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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The Victorian Liberals plan to oppose the introduction of a registration scheme for engineers is reckless and irresponsible. 
The Bill, currently before the Victorian Parliament would for the first time introduce a registration scheme for engineers in Victoria, ensuring only those properly qualified and accredited could undertake work.
The registration of engineers was an important first step in tackling the national crisis in the building and construction industry.
The Liberals plans to oppose the registration of engineers in Victoria, a measure that would begin to address the national crisis in construction, is reckless and irresponsible.
Just last week, independent research revealed the cost of repairing defects in residential apartments across Australia would cost a staggering $6.2 billion.
Liberal opposition could cost the State and consumers billions. They’ll fight for deregulation at any cost.
In Mordialloc, Victoria residents have just been advised that their apartments are no longer fit to occupy due to combustible cladding and significant fire risk.  
We now have legislation that begins to address the issues of shoddy workmanship and defective construction work and the Victorian Liberals oppose it.
Where is their commitment to helping the thousands of families who cannot live in apartments they’ve paid for, or face huge bills due to dodgy construction work and design?
Victoria is in the extraordinary position of having no registration scheme for engineers.
In Victoria, anyone can call themselves an engineer. Builders, electricians and plumbers all need to be registered but the people who design the buildings they construct do not. 
Construction workers who drive cranes, erect steel and build scaffold are required to have high risk licences to ensure site safety. Yet the Liberal Party doesn’t think engineers, who are crucial to site safety should be registered and accountable? They are again putting profits ahead of safety.
The failure to register engineers and the failure of government regulation in the building and construction industry more generally goes a long way to explaining why we now have a crisis that is bringing the sector to its knees.
It’s time for the Victorian Liberals to quit being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. Support the registration of engineers in Victoria now.
DAVE NOONAN is the CFMEU Construction and General Division National Secretary.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Registration scheme for engineers an important step to solve construction crisis: CMFEU's Dave Noonan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Plant extinctions have skyrocketed, driven in large part by land clearing and climate change. 
Earth is seeing an unprecedented loss of species, which some ecologists are calling a <a href="https://theconversation.com/earths-sixth-mass-extinction-has-begun-new-study-confirms-43432" target="_blank">sixth mass extinction</a>. In May, a <a href="https://www.ipbes.net" target="_blank">United Nations report</a> warned that 1 million species are threatened by extinction. More recently, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">571 plant species</a> were declared extinct.
But extinctions have occurred for as long as life has existed on Earth. The important question is, has the rate of extinction increased? Our research, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063" target="_blank">published today in Current Biology</a>, found some plants have been going extinct up to 350 times faster than the historical average – with devastating consequences for unique species.
Measuring the rate of extinction
“How many species are going extinct” is not an easy question to answer. To start, accurate data on contemporary extinctions are lacking from most parts of the world. And species are not evenly distributed – for example, Madagascar is home to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_of_Madagascar" target="_blank">around 12,000 plant species</a>, of which 80% are endemic (found nowhere else). England, meanwhile, is home to <a href="https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/England_Red_List_1.pdf">only 1,859 species</a>, of which 75 (just 4%) are endemic.
Areas like Madagascar, which have exceptional rates of biodiversity at severe risk from human destruction, are called “<a href="https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots" target="_blank">hotspots</a>”. Based purely on numbers, biodiversity hotspots are expected to lose more species to extinction than coldspots such as England.
But that doesn’t mean coldspots aren’t worth conserving – they tend to contain completely unique plants.
We are part of an international team that recently examined <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.063" target="_blank">291 modern plant extinctions</a> between biodiversity hot- and coldspots. We looked at the underlying causes of extinction, when they happened, and how unique the species were. Armed with this information, we asked how extinctions differ between biodiversity hot- and coldspots.
Unsurprisingly, we found hotspots to lose more species, faster, than coldspots. Agriculture and urbanisation were important drivers of plant extinctions in both hot- and coldspots, confirming the general belief that habitat destruction is the primary cause of most extinctions. Overall, herbaceous perennials such as grasses are particularly vulnerable to extinction.
However, coldspots stand to lose more uniqueness than hotspots. For example, seven coldspot extinctions led to the disappearance of seven genera, and in one instance, even a whole plant family. So clearly, coldspots also represent important reservoirs of unique biodiversity that need conservation.
We also show that recent extinction rates, at their peak, were 350 times higher than historical background extinction rates. Scientists have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534717300502" target="_blank">previously speculated</a> that modern plant extinctions will surpass background rates by several thousand times over the next 80 years.
So why are our estimates of plant extinction so low?
First, a lack of comprehensive data restricts inferences that can be made about modern extinctions. Second, plants are unique in – some of them live for an extraordinarily long time, and many can persist in low densities due to unique adaptations, such as being able to reproduce in the absence of partners.
Let’s consider a hypothetical situation where we only have five living individuals of Grandidier’s baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) left in the wild. These iconic trees of Madagascar are one of only nine living species of their genus and can live for hundreds of years. Therefore, a few individual trees may be able to “hang in there” (a situation commonly referred to as “extinction debt”) but will inevitably become extinct in the future.
Finally, declaring a plant extinct is challenging, simply because they’re often very difficult to spot, and we can’t be sure we’ve found the last living individuals. Indeed, a recent report found 431 plant species previously thought to be extinct have been <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">rediscovered</a>. So, real plant extinction rates and future extinctions are likely to far exceed current estimates.
There is no doubt that biodiversity loss, together with climate change, are some of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-a-lot-of-bad-news-in-the-un-global-environment-outlook-but-a-sustainable-future-is-still-possible-115137" target="_blank">biggest challenges faced by humanity</a>. Along with human-driven habitat destruction, the effects of climate change are expected to be particularly severe on plant biodiversity. Current <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0906-2" target="_blank">estimates</a> of plant extinctions are, without a doubt, gross underestimates.
However, the signs are crystal clear. If we were to condense the Earth’s 4.5-billion-year-old history into one calendar year, then life evolved somewhere in June, dinosaurs appeared somewhere around Christmas, and the Anthropocene starts within the last millisecond of New Year’s Eve. Modern plant extinction rates that exceed historical rates by hundreds of times over such a brief period will spell disaster for our planet’s future.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122255/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Jaco Le Roux, Associate Professor, Macquarie University; 
Florencia Yanelli, Researcher, Stellenbosch University; 
Heidi Hirsch, Postdoctoral research fellow, Stellenbosch University; 
José María Iriondo Alegría, Catedrático de universidad en el área de Botánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; 
Marcel Rejmánek, Emeritus professor, University of California, Davis 
Maria Loreto Castillo, PhD Candidate, Stellenbosch University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/plants-are-going-extinct-up-to-350-times-faster-than-the-historical-norm-122255" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Plants are going extinct up to 350 times faster than the historical norm

