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More property owners are shifting away from auctions to private sales in order to get a better deal, experts say, as the number of listings continues to lag behind last year's numbers. 
The property market recorded another tepid weekend, with clearance rates consistent with the past several weeks, although they remain lower than last year. The number of listings are also lower, indicating the bottom of the market has not yet been reached.
"There was a bit of a concern we noted at this time last year when we saw prices falling," SQM managing director Louis Christopher toldSmartCompany this morning.
"We've got the same clearance rate here, which implies prices may have not yet stopped falling."
According to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, Melbourne recorded a clearance rate of 60%, compared with 58% last weekend and 65% at this time last year. There were 645 reported auctions, down from the 918 listed last year.
In Sydney, the city recorded a 58.1% clearance rate, with 448 listings, down from the 518 last year, while Adelaide and Brisbane recorded rates of 42% and 38% respectively.
Christopher says more of these auctions are in private sales, as buyers believe they can get a better outcome.
"When we look at total stock levels, there is some evidence that stock for sale was peaking and that may be the case. But they rose by a significant amount in Sydney, and to a lesser extent in Melbourne."
"There are just as many private sales as there are auctions, and in my opinion sellers are moving their properties over."
Christopher says the perception of operating in a soft market will always move auctions towards private sales. "They think they're more likely to get a better outcome," he says.
And while Christopher says more auction listings may be a sign of a recovery, he suggests that's some way off.
"That's something you see when the market is generally in a recovery stage, and I wouldn't expect that to happen any time soon."
However, there is some indication listings are increasing. In Melbourne, 800 properties are set to go to market next week, and then 1,000 in two weeks' time.
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php">SmartCompany.</a>
 
 
 
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pmcstafford-pr9eMARWoN

Sellers move from auction to private sales as market remains weak

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The New South Wales Labor opposition has taken the extraordinary step of claiming a construction business is on the brink of collapse, urging the government to step in and save the contractor from going under.
Opposition leader John Robertson has said in a statement that Reed Constructions is on the verge of collapse and 1500 jobs are at risk, even saying that contractors haven’t been paid in several weeks.
"Barry O'Farrell needs to intervene immediately to stop the loss of another 1500 construction jobs in NSW," Robertson said in a statement.
"These 1,500 subcontractors are working on NSW government-funded roads, schools and major civic buildings like the Supreme Court, but many of them haven't been paid in months."
In a statement this morning, Reed Constructions managing director Geoff Reed said the company was working out issues relating to payments carried out for Roads and Maritime Services, along with the Building the Education Revolution Program.
However, it said it would not make any other comment at this stage.
Robertson claimed in his statement that one contractor is owed about $280,000 for work completed on the Great Western Highway.
"This contractor has repeatedly tried to get in touch with the Minister for Roads and the department, but he's been told the government will not intervene," he said.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union also released a statement, saying the industry is in crisis and the government should do all it can to rescue Reed Construction, claiming between $60 million and $80 million is owed to 1,500 subcontractors.
According to Brian Parker from the CFMEU, Reed is waiting for a $10 million payment from the NSW government for work completed as far back as three years ago, The International Business Times reports.
Parker said the state government had the obligation to sit down with Reed and solve the problem to avert the possible loss of 10,000 jobs.
NSW Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce was reported in the IBT that the state government has been in discussions with Reed since the construction firm informed it of its situation.
“These small businesses are the lifeblood of the industry, employing thousands of workers in NSW,” Parker said in the statement.
“The collapse of the Kell &amp; Rigby Group and now possibly Reeds is devastating for the industry, devastating for the many people left without payment, and devastating for workers left without entitlements and employment, and also devastating in terms of confidence in the industry.”
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php">SmartCompany.</a>
 
 
 
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NSW opposition claims construction company on the brink of collapse

