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GUEST OBSERVATION
Coalition minister Angus Taylor is under scrutiny for possibly intervening in the clearing of grasslands in the southern highlands of New South Wales. Leaving aside the political dimensions, it’s worth asking: why do these grasslands matter?
The grasslands in much of eastern Australia are the result of forests and woodlands cleared to “improve” the landscape (from a grazier’s point of view) to make it suitable for grazing livestock.
The “improvement” typically entails cutting trees, burning the felled timber and uprooting tree stumps, followed by ploughing, fertilising and sowing introduced grasses that are more palatable to livestock than many native grasses.
However, largely treeless native grasslands once occurred at high elevations across much of the Monaro tableland, in the area stretching between Canberra and Bombala.
The Monaro grasslands (or in scientific speak, the <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/conservation-advices/natural-temperate-grassland-southern-tablelands" target="_blank">natural temperate grassland of the Southern Tablelands</a>) are in relatively dry and cold areas, particularly in upland valleys or frost hollows where cold air descends at night.
The combination of dry climate and cold restricts tree growth and instead has encouraged grasses and herbs. Native grasses such as kangaroo grass and poa tussock dominate the grasslands, but there are many other unique plants. A typical undisturbed grassland area will support 10-20 species of native grasses and 40 or more non-grass species.
The grassy plains are also home to unique cold-adapted reptiles such as the grass-land earless dragon, little whip snake, pink-tailed worm lizard and striped legless lizards. This combination of plants and animals create a unique ecological community.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286192/original/file-20190730-43136-1v4usvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286192/original/file-20190730-43136-1v4usvm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Striped legless lizards may resemble a snake, but most of its body is actually tail. It has vestigial limbs and a non-forked tongue. Benjamint444/Wikipedia, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-NC-SA</a>
A fraction remain
It is estimated <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2007.00363" target="_blank">only 0.5%</a> of the area that would once have been natural temperate grasslands in the Southern Tablelands remains. The rest has been gradually “improved” <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11035501?selectedversion=NBD25432907" target="_blank">since the mid-nineteenth century</a> to make them more productive for livestock grazing.
Livestock dramatically change the composition of grasslands, as animals remove palatable plants and compact the soil under their weight. Disturbed soil and the livestock also help to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11035501?selectedversion=NBD25432907">spread non-native weeds</a>.
However, most native grasslands have not just been modified by grazing but completely replaced by man-made pastures. That is, the land has been ploughed, fertilised and the seeds of introduced grasses have been planted.
These changes to the landscape mean much of the landscape is dominated by introduced plants and is now unsuitable for many of the native plants and animals that once lived and grew there.
Because the Natural Temperate Grassland of the Southern Tablelands is now so rare it is <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=20260" target="_blank">classified as critically endangered and federally protected</a>. Furthermore, many of the <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/conservation-advices/natural-temperate-grassland-southern-tablelands" target="_blank">distinct plants and animals</a> that still live in these grasslands are classified as vulnerable or endangered.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286193/original/file-20190730-186833-i4fw9q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286193/original/file-20190730-186833-i4fw9q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The pink-tailed worm lizard is one of the rare species living in the native grasslands of the Southern Tablelands. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pink-tailed_Worm-lizard_(Aprasia_parapulchella)_(9106371285).jpg" target="_blank">Matt Clancy/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA</a>
Some of the best remaining examples of the Monaro grasslands can be found in old cemeteries and in areas set aside as public livestock grazing areas. These areas of public land have often been spared from pasture improvement or only lightly grazed, and thus now support relatively intact native grassland ecosystems.
While, to the untrained eye the Monaro grasslands may seem unremarkable and difficult to distinguish from grazing pastures, they are deeply important. They show us what Australia once looked like, and act as a haven for native biodiversity.
Indeed, what remains of the natural grasslands is now so disturbed by agriculture there is a real threat this distinctive ecological community and many of the species it contains may disappear altogether, if they are not protected from excessive grazing, fertilisers and the plough.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121181/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW
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/what-are-native-grasslands-and-why-do-they-matter-121181" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

What are native grasslands, and why do they matter?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
As the dramatic shutdown of major recycling company SKM this week has illustrated, recycling is not free.
Householders in Australia pay council rates for a recycling and garbage service. This fee is largely based on the costs of collecting, sorting and processing, and – importantly – what returns are likely from selling the end product.
