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Ray White Mildura has secured almost $19 million in two recent farm sales in the lush region that supplies more than 80 per cent of Victoria's grapes.
One of the largest sales in recent times in Sunraysia was recently finalised by Mark Thornton of Ray White Mildura when he sold <a id="m_-554013802951475589LPlnk789717" href="http://icm-tracking.meltwater.com/link.php?DynEngagement=true&amp;H=eD76f58HlUnRmzbPZf5yw%2B7LSgBzaQg0S1071ajiM0VK9rmBWpxqVAa0HUCW44V1L3lNOXIaPO3qAopSlw0h5F2vWCm8rZjDpHJFmQMOTjNcy6DIp06diQKaB01GQEoXV6CGTENW8WA%3D&amp;G=0&amp;R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fsold%2Fproperty-horticulture-nsw-trentham%2Bcliffs-7968210&amp;I=20180724040133.000000003449%40mail6-96-usnbn1&amp;X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjViNTY4M2EwYmE2ZDI2ZmQ2MTU1YTRkZjs%3D&amp;S=hf74gbQDxkS4f6D9ZutBLBw2bDkv3NxpiLmisaTEFSo" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://icm-tracking.meltwater.com/link.php?DynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DeD76f58HlUnRmzbPZf5yw%252B7LSgBzaQg0S1071ajiM0VK9rmBWpxqVAa0HUCW44V1L3lNOXIaPO3qAopSlw0h5F2vWCm8rZjDpHJFmQMOTjNcy6DIp06diQKaB01GQEoXV6CGTENW8WA%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.realestate.com.au%252Fsold%252Fproperty-horticulture-nsw-trentham%252Bcliffs-7968210%26I%3D20180724040133.000000003449%2540mail6-96-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjViNTY4M2EwYmE2ZDI2ZmQ2MTU1YTRkZjs%253D%26S%3Dhf74gbQDxkS4f6D9ZutBLBw2bDkv3NxpiLmisaTEFSo&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1532491859254000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGd6ZQ6Cgv7xO1RXhzhwrtzdj2wrA">88 Alfred Elms Rd, Trentham Cliffs</a>.
The buyers were a local winery expanding their operations. Mr Thornton said the landscape was changing in the Sunraysia horticulture region.
"Interest in the property came from many diverse industries and companies not just locally but also nationally and internationally.
"There are many large international corporations that have Sunraysia under their microscope as a place they want to invest in and that is very exciting for our region,” he said.
The buyer of the property was Sunraysia, Qualia Wines who operate a winery just outside Mildura, in Irymple.
<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/2018/7/25/FARM%202.jpg" alt="">
Late last year Ray White Mildura sales agent and partner Damian Portaro sold a 85 ha table grape farm at <a id="m_-554013802951475589LPlnk721845" href="http://icm-tracking.meltwater.com/link.php?DynEngagement=true&amp;H=eD76f58HlUnRmzbPZf5yw%2B7LSgBzaQg0S1071ajiM0VK9rmBWpxqVAa0HUCW44V1L3lNOXIaPO3qAopSlw0h5F2vWCm8rZjDpHJFmQMOTjNcy6DIp06diQKaB01GQEoXV6CGTENW8WA%3D&amp;G=0&amp;R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.realestate.com.au%2Fsold%2Fproperty-viticulture-vic-yelta-7927130&amp;I=20180724040133.000000003449%40mail6-96-usnbn1&amp;X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjViNTY4M2EwYmE2ZDI2ZmQ2MTU1YTRkZjs%3D&amp;S=daOh7IQSEeH11r2Ra5kHLin08LzII2iQ5ssEHdxw6sE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://icm-tracking.meltwater.com/link.php?DynEngagement%3Dtrue%26H%3DeD76f58HlUnRmzbPZf5yw%252B7LSgBzaQg0S1071ajiM0VK9rmBWpxqVAa0HUCW44V1L3lNOXIaPO3qAopSlw0h5F2vWCm8rZjDpHJFmQMOTjNcy6DIp06diQKaB01GQEoXV6CGTENW8WA%253D%26G%3D0%26R%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.realestate.com.au%252Fsold%252Fproperty-viticulture-vic-yelta-7927130%26I%3D20180724040133.000000003449%2540mail6-96-usnbn1%26X%3DMHwxMDQ2NzU4OjViNTY4M2EwYmE2ZDI2ZmQ2MTU1YTRkZjs%253D%26S%3DdaOh7IQSEeH11r2Ra5kHLin08LzII2iQ5ssEHdxw6sE&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1532491859255000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGoPq0bpQsqnz8UbQi1NACv6SnQOQ">115 Paschendale Ave, Yelta</a> for $7.265 million to buyers with strong foreign interests.
"This farm is essentially now a farm to plate operation,” Mr Portaro said.
"We have some big international wineries looking to buy in Mildura, plus solar farms and large horticultural operations.” Mr Portaro said. 
“This region is the food bowl for Australia and international buyers firmly believe that the future is in farming.”
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mildura farm sells to local winery

