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The RBA cash rate decision came out at 2.30 today with the decision to hold rates. The bank's last move saw it go to 2 per cent at the May 2015 meeting.
Today’s decision to keep the cash rate unchanged came as no surprise.
Mortgage Choice chief executive officer John Flavell said today’s decision by the Board was ‘unsurprising’.
Tim Lawless, CoreLogic RP Data head of research, said there were plenty of reasons why the RBA may have contemplated cutting the cash rate today.
He noted however the housing market was playing out exactly as the RBA probably would have hoped:  losing steam without a collapse in values. 
"The last three months have seen capital city dwelling values drift 0.6% lower and capital city home values are up by only 0.7% over the past six months."
"The RBA probably doesn’t need to worry too much about over stimulating the housing market via another rate cut; mortgage rates are already higher than a year ago due to the higher capital requirements implemented by APRA and the pace of investment growth has fallen below APRA’s 10% speed limit imposed in December 2014.  
"With heat in the housing market no longer likely to be a major concern for the RBA, a major obstacle has been removed from preventing rate cuts and we may see the cash rate move lower later in the year," Lawless said.
Laing+Simmons managing director Leanne Pilkington said she hoped the banks follow the RBA’s lead and keep their rates steady too.
“Certainly there’s no genuine impetus for the majors to move independently, aside from greed,” she said.
 
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RBA holds interest rates at 2 percent at February 2016 meeting

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Property investors have been urged to conduct an annual property portfolio review to make sure they are getting the most from their property investment.
The financial services company Direct Property Network has posted a four stage procedure to ensure all portfolios are kept running like a "well-oiled machine".
Access further equity
One of the most advantageous features of investing in property is the fact that it's a direct route into further real estate investment. The equity you hold in your portfolio can be leveraged to borrow for another property, further growing this equity and continuing the cycle. By conducting an annual portfolio review, you'll know if you've built up sufficient equity in one or more of your assets in order to purchase another property, and can start putting your plans into motion.
Restructure your portfolio
Even if your portfolio as a whole is doing well, that doesn't mean every single property is performing to your preferred standard. One or more properties could be seeing stalled or even stagnating value growth, while others might not be delivering the same kind of rental revenue as they were before. Through an annual review, you'll be able to identify any potential issues before they become bigger problems, and gain insight into which properties you need to sell. 
Revise your finance
Any mortgage expert will tell you about the usefulness of re-examining your financial structuring. Refinancing a home loan to take advantage of recent interest rate cuts, for instance, can save you thousands of dollars. You can also restructure a mortgage to insulate yourself from changes in your financial circumstances, such as by splitting your home loan between a fixed and variable rate. The ultimate goal is to make sure your rental income continues to offset the expense of your own home mortgage, so incorporate this into your annual portfolio review.
Ensure you're on track
No one should start building a portfolio without a cohesive property investment plan in place. This plan should be based on a concrete goal or aim that you want to achieve through investing - saving for retirement, for instance, or making enough to open and run a particular business. Your annual review will let you see if you're still on track for meeting this goal and if not, why and how you can change course. If your goal was more tentative when you began, then this could be an opportunity to clarify it. 
No matter the reason you decide to start reviewing your portfolio on an annual basis, be sure to work with experienced professionals. Not only can they help you determine the next course of action to take, but they can also use their industry knowledge to measure and identify the true performance of your portfolio - often easier said than done.
For more information, <a href="https://www.directpropertynetwork.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Property 101: Top 4 reasons you need to carry out an annual portfolio review

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<h3>The RBA shadow group suggest that despite the turmoil in global markets, a rate hold is still the best policy.</h3>
People who invested in shares have not had a good start to the new year.
Global stock markets have seen falls of more than 15 percent in some places as investors worry about slow growth in China.
The Australian share market losses are slightly more modest but the Australian dollar has been caught in the maelstrom, temporarily trading as low as 69 US¢.
Unemployment is steady, while inflation in the December quarter edged up to 1.7 percent, from 1.5 percent in the previous quarter and remains below the RBA's target band of 2-3 percent.
Latest figures estimate GDP growth at 2.5% annualized, a slight improvement over the previous quarter.
 