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
It’s a sellers’ market with low listing volumes putting them in an extremely comfortable position. 
There were very clear and consistent signs of recovery in the market and this turnaround, as well as further improvements in auction clearance results, could lead to an increase in volume.
This week’s preliminary clearance results in Sydney hit just below 85% and in Melbourne were just shy of 80%. 
However, at this stage it appeared, generally, sellers did not feel the rush to list their properties.
Clearance rates in the 80s put sellers in a very comfortable position.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/26/SYD%20MEL%20auction%20clearance.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/26/SYD%20MEL%20auction%20clearance.jpg" alt="">
We are also seeing, from the independent source of the Westpac-Melbourne Institute, significant improvements in consumer sentiment in relation to house price expectations and time to buy a dwelling indices.
In addition, when it comes to auction clearance rates in Sydney and Melbourne, we are seeing very clear signs of recovery.
The trend now is very clear with interim results in the 70s and 80s over the past four weeks and final clearance rates in the 70s for that period. 
This is significantly higher than the clearance rate in the mid 50s a year ago in those capital cities.
A combination of the election results, RBA interest rate cuts with at least one further cut on the horizon, APRA's changes to the floor assessment and tax cuts delivering more funds to households, all contributed to the confidence in the market and, consequently, for higher clearance rates that were also well connected with higher prices. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/26/Westpac%20HPE%20index.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/26/Westpac%20HPE%20index.jpg" alt="">
The recent auction clearance rates and improved consumer confidence are creating a very clear trend, that will consequently lead to price increases and a rise in volumes, as sellers expect stronger demand for their properties and, therefore, are more confident to put them on the market.
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Basically, what we are seeing is improving confidence, improving clearance rates and improving prices.
In fact, according to CoreLogic data, <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/reports/chart-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">in July 2019, dwelling values increased across all capital cities except for Adelaide, Perth and Canberra</a>.
This shows that sellers are in a good position, they see improvement in the market, and they are in control of what happens next.
Generally, both Sydney and Melbourne are performing really well, especially Sydney in recent weeks.
The key thing we are seeing is very consistent and strong results, particularly, but not only, in the high end of market.
In fact, the high end of the market continues to lead the way with extremely strong results in Northern Sydney and Hornsby (91.9%), Sydney Inner West (89.3%) and Northern Beaches (92.6%).
In Melbourne, both Inner Melbourne and Inner East delivered 82.8% and the Inner South 80.5%.
This is a good trend and with the recent rate cuts by the RBA, the high likelihood of another this year, and potentially one in first half of 2020, this are looking extremely positive.
Demand for housing and housing finance are also showing very clear signs of improvement.
With the interest rate falls and recent changes in the floor assessment, combined with serious competition between banks and non-banks making it easier for borrowers, particularly owner-occupiers to refinance and reduce mortgage repayments, there’s negative pressure to sell because vendors see the market recovering.
Often people think if there is low volume, the market it poor and high volume means it’s strong, but that's not necessarily the case. It really depends on the context.
DORON PELEG is CEO of RiskWise Property Research.
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Strong auction results and low listing volumes mean sellers hold the power: Riskwise's Doron Peleg