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Skilled professionals are increasingly likely to have an equally skilled partner at home. This makes it harder for companies to fill overseas positions when the move affects two professional careers.
Multinational corporations are starting to recognise and try to understand the complexities of managing talent globally. But we wondered whether they are considering the “right” scope of complexities. As an example of these complexities, and contrary to popular belief, the expatriate spouse – not the expatriate – remains the number one influence on the success of overseas postings.
Three major, interrelated elements create this largely unrecognised complexity.
The family context
An overseas assignment can be an enriching experience for the whole family, but making it a success is a different story. Career paths are no longer choices for a single breadwinner, but compromises between couples or within families.
This means there are a number of stakeholders to consider when an overseas assignment is on offer. The dynamics between the various immediate family members play a major role in whether the assignment is a success.
Research often reports organisational support for spouses as either inadequate or misaligned. One reason for this is that organisations do not have a good enough understanding of expatriate spouse experiences and attitudes to relocation.
Most recently, research has identified that there are four different types of spouses – some more resilient and ready for an international relocation than others. This is to say that spouses and their personal and professional career endeavours may differ greatly. And the lack of knowledge about this makes it difficult to manage.
The reason for any inadequacy or misalignment of organisational support might well stem, then, from not fully understanding the journey of the other family members who are likely invested but involuntarily affected by the way the assignment is managed.
This type of reasoning similarly applies to families with a female breadwinner, families with or without children, those who identify as LGBTIQ, single parents and families going through a divorce, among other scenarios. The chart below illustrates the range of family contexts.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232212/original/file-20180816-2915-sgy80t.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Corporate support for people on overseas assignments needs to consider the diversity of possible family contexts. Author provided
Philosophically, it is about managing the family as a dynamic and complex network of actors. That is in addition to the complexities inherent in any particular individual employee or family member.
The assignment context
We are seeing an increase in the types of international assignments, including short-term, long-term, rotational, flex-assignments and so forth. You can add to this the propatriate (a professional expatriate committed to their parent company), the glopatriate (a globetrotting expatriate committed to a global career beyond their parent company), the inpatriate (a relocation from the subsidiary into HQ) and the self-initiated expatriate (a non-organisational form of expatriation) among others. We now have many assignment types – some of which have not existed or been recognised as such, say, ten years ago.
The assignment type matters to the multinational corporation. It is the context for the length, purpose and expatriate and family allowances of the assignment.
The location context
Globalisation continues to create opportunities across borders. These in turn are linked to international assignment opportunities.
Today, countries like China, Brazil, India, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Nigeria and Iraq present some of the greatest challenges for international assignees, their partners and children.
But what do we really know about these countries? And to what extent are dual-career families ready (or supported) to relocate to these places and be successful – as a family or as individuals?
Another difficult challenge to manage is the fact that some assignment locations are considered more dangerous than others. Some research suggests this keeps potential expatriates and their families from considering the assignment in the first place.
Managing challenges of diversity is key
In short, the increased diversity of assignments – in all ways – presents policy and compliance challenges for talent management departments. Creating the right tools to enable multinational corporations to understand and respond swiftly to these challenges is key to competing and winning with a global talent strategy.
Global mobility specialists must fully understand past, present and potential trends to then acquire the agility needed to manage talent in today’s world – across diverse demographic, assignment and family contexts.

