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Ray White Rural SA have secured a record price despite the COVID-19 and its restrictions.
Daniel Schell, joint principal of Ray White Rural SA together with his father and business partner Geoff Schell, have just signed a huge property sale to finalise the estate of Keith Honan for in excess of $9 million. 
The pair then conducted an extensive online clearing sale. 
The rural property which comprised 16,5813ha (4097 acres) sold over five lots to four different buyers in South Australia.
It was signed up as an auction sale just prior to the COVID restrictions and then changed to an EOI. 
“We had a huge response to the property during the six week marketing campaign with more than 80 inquiries, 30 inspections and 20+ EOIs received which resulted in record sale prices,” Mr Schell said.
<div>Not long after the Schells ran their first online clearing sale for the Honan Estate with fantastic success across 179 lots. Some  480 bidders registered for the online auction, some from as far away as Spain who bid on  these dusty ‘vintage’ bikes which ended up selling to a local buyer for $85.</div>
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 “We had more than 300 people online during the virtual auction, anyone could tune in to listen or participate in the auction by placing bids right up until the last second. There were reserves on only three main lots but these had been well exceeded prior to the live auction starting," Mr Schell said.
“The online auction was an overwhelming success providing far greater access to buyers to be involved in the sale. We opened bidding up over three days and without having to travel to the property if they were happy not to inspect the items,” Mr Schell said.
“We even had a person bidding from Spain on Lot 120 which was two vintage bicycles. A number of the key items were sold to interstate buyers. The wooden cart sold for $13,500.
“We think the success of the clearing sale has also strongly contributed to there being no other clearing sales over the past four months and therefore no competition.
“We can see the future for clearing sales as a combination of both on-site and online. Many people still like to attend a sale to see and touch the items and listen to an engine start.  
“But holding an online sale reached a wider audience and provided the buyers an opportunity to review and place bids over a couple of days. 
“We stayed in the office until the wee hours of the morning sending invoices to all successful purchasers with payment instructions.”
Collection day was two days after the action and everyone picked up and paid for their lots.
The Schells worked closely with a local business, Farm Clearing Sales, to provide an alternative option to conduct a clearing sale during the COVID19 restrictions.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mid-north SA clearing sale attracts widespread interest

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Admittedly, $700,000 is nearing the bottom end of the Lower North Shore market, but it can still buy you a unit style property with plenty of up-side, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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"Normally when we mention Sydney’s Lower North Shore, we are referring to multi-million dollar prestige properties on expansive allotments with landmark views.
"However, there is another sector of the market on the Lower North Shore which fits the criteria for this month’s lazy $700,000 discussion," the valuation firm said. 
Looking at the suburb of Neutral Bay, just 1.5 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, a one-bedroom unit with parking within a classic circa 1960 or 1970 walk-up style unit complex is still readily available. 
Although at the lower end of the market, a unit such as this in Neutral Bay still offers proximity to amenities, restaurants and retail, public transport (buses and rail depending on position) and the harbour foreshore. 
An example of a recent sale of such a property is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-neutral+bay-133207122" target="_blank"> 9/389A Alfred Street, Neutral Bay</a> (pictured below), selling in March this year for $640,000.
This is a 1960’s style, one-bedroom, one-bathroom, updated, north facing unit with a small balcony and a single car space.
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Typically, these units are in demand from young professionals, downsizers or investors. A unit such as the one described above would likely achieve a weekly rental of $500, resulting in an approximate yield of four per cent, the report noted. 
Although this return is not setting any records, capital growth is historically strong on the Lower North Shore and this forms part of the attraction for investors.
"We would expect this sector of the market to continue to perform well in the future, primarily underpinned by the central location, public transport and convenient access to the Sydney CBD," the valuation firm said. 
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What $700,000 can buy in the Lower North Shore: HTW residential 