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In the absence of federal policy, states are pursing their own renewable targets.
Australia’s primary federal renewable energy target – to have <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/government/renewable-energy-target-scheme" target="_blank">33 terawatts of renewable energy by 2020</a> – has essentially been achieved. There is much uncertainty as to what is next.
In the absence of a new national target, the states have been leading the way and <a href="https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resources/project-tracker" target="_blank">driving renewable energy</a> in Australia. Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland between them have invested some A$20 billion into building 11,400 megawatts of generation capacity.
While the states have worked admirably to advance renewable energy – and federal energy policy has long been politically toxic – there is a clear cost to pursuing many fragmented policies instead of a unified vision.
Our research, modelling the effect of state versus national renewable energy targets in the National Energy Market system found there was little difference in the overall cost, but that states without strong renewable targets tended to miss out on investment.
We need national thinking
<a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/9a3734e82574546679510bdc99d57847.pdf" target="_blank">Most jurisdictions</a> have net zero emissions targets by 2050. States also have ambitious but achievable shorter-term renewable energy targets and programs.
There are plenty of arguments for states pursuing their own renewable energy targets, not least because they can fill the policy vacuum left at the national level.
States are responding to the immediate need to replace retiring power stations and can explore innovation with greater ambition. It makes perfect sense for states to compete to attract jobs and investment.
But Australia’s federal government has a <a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement" target="_blank">domestic and international obligation</a> to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. National policies are more efficient, can harness better resources across our diverse geography and maximise returns for the whole system.
What’s more – as many column inches have pointed out – strong federal policy improves investment certainty and reliability, lowering the cost of inevitable infrastructure upgrades. And those upgrades can be better integrated into our existing national electricity system if the building (and money) doesn’t stop at internal borders.
To provide some insight and help move the debate forward, the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the <a href="https://www.energy-transition-hub.org/" target="_blank">Australian-German Energy Transition Hub</a> have collaborated on research that was presented at an <a href="https://www.wemcouncil.org/wp/icem/" target="_blank">international conference</a> in Denmark earlier this year.
Quantifying the difference
We simulated two scenarios: first, that all states implement polices to achieve their respective renewable energy and net zero emissions targets by 2050.
The second scenario assumed a national target would be used to result in the “same outcome” of 100% renewable energy by 2050.
The model calculates required energy investments with 5-year increments from today to 2050, including considering the existing generation currently operating. The model simultaneously optimises the mix of generation, transmission and storage to minimise the total system cost from 2020 to 2050.
A key difference in results is where and when new generation is built. Under the state-driven approach, unsurprisingly, investment shifts towards states with more ambitious targets.
The two figures below show how state-based targets drive more investment into Queensland than would be the case under a national target scheme.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286465/original/file-20190731-186819-1j9zsem.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286465/original/file-20190731-186819-1j9zsem.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Spatial distribution of renewable generation)
Broadly speaking, under a national target, we see more efficient use of renewable energy and associated resources. NSW – with net zero 2050 target but no interim renewable energy target – would get a greater share of the renewable energy investment.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286469/original/file-20190731-186814-1rk0hzu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286469/original/file-20190731-186814-1rk0hzu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Change in energy generation %)
NSW would consistently see substantially more investment under a national target scheme. This would be around 20% more generation in the 2030s in NSW, and up to 20 terawatt-hours more energy generated in the years 2030 to 2045.
The rollout of “where and when” to build new renewable and other generation to replace ageing fossil fuel power plants also impacts heavily on the sequencing and timing for major transmission upgrades across the NEM – especially interconnectors between states.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286470/original/file-20190731-186792-142o7z3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286470/original/file-20190731-186792-142o7z3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Transmission networks modeled)
The graph shows that under a state target based approach we build more transmission infrastructure earlier than under a national approach. Under a national target approach, we would end up building more transmission infrastructure – albeit later.
Again, broadly speaking, we would build more generation at renewable energy resource-rich areas such as NSW which happen to be near major demand centres like cities. This would delay the need for some infrastructure spend.
What about system reliability and energy costs?
The good news is it appears under either a state-based or a national target approach the outcome in 2050 is similar. The difference in total system costs is only about 1% higher in the state-based targets scenario – so, virtually nothing.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286460/original/file-20190731-186797-1csnld1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286460/original/file-20190731-186797-1csnld1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
(Evolution of electricity generation – total system)
State-based renewable energy targets lead to redistribution of renewable investments in favour of the states with a mid-term renewable energy target.
In the Australian context, the current state-based renewable energy targets have no impact on undermining power system reliability and virtually negligible impact on pushing up power prices.
Perhaps NSW should take particular note – as it would appear that it would benefit greatly from either a national target approach or an interim state target for itself.
The debate about state versus national approaches to energy policy has been going for the past 30 years and no doubt will be around for another 30. In the meantime, we need a stronger hand on the transition tiller or we will waste precious resources and time, and likely have major unintended consequences.
Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne. 
Changlong Wang, Researcher, The Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne. 
Roger Dargaville, Senior lecturer, Monash University.
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-need-a-national-renewables-approach-or-some-states-like-nsw-will-miss-out-121192" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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We need a national renewables approach, or some states will miss out