However, since 2017 the price on the open market for mixed plastics has <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Business/Investment-facilitation/Recovered-resources-market-bulletin" target="_blank">plummeted</a> from about A$325 per tonne to A$100 per tonne. Mixed glass actually dropped to a negative value, which meant that generators were potentially paying for it to be taken away.
On the other hand, prices for high-quality recycling (not mixed materials or items contaminated with food, for example) largely remained the same or <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/Business/Investment-facilitation/Recovered-resources-market-bulletin" target="_blank">slightly increased</a>.
This shows the market for low-quality, poorly sorted recycling, which Australia has <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-what-happens-to-our-plastic-recycling-when-it-goes-offshore-110356" target="_blank">previously</a> offloaded to China and other Southeast Asian countries, is ending.
Unless we improve our recycling industry, we must start sending more recyclable material to landfill – as is <a href="https://www.standard.net.au/story/6301694/recycling-in-landfill-following-processor-shutdown-council-confirms/" target="_blank">happening now in some Victoria councils</a>.
So what can we do about it?
Reduce first
Reduction, fundamentally, comes before recycling. We <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-recycle-our-way-to-zero-waste-78598" target="_blank">need to avoid waste to begin with</a>, in our homes and businesses.
As consumers, we should be vocal about seemingly contradictory practices by businesses. For example, supermarkets congratulate themselves on reducing plastic bags, but then use small plastic toys as marketing tools – not even making them out of recycled plastic. These toys are destined for disposal, potentially contaminating recycling streams, and <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/coles-and-woolworths-in-plastic-toy-promo-wars" target="_blank">not all consumers are happy</a>.
Throw out recycling properly
It’s tempting, if you don’t know whether something is recyclable, to simply put it in the yellow bin and assume someone on the other end will “sort it out”. But in reality, incorrectly recycled material can contaminate entire loads of otherwise valuable and useful recyclables, diverting it to landfill.
Councils blame the recyclers for this, who blame the councils. Everyone blames state governments, and they in turn blame the recyclers.
Fundamentally though, we as the generators of waste must assume a high degree of responsibility. We are the ones putting contaminants into the recycling system that everyone else in the management structure must deal with.
It’s our job to familiarise ourselves with what can and cannot be recycled – although, to be fair, this can vary widely from council to council, and should be made easier to check.
If we can clean up the recycling streams, markets should increase and prices for these commodities will similarly rise. This encourages those in the sector to <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-recycling-plants-have-no-incentive-to-improve-81336" target="_blank">improve their plant technology</a>, and for others to enter in what would then be a more competitive market.
Develop the industry
Clean recycling still requires an established market to be profitable. Governments, as the single largest purchasers in Australia, can play an important role here.
The Victorian government has already <a href="https://www.governmentnews.com.au/victorian-government-moves-on-green-procurement/" target="_blank">committed</a> to helping government agencies increase recycled content in their purchasing requirements. Other governments are doing <a href="https://www.governmentnews.com.au/governments-should-buy-recycled-material-inquiry/" target="_blank">likewise</a> and this is a very positive step.
At a minimum, contracts and tenders should specify a certain level of recycled materials used in products sold to the government, or prefer those suppliers who do have recycled content.
One innovative approach where governments can use their purchasing power is with the use of plastic and glass recyclables in roads. Trials have been extremely positive.
In fact, the Australian Council of Recycling has <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/italian/en/article/2019/05/09/call-government-use-recycled-content-build-infrastructure" target="_blank">suggested</a> that using recycled material in construction for the Snowy 2.0 scheme would consume all the recyclables generated in Australia.
We need to chew and walk gum
The most important message is, just as there’s no single person or sector to blame for Australia’s dismal recycling situation, there’s no single solution. We all need to take more care with what we put in the bin. Governments around Australia should incentivise local manufacturers to use domestic recycling.
Recycling companies should certainly improve their technology so they can produce higher-quality material, which can be sold at a profit.
And, as the current SKM debacle illustrates, governments need a plan B when the market breaks down.
