<html><body>
Situated at the foot of Mt Tarrengower, a Central Victorian rural property with home built of straw has been listed for sale.
Surrounded by 140 acres, it is listed at $625,000.
It has been offered by Genevieve Cantwell and Danielle Atkinson from Cantwell Property.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-vic-tarrengower-128599198" target="_blank">Located at 518 Mount Back Road, Tarrengower</a>, the home has been constructed of straw bales, with a limestone rendered exterior.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/23/Tarrengower%20House.jpg" alt="">
The building is the first stage of what was to be three sections.
It comprises entry into the imposing reception/living area, second living room and kitchen space to one side and main bedroom and bathroom/laundry to the other.
The property comes with water tanks, septic tank and small sheds.
It is only four km to Maldon. 
<a href="/news/mitch-watsons-daylesford-straw-house-sold">The most renowned straw house</a> in central Victoria sold in 2017.
 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Straw-built Tarrengower home listed for sale 

<html><body>
Property NSW, on behalf of Family and Community Services, has today launched the sale of the final two apartment blocks on Dalgety Road as part of the Millers Point sales program.
Located at <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/27-29a-31-33a-dalgety-road-millers-point-nsw-2000-2014515280" target="_blank">27-29A Dalgety Road and 31-33A Dalgety Road</a> (pictured above), these two-storey "federation style" apartment blocks are a mix of two and three bedroom units with verandas to the street and rear yards.
Situated on the western side of Dalgety Road, the properties are located within short walking distance to the Barangaroo Reserve, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Circular Quay and the CBD.
The properties are to be marketed by Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty and Savills.
Auctioning of these blocks is set for the August 22.
Including the two apartment blocks on Dalgety Road, there are six properties left to sell as part of the Millers Point sales program.
A total of 184 sales have been managed by Property NSW in Millers Point since 2014.
Proceeds from the Millers Point sales program have delivered over $591 million for investment in new social housing developments in NSW.
As of May 2018, a total of 977 units have been completed and a further 255 units are currently under construction as a direct result of proceeds received from Millers Point sales.
Developments are occurring in areas of identified need for social housing, including Bankstown, Canterbury, Liverpool, Fairfield, the Sutherland Shire and Wollongong areas.
New social housing is also under construction in Coffs Harbour and North Richmond. 
</body></html>

Final two Dalgety Road, Millers Point apartment blocks for sale

<html><body>
<div>
The NSW MP Daryl Maguire accepted assisted travel to China, his parliamentary disclosures show.
Fairfax Media has reported that he had dealings with ACA Capital's sole director Humphrey Xu for the following decade, culminating in a failed bid by ACA Investments to build a $400 million international trade centre in his Liberal electorate of Wagga Wagga.
Maguire flew to China for 11 days in August 2002 with financial assistance from ACA Capital Investments, headed by Humphrey Xu, a businessman with a property portfolio worth tens of millions of dollars in Sydney.
In 2012, Mr Maguire witnessed the signing in NSW Parliament of a memorandum of understanding between Wagga Wagga council, ACA Capital Investments, and Chinese state-owned company Wuai to build a $400 million trade centre.
</div>
<div>
<div>
But the deal had collapsed by October 2013, with a council report citing community concern over "lack of transparency". 
Mr Maguire resists pressure to resign from the NSW parliament after revelations last Friday by the Independent Commission Against Corruption that he sought commissions involving approaches on behalf of another Chinese company for finding property deals.
</div>
</div>
Country Garden Australia (CGA) have issued a further statement today in regard to recent media reports on Daryl Maguire.
"They have investigated the matter and have found nothing to support any suggestion that former or current CGA employees entered into any arrangements or agreements with Mr Maguire, nor made any payment to Mr Maguire," the Country Garden spokesperson advised.
They added that CGA has not acquired any land in the Canterbury Council region.
</body></html>

Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has wider historic Chinese links