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Sydney’s newest residential tower will rise 270 metres, comprising 80-storeys much of it serviced apartments.
It is so tall it will need approval Aeronautical Impact Assessment approvals.
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As it penetrates Sydney Airport’s Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS), the infringement triggers a requirement, under the Airports (Protection of Airspace Regulations 1996 (APAR), to need approval for the development from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development (DITCRD).
It will need to see if it can affect the safety, regularity or efficiency of aircraft operations at Sydney Airport.
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The Ingenhoven and Architectus scheme proposes a super-slim skyscraper sitting atop a podium that incorporates several levels of retail, two childcare centres and the Event Cinemas which is subject to a long-term lease. 
It will be the tallest residential building in Sydney. China’s state-owned Greenland tower on the old Sydney Water Board building will be 235m high.
Ingenhoven + Architectus beat off design competition entrants such as Bates Smart, Foster + Partners and WilkinsonEyre.
Their $567 million estimated cost came in nearly $14 million cheaper than their nearest competitor. 
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The design proposed by Ingenhoven + Architectus aimed to be a landmark for economical, ecological and socially sustainable future-orientated development.
An ‘energy façade’ was proposed with slanted horizontal elements and exposed structural columns to provide sun shading and act as potential hybrid solar collectors.
Its sustainability endeavours also include electric vehicle charging for 5% of car spaces on completion, with capacity to increase over time to reflect the car fleets of the future. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/28/George%20Street%20Cinema%20entrance.jpg" alt="">
The George Street frontage (above) was proposed to consist of retail tenancies and a central entrance to the curvilinear through-site link to the building lobbies and Kent Street (below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/28/Kent%20Street%20frontage.jpg" alt="">
The developers secured approval for added height from the City of Sydney in 2014, well above the site’s existing 150 metre limit, after promising community benefits including two childcare centres and a community meeting facility.
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The cinema was constructed in 1976 as the Hoyts Cinema.
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<source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-960.webp" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-960.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-720.webp" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-720.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-640.webp" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-640.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-480.webp" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-480.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-240.webp" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-240.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-120.webp" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1-120.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/jpg"></source><img src="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/raw/images/99b3f764-4ec4-4f45-b9e4-7a403fd6dea1.jpg" alt="Düsseldorf-based firm Ingenhoven and Architectus will design the $1 billion George Street super-slim skyscraper at 505-523 George Street."><div> </div>
<div>Mirvac and Coombes Property Group are the joint developers.</div>
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Coombes Property Group acquired the 4,308sq m site in 2009 from Challenger Financial Services for $85 million.
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<source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-960.webp" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-960.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 721px) 960px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-720.webp" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-720.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 641px) 720px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-640.webp" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-640.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 481px) 640px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-480.webp" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-480.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 241px) 480px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-240.webp" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-240.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 121px) 240px" type="image/jpg"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-120.webp" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/webp"></source><source srcset="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/assets/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d-120.jpeg" sizes="(min-width: 120px) 120px" type="image/jpg"></source><img src="https://media.theurbandeveloper.com/raw/images/353e5cc5-286f-44e5-88a7-dc95ec02918d.jpg" alt="The mixed-use tower will rise 80-storeys and will include a hotel, units, two childcare centres, retail outlets and a cinema. "><div> </div>
<div>Construction is expected to take five years with construction likely to commence in 2020 subject to council approval.</div>
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Its 507 apartments include 55 studio, 144 one bedroom, 224 two bedroom and 84 three bedroom apartments.
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270 metre tall Event Cinema, George Street tower needs Aeronautical Impact approval