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In the Sutherland Shire, $700,000 is a popular price point for first home buyers with agents noting that properties with a price of $750,000 and below are often quick to sell, even under current market conditions, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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The report notes a good example of the type of property is the sale of a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with a one-car garage in Cronulla which sold in mid- June for $645,000. 
The first floor 1980’s unit has been updated internally and is located within 200 metres of the sand.
A typical rent for this type of unit would be around $425 per week, representing around a 3.5 per cent gross return.
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"Whilst below the median price for all suburbs in the Sutherland region, you can still pick up a house for around the $700,000 mark, although they are pretty few and far between, meaning you have to make some compromises," the valuation firm said. 
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<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-heathcote-133280594" target="_blank"> 11 Rosebery Street in Heathcote</a> (pictured above) sold for $690,000 in mid-April. The property was a single level cottage in need of repairs and renovations on a smaller than average lot of 416 square metres, however the property was well located to the railway station, local shops and local primary school.
"With the current possibility of an oversupply of modern units in suburbs such as Caringbah and Miranda, at this price range an older style one- or two-bedroom unit in a smaller development in a desirable location, such as a one-bedroom unit in Cronulla, is likely to be the best performer over the short to medium term for both value growth and rental return," the valuation firm said. 
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What $700,000 can buy in the Sutherland Shire: HTW residential 

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For under $700,000, the Liverpool LGA still provides opportunities for investors and home occupiers to get into the market or grow their portfolio, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
The HTW report notes within the strata titled market, the Liverpool LGA offers an array of choice, from CBD living to a more traditional residential community setting.
"The Liverpool CBD unit market has struggled over the past 18 months. We consider that the amount of supply entering the market and the lack of business growth within the CBD has contributed to values remaining steady or even decreasing," the valuation firm said.  
An example of this is a 2004 built three-bedroom, two- bathroom unit at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-liverpool-133388142" target="_blank"> 10/25-27 Castlereagh Street</a> (pictured above).
The unit sold in May 2015 for $520,000 and recently resold in May 2020 for $510,000.
Whilst the Liverpool CBD unit market has struggled in recent times for investors, price levels in the sub $550,000 range do allow first home owners to enter the market in a central location close to shops, schools and train lines. 
Compared to the Parramatta CBD, it offers very affordable living, the report noted. 
"However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Liverpool, which is seen as Sydney’s third city. The development of the Western Sydney Airport and the rezoning of 25 hectares of land in the heart of Liverpool will reinvigorate life and promote more commercial space in the area," the valuation firm said. 
The ultimate aim is to remove the need for workers to travel to the traditional Parramatta and City hubs. This may be just what Liverpool needs to breathe life back into the Liverpool unit market in years to come.
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Within the Liverpool LGA, the Torrens Titled market under the $700,000 mark is constantly decreasing in opportunity, however suburbs such as Busby, Cartwright and Ashcroft which have generally been overlooked do provide great hidden opportunities for owner-occupiers and investors as shown in the examples below, the report noted. 
Geographically speaking, these suburbs are within 20 minutes drive of Sydney’s third CBD (Liverpool CBD) and only 30 minutes from the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis precinct.
"The style of housing and land size in this area provide a very affordable investment to either owner occupy, knockdown rebuild, sit and hold, or look to construct a granny flat on the site to obtain a second rental stream," the valuation firm said. 
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An example is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-cartwright-133476678" target="_blank"> 63 Mawson Drive, Cartwright </a>(pictured above) which sold in May for $565,000.
For the price typically reserved for units, the property affords three bedrooms and one bathroom on 579 square metres of land. 
A second dwelling is possible, however subject to council approval.
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Another example is<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-busby-131058822" target="_blank"> 8 Kelvin Place, Busby</a> (pictured above), which sold in February for $625,000.
The property affords a renovated three-bedroom, one- bathroom home on 651 square metres of land.
 Detached at the rear is a council approved one- bedroom, one-bathroom, self-contained granny flat. 
The achievable rental for the main dwelling is $440 per week and $220 per week for the granny flat, calculating to a strong 5.5 per cent gross return.
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What $700,000 can buy in South-Western Sydney: HTW residential 