Even with all of this, a sustainable domestic recycling industry is some way off. We urgently need to start doing the things we already know will work, rather than playing endless rounds of a pointless blame game.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121241/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Trevor Thornton, Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin 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/dont-just-blame-government-and-business-for-the-recycling-crisis-it-begins-with-us-121241" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Don’t just blame government and business for the recycling crisis – it begins with us

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<div class="column">The CPI was 0.6% in the June quarter compared to the market median (and Westpac’s) forecast for 0.5%. The annual rate lifted to 1.6% from 1.3%.</div>
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<div class="column">The average of the core measures, which are seasonally adjusted and exclude extreme moves, rose 0.4% in the June quarter/1.4% over the year. In the quarter, the trimmed mean gained 0.42% while the weighted median lifted 0.37%.</div>
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 Incorporating revisions, the six month annualised growth in core inflation was flat at 1.3% over the year well below the bottom of the RBA target band and the slowest pace since March 1999.</div>
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 Standouts in the quarter were: on the positive or high side of expectations, clothing &amp; footwear which suggests we are starting see some impact from the AUD depreciation, stronger transports cost which was not just due to a jump in fuel prices but also a surprising 1.4% bump in automotive prices while the seasonal fall in pharmaceuticals was smaller than the historical norm.</div>
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/1/CPI.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: </div>
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<div class="column">Source: Westpac</div>
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 Prices that fell or where on the low side of expectations – tobacco prices surprised with a fall, housing was flat on falling house purchases and utilities, household contents fell more than expected while health rose less than expected and recreation fell more than expected.</div>
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 Food prices fell as expected, with falling fruit &amp; vegetable prices more than offsetting rising prices elsewhere. For now, the impact of the drought has been limited but we are watching this space closely as it extends in length and depth.</div>
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 It is worth noting the lack of inflationary pulse in housing. Overall housing costs fell a little more than expected as falling dwelling prices combined with falling electricity prices and flat rents. This moderation in housing costs is central to our outlook for low non- tradable and core inflation.</div>
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 In nine of the ten quarters to the 2019 Q1, inflation forecasters overestimated the quarterly rise in the CPI by 0.12ppts. Including Q2 analysts’ have now underestimated the quarterly print for the CPI in two quarters of the last three quarters. This suggests that the disinflationary pulse may be fading, if not coming to an end.</div>
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<div class="column">Source: Westpac</div>
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 There are still some embryonic indicators that retail, in particularly clothing &amp; footwear, furniture &amp; appliances as well as motor vehicles, are turning modestly inflationary due to the AUD depreciation.</div>
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 However, housing has a significant weight in the CPI (22%) so it has a meaningful impact on both headline and core inflation. As such, it is hard to find any near- term risk of a meaningful acceleration in inflation.</div>
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 Our preliminary estimate for Q3 CPI is 0.4% in the quarter/1.6% over the year for headline and 0.3% in the quarter/1.5% over the year for the trimmed mean.</div>
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Waiting for Godot has ended its long run
In the December quarter 2018, for the first time in two year the quarterly rise in the CPI exceeded market expectations. However, the first quarter of 2019 saw a return of a disinflationary pulse with the CPI print coming in under expectations with a flat print. 
Then it was reversed again in the June quarter with the CPI rising 0.6% vs. a median expectation for 0.5%.
 Including Q2 analysts’ have now underestimated the quarterly print for the CPI in two quarters of the last three quarters. This suggests that the disinflationary pulse may be fading, if not coming to an end.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/1/contributions.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
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ABS confirms June quarter negative seasonality
As noted in our preview the June quarter 2019 was expected to be a seasonally soft quarter. 
However, on the estimates from the March quarter the estimated seasonal adjustment was +0.2ppt. 
In the June quarter release the seasonally adjusted CPI rose 0.7% so the seasonal adjustment factor was a smaller 0.1ppt. 
Revisions to the seasonal factors are a regular occurrence with the ABS conducting concurrent seasonal reanalysis.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/1/seasonality.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
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For core inflation, the trimmed mean lifted 0.4% in the quarter
The average of the core measures, which are seasonally adjusted and exclude extreme moves, rose 0.4% in the June quarter. 
In the quarter, the trimmed mean gained 0.28%/1.6%yr while the weighted median lifted 0.37%/1.2%yr. 
The annual pace of the average of the core measures printed 1.4%, a very modest deceleration from the 1.5% pace in the March quarter.
Incorporating revisions, the six month annualised growth in core inflation was flat at 1.2% over the year, holding well below the bottom of the RBA target band and the slowest pace of core inflation since March 1999.
For a broader core inflation measure, more in line with some international measures, market sector goods and services excluding volatile items rose 0.5% in the quarter with the annual pace lifting to 1.8% from 1.6%.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/1/core%20inflation.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
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We are yet to see the full inflationary impact of the drought
Food prices came as expected at 0.4% decline. Fruit &amp; vegetables fell slightly more than expected (2.8% vs 2.1%). 