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Construction giant Icon claims it has spent $24 million since the evacuation of the Opal Tower skyscraper last December.
Fifteen owners are still locked out of their Sydney Olympic Park apartments as the cracking repairs continue.
One owner sold the worst affected apartment to Icon on the 10th floor.
Icon was the company that built the tower which was completed in August last year.
Icon told the ABC the Opal Tower event was insurable, however it did not reveal how much of the $24 million it was planning to claim.
The amount includes money spent on housing residents in temporary accommodation.
The ABC reported Icon's NSW business reported $163 million in revenue for 2018, down from the $335 million in 2017.
It reported a $1.63 million net profit in 2018, down from $6.8 million in 2017.
An Icon spokesperson said the company's approach to Opal Tower since the Christmas Eve evacuation "cannot be questioned".
"[This is] all without admission of liability," a company spokesperson told the ABC.
Domain recently reported Sydney Olympic Park apartment sales in the suburb have dropped 85 per cent in the six months to June compared to the same time last year.<iframe title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/nsw_3" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="1" height="1" data-google-container-id="7" data-load-complete="true" data-integralas-id-7d0c1289-2a86-1366-5f35-e19975ab98cf=""></iframe> 
Across Sydney, buyers interest in new apartments has slipped, with views per listing for new apartments down 9 per cent in the first half of 2019.
Agents noted the Opal Tower event had tarred the entire suburb.
“Sydney Olympic Park has been affected because [buyers] think the entire park is a problem, not a particular building,” one agent said.
 “They’re all looking for that one word … [asking] is Icon the builder?”
McGrath agent John McManus, who is selling an apartment in Sydney Olympic Park, said buyers were skeptical about all new builds. 
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Builder Icon spends $24 million after Opal Tower cracking