In the end however, if the expatriate and their family are not convinced this will be a good experience, no amount of deliberation or support will make it a success. The real key to success is to ensure the expatriates and their families understand their “window of opportunity” for such a life-changing move.
Miriam Moeller, Senior Lecturer, International Business, The University of Queensland
Jemaine Tsoi, PhD Researcher, UQ Business School, The University of Queensland
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-secrets-to-managing-overseas-postings-for-modern-families-start-with-the-spouse-100893" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Starting with the spouse is the secret to managing overseas postings for modern families

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Allan Raad of Wentworthville, NSW and his brother-in-law Yousef Joseph Bazouni of Sandringham, NSW, have been convicted and sentenced in the Downing Centre District Court after pleading guilty to ASIC charges concerning a breach of director’s duties and the fraudulent removal of company assets. 
Raad pleaded guilty to using his position dishonestly to gain an advantage and for having fraudulently removed property. 
Bazouni also pleaded guilty to these offences on the basis of complicity, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured the commission of the offences by Raad. 
Raad was sentenced to a total of 18 months' imprisonment for the offences and released on a recognisance order to be of good behaviour for two years. Bazouni was convicted but no penalty imposed and ordered to be of good behaviour for 12 months. As a result of the convictions, both men are automatically disqualified from managing companies for five years. 
ASIC had alleged that on 2 July 2011 in Sydney, NSW Raad engaged in illegal phoenix activity by dishonestly using his position as a director of Cornish Property Services Pty Ltd (the Company) with the intention of indirectly gaining an advantage for himself by causing the sale of the assets of the Company to Bazouni’s newly-incorporated company Flow Management Pty Ltd (Flow Management) for an amount of $20,000. Raad later onsold some of those same assets for $176,000, Raad received the proceeds of the sale and subsequently used the proceeds to pay: 
<ul>
<li>$50,000 for outstanding legal fees owed by the Company but for which he was personally liable;</li>
<li>$23,509.20 to creditors of the Company who held personal guarantees against Raad and/or his wife;</li>
<li>$51,731.81 towards credit card debts for which he was personally liable;</li>
<li>$10,000 towards repayments for a home loan account Mr. Raad shared with his wife;</li>
<li>$22,300 to Bazouni’s credit card; and</li>
<li>$4,000 was paid to existing unsecured creditors of the Company.</li>
</ul>
The Company was placed into voluntary liquidation soon after with an estimated deficiency of $1,110,695.93. 
ASIC also alleged that between 21 July 2011 and 13 August 2011 Raad fraudulently removed $21,609.16 and $16,044.93 from the Company’s account. It was alleged that Bazouni was complicit in helping Raad remove the funds.
ASIC commenced an investigation following the lodgement of a report by the Liquidator Bruce Gleeson of Jones Partners Insolvency &amp; Recovery.  ASIC assisted the Liquidator to conduct an investigation and prepare his report by providing funding from the Assetless Administration Funding. 
ASIC Commissioner John Price said, ‘ASIC is committed to addressing illegal phoenix activity.  ASIC is a member of the Australian Taxation Office-led Phoenix Taskforce, which comprises 29 Commonwealth and State governments agencies who are sharing intelligence and information to detect, deter and prosecute directors and facilitators that engage in illegal phoenix activity.' 
Suspected illegal phoenix can now be reported directly to the Phoenix Hotline on 1800 807 875. Further information is also available from <a href="https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/contact-us/how-to-complain/illegal-phoenix-activity/">ASIC’s website.</a>
The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Two former company directors convicted for engaging in illegal phoenix activity 