Alcohol &amp; tobacco was slightly stronger (1.1% vs. 1.0%) with tobacco having a robust 2.4% rise following a surprising 0.7% in Q1.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/1/durables.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
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A surprising bump up in car prices
Transportation rose 3.4% vs. 2.9% expected as car prices lifted 1.4% vs. our expectation for a 1.0% fall. 
Car prices are now up 3.4%yr, the fastest pace of growth since June 2020 and another sector we would expect to see the impact of the weaker AUD. 
However, the rise in car prices is more than what you would expect given the weakness of the AUD in either TWI terms or against the Japanese Yen.
Clothing has a larger than expected bump highlighting AUD pass-through...
Clothing &amp; footwear was stronger than expected rising 1.6% vs. our 0.5% expected. We are now seeing some pass through of the weaker AUD but the impact has not been uniform across this sector. 
Male garments are up 4.8% over the year while garments for women are down 0.2%. Footwear is down 1.1% over the year while accessories are down 1.0%.
...as does the rise in household contents &amp; services.
An area where the downside pressure on prices has been significant was household contents &amp; services. 
In the June quarter they rose 0.7% vs. our expectation for a 0.5%. There has been a turnaround in the trade exposed components with furniture prices up 2.8% over the year and household appliances up 5.1%.
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However, it is not all one way with textiles down 0.5% over the year and glassware down 4.1%. All up household furnishings are down just 0.4%, the softest deflationary pace since March 2018.
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Housing reveals signs of the housing correction in Vic and Qld, not so strong in NSW
The slightly softer than expected housing print reflected the fall in dwelling prices (0.2% vs. our forecast for a flat print – this reflected a further fall in Victorian dwelling prices of 0.4% in the quarter,  a larger 0.6% fall in Brisbane and a more modest 0.1% fall in NSW).
Rents were flat as expected while utilities fell more than expected (1.0% vs. 0.4% forecast) due to a 1.7% fall in electricity prices.
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There remains a significant near term negative risk around dwelling purchases prices in NSW.
 Prices are already falling in Victoria while rents have flattened in NSW. Given that rents and dwelling purchases together are worth around 15% of the CPI, this is a significant risk for headline inflation, and even more so for the core measures where the weight is somewhat higher.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/1/narrow%20turnaround.png" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/1/narrow%20turnaround.png" alt="">
Tradables stronger while non-tradables had a modest rise
Tradables rose 1.2% in the June quarter. Tradable goods rose 1.2% due to automotive fuel (10.2%). Tradable services rose 2.5% due to international holiday, travel and accommodation (2.7%).
Non-tradables rose 0.2% in the June quarter. Non-tradable goods rose 0.2% due to tobacco (2.4%). Non-tradable services rose 0.3% due to medical and hospital services (2.6%).
Looking forward inflation holds below the band
There are signs that we are getting some AUD deprecation pass-through to inflation in clothing &amp; footwear (for some selected groups) and in automotive vehicles. But it is harder to find any broader impact or wider inflationary pulse.
As housing has a significant group weighting in the CPI (22%) it has a meaningful impact on estimates of both headline and core inflation. As such, with core inflation below the bottom of the RBA’s target band we can find little to suggest any risk of a meaningful acceleration.
With crude oil prices easing there has been a turnaround in fuel prices which are expected to be a drag in Q3. Our preliminary estimate for the June quarter 2019 CPI is 0.4% which would see the annual pace steady at 1.6%.
Our preliminary estimate for the trimmed mean in the September quarter CPI is 0.3% seeing the annual pace ease a touch to 1.5%.
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Justin Smirk is ‎senior economist, Westpac Group and can be contacted <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/westpac-group/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Q2 CPI: Some AUD pass-through but housing is the anchor on inflation - Justin Smirk

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A lucky absentee apartment owner in the Opal Tower at Sydney Olympic Park has been able to escape the building cracking turmoil with a profit.
His damaged 10th floor apartment — possibly the worst affected within the 392 apartment high-rise — has been sold for $950,000.
But it appears to be a one-off sale as it has been bought by the besieged builder of the tower, Icon Co (NSW) Pty Ltd, whose solicitor declined to comment on the reasons behind its purchase.