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Poor retail conditions and frightened consumers were blamed for yesterday’s collapse of the Queensland-based retailer Wow Audio Visual Superstores, with its 15 stores and 500 employees, but the seeds of this collapse were actually sown two years ago.
Ferrier Hodgson partners James Stewart, Stewart McCallum and Tim Michael confirmed yesterday they had been appointed as receivers and managers, prompted by a secured creditor.
<a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/sales/20101007-receivers-appointed-to-property-empire-owned-by-wow-sight-and-sound-directors" target="_blank">The problems began back in 2010</a>, when two directors of Wow Sight and Sound were caught up in a property sale with hundreds of millions of dollars, when banks appointed receivers to assets controlled by the two men.
The directors and co-founders, Sam Savvas and Suds Sotiris, served as directors of property group SSI. That company owned a number of smaller companies, including The Zone Australia and Aristocon. These two entities owned properties that were placed in receivership.
At that time, Wow Sight and Sound was not placed in receivership, and retail director Con Nicolas told SmartCompany in a statement that the company operated separately and was not affected – although Savvas stepped aside as chairman and chief executive. He passed away last year.
Guy Griffiths became chief executive in 2010, while Savvas said at the time these properties had been appointed receivers due to higher pressure in global property markets.
However, yesterday receiver James Stewart said the company had been negatively impacted by a bad debt of $20 million related to the collapse of Aristocon, one of the companies that oversaw some of the troubled properties.
Stewart said the group, which had $257 million revenue in 2010-11, “had been negatively impacted by a bad debt of approximately $20 million to a related company”.
“Wow has been subject to declining sales and profitability which has escalated in recent months,” Stewart also said.
The portfolio of assets placed in administration in 2010 was reportedly worth $400 million, including a commercial building worth $70 million on its own. It was reported there were more than 50 properties up for sale to recover debts of over $300 million, with several major banks involved in the entire process.
Before all this occurred, Wow had accepted a substantial amount of money from NAB’s private equity division, Integrated Capital Solutions. <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/20100128-nab-s-private-equity-arm-invests-in-queensland-retail-group-wow-sight-sound">Nicolas said  the time</a> the investment would be used to expand the company’s footprint – it wanted to open 25 stores within the following three years.
However, now the company has been placed in receivership. And while receivers have not made any announcement regarding store closures, it surely adds to the nerves felt by retailers across the country, who have already watched several businesses in a variety of industries announce the closure of more than 500 stores.
Receivers are now set to begin a sale campaign for the business, which has been well known in Queensland for its support of the Broncos rugby club during 2008-11.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
 
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How Queensland retailer Wow was brought down by a $20 million property debt

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A major apartment complex development in Queensland has fallen into receivership, the latest victim of the state’s lacklustre property sales.
Price growth in Queensland remains depressed, with first home buyers still cautious after major banks signalled they are prepared to raise rates outside decisions made by the Reserve Bank.
According to official documents, the company behind the $170 million Alderley Square apartment development, Alderley Village, was placed in receivership in November.
Receivers Korda Mentha were contacted this morning, but no reply was available prior to publication. The Alderley Village development office was also contacted, but the line appears to be disconnected.
Construction of the development was expected to begin this year, but the development has now collapsed with $12 million in debt, according to the Australian Financial Review.
The project was reportedly backed by private South Africa-based investors. The developer behind the property is PCN Projects, which has offices in both Australia and South Africa.
That company was also contacted this morning, but no reply was available prior to publication.
The development is the latest within Queensland to fail, with a number of properties and resorts going under during the past few years. Apartment supply has exploded in the last decade, especially on the Gold Coast, which has put more downward pressure on prices.
The Alderley project would have offered over 200 new residential apartments. Reports indicate $55 million worth of apartments were sold during the first 12 months of sales, but transactions slowed soon after.
The collapse comes as home loan arrears in Queensland have also risen above those in other states.
SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says there has been a definite slowdown in Queensland, with stock continuing to rise causing more price pressures.
“We went through 2011 when there was a period in which house prices fell in Brisbane, and the ABS says there was a 9% fall from peak to trough across 2010-11.”
“That’s a substantial correction. It’s caused enough stress for property developers who have done work based on contracted prices and for those who have to offer a buffer on those prices as well.”
Christopher says developers have had trouble gaining finance, even during the past year or so, and that he’s heard reports of banks breathing down developers’ necks – even when all the finances check out.
“There is quite a lot of stress for new property developers, particularly those working on a thin buffer of prices. When developers start making even a small loss, it can destroy them very quickly.”
This article originally appeared on<a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?piffwe" target="_blank"> SmartCompany</a>.
 