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Market conditions impacted Sunland's sales volume during the last year, with 304 sales completed to the value of $170 million compared to 2017 where 524 sales were achieved to the value $376 million.
Sunland Group also announced its after tax profit was down, to $31.3 million for the full year ended 30 June 2018, lower than their profits last year at $35.3 million.
They made $32 million in new site acquisitions in Brisbane and a medium-density, residential development in Victoria scheduled to settle in late 2018. 
The group launched four new residential projects during the 2018 financial year including Magnoli Apartments, 272 Hedges Avenue, Arbour Residences on the Gold Coast, and The Hills Residences in Brisbane.
The group also released new land stages within its master planned community at The Heights in Pimpama on the northern Gold Coast.
As at 30 June 2018, Sunland had 14 active projects along Australia’s east coast.
It represents a $3.6 billion portfolio comprising 4,977 residential homes, urban land lots, multi-storey apartments, and 27,000 sqm of retail.
Sunland boss Sahba Abedian said the group achieved revenue from property sales of $290 million during the period, generated from 425 settlements.
Delivery continues at 18 Macpherson Street in Warriewood and The Gardens in Chirnside Park, which are both sold out ahead of its 2019 financial year scheduled completion.
Contracted presales for projects total 381 as of 30 June 2018, with a combined value of $314 million.
The portfolio achieved an average return of 24%.
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Sunland Group sales activity shrinks 

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More than 5,000 hectares of land on the banks of the Cudgegong River in New South Wales’ Mudgee region has been listed for sale.
CBRE Agribusiness and Logical Livestock Marketing have been appointed to market the Warragundi Aggregation, comprising a 5,798 hectare mixed enterprise, consisting of cattle, sheep, water and cropping.
Located near the township of Goolma, approximately 25 minutes’ drive to Mudgee and 15 minutes’ drive to Gulgong, the aggregation offers water access and fodder crops that have maintained a core breeding herd during extended dry periods.
The aggregation includes a range of pastures, including chicory, cocksfoot, fescue, phalaris, ryegrass, sub clover and white clover mix.
CBRE’s Richard Royle and Logical Livestock Marketing Simon McKittrick are selling the aggregation on a ‘walk in, walk out’ basis.
The combined aggregation includes an average carrying capacity of approximately 1,400 breeders and 600 replacements, plus 2,500 merino ewes or 25,000 DSEs.
Offers are due to close September 7.
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Warragundi aggregation at Mudgee listed

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The 110 hectare Goulburn Valley farming property, Allans at 766 Palmer Road Kyabram, has been listed for sale.
It is to be auctioned by Rodwells Ruralco Property on September 28 bringing an end to five generations of ownership by members of the Allan family.
John Allan (1866-1936) was the 20th Premier of Victoria serving for two and a half years from March 1924 and as a local activist in the Country Party.
He also played a formative role in the VFU.
Constituents came to the property to raise their issues with the Premier when he was at home.
The property at 766 Palmers Road is seven minutes west of the Kyabram township.
For many decades, it was operated successfully as a family dairy farm.
When the local Murray Goulburn factory closed some time ago the family ceased dairying and in recent years have grazed their own cattle on the holding as well as agisted livestock owned by other local farmers.
The property has access to two Goulburn Murray Water channels.
The property has highly productive pastures with the majority of the holding having been laser levelled for flood irrigation with two recycling dams included in the new paddock layout.
On the property is an older style four bedroom, two bathroom timber homestead.
Pat Allan, the matriarch of the family, says that she has owned the property for the last 64 years.
She says her great grandfather added purchases of any neighbouring blocks that came on to the market.
One of these was a former small block that housed the long closed Wyuna South school where the building was removed and the title consolidated.
Rodwells Ruralco Property Echuca based branch manager Andrew Miller is marketing the property.
“I am anticipating an auction result in the $700,000 range."
<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/2018/8/21/RURALCO%20766%20PALMERS%20ROAD%20IRRIGATION.jpg" alt="">
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Auction set to end Allan family's five generation Kyabram farm ownership