What the CAMA RBA Shadow Board believe
 
The CAMA RBA Shadow Board on balance prefers to keep the cash rate on hold, attaching a 69% probability to this being the appropriate policy setting.
The confidence attached to a required rate cut equals 17%, down five percentage points from the previous month, while the confidence in a required rate hike has risen to 14%.
Australia’s unemployment, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, is steady at 5.8%.
Employment has barely budged, though there has been an increase in full-time employment accompanied by an offsetting decrease in part-time employment.
Even though the participation rate is down to 65.1%, the labour market, at least for moment, appears robust.
After pausing around the 72 US¢ for some time, the Aussie dollar has depreciated further, briefly falling to as low as 69 US¢.
It now trades above 70 US¢ again. A further weakening of the international and domestic economies may see the Aussie dollar decline further.
Yields on Australian 10-year government bonds have fallen again, most recently to 2.69%, pointing to weakness in the Australian economy.
Globally, the economic outlook is weakening. Even though the US Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate during its last FOMC meeting of 2015, the rest of the world is teetering.
Global share markets, led by China, suffered big losses in the opening weeks of the new year.
Increasingly cracks are showing in emerging market economies, following excessive debt levels and plummeting commodity prices.
Consequently, an estimated $740 billion (net) flowed out of emerging markets in 2015, most of it leaving China.
Further capital flight is likely, and there is a genuine risk that some countries and some financial institutions will be in serious financial difficulties.
Overall, global growth is likely to be sluggish, a view shared by the International Monetary Fund, which recently dropped its growth forecast for the world in 2016 from 3.6% to 3.4%.
Consumer and producer sentiment measures are pointing South.
The Westpac/Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell from 101 in December 2015 to 97.3 in January.
Business confidence, according to the NAB business survey, after a brief blip up, fell again from 5 to 3.
The AIG manufacturing and services indices, leading economic indicators, both fell.
The Shadow Board’s confidence that the cash rate should remain at its current level increased marginally, from 67% in December to 69%.
The confidence that a rate cut is appropriate has dropped for the second time in a row and now equals 17% (22% in December); the confidence that a rate increase, to 2.25% or higher, is necessary has risen to 14% (11% in December).
The probabilities at longer horizons are as follows: 6 months out, the estimated probability that the cash rate should remain at 2% is nearly unchanged at 24% (23% in December).
The estimated need for an interest rate increase is unchanged at 60%, while the need for a rate decrease has slipped to 16% (17% in December).
A year out, the Shadow Board members’ confidence that the cash rate should be held steady edged up a percentage point, from 18% to 19%, while the confidence in a required cash rate increase equals 66% (67% in December) and in a required cash rate decrease 16% (unchanged from December).
To access the comments made by the RBA Shadow board <a href="https://cama.crawford.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/outcome/attachments/2016-01/shadow_board_comments_february2016.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a>
 
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Turmoil in global markets causing headaches: RBA Shadow Board

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South Australia now has some of the strongest protections in the nation for victims of domestic violence who are renting their homes, under new laws coming into effect today.
Minister for Business Services and Consumers Susan Close said the amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act would help people leave violent relationships by making it easier for them to break rental agreements which might previously have prevented them from leaving an abusive partner.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and live free from violence and the safety of people who are experiencing, or who fear domestic violence, is critically important,” Dr Close said.
“These changes will allow victims to terminate leases on rental properties they share with abusive partners - without facing further financial penalties.
“Until now, laws did not allow victims who leave a rental property to take their name off a joint lease without the consent of the other tenant.
“Furthermore, victims were liable for damage caused to a property by an abusive partner, even after they had fled for their safety or the safety of their children.”
Changes coming into effect today include:
• Recognising domestic violence in South Australian tenancy legalisation.
• Allowing victims to either continue in the tenancy without the perpetrator, leave the tenancy and no longer be liable for the premises, or terminate the tenancy altogether.
• Empowering the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to determine that one or more, but not all, co-tenants are liable for compensation to the landlord.
• Prohibiting a victim’s personal information being listed on a Residential Tenancy Database where it is determined domestic violence has occurred.
“One in six Australian women has experienced physical or sexual assault by a current or former partner. For more than 60 percent of women who had experienced physical assault by a male perpetrator, the most recent incident was in their home,” Dr Close said.
“We want to ensure victims feel confident there are protections in place so they don’t face further disadvantage if they decide to leave a hostile environment.”
The State Government worked closely in preparing the amendments with victim groups and crisis services, SAPOL, the Real Estate Institute of South Australia, landlords, property owners and other government agencies such as Housing SA. 
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Property 101: SA domestic violence victims rental protection reform

