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With interest rates at record lows, more self-managed funds are snapping up commercial assets between $2 million and $5 million in Western Sydney, although owner-occupiers remain the dominant force.
The strength of the commercial market in Sydney was illustrated through a recent deal by Raine &amp; Horne Commercial, which sold a building at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-nsw-lidcombe-501743026" target="_blank">211 John Street, Lidcombe</a> for $4.3 million to a Honda Motor dealer. The dealership is using the freestanding 2,000 square metre industrial building, which includes a warehouse/showroom factory, as a future service centre.
The dealership beat a number of investors and developers for the property. The building has direct access to Parramatta Road and is close to Lidcombe Railway Station and the M4 Motorway.
Raine &amp; Horne Commercial director, Industrial Services, Duarte Figueira said lower interest rates were driving up owner-occupier activity.
“Many small to medium businesses are weighing up paying a mortgage against a lease. With rates at historic lows, repaying a commercial loan and ultimately owning an asset is making plenty of sense at present,” said Figueira.
“This is a sought-after precinct and Larke Hoskins Honda will join Bunnings, Reading Cinemas, Anaconda, Costco, Woolworths, ALDI and many other retailers who have decided to set up shop here.
“We’re seeing a stream of businesses operating in flat pack furniture and flat pack bathrooms looking to secure properties in our region. They are usually businesses with 30 staff or less – although we are seeing some bigger businesses buying commercial space too.”
Apart from low interest rates, western Sydney’s improved infrastructure is attracting businesses out of CBDs such as Sydney, Parramatta, and even North Sydney according to Duarte.
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Business owners driving Western Sydney commercial sales market: Raine & Horne

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A childcare centre in Brisbane with a new 15-year lease will go under the hammer at a Burgess Rawson auction in Melbourne on May 18.
The purpose-built facility at <a href="https://www.burgessrawson.com.au/3P1290#.VzGK_WPwyb9" target="_blank">3 Camelia Avenue, Everton Hills</a> has a land area of 2,190 sqm and is licensed for 91 LDC places.
Its 15-year lease expires in 2031 with options for two 10-year extensions.
The centre earns a net income of $191,067 pa with a minimum 3 percent annual rent increases.
According to Burgess Rawson, it is a well regarded and successful child care provider with an additional centre in Bald Hills and more than 15 years experience.
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Childcare centre in Brisbane up for sale at Burgess Rawson auction

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Construction has started in right earnest at Oakland Estate, a $1 bilion masterplanned development in the Queensland township of Beaudesert, with buyers snapping up home sites.
Close to the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Oakland Estate offers brand new homesites, house and land packages with schools, parks, restaurants and retail planned.
A $30 million construction programme has started which includes the McAuley Catholic College, that will have an intake of 850 students and will open in January 2017.
nWork is also expected to start soon on a shopping village, comprising a 1,200 sqm IGA supermarket, 500 sqm of specialty stores, a fast-food restaurant and a tavern complete with function rooms, a children's play centre and a separate public bar and dining area.
A service station, including a drive-through coffee shop, are also expected to come up soon.
Oakland Estate is being developed by Robinson Projects. Lots average 750 sqm and are priced from $185,325.
Head of Robinson Projects, James Robinson, says he has also partnered with local builders to deliver a range of house and land packages priced from $346,000 with a variety of three and four bedroom floor plans. 
"Our first purchasers have predominantly been mature couples and retirees looking to make plans for the next phase of their lives," he said.
"The construction of the school has also led to strong enquiry from families who want to move to Beaudesert to raise their children in a country environment, whilst still being within a one hour drive of both Gold Coast and Brisbane City."
<img src="/images/2016/05/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-11%20at%209.01.38%20AM.png" alt="" width="1276" height="768">
Two of the first buyers in Oakland Estate are Peter and Lesley Wilson, who are moving from Yeppoon. The couple has bought a 785 sqm homesite at Oakland Estate.
"We are retired and have family based in Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney, so we wanted to find a place where it would be easier for us to access the motorway or airport to visit our loved ones," Wilson said.
 