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A former British Consul's home at Kenmore has been listed for September 9 auction.
The 12 Gladesville Street offering is a 1763 square metre property.
It has housed the England cricket team on numerous occasions and, as rumour has it, also welcomed Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
Ray White Toowong agent Kris Matthews said the home had six bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
"This grand-style property is the biggest to go on sale in Kenmore for at least the last five years,” Matthews said.
"The spaciousness available with two kitchens, a huge entertaining area and extensive renovations since 2005, make this property a gem that’s held its character.” <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/2018/8/24/KENMORE%202.jpg" alt="">
The property was lived in by a British consulate for 32 years.
Its granny flat was built in response to 9/11, to allow two Australian Federal Police officers to live on-site.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/8/24/KENMORE%203.jpeg" alt="">
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British Consul's Kenmore home set for auction 

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Households are feeling the pinch from frozen wages feeds into slower economic growth, and policymakers need to find a solution. 
<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/rbas-philip-lowe-says-australians-fear-foreigners-and-robots-20170619-gwtr20" target="_blank">The crisis really is in real wage growth.</a> – Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe, 2017
Increased inequality and low wage growth are constraining economic growth. But why is wage growth so low? And how should policymakers respond?
<a href="https://wir2018.wid.world/" target="_blank">Income inequality has increased significantly</a> in most advanced economies since the early 1980s. In particular, very low rates of wage increase are widely blamed for the weak growth in aggregate demand this century and <a href="http://larrysummers.com/2016/02/17/the-age-of-secular-stagnation/" target="_blank">secular stagnation</a> since the Global Financial Crisis. The GFC was itself brought on by the rise in consumer debt that was used at first to support demand in an attempt to offset the impact of weak wage growth.
Fairfax columnist Ross Gittins recently <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/with-wage-growth-on-the-blink-it-s-time-to-restore-union-bargaining-power-20180727-p4ztym" target="_blank">noted</a> that “many economists were disappointed by this week’s news … that consumer prices rose only 2.1%”. That was because low inflation is “usually a symptom of weak growth in economic activity and, in particular, of weak growth in wages”.
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Thus, today it is widely agreed that wages need to increase faster. The <a href="http://www.oecd.org/social/in-it-together-why-less-inequality-benefits-all-9789264235120-en.htm" target="_blank">OECD</a>, the <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2015/02/" target="_blank">IMF</a>, leading US scholars, former US Treasury Secretary <a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2016-02-15/age-secular-stagnation" target="_blank">Larry Summers</a>, Nobel prize winner <a href="http://evonomics.com/joseph-stiglitz-inequality-unearned-income/" target="_blank">Joseph Stiglitz</a> and most recently Stephen Bell and I in our book, <a href="https://www.mup.com.au/books/9780522872279-fair-share" target="_blank">Fair Share</a>, have all argued that increasing inequality is bad for economic growth.
To solve this problem, the critical issue for policymakers is what is causing this rising inequality and weak wage growth? Unless we better understand the causes, we are unlikely to achieve an effective policy solution.
First, we can quickly dismiss the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/treasurer-says-tax-cuts-for-big-business-will-boost-wages/9399324" target="_blank">explanation offered</a> by federal Treasurer Scott Morrison, whose so-called “economic plan” assumes present low wage growth will respond positively to higher company profits. According to Morrison, a company tax cut will lead to more investment and thus more jobs, so eventually the benefits will trickle down and increase wages.
Unfortunately, this logic is the reverse of reality. It ignores the evidence that slow wage growth across all the developed economies has been a problem over a couple of decades now.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232195/original/file-20180816-2924-1yqkxof.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/232195/original/file-20180816-2924-1yqkxof.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Slow wage growth is a continuing long-term problem in the developed economies.<a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/"> </a>
In fact, the evidence strongly suggests higher profits will not drive higher wages. The benefits of a company tax cut will largely be returned to shareholders, while the only wages that increase will be those of senior management.
Instead, higher investment will require increased consumer demand. And that in turn depends on stronger wage growth. In short, aggregate demand in a flat economy, like ours, is wages-led. Wages drive investment, not the other way around.
Broadly speaking, there are two serious schools of thought about what is causing weak wage growth and rising inequality.
One explanation puts most of the blame on a weakening of trade-union power.
The other explanation emphasises the impacts of technological change and, to a lesser extent, globalisation on the labour market. Together technology and globalisation are said to have changed job structures and demands for skills. They have reduced the share of middle-level jobs, which has directly increased income inequality, and they can depress the demand for labour more generally and thus wages in developed countries, but especially for less skilled labour.
These two explanations are not mutually exclusive – both may have played a role. However, I want to consider their relative significance as the basis for arguing which policy responses should be given priority.
Trade union power in Australia and its impact
A very distinguished professor of labour economics and former Industrial Relations Commission deputy president, Joe Isaac, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-8462.12270" target="_blank">recently argued</a> persuasively that an important explanation of slow wage growth is “to be found in the change in the balance of power in favour of employers and against workers and unions”.
Isaac starts by noting that union membership in Australia has fallen from about 50% of all employees in the 1970s to the present 15%. This is one of the lowest rates in the OECD.
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Isaac also finds some correlation between income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) and trade union density for 11 OECD countries. More relevant, though, would be the change in inequality relative to the change in union membership, especially as Australia has always had a relatively high Gini coefficient.
Isaac argues that this loss of membership and the reduced authority of the Fair Work Commission has weakened the bargaining power of organised labour in Australia. Employers are now able “to determine no wage increase or an increase less than their profits would warrant, with less resistance from workers and unions”. Although Isaac admits that “this conclusion is based on the association over time of union power decline and slow wages growth”, he concludes that “it seems reasonable to claim, at least prima facie, a causal connection between them”.
I am more sceptical. While I wouldn’t rule out any impact on wages and employee conditions from a decline in trade union membership and the possibly associated changes in the power of the Fair Work Commission, I question Isaac’s analysis for the following reasons.
First, it is uncertain how much trade union power has declined as a result of loss of membership. Another test of trade union power is the proportion of wages determined by awards and collective agreements – as Isaac shows, this proportion has largely remained the same in Australia. Indeed, in some countries, such as France, trade union membership has always been very low, but they have a highly centralised system of wage determination, which allows the unions a lot of influence.
Second, other countries have also experienced increases in inequality – much greater than in Australia in most cases – but don’t seem to have experienced any notable loss of union power. For example, some of the biggest increases in inequality over the last 30 years, as measured by the Gini coefficient for final disposable income, have <a href="https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm" target="_blank">occurred in countries like Sweden, Finland and Germany</a>, which are not associated with any loss of trade union power.