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The recent relaxation of travel restrictions and gatherings in public has given the Byron Shire a much-needed confidence boost, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation.
The HTW report suggests although any tangible improvement in the local economy is yet to be realised in the property market, local agents remain optimistic about the long term growth of the property market in Byron Bay and surrounds and this leads us to consider where it is possible to park $700,000 on a property in the Byron Shire at present.
"If Byron Bay is your cup of tea, then count out the $700,000, raid the kids’ piggy banks and check under the couch for any loose change, because you are going to need it," the valuation firm said. 
 Whilst it is not quite that bad, the options are pretty restricted within Byron Bay proper. 
Most properties start at prices well above $700,000 but if that is the limit of your budget, it is still possible to pick up an early 1990’s three- bedroom townhouse on the north-west edge of town in the $650,000 to $700,000 price range.
However, instead of a gentle stroll to the beach with a towel draped over your shoulder, it will be necessary to purchase a bike and ride the ten minutes to the beach instead, the report noted. 
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"Looking elsewhere in the shire, the pickings become a little easier at Ocean Shores which offers reasonable proximity to beaches, albeit of a less well regarded standard than the acclaimed beaches of Byron Bay. 
"Nevertheless, it is possible to find a wider choice of property in Ocean Shores that includes a sprinkling of detached, older style houses and relatively modern townhouses and villas," the valuation firm said. 
A retro family home in Ocean Shores has recently been sold for $700,000.
The three bedroom, one bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-ocean+shores-133552854" target="_blank">2 Binya Place</a> (pictured below).
Set on a 702sqm block, the single level home is just 200m from a Waterlily park with tennis court and children's play quipment/ 
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Further afield, Mullumbimby offers a small opportunity to find an older style cottage but with the proviso that additional funds would be required to carry out update works as $700,000 will only buy the most basic standard of house.
A current listing is a three bedroom house in Mullumbimby priced at $557,000. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mullumbimby-133733834" target="_blank">10 King Street</a> home (pictured below) come with open plan living, dining and kitchen, three bedrooms and easy care lawns. 
It is located within walking distance to the town centre.
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"If land banking is more your cup of tea, it is still possible to find the odd block of land in the outer areas of Mullumbimby in the price range of $450,000 to $500,000," the valuation firm said. 
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What $700,000 can buy in Byron Bay: HTW residential 

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The impact of the COVID-19 virus is yet to be realised by the local market, however is having a major impact on local businesses in the areas of Lennox Head, Ballina and surrounds, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm took a look at how a budget of $700,000 could be invested in property markets across the nation. 
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The report notes verbal discussions with local agents indicate a decrease in interest in listed properties along with a decrease in vendors placing properties on the market. 
The North Coast of New South Wales has seen very little infections, with the majority of infections recorded in the Byron Bay locality. 
The closure of the Queensland border has had an impact on local business and in turn has had a negative impact on open houses in the local area.
Agents remain positive for the North Coast due to the recent surge of people retreating from the major cities. This coupled with economic uncertainty has helped keep property prices inflated in the coastal areas.
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"So far, we are still in a fairly firm market with some recent sales in Lennox Head, Ballina and surrounding areas making good prices. 
"Sales of vacant land in Epiq and surrounding areas have slowed slightly with some local builders indicating that land owners are postponing building till the economy stabilises," the valuation firm said. 
The market drivers within the sought-after coastal areas of the Ballina Shire are typically influenced by the performance of capital city markets - most notably the Sydney and Melbourne markets and to a lesser extent the Brisbane and coastal south- east Queensland markets, the report noted. 
 Whilst the demand resulting from these capital city markets has typically been concentrated in the more desirable areas of Byron Bay and the surrounding localities, in more recent years potential purchasers have expanded their searches into the desirable areas of the Ballina Shire - most notably Lennox Head, Skennars Head and East Ballina, as well as the rural localities of Newrybar, Brooklet, Fernleigh and Tintenbar.
A four bedroom house in Wollongbar has recently been sold for $640,000.
The family home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-wollongbar-133863474" target="_blank">5 Analei Street </a>(pictured below) comprises open plan kitchen, dining and lounge, four large bedrooms, sunroom and double garage.
It also features in ground pools, large garden and solar power.  
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A current listing is a two bedroom townhouse in Ballina with a price guide of $460,000 to $490,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-nsw-ballina-133967578" target="_blank">7/58 Martin Street</a> home (pictured below) comes with new kitchen, two bedroom upstairs, balcony and courtyards. 
It is situated close to school, hospital, parkland and town centre. 
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Ballina property market remains firm: HTW residential 