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Oakland Estate in Queensland's Beaudesert draws first buyers, $30 million construction underway

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Property developer Miller Property Corporation has plans to build dual towers comprising 197 apartments and retail spaces in inner city Newcastle.
It has filed a development application with Newcastle City Council for its mixed-use project at 464 King Street, Newcastle. 
Occupying 4585 sq metre, the towers will be named Verve Residences, and comprise one, two, three-bedroom residences through to five-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouse.
Verve’s design will comprise two fan-shaped towers, linked by an internal ‘podium’ space with private recreational areas and gardens. The architectural design is a joint effort between CKDS Architecture and Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects.
Sales are expected to commence from June 4, 2016, said a media release.
Miller Property Corporation’s experience goes back to 1974 with the development of The Castle Tavern but most recently with The Darby (Darby Street, Cooks Hill) and Eclipse (Union Street, Cooks Hill).
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Developer plans for 197 apartment project in Newcastle

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Victoria's Horsham city has been perched at the peak of the property cycle for both houses and units for April and May, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's latest property clock -- a simple broad brush means to suggest where property markets are and what direction prices are moving in.
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Horsham’s residential real estate market continues to provide a stable investment for both owner-occupiers and investors. The urbanisation of today’s population is bringing senior members of the community to central service hubs such as Horsham and generally increasing the larger centre’s ability to attract and retain the younger generation and continuing its population growth. In turn this brings about expanding outer built up fringe areas and increased prices for inner city property located in close proximity to shops and services.
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As real estate in inner city Horsham continues to appreciate, more and more buyers are looking for cheaper alternatives. In larger centres such as Ballarat or Melbourne, this would see buyers moving further out of town into the suburbs and becoming more reliant on the local neighbourhood shopping centre. In Horsham, this phenomenon is generally different and sees families moving to smaller nearby town such as Murtoa and Dimboola that are located within a 30-minute drive of Horsham but maintain schools and local shops.
House prices in these smaller towns are significantly lower than Horsham. As an example, Horsham’s current median house price sits at $290,000, while Dimboola’s median house price is a far more affordable $120,000. When weighing up size and affordability, regional towns are definitely an option. 
Property Observer looked up a few recent sales around the median prices for Dimboola and came up with these from www.realestate.com.au:
 <img src="/images/2016/05/11/main.jpg" alt="" width="672" height="504">
 A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-dimboola-119628011" target="_blank">14 Denham Street Dimboola Vic 3414</a> (above) fetched $132,000. </div>
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A two-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-dimboola-120385073" target="_blank">3 Acacia Street Dimboola Vic 3414</a> (above) sold for $107,000.
 
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As Horsham's prices rise, buyers turn to cheaper fringe towns: HTW

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Ex-Middle Brighton Post Office site in Melbourne has been leased to sportswear giant Nike for around $200,000 per annnum.
Fitzroys agent Mark Talbot brokered the seven-year deal for the iconic property on the corner of Church and St Andrews Streets in Brighton.
The site was previously occupied by the failed Laura Ashley group.
Talbot said Fitzroys were appointed to re-lease the premises in a private expressions of interest campaign, following which three potential tenants were shortlisted. 
“Operators recognise Brighton’s demographics continues to support top-quality tenants,” said Talbot. 
 
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Nike moves into former post office site in Melbourne's Brighton 

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Governments and private companies could save millions of dollars and drastically reduce their carbon footprint with a simple adjustment to the way they use air-conditioning, according to new research by Savills. 
In a presentation posted to the online knowledge clearinghouse TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design), Savills Australia’s national head of Research, Tony Crabb, said air conditioning systems were generally fixed at what is considered to be an optimal 22 degrees based on an arbitrary standard which took no account of outside temperatures and employee comfort levels.
"It turns out that we heat and cool the built environment to a fixed 22 degrees. Why? Because it is the thermal comfort level of a 44-year-old-man which was determined by the Americans in the 1950s. I kid you not," he said.
"This is an arbitrary point that makes little sense and which costs governments and industry millions of dollars a year to say nothing of the impact on the environment.’’
By way of an example, Crabb said that in 2008 the United Nations, as a publicity stunt at its New York headquarters, adopted a temperature range of 19-25 degrees. A month later the UN estimated the savings at US$100,000.
"In Australia, some 40 per cent of our energy is consumed in the built environment and a large amount of that energy is used in heating and cooling. The question is why wouldn’t you adopt some flexibility with regard to your air-con temperature settings?
"If we did this in Australia in office buildings and shopping centres it would save a hundred million dollars and three hundred thousand tonnes of carbon emissions a year and it would not cost a cent. 
"Now let’s run that out through all the other property in the country including residential and then run that out around the world and we are talking billions of dollars and millions of tonnes every year,’’ Crabb said. 
Irrespective of the dollar savings, he said governments and industry should make the effort to adjust the air-conditioning as part of their social responsibility.
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Air-con at 19-25 degrees would save millions of dollars: Savills Research