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Queensland $170 million apartment project in receivership, state’s property market still under pressure

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The controversy over troubled shopping centre group DFO continues, after a Victorian Supreme Court justice on Tuesday decided business partners of the company's two former owners David Goldberger and David Wieland could launch a legal case against them. 
The decision comes after months of complicated legal battles and financial tussles over the business, which has resulted in a number of court cases and has even involved the former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Graeme Samuel.
Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Davies ruled yesterday that the business partners of David Wieland and David Goldberger could launch a legal case against the two millionaires.
The case revolves around a $14 million emergency line of credit used by DFO developer Austexx to construct the company's South Wharf facility.
The two Davids were former directors of Austexx. The case is brought against them by Texxcon, a subsidiary of Melbourne-based construction and engineering firm Contexx.
According to Texxcon, Austexx borrowed $14 million from a joint venture company called Nominexx. That funding was to be used after a separate funding line had been dried up.
However, Texxcon claims this loan was not repaid, and that Austexx has engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.
While both Davids and DFO manager Geoff Porz were able to stop Nominexx from suing the company – due to their presence on the board – Justice Davies has given Texxcon representatives permission to sue.
Texxcon claims Wieland, Goldberger and Porz breached their directors' duties by saying Austexx could pay back the money, although all three have denied this is the case.
Both Wieland and Goldberger slipped off the BRW Rich 200 list last year after Austexx went close to collapse and was forced to sell assets to reduce a $1 billion debt.
Separately, a property development company called Verticon in which the two Davids were major shareholders was placed in administration last year.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
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Court gives former business partners the right to pursue $14 million claim against DFO founders 

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Hotel giant Hyatt Hotels Corporation has blocked an attempt by billionaire Clive Palmer to remove it as the manager of the Coolum resort on the Sunshine Coast, after Palmer accused Hyatt of poor management and siphoning $60 million in funds from the resort over the past 20 years. 
Hyatt took Palmer to the Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday after Palmer had announced he had dumped the company as the manager of the resort, removing its signage and sacking Hyatt's general manager, Maurice Holland.
Hyatt argued that Palmer had breached the contract between the two by trying to remove it as resort manager and by sacking the general manager.
Palmer represented himself in court, and told Justice Glenn Martin that the resort could still be run without Hyatt, and that the general manager, Maurice Holland, was sacked in the resort's best interests in mind.
While Palmer threatened to close the resort if the injunction was granted, Martin granted it anyway.
"(I'm satisfied) there will be sufficient funds... to cover the short-term of the injunction I propose and secondly, the defendants good corporate citizens will not abuse their position if an injunction is granted for such a short period."
Martin said the injunction would protect Hyatt's reputation, get Holland his job back and protect the interests of those who own villas within the resort.
The case will return to court on March 1.
The action came after Palmer released a statement yesterday saying the company had been siphoning $60 million in funds over the past two decades "back to their headquarters in Chicago and there has been a major cover-up of these activities".
"We have uncovered this activity since taking over the resort last year. This should be of concern to the operators of other Hyatt resorts around Australia and worldwide. The Hyatt hasn't given the property the priority it deserves. The Hyatt Group doesn't even have a full-time employee in Queensland and we believe they are not even represented in Australia."
Hyatt's lawyers said in court that the allegation was false.
Palmer, who bought the resort in July of last year, said that despite Hyatt running the resort for over 20 years, "it has just led to millions of dollars in losses to the owners". He also commented he was surprised to learn staff were never paid bonuses.
The move comes just a day after Palmer threatened the Football Federation of Australia with court action if it tried to take away his licence – the billionaire has garnered a reputation for himself in the sport, sacking players and making controversial comments about the state of the game.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
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Hyatt hotel chain to stay in control of Clive Palmer’s Coolum resort despite allegations of mismanagement

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The Australian unemployment rate has fallen to 5.1%, beating expectations and driven by an increase in part-time employment.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said this morning that the unemployment rate had fallen 0.1 percentage points, with part-time employment lifting by 34,000 to 3.4 million and full-time employment up by 12,3000 to 8.063 million. Economists surveyed by AAP had tipped full-time jobs would increase by 12,000.
"The increase in seasonally adjusted part-time was driven by an increase in female part-time employment, whereas the increase full-time employment was driven by an increase in male full-time employment," ABS said.
The number of people unemployed fell by 15,300 last month to 614,200, and the labour participation rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 65.3%.
The statistics bureau added that although recent reports have suggested 2011 was the year with the lowest employment growth since 1992, this statement does not take into account estimations that population growth last year was the lowest in 10 years.
"An alternative method of analysis that removes the effect of population growth is to compare average employment to population ratios for each year."
"In 2011, the employment to population ratio was 62.2%, which is the third highest rate of employment in the last 30 years, up 0.1 percentage points from 2010 and 6.1 percentage points higher than the low in 1992."
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php">SmartCompany</a>.
 