Third, Isaac’s analysis of wage inequality focuses entirely on a decline in the wage share of total <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/factor-income.asp" target="_blank">factor income</a>. This ignores changes within the distribution of earnings. These latter changes are more important in many countries, and certainly for Australia.
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While the wage share in Australia has declined since the 1970s and early 1980s, this was at least partly a result of deliberate policy under the Hawke/Keating governments’ Accord with the trade unions, when it was accepted that the wage share had been too high. Even today the <a href="http://ace2017.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Declan-Trott-Full-Paper.pdf" target="_blank">wage share is still higher than in 1960</a>, when the economy was generally considered to be performing exceptionally well.
Fourth, the changes in the distribution of earnings largely reflect changes in the structure of occupations rather than changes in relative wage rates. But trade unions seek to influence wage rates, and it is difficult to see how they can exert much direct influence over the structure of jobs.
For these various reasons, I don’t think the loss, if any, of trade union power can explain much of the increase in inequality in most countries over the last 30 years. It is necessary to look elsewhere for the explanation, and the main driver seems to have been the impact of technological change.
Impacts of technology and globalisation
In <a href="https://www.mup.com.au/books/9780522872279-fair-share" target="_blank">Fair Share</a>, Stephen Bell and I examine the causes of increased inequality over the last 30 years in most of the advanced economies. A critical starting point is to distinguish between changes in the job structure and changes in relative wage rates. As we <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=CwtNDwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT135&amp;dq=%22no+change+in+relative+wage+rates,+but+employment+increased+faster%22&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjo7u3o7evcAhUI7bwKHTz_AO4Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&amp;q=%22no%20change%20in%20relative%20wage%20rates%2C%20but%20employment%20increased%20faster%22&amp;f=false" target="_blank">note</a>:
Even if there were no change in relative wage rates, but employment increased faster for both high-paid and low-paid jobs, the earnings distribution would show up as more unequal. What would have happened is that the composition of the top and lowest deciles of earnings would have altered, which would increase the median income of the top decile and reduce the median income of the lowest decile, which would in turn be reported as an increase in the inequality of earnings.
The consensus in the studies we reviewed is that increased inequality of earnings largely reflects the impact of technological change. Globalisation and increased participation in global value chains may also have played a role, but less so in Australia, which we attribute to Australia having a more flexible labour market than, say, America.
We also surmise that <a href="https://theconversation.com/finance-drives-everything-including-your-insecurity-at-work-101107" target="_blank">increased financialisation</a> and the capture of rents generated by technological change may help explain the very large increase in remuneration for the top 1%.
Interestingly, the OECD specifically rejected the hypothesis that regulatory changes have helped drive any significant increase in inequality. It <a href="http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/dividedwestandwhyinequalitykeepsrising.htm" target="_blank">found</a> that “the net effect of regulatory reforms on trends in ‘overall earnings inequality’ remains indeterminant in most cases”.
The principal impact of technological change, and globalisation to a lesser extent, has been to reduce the share of middle-level jobs. In particular, new <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/view/1314" target="_blank">information</a> and <a href="http://ceda.com.au/Research-and-policy/All-CEDA-research/Research-catalogue/Australia-s-future-workforce" target="_blank">communications technology</a> has had its <a href="http://www.urbanvillageworld.com/resource_center/Offshoring%20Article%20-%20Foreign%20Affairs1.pdf" target="_blank">greatest impact</a> on <a href="http://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2017/04/04/world-economic-outlook-april-2017" target="_blank">relatively routine tasks</a> <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://ideas.repec.org/p/mlb/wpaper/1192" target="_blank">involving middle-level jobs</a>, such as clerical occupations and the operation of basic machinery.
Technological change has also driven the fall in the relative price of capital goods. This has led to some substitution of capital for labour. Again, this is “particularly pronounced in industries with a high predominance of routine tasks”, as the <a href="http://www.oecd.org/els/oecd-employment-outlook-19991266.htm" target="_blank">OECD notes</a>.
These changes in job structure and the relative decline in the middle-level jobs have been the most important cause of increasing inequality in many countries, including Australia. Technological progress has also led to an increase in the demand for skills. In some countries that has increased the premium paid for skilled labour, but the extent of this depends upon the policy response affecting the supply of skills.
In Australia’s case, Bell and I <a href="https://www.mup.com.au/books/9780522872279-fair-share">find</a> that the premium for skills, and consequently relative wage rates, did not change much because of the increase in education and training effort. Accordingly, much of the increase in earnings inequality in Australia reflects changes in the job structure rather than changes in relative wage rates (see also <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8462.2003.00296.x" target="_blank">Keating</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://ideas.repec.org/p/mlb/wpaper/1192" target="_blank">Coelli &amp; Borland</a>).
<iframe style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ivRs4/1/" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="550"></iframe>
So what does this mean for policy?
Consistent with his view that a weakening of trade union power has driven the increase in inequality, Isaac <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-8462.12270">recommends</a> changing the Fair Work Act to rectify “the unbalanced industrial power in the labour market”. I can support most of Isaac’s recommended changes, and especially greater rights of union entry, which should help better police adherence to awards and wage agreements.
I also agree that Isaac’s recommended legislative changes are unlikely to result in unions abusing their increased power. This is because, as he puts it, “there are now prevailing forces, such as global competition and structural changes, which will continue to keep union power in check”.
However, these “prevailing forces” are what really caused most of the increase in inequality, as discussed above. I therefore doubt that these legislative changes will do much to reverse the increase in earnings inequality.
Instead, the best way to respond to the impact of technological change on the job structure and possible associated changes in wage premiums is to improve education and training. Enhanced education, training and labour market policies will help workers adjust to the challenges posed by new technologies and will also spur the adoption of those technologies.
In addition, if the supply of skills thereby increases in line with the increase in their demand, there should not need to be any change in relative wage rates. Although these types of reforms take time, in the end they can boost both aggregate demand and potential output, with benefits all round.
In short, as Thomas Piketty, in his <a href="http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674430006" target="_blank">major study on inequality</a>, <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=T8zuAgAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA313&amp;dq=%22the+best+way+to+increase+wages+and+reduce+wage+inequalities%22&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiepIuH--vcAhVEVLwKHa5_D6EQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&amp;q=%22the%20best%20way%20to%20increase%20wages%20and%20reduce%20wage%20inequalities%22&amp;f=false" target="_blank">concluded</a>:
To sum up: the best way to increase wages and reduce wage inequalities in the long run is to invest in education and skills.
Michael Keating<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-keating-528224"></a>, Visiting Fellow, College of Business &amp; Economics, Australian National University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. 
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This is what policymakers can and can't do about low wage growth: Michael Keating