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CoreLogic RP Data's senior research analyst Cameron Kusher has weighed into the Sydney property market decline debate through his twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/cmkusher" target="_blank">@cmkusher</a> by asking, why exactly is the fact that Sydney house prices are allegedly not booming any more a bad thing?
Sydney house prices have recorded a sharp decline over the last quarter with the fall marking the end of the Sydney property boom, according to figures released recently by Domain.com.au. 
Despite the property boom ending, Sydney and Melbourne are set to reclaim some of the losses record over the final quarter of 2015, according to CoreLogic RP Data's head of research Tim Lawless.
In preparation for the announcement on Monday, Lawless said Sydney will bounce half a percent higher over the first 27 days of January while dwelling values in Melbourne are likely to increase by around 2 percent by the months end.
He said that the month to date performance will help to offset the 2.3% fall in Sydney values recorded over the December quarter, while the higher growth rate in Melbourne should bring Australia’s second largest city back into positive growth territory on a rolling quarterly basis.
Although there will be higher index readings across the largest cities, Tim suggests it's likely that housing market conditions will track lower than what we saw over 2015.
Property Observer will keep you up to date with the home value index when it is released on Monday.
 
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Tweet of the day: Cameron Kusher on Sydney's possible bust 

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China’s slower growth figures have caused jitters in world financial markets. Nevertheless its growth remains at miracle levels. At this pace, China would appear to remain on track to become the richest and most powerful country in the world, bar none.
In a scenario where Chinese “miracle” growth continues around 5-6% for three decades and gradually slows to the average world growth rate, the average Chinese citizen would be as wealthy as the average American.
But ongoing Chinese growth miracle seems an unlikely outcome, when compared to the history of emerging economies. Instead, it is likely China will have to grapple with what is called the “middle income trap”. This is because China’s income level is currently at a level where many countries seem to stagnate.
<h2>The middle income trap</h2>
An example of this can be seen in the figure which charts per capita income for China, Turkey and Brazil as a percentage of the United States. It shows that, despite its remarkable growth, China’s income gap with the US has only reached the level that Brazil and Turkey had already achieved by the 1970s.
<a href="/images/2016/01/29/image-20160127-26778-1nykof.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/29/image-20160127-26778-1nykof.jpg" alt="">
Moreover it can be seen that, since the 1970s, Brazil and Turkey made practically no further ground in closing the gap with the US.
According to a 2012 World Bank report, this slow growth pattern is typical of middle income countries. Specifically, of 101 countries that were “middle income” in 1960, only 13 broke through the middle income band to become rich countries.
Thus, based on history there is a reasonable concern that China’s growth will slow to an extent that it stops catching up with the West. China would then begin to look like like Brazil or Turkey in the sense that per capita income remains well below Western levels and there is a constant threat of political and economic instability.
<h2>Causes of the middle income trap</h2>
Unfortunately we don’t know very much at all about why there appears to be a middle income trap.
The authors of the World Bank study who coined the term suggested it was due to rising wage costs that make exports less competitive.
It is true that wage increases can hurt some export sectors, but market forces prevent this happening for the economy as a whole. Thus wage growth cannot reduce an economy’s overall competitiveness.
Other explanations suggest the middle income trap results from too much investment in physical infrastructure at the expense of education and skills. Alternatively it could be a result of political failure.
But these are only descriptions of the symptoms – they don’t tell why so many countries have political failures or why so many countries over-invest in physical capital.
So while there are many descriptions of the middle income trap, there is no clear theory and hence there are no testable propositions. It remains an elusive statistical fact.
<h2>Traps versus bad luck and bad policy</h2>
The lack of a clear view about the causes of a middle income trap makes it difficult to know whether it is a pattern likely to continue in the future. In a recent study, therefore, we tried to get a better sense of the predictability of a middle income trap from a purely statistical viewpoint.
For example if, for any reason, a country was unable to change its growth rate, the growth rate would exhibit persistence over time. That is, if things got better by chance one year, there would be some market or political force that brings things back to trend.
Alternatively if some countries simply had a run of bad luck, or made some big policy mistakes, there may be little persistence in the data. The growth rate might display some randomness from one year to the next.
We therefore tested to see whether we could reject the hypothesis that the path of per capita income had followed a random trend for 47 middle income countries.
Thus in the previous figure one can see that there is apparently very little difference in the trend path of Brazil and Turkey – they have similar growth rates and growth variance. But, in fact, the statistical tests show that Turkey’s growth rate has persistence, but Brazil’s growth rate is random.
So despite the visual similarity, Brazil and Turkey have very different statistical properties.
We found that only seven countries show evidence of a persistent trend toward staying stuck in the middle like Turkey.
Of the rest of the countries, half had a trend that was random like Brazil. For most countries there was no evidence of a persistent trend toward the middle income band.
So only very few countries’ per capita income time paths are consistent with the pattern that we would expect to see if they were constrained to their current relative income level.
Although these results are descriptive, they could be taken as evidence against a structural reason for a middle income trap. That is, perhaps what appears to be a pattern of behaviour across many countries, is just the way things panned out.
So despite the bleak historical record, maybe good statesmanship, market friendly policies and bit of luck are all that is needed to sustain growth.
For China therefore, as a middle income country, the historical odds are against replicating the Japanese or South Korean economic miracle. Thankfully, however, the past need not be a good predictor of the future.
 