<html><body>
The financial advisory and restructuring firm Ferrier Hodgson have been appointed voluntary administrators of the parent company of the SumoSalad Group. “The administrators now control the group’s operations and are assessing the group’s financial position,” Kelly advised SumoSalad’s creditors.
Morgan Kelly and Peter Golhard were appointed voluntary administrators of the Sumo Group HQ on July 18 pursuant to Section 436A of the Corporations Act 2001, Ross Greenwood's 2GB Money News reported.
The administrators indicated "the group's operations are continuing to trade the business in the ordinary course."
The company’s first meeting of creditors will be July 30. 
<div class="page" title="Page 4">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
A second meeting of creditors will be held on or before August 22 unless the court extends the date.
It is business as usual for the shop outlets, just the HQ which is needing a recapitalisation.
</div>
</div>
</div>
Last June SumoSalad put two of its companies into administration in order to force its retail landlords to negotiate over lease payments. Last July the fast-food franchisee had reportedly managed to negotiate lower rents from reluctant landlord Westfield through its tactic of insolvency laws.
Its founder Luke Baylis put two of its companies, Sumo Westfield Leasing Pty Ltd and Sumo Leasing Pty Ltd, which held leases of about 23 SumoSalad outlets, into administration last June saying it would not have an impact on the rest of the network's 104 stores still continuing with business as usual.
This week Baylis told Inside Retail that while the operations of the business would be in the hands of the administrators, he expected the Sumo fresh food stores to continue trading as normal while the business is restructured – a process that is likely to take between 35 and 60 days.
There are more than two companies in administration this time:
Sumo Group Australia Pty Limited (ACN 107852335)
Sumo IP Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 147743084)
Sumo Salad (Frenchising) Ply Limited (ACN 110 387 061)
Sumo Marketing Fund Pty Ltd (ACN 1,6920202)
SumoSalad Store Development Pty Ltd (ACN 106886800)
Sumo Salad Group Services Ply Ltd (ACN 142590707)
SumoSalad (Corporate Stores) Ply Limited (ACN 106886793)
Sumo Salad Leasing 2 Pty Limited (ACN 148842433)
Sumo Salad Consolidated Leasing Ply Limited (ACN 6,6940571)
SumoSalad International Frenchising Pty Ltd (ACN 1,4325629)
SumoSalad Singapore Frenchising Ply Ltd (ACN 153971781)
SumoSalad NZ Franchising Pty Ltd (ACN 102550694)
Sab Closed I Pty Ltd (ACN 142790001)
Property Observer gathers Ferrier Hodgson were initially contacted by Luke Baylis in late June to consider the appointment as voluntary administrators to the group. Morgan Kelly and Phil Quinlan attended a meeting with Luke Baylis and Glenn Toohey, CFO of the group, on July 3.
</body></html>

Administrators back at SumoSalad HQ

<html><body>
ASIC has banned former National Australia Bank branch manager, Rabih Awad, from engaging in credit activities and providing financial services for seven years.
The ban is the result of an on-going ASIC investigation, following a breach report lodged by NAB alleging that bank employees in the greater western Sydney area were accepting false documents in support of loan applications and falsely attributing loans as having been referred by NAB introducers in order to obtain undue commissions.
ASIC found that Mr Awad recklessly gave NAB information and documentation in loan applications that was false or misleading. 
Mr Awad was found to have given NAB false payslips, letters of employment, and entered false referee contact details in NAB’s lending systems in multiple home loan applications.
A majority of the false documentation submitted to NAB by Mr Awad was provided to him by a real estate agent who was previously registered as a NAB Introducer.
ASIC also found that:
<ul>
<li>Mr Awad received the false documents directly from the NAB Introducer rather than the customer, in violation of NAB’s Introducer Program; and</li>
<li>on occasion, Mr Awad received false documents from the NAB Introducer via email to his personal email account, before forwarding the documents to his NAB email account and subsequently attaching them to various customers loan applications.　</li>
</ul>
Mr Awad has the right to lodge an application for review of ASIC’s decision with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
On 16 November 2017, NAB announced a remediation program for home loan customers after an internal review, prompted by whistleblower reports it had received, found that some home loans may not have been established in accordance with NAB’s policies.
NAB identified that around 2,300 home loans since 2013 may have been submitted with inaccurate customer information and/or documentation, or incorrect information in relation to NAB’s Introducer Program.
Mr Awad’s banning follows the permanent bans of former NAB employees, Danny Merheb and Samar Merjan (also known as Samar Awad) from engaging in credit activities and providing financial services.
It should be noted that another banker named Rabih Awad, who is a mobile lender at CBA, is not the same Mr Rabih Awad as mentioned in the ASIC judgement, according to a CBA spokesperson.
</body></html>