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Normandie Park, the 84 hectare mixed farming property in Exeter, has been sold, after a year on the market.
One Agency Maday Property agents Kate Maday and Henry Caprel had a guide of $5.6 million to $6 million.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-mixed+farming-nsw-exeter-700076610" target="_blank">Old Argyle Road property</a> last traded for $4 million in 2017 when offloaded by Dr Leo Shanahan and his wife Joan who wanted $4.9 million.
It was bought by businessman Ying Huang, wife of ad agency executive Robin Chen.
Normandie Park was built in 1962 and designed by Allen Jack+Cottier, having been commissioned by barrister and former Liberal parliamentarian Thomas Sidney McKay.
It was previously owned by the late NSW Liberal Legislative Council politician Thomas McKay, who served between 1966 and 1978, and who died in Exeter in 2004.
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<div class="biopar">McKay was a wartime wing commander, barrister, diary farmer, national and NSW amateur golf champion and councillor of Wingecarribee Shire in the 1950s.
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Allan Jack + Cottier designed the nine bedroom, six bathroom homestead, surrounded by established plantings, trees, dry stone walling and pathways.
The pavilion styled modernist home was constructed with double brick, with a series of interconnected wings connected by hallways. 
The stylish interiors feature three metre ceilings, open plan living, and floor to ceiling glass windows and doors. 
There are a number of slow combustion fireplaces, a large games room, media room, an internal courtyard, a bar room and central kitchen.
Away from the main residence is a fully self-contained three bedroom home. 
The property is made up of nine paddocks of prime pastoral land with basalt and loam soils, a running creek, dams, bore, and water troughs. 
 
 
 
 
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Allan Jack + Cottier designed Normandie Park, Exeter trophy home sold

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A mortgagee house in Brassall has been sold with an asking price of $320,000, the same price it was listed for.
The Skardon Crescent home has undergone recent repairs including new hot plates and oven, new air-conditioner, new ceiling fans throughout, and a fresh coat of paint inside. 
The 712 square metre block is situated on a corner overlooking bushland.
The home features four-bedrooms, two-bathrooms, and a lockup garage.
It was built in 2011.
First National Real Estate agents Lyn Armit and Allison Brennan have the listing.
 
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Brassall, Queensland mortgagee home sold for $320,000