Peter Robertson is professor, University of Western Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-robertson-11950" target="_blank">here</a>.
Longfeng Ye is assistant researcher, University of Western Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/longfeng-ye-221938" target="_blank">here</a>.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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China's greatest challenge becoming rich and escaping the middle income trap

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The Sydney property boom of the past three years is over, with the harbour city now reporting a sharp decline in house prices over the last quarter. All other Australian capital cities have reported moderate to strong house price growth, except Perth and Darwin which both experienced weakening market activity  The key findings of the Domain.com.au December Rental Report are: 
<ul>
<li>Record drop in Sydney median house prices over the December quarter </li>
<li>Melbourne and Canberra record highest annual house price growth since 2009  </li>
<li>Adelaide, Hobart and Brisbane record stronger house price growth  </li>
<li>House price falls in Perth steadying, while Darwin housing market remains weak </li>
</ul>
Commenting on the report, Domain Senior Economist Dr Andrew Wilson, said:  “The higher mortgage interest rates initiated mid-year by financial regulators for both investors and owner-occupiers have demolished the previous booming markets of Sydney and Melbourne, whilst house prices continued to fall in Perth and Darwin as a consequence of the slowdown in the mining sector. “Other capital city markets, however, are now recording solid results, reflecting improving local economies and restored market confidence.” Sydney  Sydney median house prices fell by a dramatic 3.1 per cent over the December quarter – the first fall since June 2012 and the sharpest quarterly decline in house prices reported by the city on record. Despite the record fall over the December quarter, Sydney house prices increased by 14.8 per cent over 2015. Sydney’s median unit prices also fell steeply over the December quarter, dropping by 2.8 per cent to $655,845. It’s the first quarterly fall since March 2013 and again, the sharpest decline on record. However across the year, Sydney unit prices increased by 8.7 per cent. “The remarkable Sydney boom we’ve seen over the last three years is now clearly over, with the market unlikely to record any notable house prices growth until at least spring. While the median house price still remains above $1 million (at $1,013,258), if current trends continue it will likely fall below this benchmark by mid-year,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson.  Melbourne  The Melbourne median house price increased by 1.8 per cent over the December quarter, recording an annual growth of 14.5 per cent over 2015 – the highest annual result recorded by the city since the 2009 boom and reaching only 0.3 per cent behind Sydney. Melbourne unit prices increased by 1.3 per cent over the December quarter to $446,046 for an annual increase of 2.4 per cent. While a positive result overall, the annual percentage growth was considerably below the previous year’s result of 5.2 per cent.  “It’s good news for Melbourne home owners, with the city recording its highest annual growth since 2009. While quarterly growth rates have weakened sharply, the end-of-year results remained positive as local supply and demand drivers remain robust. Melbourne recorded a median house price of $719,486 over the quarter to remain the second highest priced capital city housing market, behind Sydney,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson. Brisbane  Brisbane house prices bounced back over the December quarter with the median house price increasing by 1.5 per cent to reach $511,361– up on the 0.7 per cent recorded over the previous quarter and the highest result for the year.  Brisbane unit prices fell again over the December quarter down by 1.1 per cent to $359,965.  Local unit prices were down by 5.3 per cent over 2015 – the sharpest decline in annual prices since 2000 – 15 years ago.  “It’s a positive result for Brisbane house owners, with the median house price recording its highest quarterly growth for the year.  “Unfortunately for unit owners, the record levels of new apartments continue to impact the Brisbane unit market, with supply clearly pushing ahead of demand. This has contributed to a fall in unit prices across the city,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson. Adelaide The Adelaide housing market reported another solid result over the December quarter with the median house price increasing by 1.8 per cent to $494,284. The Adelaide median house price increased by 6.7 per cent over 2015, its best annual result since 2007.  