The bullish $950,000 sale price of apartment 1005 was $158,000 more than the $742,000 off the plan price paid in 2014.
It was located on the 10th floor which saw severe cracking which prompted the evacuation of the entire building last Christmas Eve.
There were images soon after showing the damage outside the 1005 door.
The now sold two bedroom, two bathroom 86 sqm apartment had been a $600 a week rental before the cracks.
The vendor was Quan Zhou whose sales legal paperwork was lodged by China-based, Chengdu-headquartered Tahota Law Firm which has a liaison office in Sydney.
The Telegraph was not able to contact their Sydney solicitor, Yijing Hua.
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Minter Ellison lawyer Susan Bellamy signed the acquisition paperwork for Icon but declined to comment when asked if further acquisitions are being sought or offered to other owners.
The building’s last sale was a few weeks before the evacuation last December.
By next week just 12 apartments will remain unable to be occupied.
Without confirmation from Icon, it is speculated the purchase was because the builder required ongoing access, and would eventually need to substantially reconfigure the apartment space.
Sydney property consultant Edwin Almeida said it would be mistake if the intention of the sale was to reset valuations.
“Valuers won’t put their names or professional indemnity insurance or certificates on the line,” he said.
Residents and agents contacted by The Daily Telegraph don’t hold out much hope that the profitable sale of 1005 will be replicated should others wish to sell.
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“You’d think once other owners have heard of the sale, there’ll be a massive queue to sell to the builder,’ one observer said.
The Sydney Olympic Park development, which was completed in August last year, saw sales range from $505,000 up to $2.498 million for the 35 floor penthouse.
The building was very popular with investor buyers of Asian origin, many of whom bought off the plan in 2014 and 2015.
It was in 2014 when the developer Ecove entered into the Opal project agreement with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA).
Last week owners of units lodged a class-action lawsuit in the NSW Supreme Court against SOPA which owned the land on which the complex was built.
The action was filed in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday led by owner Terry Williamson.
Lawyers for the owners have filed documents claiming the building was not designed and constructed with due care and skill, and was not reasonably fit for occupation.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian defended the right of owners to sue her government agency.
“I don’t blame anybody for taking legal action to defend their own rights,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian noted it was “an unfortunate set of circumstances.”
“We inherited the system we have today and we’re aiming to fix it by the end of the year through legislation.”
Ms Berejiklian said the government will be announcing a new building commissioner “imminently” to oversee the problem-plagued construction industry.
Icon has recently agreed to pay $1.7 million of the tower's $2 million insurance premium, saving owners from a potential second evacuation from the defective building.
This article was first published in the Daily Telegraph.
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Opal Tower builder Icon buys 10th floor apartment

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Bundaleer Retreat, a Broken Head property located just 10 minutes south of Byron Bay on the Coast Road has hit the market with $2.75 million to $2.95 million hopes.
Sam Tancred of Byron Bay Property Sales has the listing.
Situated over five and a half hectares, the property at 1 Bundaleer Road comprises a main residence or manager's quarters, five private cabins, a large shed or workshop, covered BBQ area and 17 metre resort style pool with waterfall.
<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/2019/7/29/broken%20head%201.jpg" alt="">
The main residence comes with three large bedrooms, two separate living areas, well-equipped kitchen and covered deck.
Four of the cabins are open plan with a queen bed and single bed.
The fifth cabin features a separate bedroom and two single beds. 
<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/2019/7/29/broken%20head%203.jpg" alt="">
All cabins are fully self-contained and include a timber deck.
There are council approved plans for an additional five bungalows.  
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Bundaleer Retreat at Broken Head listed with $2.95 million hopes

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The Canberra industrial market had been stable prior to the election in May 2019, however there are glimpses of increased activity which suggest the start of a recovery cycle, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White (HTW).
The property valuation firm found commercial agents are reporting increased activity on the back of a stabilising residential market and improved consumer confidence.
The ACT government’s Four Year Indicative Industrial Land Release Program is based on the current level of demand for industrial land.
The program is intended to achieve a number of objectives, but in essence it is to increase the ACT government’s responsiveness to market changes by developing an inventory of land stock, where serviced industrial sites are available for immediate release.
Land will be available across new estates in Symonston (2020-21), Fyshwick and Majura Valley (Pialigo, 2021-22) as well as Hume.
The program aims to release 110,000 square metres over the next four years.