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Chinese owned Union Agriculture's Mount Falcon Station in south-east NSW has hit the market.
It has been listed by Angus Macleod from Colliers International with $13.5 million to $15 million hopes. 
It was once owned by internet entrepreneur Sean Howard.
Situated in the Upper Murray region, the cattle property at Tooma, NSW comprises 2800 hectares of productive country near the Snowy Mountains.
It features high rainfall of 750mm per annum, fencing, infrastructure and manager's residence. 
Mount Falcon is currently run as a commercial beef operation with an approximate carrying capacity of 20,000 to 23,000 dry sheep equivalents.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/26/tooma%202.jpg" alt="">
The farm breeds F1 wagyu and the herd will be offered for sale to the potential buyer separately.
It has been owned by the Chinese investment group since 2011.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/26/tooma%203.jpg" alt="">
The property has been scheduled to go under the hammer on September 5.  
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Chinese owned beef farm Mount Falcon Station listed

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Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) will refund over $8 million in consumer credit insurance (CCI) premiums and fees including interest to more than 15,000 consumers.
This follows ASIC’s review of the sale of CCI by lenders in Report 622 Consumer credit insurance: Poor value products and harmful sales practices, and forms part of ASIC’s broader priority to address harms and unfair practices impacting consumers in insurance.
Allianz’s refund relates to the sale of cover to consumers who were ineligible to make a claim for unemployment or disability, the sale of death cover to customers under 21 years of age who were unlikely to need that cover, and the charging of fees to customers who paid premiums by the month without adequate disclosure.
The remediation program covers certain CCI products issued by Allianz including mortgage and loan protection policies sold through financial institutions. These CCI products provided cover against the risk of consumers being unable to meet loan commitments because of death, injury, illness or involuntary unemployment.
To address these issues, Allianz will,
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<li>for ineligible sales of unemployment and disability cover,</li>
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<li>refund premiums charged plus interest for active, cancelled or lapsed policies sold between 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2018;</li>
<li>reassess all withdrawn and declined claims where the consumer was ineligible for the policy at the time of sale;</li>
<li>invite consumers to submit a claim if they have not already done so and pay valid claims plus interest; and</li>
<li>continue to honour active policies and not rely on employment eligibility criteria as a basis to decline an unemployment or disability claim;</li>
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<li>for sales of death cover to customers under 21 years of age,</li>
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<li>refund all premiums charged plus interest for active, cancelled or lapsed policies sold between 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2018; and</li>
<li>preserve existing death cover for active policyholders on current terms without charging for it;</li>
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<li>for monthly policy payment customers,</li>
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<li>refund all administration fees and loading charged plus interest; and</li>
<li>correct any future direct debit amounts.</li>
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ASIC Commissioner Sean Hughes said, ‘Disappointingly, our work on the sale of CCI has highlighted widespread mis-selling and poor product design. This remediation outcome is only one of many examples where CCI has failed consumers. We expect insurers to cease to sell insurance products that provide little or no value.’
‘We need a financial system that is fair. Insurers and other financial institutions need to rise to the challenge and embed the principle of fairness into their businesses to ensure we do not see any further instances of this kind of poor value product being pushed on to consumers’ added Mr Hughes.
Allianz will stop issuing new CCI policies from 30 September 2019. It will continue to fulfil its obligations to existing CCI policyholders. 
Allianz is expected to write to all affected consumers about their refund offer from October 2019. Consumers with questions about their cover should contact Allianz by email at <a href="mailto:here_to_help@allianz.com.au" target="_blank">here_to_help@allianz.com.au</a>.
<h2>Background</h2>
ASIC’s recent review of the sale of CCI has resulted in refunds of over $100 million due to more than 300,000 affected consumers. On 11 July 2019, we released Report 622 Consumer credit insurance: Poor value products and harmful sales practices (REP 622) detailing our findings and setting minimum standards for lenders and insurers who issue or sell CCI.
ASIC is currently consulting on a proposal to ban the sale of CCI and direct life insurance through unsolicited telephone calls. The proposed ban aims to address unfair sales conduct and protect consumers from being sold products that they do not need, want or understand.
ASIC has also commenced investigations into a number of entities that have been involved in mis-selling CCI to consumers.
Separately, in 2018, Allianz refunded $45.6 million to 68,000 consumers for add-on insurance sold through car dealerships that were of little or no value.
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ASIC prompts Allianz to refund over $8 million in consumer credit insurance premiums