Adelaide unit prices increased strongly by 3.0 per cent over the December quarter to $310,090. Unit prices rose by 5.2 per cent over the year - the highest annual growth rate since 2008. “It’s a positive story for Adelaide home owners with the city recording  five consecutive quarters of house price growth for the first time since the boom period of 2010. With growth continuing at it’s current pace it is highly likely that the median house price will break through $500,000 by mid-year,”  said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson. Perth Perth house prices have been declining for four consecutive quarters but there may be some relief in sight, with the decline recorded this quarter at a marginal  0.8 per cent, for a median price of $585,369. The Perth median house price is now the lowest recorded by the city since the March quarter 2013, with prices falling by 4.5 per cent over 2015 – the sharpest annual decline since 2008. Perth unit prices rebounded over the December quarter rising by 1.5 per cent to a median of $388,834. Similar to house prices, Perth unit prices fell by 5.0 per cent over 2015 – the sharpest annual decline since 2011. “Although Perth’s median house price continues to fall as a result of the declining mining sector, it’s not all bad news. There are early signs suggesting that the rate of decline is moderating, as affordability improves and confidence recovers,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson. Hobart Hobart house prices increased strongly over the December quarter — up by 7.9 per cent to a median of $359,837 – the highest quarterly growth rate for over a decade. The December surge in house prices has resulted in an increase of 8.7 per cent over 2015 — the highest annual result for the local market since 2009.  Although Hobart unit prices fell by 3.3 per cent over the December quarter, they increased by 7.1 per cent over 2015 to a median of $268,401.  “The Hobart housing market delivered a strong result in the December quarter, especially given Hobart house prices have increased by just 5.8 per cent over the past 5 years. This indicates further potential for growth as the local economy improves and positive consumer sentiment builds,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson.  Canberra Canberra’s median house price increased by 4.3 per cent over the December quarter to $652,307 – its highest quarterly growth rate since December 2009. It’s a great result for the capital’s housing market, which has seen a median house price increase of  9.0 per cent overall in 2015. The Canberra unit market also experienced positive growth recording a modest increase of 0.8 per cent over the December quarter to reach a median unit price of $405,110. Despite December’s small rise, Canberra median unit prices fell by 2.2 per cent over 2015.  “A really good story in Canberra this quarter, with the local market continuing to rise after a subdued period of buyer activity. Canberra’s house price growth of 9.0 per cent over the year is behind only that of the Sydney and Melbourne markets and is the best local annual result since 2009. “The fall of unit prices across 2015 demonstrates the high levels of new apartment construction predictably moving supply ahead of demand in the Canberra market,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson.  Darwin Darwin house prices fell again over the December quarter, dropping by 2.0 per cent to reach $636,854.  Despite recent sharp falls, the Darwin median house price has fallen by just 1.0 per cent over the past year, an improvement on the previous year’s decline of 5.4 per cent. Darwin unit prices fell slightly over the December quarter — down by 0.4 per cent to reach a median of $407,132. Unit prices decreased by 2.0 per cent over 2015 which was an improvement on the previous year’s fall of 6.5 per cent.  “While the local economy remains strong, the Darwin housing market continues to be impacted by the decline in the resource economy and the end to the significant demand driver of the fly-in-fly-out mining workforce. Darwin unit prices are now the lowest since June 2012, reflecting the oversupply from record levels of apartment construction,” said Domain Senior Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson. 
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Melbourne almost overtakes as Sydney's three-year property boom is over: Domain's House Price Report