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Oysters are filter feeders, extracting nutrients from the water, so that makes them very susceptible to water pollution such as that from bushfires.
We are trying to understand how ash from the 2019-20 bushfires has affected the waterways and oyster farms of New South Wales. Their production is worth more than A$59 million a year.
On the state’s south coast we’re working with oyster farmers as citizen scientists to determine how the ash can lead to harmful algal blooms and oyster deaths.
Over the past two years, farmers have taken more than 9,000 water and oyster samples across 13 estuaries. It’s the largest ever set of water quality and oyster health measurements from oyster-producing estuaries.
This spans the period before, during and after the recent bushfires, providing a unique opportunity to track their impact.
We are still analysing results, but it’s already clear the combination of bushfire ash followed by rainfall led to large increases in microalgae (phytoplankton) in estuaries, including species that can cause harmful algal blooms.
From coast to coast
More than half of the value of Australia’s oyster industry comes from NSW. Along the state’s 2,000km coastline, oyster leases are found in 32 estuaries, north to the Tweed River near the Queensland border and south to Wonboyn Lake near the Victorian border.
Leases are occupied within estuarine ecosystems, with each of these estuaries having a unique climate, catchment condition, area and entrance type.
Some of the NSW farmers are both oyster farmers and Rural Fire Service members, who faced the unenviable task of trying to save both their livelihoods and their homes at the same time during the 2019-20 fire season.
Oysters provide ecosystem services to waterways in which they grow. They shelter invertebrates such as worms, crabs and snails, and they provide natural breakwalls for shoreline protection.
Via their filter feeding of microalgae, individual oysters can <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0044848683903137" title="The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas: Part I. Feeding behaviour of larvae and adults">filter several litres of seawater per hour</a>, and their presence <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-oysters-and-no-its-not-what-youre-thinking-90697">improves water quality</a>.
Oysters are used as early-warning biomonitors of waterway health in environmental monitoring programs around the world.
Our new approach to examine the effect of water quality on oyster health is to look at environmental DNA (eDNA). This means we filter water and extract DNA directly from the filtrate. We then use molecular genetic tools to detect and quantify <a href="https://aem.asm.org/content/77/19/7050.short" title="sxtA-Based Quantitative Molecular Assay To Identify Saxitoxin-Producing Harmful Algal Blooms in Marine Waters">harmful microalgae and bacteria</a>.
The ripple effect: from bushfire to waterway
The recent bushfires were a timely reminder that what happens on land can impact waterways and that coastal regional areas are susceptible.
The NSW government <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/fire/park-recovery-and-rehabilitation/recovering-from-2019-20-fires/understanding-the-impact-of-the-2019-20-fires">says</a> the 2019-20 bushfires covered 5.4 million hectares, roughly 7% of the state. Nationally, more than 17 million hectares were affected.
Many oyster-growing estuaries were impacted by bushfires in their catchments, especially on the NSW south coast.
While <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/07/massive-relief-torrential-rain-douses-bushfires-across-parts-of-australia">rain this summer</a> gave a reprieve from the fires, it can wash ash into the estuaries, bringing with it excessive nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) or trace elements (iron, manganese, arsenic, chromium, aluminium, barium and lead).
These supplements can act as fertilisers, triggering the excessive growth of marine microalgae.
Harmful algal blooms
The growth of some microalgae is essential, but an excess of certain microalgal species (some of which can naturally produce toxins) can result in <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/15/2/33" title="Recent Trends in Marine Phycotoxins from Australian Coastal Waters">harmful algal blooms</a>.
A harmful algal bloom in an estuary will trigger the closure of oyster harvesting until oysters are clean. One of the largest and most significant harmful algal blooms <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/shellfish-toxin-makes-first-appearance-in-bass-strait/4939514">impacted the Tasmanian shellfish industry</a> in 2012-13. It resulted in an economic loss of around A$23 million.
Bushfire ash may have a more direct impact, by covering the surface of the water so light, which microalgae need to grow, can’t penetrate. This can cause microalgae to die or grow very slowly.
A mass death of microalgae could then change the amount of oxygen available in the water for the growth of oysters and other marine life. Excessive particulate matter in the waterway can also clog the gills of oysters, affecting their ability to filter feed.
A sustainable food
In Australia, seafood is very safe to eat. Strict monitoring and testing by <a href="https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/keeping-food-safe/summer-eating/seafood-safety">government regulators</a> have ensured illnesses are extremely rare.
Government regulators are active participants in developing new, more streamlined approaches to food safety monitoring. This combination of scientists, government regulators and oyster farmer citizen scientists working together is a model for a healthy and viable future for oyster aquaculture in the face of challenging events.
After all, oysters are <a href="https://www.marineconservation.org.au/is-aquaculture-sustainable/">regarded</a> as one of the most sustainable forms of animal protein so they need our protection.
A <a href="https://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/how-eating-more-oysters-could-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions/">recent study</a> showed that replacing 10% of animal protein with oysters in the diet of the US population would lead to greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking 11 million cars off the road.
Australia also has a <a href="http://aquaticcommons.org/9751/">rich heritage</a> of oyster aquaculture. For thousands of year, oysters were a staple food of First Nations people.
The <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/fish-species/species-list/sydney-rock-oyster">Sydney Rock Oyster</a> is one of the native species that’s been cultivated as a profitable industry in Australia since European habitation.
They’ve been farmed sustainably for more than 150 years. These oysters are still the basis of a profitable industry, which has grown in size over recent years.
We hope the results of our research will ensure the long-term viability of an industry <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/fisheries/fisheries-and-aquaculture-statistics">worth millions of dollars</a> to the Australian economy but, just as importantly, helps support many coastal communities.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131294/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shauna-murray-112963">Shauna Murray</a>, Associate Professor; Faculty of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/penelope-ajani-267601">Penelope Ajani</a>, Chancellors Post Doctoral Fellow, Climate Change Cluster, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ah-shucks-how-bushfires-can-harm-and-even-kill-our-delicious-oysters-131294">original article</a>.
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Ah shucks, how bushfires can harm and even kill our delicious oysters