Reckless liar loan fraud prompts ASIC ban on former NAB branch manager

<html><body>
ASIC has banned Queensland financial adviser James Cribb from providing financial services for four years and suspended his Australian financial services (AFS) licence, held by Mode AFSL Pty Ltd (Mode), for 10 weeks.
ASIC found that Mr Cribb failed to act in his clients' best interests when providing advice on self managed superannuation funds (SMSF). ASIC found that Mr Cribb prioritsied his own interests over those of his clients by providing advice that was likely to benefit other entities related to him, including an SMSF administration business for which he was the sole director and a shareholder.
Specifically, ASIC found that Mr Cribb had failed to:
<ul>
<li>investigate the individual circumstances of his clients;</li>
<li>adequately investigate alternative strategies and products that may have been suitable for his clients' objectives; and</li>
<li>prioritise his clients’ interests over his own.</li>
</ul>
Mr Cribb’s advice failures were identified in ASIC’s recent review of SMSF advice (18-192MR). ASIC has also suspended Mode’s AFS licence after ASIC found that Mode did not take reasonable steps to ensure that its representatives complied with financial services laws. As well as being an authorised representative, Mr Cribb was the sole keyperson and responsible manager of Mode since 20 July 2017. Mode’s AFS licence will be suspended for a period of 10 weeks from 10 July 2018 or until it obtains approval for a replacement key person and responsible manager from ASIC.  Mr Cribb's banning will be recorded on ASIC's Financial Advisers Register. 　
ASIC's MoneySmart website has useful information for clients of advisers to help them understand what to do if their adviser has been banned.　
Mr Cribb and Mode have the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC's decision.
Mr Cribb was also an authorised representative of Axis Investment Centre Pty Ltd (Axis) from 9 August 2010 to 14 August 2017.
In 2017, ASIC undertook a large research project into SMSFs including testing whether advice providers were complying with the law when providing personal advice to retail clients to set up an SMSF. Last month, ASIC released two reports on its findings, Report 575 and Report 576 (18-192MR).
Mr Cribb’s conduct was identified by this project as he had a number of client files included in the representative sample. These client files related to advice Mr Cribb provided whilst he was an authorised representative of Axis. ASIC subsequently commenced a targeted surveillance on Mr Cribb to test a larger sample of advice he had provided whilst he was an authorised representative of Axis and Mode.
Under the Corporations Act, ASIC has the power to suspend or cancel an AFS licence where the licensee has not complied with their obligations under 912A.
</body></html>

ASIC bans Mode financial adviser James Cribb in SMSF compliance crackdown

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
We at the SMSF Association are urging the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) to provide more guidance and certainty about how recognised prior learning for existing financial advisers will be implemented as they transition to the new education standard.
Introducing higher education standards for financial advisers has always been a key policy goal for out organisation, but it is essential that advisers have greater clarity and certainty as to how their existing qualifications will count under the new education standards being proposed by FASEA.
In its submission to FASEA on proposed guidance on education pathways for existing advisers, we at the Association say advisers who have made every effort to be educated and have completed high quality education and accreditations should have their efforts to be professionally recognised under the FASEA framework.
Currently, the proposed FASEA education standards for existing advisors do not provide enough recognition for prior learning.
A more meaningful recognition of advisers’ prior education should help them in the transition to the new regime with less cost and effort while maintaining the high standards that must be achieved to ensure consumer trust. 
We at the Association also strongly recommended that financial advisers who service SMSF trustees should be required to have completed specialised SMSF education.
This has been a long-term position of the Association that was recently echoed by ASIC who recommended that specific SMSF education requirements for advisers be introduced to raise standards of advice in response to the advice failings documented in ASIC’s Report 575 ‘SMSFs: Improving the quality of advice and member experiences’.
We also recommended greater flexibility for new entrants to undertake university study and still be able to enter the financial advice profession.
The proposed FASEA pathway for new entrants is too rigid and may starve the industry of future advisers.
We have also raised concerns about accountants giving SMSF advice under a limited license not being adequately considered under the existing pathways framework.
We are advocating a specific pathway designed for the services they provide rather than having them spend considerable time and money studying subjects that are not relevant to the advice they provide.
Jordan George is the SMSF Association's Head of Policy and holds an Honours degree in Economics and Law from Adelaide University
</body></html>