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Noma Australia is officially open.... and booked out.
The restaurant design has been unveiled by the developer Lendlease with key elements of the interior including a floor of red earth, two native Australian Xanthorrhoea trees and woven pieces by indigenous artisans.
With a kitchen fitted out to the highest specification,ï¿½Lendlease has partnered with Tourism Australia to bring Noma Australia to Barangaroo Sydney.ï¿½The cost of the menu was $485 per diner. <img src="/images/2016/01/27/IMG_5183.jpg" alt="" width="1469" height="1392"> 
The restaurant is located in Barangarooï¿½s Anadara building, with floor to ceiling curved glass windows and views of the harbourfront.ï¿½
Noma Australia spans over 500 square metres at ground level with dining room, outdoor lounge area and an extensive kitchen and prep area.
The kitchen remains entirely open to the entry and dining areas, allowing guests to move past the Noma chefs as they work.
Head of Retail Development and Asset Management for Lendlease, Gary Horwitz said that Lendlease prides itself on working with the best local and global retailers, and opening Noma at Barangaroo was just the beginning for Australiaï¿½s most exciting new food and beverage precinct.
ï¿½The restaurant that Lendlease has delivered for Noma Australia is breathtaking, acknowledging the designers, Foolscap Studios.ï¿½
Head chef Renï¿½ï¿½Redzepi said that being at Barangaroo has reminded him of Noma in Copenhagen, in terms of being on the harbour and the proximity to the water.ï¿½
Upon completion Barangaroo will be homeï¿½to up to 90 retailers ï¿½ mostly food and beverage ï¿½ from the smallest laneway bars and canteens, to grand spaces on the harbour including Matt Moranï¿½s three level restaurant and bar.
It was last July whenï¿½Rene Redzepiï¿½s pop-up NOMAï¿½eatery on the Barangaroo waterfront was revealed.
Briefly closing his Danish restaurant, the antipodean NOMA at Barangaroo will last for just 10 weeks.ï¿½Noma is the four-time winner of the The World's 50 Best Restaurants. 
<img src="/images/2016/01/27/CZm8j2-WcAAyRXS.jpg-small.jpeg" alt="">
ï¿½
Noma's current menu below:
ï¿½
ï¿½ Unripe macadamia and spanner crab
ï¿½ Wild seasonal berries flavoured with gubinge
ï¿½ Porridge of golden and desert oak wattleseed with saltbush
ï¿½ Seafood platter and crocodile fat
ï¿½ W.A deep sea snow crab and cured egg yolk
ï¿½ A pie with dried scallops and lantana flowers
ï¿½ BBQï¿½d milk ï¿½dumplingï¿½
ï¿½ Marron and magpie goose
ï¿½ Sea urchin &amp; tomato dried with pepper berries
ï¿½ Abalone schnitzel and bush condiments
ï¿½ Marinated fresh fruit
ï¿½ Rum lamington
ï¿½ Peanut milk and freekeh ï¿½Baytimeï¿½
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Inside Noma Australia, the newest Barangaroo restaurant