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MadeComfy, a performance-based short-term rental specialist, has opened a Brisbane office.
It has appointed 13-year property veteran Melissa Baker as its new Queensland general manager.
This follows a $6 million capital raising in May following consistent 500% year-on-year growth in Sydney and Melbourne.
MadeComfy recently released a study of the Queensland short-term rental market that showed the demand for short-term rentals (STR) more than doubled over the last two years, with STR making up 11.8% of Australia’s total tourist accommodation.
The STR report showed that short-term rentals in Queensland contributed $162 million to national tourism revenue in 2016, providing over 1.2 million nights of accommodation to the almost 1.5 million international visitors Brisbane attracted.
Melissa Baker said MadeComfy’s research has shown conclusively that Australia’s demand for short-term accommodation options are only going to keep increasing.
"Compared to Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane enjoys year-round bookings which is great for local property owners who may be considering short-term rental options such as Airbnb, Booking.com or HomeAway.”
MadeComfy claims they are delivering property owners in Sydney and Melbourne an approximately 7% to 11% rental yield return.
It was recently recognised as Sydney’s most innovative company at the 2018 NSW Business Chamber Award as well as being named as one of Westpac’s 200 Businesses of Tomorrow.
MadeComfy say they combine technology and property management services to deliver easy, transparent and profitable short-term rental experience for homeowners.
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Short-term rental service raises $6 million to expand to Brisbane