More clarity needed about financial advisor's prior learning: Jordan George

<html><body>
<div>The NSW Government has approved a new office accommodation policy that will encourage greater workplace flexibility for government sector employees.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>CEO of Property NSW, Brett Newman, said the office accommodation policy contained principles to inform government office spaces of the future, with a focus on co-locating agencies in government office hubs in key strategic Sydney CBD, metropolitan and regional centres.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“With the Government reducing its Sydney CBD office footprint and moving to a fully flexible government sector workforce, we’re committed to ensuring our property portfolio can deliver improved outcomes for workers and better value for money for taxpayers,” Mr Newman said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“At present, government office accommodation across the Sydney CBD, metropolitan and regional areas is highly fragmented, costly and of varying quality."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Our hubs strategy will focus on co-locating staff across departments with shared facilities, helping to break down silos and ultimately encouraging better collaboration across government.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The hubs strategy will initially focus on Sydney’s CBD, where the NSW Government has more than 300,000sqm of leased space across 50 buildings.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Property NSW has been tasked with developing the policy</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Between now and 2020, the Government is planning on delivering more than 140,000 sqm of collaborative office space across metropolitan and regional locations.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This includes new or refurbished office space in Phillip St and 4 Parramatta Square, Parramatta; Macquarie Park; Gosford; The Rocks; Sydney Olympic Park; Orange, and Liverpool.  </div>
</body></html>

NSW government's new policy to create flexible work hubs

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The busiest suburbs for auctions this weekend are all in Melbourne. 
Topping the list with 16 scheduled auctions is Reservoir, followed by Bentleigh East with 13 and Glenroy with 11, while Craigieburn and Mount Waverley will host 10 auctions each this week.
Upcoming auctions
Auction activity is expected to remain relatively subdued this week with 1,155 homes scheduled for auction across the combined capital cities, similar to the 1,178 auctions held last week, although lower than this time last year when 1,748 homes were taken to auction.
Looking at the individual capital cities, auction volumes are similar week-on-week with Melbourne and Tasmania set to see an increase in the number of homes taken to auction while Canberra is expecting no change in auction volumes.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/auction%202.jpg" alt="">
 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/auction%203.jpg" alt="">
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Melbourne is set to be the busiest auction market this week, with a total of 569 homes scheduled for auction, similar to last week when 559 auctions were held across the city but lower than 12 months ago when 833 homes went under the hammer in Melbourne.
In Sydney, 386 homes are currently scheduled for auction this week, down from 408 last week and lower than the same week last year when 625 auctions were held across the city.
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Summary of Last Week’s results
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Last week saw 1,178 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, returning a clearance rate of 52.0 per cent after the previous week recorded a clearance rate of 52.6 per cent across 1,411 auctions. Over the same week last year, 1,627 homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was a stronger 69.4 per cent.
Melbourne’s final clearance rate came in at 56.2 per cent across 559 auctions lastweek, similar to the previous week when 631 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 56.1 per cent was recorded. This time last year auction volumes were higher across the city with 756 homes going under the hammer returning a clearance rate of 74.9 per cent.
Sydney’s final clearance rate dropped to 46.9 per cent last week across 408 auctions, the lowest clearance rate the city has seen since December 2012. In comparison, 552 auctions were held across Sydney over the previous week returning a clearance rate of 50.1 per cent while this time last year, 609 homes went under the hammer, returning a clearance rate of 69.2 per cent.
Across the smaller auction markets, clearance rates improved everywhere except Brisbane. In terms of volumes, Adelaide was the only city to see an increase with an additional 8 homes taken to auction over the week.
Of the non-capital city markets, the Hunter region recorded a 70.6 per cent final auction clearance rate across 17 results, followed closely by Geelong where 70.4 per cent of the 27 auction results were successful.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/auction%204.jpg" alt="">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/auction%205.jpg" alt="">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
One upcoming auction in Reservoir is a Henty St two bedroom townhouse which has been listed for $475,000 to $420,000 (pictured below).
It has been offered by Marc Romeo from Barry Plant.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-reservoir-128754662" target="_blank">Located at 7/84-86 Henty St</a>, the double storey townhouse comes with two bedrooms, modern kitchen, spacious courtyard and lock uo garage.
It is currently leased at $ $1,651 P.C.M.
 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/reservoir%201.jpg" alt="">
Another Banbury Rd three bedroom house priced at $610,000 to $670,000 also has been schduled for auction on July 21.
It has been offered by Phil Peros and Ken Gu from Love&amp;Co.
Set on a 456sqm allotment,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-reservoir-128647510" target="_blank"> 62 Banbury Rd</a> features three bedrooms, family sized eat-in kitchen, large living room, and sleek bathroom. 
Additional features include carport, garage, storeroom and alfresco area.
It is close to Edwards Lake and the station. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/reversoir%202.jpg" alt="">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Reservoir tops winter weekend auction activity again: CoreLogic 