"Queanbeyan continues to provide a desirable option for owner-occupiers in the market, as increasing municipal rates in the ACT continue to discourage activity," the report said. 
"A Legislative Assembly committee is currently conducting a formal inquiry into the commercial rating system and has made numerous recommendations; the long-term effects from this are yet to be determined.
"Investors and owner occupiers are currently attracted to the small scale industrial market, particularly for superannuation purposes and also to have an asset that has potentially appreciating value and the ability to provide collateral for borrowing power.
"The outlook for the remainder of 2019 is for much of the same, namely growth and increasing activity on the back of a stable residential market and political climate.
"Industrial leasing demand is improving, however rents remain stable generally with a continued need for incentives.
"Further proposed rate cuts will have an impact on the market in the long term and some rental growth may be observed when tenant demand levels increase and sales activity begins to soften.
"The outlook for the Canberra and Queanbeyan industrial market is for increasing take-up levels over the next 12 months."
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Glimpse of recovery in Canberra's industrial property market: HTW Industrial

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The commencement of new incentives to support apprentices in the residential building industry has been backed by an industry body. 
Kristin Brookfield, HIA chief executive, industry policy said several programs were announced in the 2019 federal budget to support young people move into residential building and other skilled trades.
“In particular the Additional Identified Skills Shortage (AISS) payment for employers and hosts of apprentices, and for apprentices themselves started on 1 July, with five of the ten trades included in the scheme being in residential building," Brookfield said. 
“Vocational education and training continues to be the cornerstone of Australia’s skilled labour force and new housing activity underpins much of our economic growth.
“Ensuring that Australia has the right quantity and quality of skilled tradespeople is critical to the ongoing success of Australia’s home building industry.
“While apprentice incentives offer one part of a solution, the existing systems for training the trades of the future continue to be challenged – to address new technology, to adopt changing apprenticeship models, to compete with other industries and to adapt to expectations of the next generation.
“HIA’s 9th Building Better Cities Summit Skills for tomorrow: Technology or training? to be held in Melbourne on 7 August 2019, will look at the changing nature of residential building and the training framework that underpins it.
"The Summit will open up the debate on how we can shape the industry’s workforce and be ready to build the homes of the future."
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New apprentice incentives provide timely support: HIA 

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The Perth housing market is doing better than expected, supported by lower interest rates and the continued strength of non-rural commodity prices, according to Moody's Analytics.
They forecast the Greater Perth area's house values to increase by a total of 6.4% over 2020 and 2021, after a -6.9% decline in 2019. 
Similarly Greater Perth apartments are expected to see a recovery too, albeit smaller, with a total growth of 4.8% over 2020/2021. However, this follows a decline of -7.3% in 2019.
The outlier however is Mandurah, with growth of 12.9% forecast in 2020 and 8% in 2021, off of the back of 4.3% in 2019.
Mandurah is the only region in WA which apartments are forecast to see growth during 2019.
Moody's said growth in housing values is because the labour market in Western Australia has been comparatively weak for some time, with the growth in employment lower than the national average since 2015.
The unemployment rate in the state is among the highest in the country, 6.1% in April compared with the national average of 5.1%, and wage growth remains the lowest of all the states on a year-over-year basis.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/27/Perth%20Moodys%201.JPG" alt="">
Perth-Inner is expected to experience the steepest fall this year in house values but will recover slightly in 2020.
Meanwhile Perth-North West and Perth-Inner are expected to have the greatest price falls in apartments this year, with the fall flowing through to next year as well for the former region.
"Rental values fell more than 20% peak to trough from May 2013 to November 2017, a sign of continued excess supply," the report said.
"A slow recovery in rental value over the next two years will help the housing market recover."
Perth-North West, encompassing Joondalup, Stirling and Wanneroo, is representative of the trends across Greater Perth.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/27/Perth%20Moodys%202.JPG" alt="">
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Mandurah to lead WA apartment market recovery: Moody's Analytics

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Melbourne house prices are expected to significantly outperform units in the medium to long term, according to Moody's Analytics.
They forecast the Greater Melbourne area's house values to increase by a 1.3% in 2020 and make a large recovery of 6% in 2021, after a -10.8% decline in 2019. 
Moody's said the fall in values has been most pronounced in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, where house values have fallen as much as 21% from their peak
The decline of unit values across Greater Melbourne has been less pronounced than for detached houses.