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It is critical that government and industry continued to work together to ensure build-to-rent schemes could become more feasible to help address the current housing affordability issues facing so many Australians.
Build-to-rent is popular overseas in countries like the Unites States, but is still in its early stages in Australia.
As a major investor in affordable housing First State Super wants to expand our investments in this sector and see the barriers removed to make way for the market to grow.
Growth in this sector is not as financially viable in Australia as it is internationally due to a number of challenges presented by the Australian financial system with its current tax laws.
The build-to-rent sector in the United States was significant, largely made possible by the financial system in the US – particularly the banking and debt systems and urged for greater tax incentives in Australia, including GST reform and a reduction in stamp duty.
Additional changes to policy to make build-to-rent more attractive in Australia were needed including reductions to land tax as well as additional concessions for density requirements under planning laws.
In order for build-to-rent projects to be successful there needs to be a reduction in land tax and more release of State and Federal land available for development. The Australian landscape has proven to be difficult with a higher cost of land holding it back compared to some overseas markets.
First State Super welcomed the NSW Government’s recent announcement that it would cut land tax for the next 20 years for new build-to-rent housing projects and would give a 50 per cent discount on land tax to developers who invested in build-to-rent schemes. Additional schemes for build-to-rent housing projects would be welcomed to allow for more investment in this space.
Now is the opportunity for governments, industry and investors to work together and respond to these challenging issues and allow for more investment opportunities of scale in affordable housing and build-to-rent developments.
First State Super has commenced its first ‘build to rent’ affordable housing project in New South Wales and is interested in expanding its investments across Australia, in addition to other affordable housing initiatives.
Over the past 12 months First State Super has invested $250 million in key worker affordable housing initiatives in NSW and Victoria; one of the largest commitments of this kind of any Australian super fund.
These key worker affordable housing investments have seen hundreds of new or renovated apartments and units rented to nurses, teachers, police, paramedics, aged and disability support workers and other key workers at 80 per cent of the market rate.
We know that for many key workers finding safe, secure quality housing near their workplace is a challenge. These investments support key workers to secure affordable rental accommodation close to work and other important amenities.
However, they also support our crucial construction sector to maintain jobs and move forward with important projects despite the economic uncertainty.
First State Super will be making further announcements regarding additional investments in affordable housing shortly and has committed to increase that investment to $400 million this year.
There is a real opportunity for investors like us to collaborate with government to respond to the significant issue of housing affordability, to help support future housing needs across the country, provide a welcome boost to construction and to support jobs.
DAMIEN GRAHAM is the First State Super Chief Investment Officer 
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Build-to-rent is a key element of housing affordability going forward: Damian Graham

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

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

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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