooroopilly, at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/140-central-avenue-indooroopilly-qld-4068">140 Central Avenue</a>. That will have 131 apartments.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Larry Schlesinger

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