Similar to the detached house market, however, unit values have also displayed tentative signs of improvement.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/27/Melbourne%20Moodys%201.JPG" alt="">
House values in Melbourne-Inner East have edged up since April, while the pace of declines has slowed noticeably in Melbourne-Inner South and Melbourne-South East.
"Notably, dwelling fixed investment declined for the second straight quarter, with the fall in residential building approvals suggesting further weakness ahead," the report said.
"Indeed, housing finance commitments in Victoria, including those for construction of new dwellings continue to fall from year-ago levels.
"In 2019 Melbourne Inner East, Inner South and Outer East are expected to experience the largest declines, with home values forecast to fall by 13.9%, 14.9% and 12.7%, respectively."
By early 2020, house values across most of Greater Melbourne are forecast to experience a return to month-on-month growth.
Overall, Greater Melbourne house values are expected to tick up 1.3% in 2020, with Melbourne-Inner East and Melbourne-North East leading the recovery.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/6/27/Melbourne%20Moodys%202.JPG" alt="">
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Melbourne house values to recover 7.3% in two years: Moody's Analytics

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The industrial property market across South Australia is expected to continue its recovery throughout 2019 as the market continues to be sustained by government investment in both the healthcare and renewable energy industries, according to the latest report from Herron Todd White (HTW).
The property valuation firm found investor sentiment has recently shifted from the retail to the industrial sector, mainly due to slowing trade growth within specific retail markets as retailers continue the fight against online shopping.
In contrast, warehousing and manufacturing benefits from the increase in online shopping, as companies require more warehousing space to facilitate the transport, manufacture and storage of goods.
Investors and major real estate investment trusts are looking to industrial property, as retail sectors such as department stores and clothing outlets recorded negative retail trade growth through the latter part of 2018 and early 2019.
HTW's property valuation experts stated: "Within the South Australian market, property remains tightly held in the sought-after northwest and inner-west industrial precincts.
"Limited sales of industrial properties occurred in these areas over the first half of 2019, making it hard for investors and owner-occupiers to enter the market.
"The majority of current industrial investment opportunities are available in outer suburbs such as Lonsdale and Edinburgh, which are 26 kilometres south and 35 kilometres north of the CBD respectively.
"Property remains tightly held in the north and western industrial sectors, with 14 sales of industrial use land in the first half of 2019 according to current sales data.
"The current low interest rate environment and recent cut in rates has resulted in further compression in property rents and yields."
Premium industrial space across the nation is currently fetching yields of 6.5%, while secondary space is generating yields of roughly 7.5%.
The Adelaide market is slightly better, with premium space measuring yields of 8% and secondary space nine%.
There has been no significant change in these figures since HTW's previous update in April.
Looking to affordable investments within the Adelaide industrial market, current offerings remain scarce amidst the shortage of recently completed industrial developments.
"Entry level stand-alone sheds within the north and innernorth industrial precinct are roughly $320,000 to $350,000, which would net the owner 305 square metres of industrial floor space in the northern suburb of Edinburgh and 180 square metres in the inner-northern suburb of Wingfield.
"Similarly, industrial investors can acquire a warehouse in the southern suburb of Lonsdale for $335,000.
"For the investor looking to enter the more popular west or inner-west industrial precincts, a warehouse and office in Marleston is currently on the market for $575,000.
"An industrial investor however can acquire a unit or a shed in these areas for almost half the price; sheds in Lonsdale are on the market for $175,000 for around 140 square metres of space, while a higher quality and larger unit (175 square metres) in the northern suburb of Mawson Lakes would set the purchaser back $275,000."
There have been no major shifts in industrial rents throughout the first half of 2019
Net rental levels for premium industrial space in the north are currently between $60 and $90 per square metre, $70 to $110 in the inner-north, $90 to $140 in the inner-west precinct and $60 to $80 in the south.
Slight upward pressure on rental growth is forecast throughout the latter half of 2019, as infrastructure investment and a decline in unemployment are expected to buoy the rental market for industrial property.
"The property market as a whole is predicted to stabilise throughout the remainder of 2019 as a Liberal government settles in for a new term.
"Investment in healthcare and renewable energy should fuel the demand for industrial space in South Australia as the market looks to recover from recent lows.
"Both the Darlington upgrade and the Northern Connector are expected to finish late this year, providing an upgrade to major freight and transport routes in the north and south of South Australia."
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Adelaide industrial property market recovering: HTW Industrial

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.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

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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