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The value of residential property in Sydney has risen 137 percent over the last 10 years to rank fourth behind Mumbai (184 pe cent) in a list of world cities, according to new research by Savills.
The Irish capital Dublin was at the other end of the scale, with capital value declining 26 percent over the same period.
Ten-year residential capital value growth in all global cities surveyed averaged 73 percent to the end of 2015, with Asian cities, including Shanghai (173 percent), Hong Kong (167 percent) and Mumbai, occupying the top three positions.
Savills Australia’s national Head of Research, Tony Crabb, said while it was unlikely the high level of growth these key cities had achieved in recent years was sustainable in the long term, Australia’s strong property fundamentals, including robust population growth, would nevertheless underpin a continued high level of performance, particularly along the eastern seaboard.
"Australia’s population growth is amongst the strongest in the world and is the strongest in its history. This creates ongoing demand for residential property as well as retail goods and services which feeds into logistics, warehousing and manufacturing and ultimately demand for office property and the two cities which will benefit the most from this trend are Sydney and Melbourne.
"As the population of these two cities is set to double over the next 35 years, the key driver of long-term growth is in place, and that should see Sydney remain near the head of the table in the medium term,’’ Crabb said.
Head of Savills World Research, Yolande Barnes, said the roller-coaster ride of the global financial crisis had presented an opportunity for real estate in new and emerging markets, particularly Asia, to rival those in the West, with price growth in the new and emerging economies averaging 123 percent between December 2005 and mid-2011, compared with just 32 percent in the established cities of the old world - Paris, Tokyo, London, Sydney and New York. 
She said while capital growth fortunes reversed in the years since 2011 - old world markets grew by an average of 35 per cent and new world markets by just six per cent to December 2015 - the Asian cities remained at or near the top of the table.
However, the Asian cities at the top may now be more fully valued and therefore more exposed to price falls or stagnation, particularly during economic recession.
"Our analysis of occupier demands and rental growth across all sectors (residential and commercial) should prove a good guide to the fundamentals of different markets and would seem to point to the best prospects for capital growth lying among the cities at the foot of the table, which are enjoying population growth and occupier demand from burgeoning digital and creative industries,’’ Barnes said.
Those nearest the bottom of the table with the lowest rates of growth were in the high-supply US cities of Miami, LA  and Chicago, while Dublin’s residential values remain 26 percent below its 2005 levels, although this represents recovery after an incredible fall from its 2006 peak to its 2012 trough of -57 percent.
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Sydney residential values up 137 percent in 10 years, fourth behind Mumbai: Savills 