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It was a catamaran that make the biggest splash at the Ray White Surfers Paradise’s mega-auction event yesterday topping the sales list when sold at $3.1 million.
Currently moored in Perth, the boat Onde was secured by a Gold Coast buyer through Ray White Marine.
The seller was understood to be interests associated with Denby Roberts, the only daughter of late Multiplex founder John Roberts.
The 2005 vessel had an extensive luxury refit in 2010, Onde features seven double cabins all with en suite bathrooms.
With an open plan layout and a huge 8.5 metre beam, the main deck offers expansive indoor and outdoor spaces all with fabulous lounge and dining settings for guests.
The galley was built to accommodate all applications including private cruising as well as corporate or luxury chartering for up to 47 passengers.  Equipped with twin 3406E Caterpiller diesel engine, large generators and fuel and water tanks, Onde has an economical cruise of 10 to 12 knots and long range cruising capabilities. 
Ray White publicised the deal through their twitter handle <a href="https://twitter.com/RayWhiteSurfers" target="_blank">@RayWhiteSurfers</a>.
<a href="/images/2016/01/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-25%20at%209.27.48%20am.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/01/25/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-25%20at%209.27.48%20am.png" alt="" width="393" height="312"> 
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Tweet of the day: Boat sale tops The Event sales at $3.1 million

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GUEST OBSERVER
I hate to use the phrase but I love the Gold Coast lifestyle.
Not in any particular order but from the lack of traffic chaos, the awesome climate and the wonderful coastline, stunning hinterland and great places to eat.
The geography, location and natural landscape are right.
Nobby Beach is a family favourite, I love Burleigh and Currumbin beaches.
Inland you can’t beat time at Tamborine Mountain or Springbrook.
Then there is Paradise Point, Main Beach and The Spit, not forgetting the whole of the Broadwater/Jumpinpin and the place my family chooses to call home, Sanctuary Cove.
There’s great places to eat all over the coast now, some of the people aren’t bad either. 
For an area that started its growth in the 1960s/70s/80s so much of the architecture, let’s be honest, is pretty awful.
Luckily the past 15 years or so has seen real improvements in architectural styles whether it is an apartment building, single homes or the emerging townhouse/terrace type housing.
The Gold Coast grew from virtually nothing to over half-a-million in only four or five decades. This was fuelled by tourism, holiday homes and overseas home buyers and retirees.
Suddenly we have this substantial population — sixth in the country and no core industries or major sources of employment other than tourism which is great when the dollar is weaker as it is now, but that can create an almost never ending cycle of good and bad times.
Yes, boat building is back, but that again is an industry with highs and lows, so is construction. We need back-up plans for the inevitable quiet times of the future.
A hard task and I cannot offer any real solutions, but here is something political — sorry to the ‘no’ campaigners regarding the cruse ship terminal, but the latest offshore proposal to me is fantastic and an absolute must.
There is no doubt and it is very easy to define a market in recovery mode.
You review homes that sold at peak prices in previous years — that price then became unachievable for many years.
Only when the value of that same home has reached that former peak and moved slightly ahead can you be sure you are in recovery mode.
Right now across the Coast there are many homeowners that will happily confirm this.
So will we see growth? I believe so.
There’s good times ahead.
Andrew Winter writes columns for the News Ltd papers on real estate, with the <a href="https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/property-guru-andrew-winter-says-good-things-are-in-store-for-the-coast/news-story/87f5d24957cf797287434d1400f45330" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">comments taken from questions posed by the Gold Coast Bulletin on January 2</a>.
Andrew Winter is presenter, <a href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/selling-houses-australia/" target="_blank">Selling Houses Australia</a> presenter.
Andrew Winter says he's obsessed with houses. With 25 years experience in the property trade, he believes that if you haven’t sold your house within two months then you’re doing something wrong.
Starting his career in a real estate agency at the tender age of 17, Andrew sold his first home within a matter of months. He then went on to spend some years with a firm of Chartered Surveyors fine tuning his house selling skills, but combining it with inside knowledge of construction, structural issues, building faults and problems.
To further expand his career he made the move to Central London where he sold apartments and townhouses in the famous Baker Street and Regents Park areas. Whilst selling properties in the redeveloped Canary Wharf area in London and Kent, his career gained an added angle – he was chosen to present and research a new TV program about his favourite subject “Selling Houses”. Over the last eleven years the program has gone from strength to strength both in the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries worldwide.
Andrew and his family moved to Australia in 2005. 
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There's good times ahead: Andrew Winter

The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

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