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Unemployment drops to 5.1%

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Woolworths has signalled that it will sell off the troubled Dick Smith chain following a structural review of the business, also announcing that it will close up to 100 stores over the next two years.
The announcement comes after an analysts' report from CSLR that predicted the company would close over 100 stores in the chain.
According to a statement this morning, Woolworths said that its consumer electronics chain will remain important for Woolworths through its Big W chain and its multichannel offer.
"A strategic review, announced in November 2011, concluded that Woolworths' main strengths are primarily in larger format, multichannel, high volume retail segments with market-leading positions," the company said in a statement.
"The future of the Dick Smith business, which is profitable, experiencing positive sales growth and has a strong brand position, could be better realised through new ownership."
The review found that investment and management attention given to Dick Smith "has been disproportionate relative to its position within the Woolworths' group".
With the company now focused on increasing activity in core trading divisions, the company agrees separating the model from the company is the best option.
"A divestment of Dick Smith will enable the Woolworths group to focus more investment on serving customers in its core business with a strong multichannel offer, backed with market leading fulfilment systems and an effective store network," chief executive Grant O'Brien said in a statement.
Staff affected by the closures will be moved around in the Woolworths group, the company said.
Recently CSLA analysts David Thomas and Richard Barwick <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/retail/analysts-predict-dick-smith-to-close-190-stores-as-pressure-weighs-on-retail/2012012353112">suggested Woolworths close 190 Dick Smith stores.</a>
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
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Woolworths to sell struggling Dick Smith chain and close 100 stores

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Woolworths should consolidate its Dick Smith electronics chain into its existing Big W network, an analyst says, after a report called for the retail giant to close more than half the brand’s stores in favour of boosting Dick Smith’s online presence.
The report, written by CSLA analysts David Thomas and Richard Barwick and entitled Off With Dick’s Head, suggests Woolworths should close 189 of the chain’s 386 stores.
The CSLA report says the stores should be closed given Dick Smith is generating such a small return for Woolworths, posting $22 million in EBITDA in 2010-11.
“This is virtually irrelevant in the context of group EBIT north of $3 billion,” the report states.
It also notes Woolworths does not have time or money to make the chain into a key player, given it’s focusing on competing with Coles and the rollout of Masters.
Other analysts agree. Peter Esho, chief market analyst at City Index Asia Pacific, says it would make sense for Woolworths to consolidate the Dick Smith chain into its Big W network of stores.
“If you look at the footprint, there is a lot of overlap between Dick Smith and Big W, and we think it makes strategic sense to enhance them,” he says.
“We think it makes strategic sense to utilise the space there, and that would drive more traffic into Big W.”
Woolworths was contacted this morning, but a reply was not provided prior to publication.
The analysts say the recommendations could almost double Dick Smith’s profitability in the short term to $40 million, adding that a Woolworths divestment of the entire asset was unlikely in the current market due to expected difficulties in finding a buyer.
The report also notes that Woolworths would be reluctant to spend more money on Dick Smith. Esho says given the company is lagging market leader JB Hi-Fi, it makes more sense to integrate it with an existing business.
“It’s dominant, but it’s certainly not the most dominant player. The current position doesn’t really justify having a separate chain for electronics and Big W,” he said, also noting that Dick Smith’s online capabilities could integrate well with Big W.
“If you’ve got a competitive Big W with a well-defined consumer electronics strategy, it gives you the ability to try something else. For now, [rival discount department store] Kmart is just going to chip away on price in the consumer electronics market.”
The Dick Smith chain has been owned by Woolworths since the early 1980s, and started growing in 2001 after acquiring the Tandy chain of companies. It closed 320 stores in Australia, but the CLSA report still says there is a “massive gap” between the company and the next biggest thing, JB Hi-Fi.
Esho says moving the chain away into the Big W stores will allow the company to take new risks.
“If you put that chain into the Big W stores, it gives you more freedom to try other things. As of right now, there is no opportunity there.”
The prediction comes during a troubling time for retail. Just last week Speciality Fashion Group announced it may close more than 100 stores due to excessive rents and sluggish sales.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
Photograph by Kieran McGlone
 
 
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Analysts suggest Dick Smith should close 190 stores as pressure weighs on retail

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Demand for home loans has continued to increase for an eighth consecutive month in November, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The figures show the number of loans granted rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.4% to 46,953, after a downwardly revised 46,953 in October.
Total housing finance rose by 2.1% to $2.03 billion.
This article originally appeared on<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php"> SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
 
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Housing finance lifts for eigth consecutive month

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Patrick Stafford

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