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Sydney’s Crown Development Group has purchased a significant residential development site in Brisbane’s West End for $35 million. 
The purchase at 117 Victoria Street marks Crown’s first entry into the Brisbane market.
It plans to construct a high-density residential tower on the riverfront site with over 400 apartments and adjacent recreational areas.
Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Nick Spiro and Andrew Gard managed the expressions of interest campaign generating interest from local, interstate and offshore developers with over 200 inquiries.
Located in close proximity to South Brisbane and West End’s retail, dining and entertainment precincts, the 117 Victoria Street site (pictured above) comprises a 12,500sqm high density residential zoned lot with an assessable development height of 12 storeys.
It is one of the last remaining development sites over 1Ha in Brisbane’s inner south area. The land has a 5,100sqm office/warehouse facility which was previously occupied by Computershare.
The sale is the largest development site transaction within Brisbane’s city fringe market in 2018, representing a return to positive development market sentiment after a period of subdued demand. 
Crown’s residential development project will complement existing developments within the West End peninsula, including Turrisi’s Bohemia West End, Stockwell’s Virtuoso, BPM’s Bank Street Project, Sekisui House’s West Village site and Pradella’s Light &amp; Co project.
Commenting on the sale, Nick Spiro, said the West End development market has been subject to substantial swings in sentiment, however, Crown’s purchase of 117 Victoria Street was a sign that the development market "has passed its low point and is well positioned for future growth.”
The last three sites over 1ha in West End have sold to Crown, R&amp;F and Sekisui House who are all national or offshore developers.
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Crown Group secures Brisbane West End residential development site for $35 million

A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.

The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.

Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.

Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.

<img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" />

Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.

Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.

Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.

The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.

International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".

The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.

The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.

Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.

The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.

After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.

Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.

He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<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/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

&nbsp;

Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

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