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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

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

Joel Robinson

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

Staff reporter

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