<html><body>
There were 31,859 personal insolvencies in 2017–18, which is the largest annual number of personal insolvencies since the record of 36,539 set in 2009–10, according to the latest report from AFSA the Australian Financial Security Authority.
The number of personal insolvencies rose by 5.6% in 2017–18 compared to 2016–17. 
Comprised of a 3% increase in bankruptcies, a 9.1% increase in debt agreements and a decrease in personal insolvency agreements of 12.3%.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/19/AFSA%20Chart%201.JPG" alt="">
Personal insolvencies reached record annual levels in Northern Territory and Western Australia in 2017–18.
The 14,834 new debt agreements in 2017–18 was the highest annual number on record, and represents the seventh consecutive annual increase.
Debt agreements were at record annual levels in all states and territories except Tasmania.
There were 214 new personal insolvency agreements in 2017–18, a fall of 12.3% from 244 in 2016–17.
Personal insolvency agreements fell to a record annual low in Victoria.
Personal insolvencies reached record annual levels in Northern Territory (352) and Western Australia (4,020) in 2017–18.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/19/AFSA%20Chart%202.JPG" alt="">
Bankruptcies jumped to 16,811 in Australia in 2017–18, an increase of 3.0% from 16,320 in 2016–17.
The annual rise in bankruptcies is the largest since 2008–09, with the only other rise of 0.2% occurring in 2015–16.
Despite this rise, the number of bankruptcies is below 2008–09, when there were 27,520 bankruptcies.
The annual rise in bankruptcies in 2017–18 was the result of increases in the Northern Territory (31.7%); Tasmania (11.0%); Western Australia (10.6%); New South Wales (3.0%); Queensland (2.9%); South Australia (0.6%).
These increases were partly offset by falls in the Australian Capital Territory (5.6%) and Victoria (5.4%).
Bankruptcies reached an annual record high of 158 in the Northern Territory this year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/19/AFSA%20Chart%203.JPG" alt="">
There were 14,834 new debt agreements in 2017–18, an increase of 9.1% from 13,597 in 2016–17.
This is the highest annual number of debt agreements on record and represents the seventh consecutive annual increase.
Debt agreements have increased as a proportion of total personal insolvencies from 23.4% to 46.6% since 2008–09.
Debt agreements increased in 2017–18 compared to 2016–17 in all states and territories.
All states and territories reached record annual highs except for Tasmania.
There were 332 debt agreements in Tasmania, two less than the record level of 334 set in 2012–13.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/19/AFSA%20Chart%204.JPG" alt="">
</body></html>

Insolvency, debt agreements and bankrupcy continued to grow this year: AFSA

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

Staff reporter

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News