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Burnside, the Scone district farm, sold at its recent auction for $1.25 million.
The 220 ha Upper Dartbrook property, some 15 minutes from Scone, sits in a valley suitable for cattle and horses.
The property is subdivided into seven paddocks.  
With well drained alluvial soils, the flats flanking the Dartbrook Creek were marketed by McCallum Inglis as ideal for irrigation pursuit.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/27/scone%202.jpg" alt="">
The house set in an elevated position overlooking the creek, comprises two bedrooms, with enclosed verandas. There is also an adjoining two bedroom cottage.
Last year the clip for a music single called "Shout the land a drink" was filmed in Upper Dartbrook. It was the brainchild of Golden Guitar winner Matt Scullion and performed by "The Hay Balers," with all profits going to drought stricken farming communities across NSW. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/27/scone%203.jpg" alt="">
 
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Burnside, Scone farm sold

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The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) has reduced the banning period for former mortgage broker, Michael Wilkins, from three years to 18 months.
Mr Wilkins of Watanobbi, NSW, was banned by ASIC, from providing financial services for three years on 31 January 2018. 
The ASIC delegate had found that Mr Wilkins had acted dishonestly and/or improperly towards clients by completing loan application forms on behalf of clients, having clients sign incomplete forms, and hiding from Westpac that the loans were for self-managed superannuation funds.
The ASIC delegate found that Mr Wilkins had put information in the loan applications submitted to Westpac that was ‘false in a material particular’, and that on five occasions in June and July 2010, Mr Wilkins submitted loan applications on behalf of clients in which he deliberately overstated their savings by between approximately $130,000 and $179,000.
Mr Wilkins sought a review of ASIC’s decision in the Tribunal and a decision was delivered on 22 August 2019.
The Tribunal accepted ASIC's contention that the applicant had put information that was ‘false in a material particular’ in loan documents submitted to Westpac but found that there was insufficient evidence to make a finding of dishonesty in relation to client forms or the nature of the loans.
For this reason, the Tribunal concluded that a shorter banning order was justified.
When deciding that an 18-month banning order was appropriate, the Tribunal stated ‘the declarations of accuracy and completeness required in standard form loan applications of major financial institutions (and other credit providers) may appear formulaic and routine. But they mean what they say.
Any significant failure to appreciate that reality, and to observe the requirement of scrupulous honesty underlying it, is likely to merit the sanction of a banning order. That sanction is appropriate in Mr Wilkins’ circumstances.’
 
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AAT reduces banning period for Michael Wilkins NSW mortgage broker

One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

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Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

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