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NSW Central Coast was perched at the peak of the market for houses, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's latest property clock -- a simple broad brush means to suggest where property markets are  - and what direction prices are moving in. For units, it was approaching the peak of market.
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The April report also discussed the fringes of the Central Coast. 
Due to its location just north of the Sydney metropolitan area and the good transport corridor and services between them, some may be calling the Central Coast region a fringe location of Sydney. The people of the Central Coast would of course, object to this reference, say HTW.
When discussing fringe localities on the coast, we can think of those areas on the western side of the M1 Motorway. These are mostly rural areas with generally limited services.
We are finding these areas interesting at present as the rising prices in the Sydney market have opened the symbolic door to these areas with Sydneysiders discovering the good buying to be had. A noticeable level of activity has been seen since mid 2015 and demand is quite good. We have recently looked at more properties in these areas over the past year than we have over the previous five years.
This includes areas such as Calga, Mount White, Peats Ridge and Somersby which are close and handy to the M1 Motorway and Mangrove Mountain, Bucketty and Kulnura being that little bit further out but no less popular. We have seen a renovated dwelling on 16 hectares sell recently for just over $1.7 million. This is towards the upper end of the value range with numerous other properties available closer to or below the $1 million mark. Rental returns are not that great – expect around 3% to 4% - but it must remembered that these are lifestyle properties.
Another thing to remember with these locations is that traditionally, they don’t enjoy the same value increases seen closer in. In fact, it could be argued that they only see rises every second cycle.
As we move further north, renewed interest has been shown within selected parts of the Dooralong and Yarramalong Valley areas. These are beautiful locations and well worth a close look. Another fringe location is Jilliby which adjoins the M1 Motorway. 
Strangely enough, Jilliby has been a bit quiet lately and we expect its popularity to be on the rise shortly.
Close to the Gosford CBD but considered by many as being on the fringe are the suburbs of Niagara Park, Narara and Wyoming. As a result of the market increasing, these areas have grown in popularity with a recent purchase seen of a very tidy three-bedroom family home purchased at Narara in the mid $500,000 mark – a very good buy by today’s standards. These are areas that have lacked the popularity enjoyed by the beachside suburbs and as new owners move in and gentrification occurs, they may well prove a smart buy as we move forward. Tip: take a good look at the Wyoming area.
Rental returns in these areas have hovered around the 5 percent to 6 percent mark.
Further north, we think of Chain Valley Bay, Gwandalan and Summerland Point as fringe locations. Popular with retirees and the budget constrained, these areas have also enjoyed the benefit of the rising market and it is our hope they continue to do so. They are great family locations with sound community support and good access to Lake Macquarie. Grab the fishing rod or water skis and inboard - take a look at these ones.
Rental returns for investors are pretty good in these areas at around the 5% mark generally and we think the prospects are also good in terms of values increasing.
Back to the southern end, there are also a number of locations along the coastal strip that have enjoyed continued popularity with Sydney-based owners as their choice of location for weekenders. These areas include MacMasters Beach, Killcare, Hardys Bay, Pretty Beach, Wagstaffe and Pearl Beach. So as not to offend, we are being respectful of these people and will refer to these areas as quaint or out of the way suburbs, rather than fringe locations.
Whatever the term, they fit the criteria inasmuch that they are away from the hustle and bustle of the busy Central Coast life with privacy, plenty of trees, a beach close by and a good café - de rigueur to entice investment here. Imaginative house name plates or faux rustic signs abound in these locations with The Shack and Beach House popular choices and others reminiscent of European resort spots often attached to them.
Mind your step though and think big values, not so big returns (excluding holiday rentals) and values fluctuating according to economic sentiment rather than traditional supply and demand for these areas – it’s about quality, refinement and having friends around in these locations. 
Property Observer looked up a few properties in the fringe suburb of Wyoming on realestate.com.au. The median price of houses in Wyoming was $480,000 for houses and $385,800 for units, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
A four-bedroom house with parking for three cars at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-wyoming-122082494" target="_blank">36 Rain Forest Road Wyoming NSW 2250</a> (below) sold recently for $475,000.
<img src="/images/2016/05/10/image3.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="506">
A two-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-wyoming-122272290" target="_blank">21 Kinarra Avenue Wyoming NSW 2250</a> (below and lead image) sold for $395,000.
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Sydney's rising property prices open doors to NSW Central Coast's fringes: HTW 

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The first resident has moved into Bli Bli’s Parklakes 2 development on the Sunshine Coast.
Dr Christopher Walker and his wife, Katie, have moved into their new four-bedroom, two-bathroom house on a 522 sqm block in the 700-lot masterplanned residential community.
“We’re looking at building another house but land is selling so quickly we’re not sure we’ll get a chance,” Dr Walker said. “It’s popular because it’s close to everything, but it’s still quiet – it’s not in the middle of all the hustle and bustle," he said. “It offers a lot of things that other residential estates can’t.” 
The development will include 438 houses, 20 hectares of forest, a park with a café, floating wetlands, a child care centre, school and a sports complex, says its website.
Parklakes 2 also features a floating wetland treatment system that will treat stormwater run-off, and is the largest of its kind to be installed in a residential development in the world, according to a media release. 
Besides being a resident, Dr Walker has also been involved with the wetland treatment system in his role as environmental manager at Covey Associates, the principal engineers working on the development.
Developer Robert Flipp said the once-sleepy town of Bli Bli was fast becoming one of the most desirable riverfront communities on the Sunshine Coast. 
Around 20 lots per month have sold in the development since it launched to the market last year, he added.
"Our onsite sales office will be completed at the end of April and our 13 home display village will be open by mid year so we expect demand to remain strong,” he said.
Earlier this year, a $20 million Bli Bli Village Centre, a mixed-use multi-level development on the corner of Bli Bli Road and David Low Way, was approved.
Existing retail stores include a Supa IGA and River Markets Shopping Complex, and the Sunshine Coast Airport too is not far.
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First resident moves into Sunshine Coast development Parklakes 2 

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

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MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

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The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

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Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Prateek Chatterjee

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