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GUEST OBSERVATION
Social housing, managed by governments and the community sector, provides a safety net to vulnerable Australians. A person living in social housing is far less likely to experience homelessness than someone battling it out in the private rental market.
And some argue social housing comes with a host of other benefits, such as improvements to employment, education, incarceration rates and health outcomes.
But our research failed to find evidence of social housing residents achieving better outcomes in any of these other areas than similar residents in the private market – at least in the short run.
Prior to our research, there was limited evidence of the impact of social housing on these outcomes. State governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars providing social housing with an incomplete understanding of what that investment delivers. This needs to change.
Improving outcomes
Social housing is particularly effective at reducing homelessness because it’s affordable, as rents are typically set at around 25% of income. And Commonwealth Rent Assistance for those in the private market has been failing to keep up with increasing rental costs over recent years.
Also, social housing, particularly public housing, tends to be secure with long-term – and sometimes even life-time – leases available.
Like other welfare policies in Australia, social housing tends to be highly targeted to those with particularly low means. It has also increasingly become targeted to specific priority groups – such as those fleeing family violence or people with a disability. As at June 2017, around 395,691 households were in social housing across the country, at a cost of A$3.9 billion per year to state and territory governments.
Government policy generally assumes that providing social housing to vulnerable people will result in improvements across a range of life outcomes. As a 2017 Productivity Commission report on housing and homelessness notes:
"A lack of adequate and affordable housing contributes to housing stress and homelessness, and is detrimental to people’s physical and mental health. Homelessness affects life expectancy, with homeless people estimated to live 15–20 years less than the mainstream population."
In our research we analysed the effects of social housing on measures of these and other key outcomes as well as on the risks of incarceration and homelessness. We used the Journeys Home survey (which measures a range of characteristics over points of time of people vulnerable to homelessness placed in social housing as well as those of similar individuals not in social housing).
Comparing the outcomes for social housing residents with a statistically constructed control group, we did find placing a vulnerable person in social housing significantly reduced their risk of homelessness. In the period following placement, the person’s probability of experiencing homelessness was 13 percentage points lower than similar individuals not in social housing, who have a homelessness rate of about 20%. This is equivalent to a 65% reduction in the risk of homelessness for social housing residents.
But there were no statistically significant effects on employment, education, health (which included measures of mental health, self-assessed physical health and having a long-term health condition) or incarceration.
Already too vulnerable
The most likely explanation for this is that access to social housing has long been targeted to society’s most vulnerable members who already struggle with factors such as employment or education due to age, family commitments, disabilities and long histories of disadvantage.
Similarly, long-term health conditions – be they physical or psychological – which have been found to be associated with vulnerability to homelessness, remain even after entering social housing. Although social housing provides the stability necessary for people to seek treatment, our research tells us this doesn’t seem to flow through to measurable outcomes.
It’s also possible the effects of social housing differ across different groups of people and different types of housing. Young people, for example, may have very different employment outcomes to older people – but averaging out the results means these cohort-specific effects may be lost.
Similarly, it’s the children of residents who may be most likely to benefit from the security social housing provides. Analysis in the US found that children, particularly younger children, gained the most from experiments to improve their families’ housing situation. But we did not examine children in our analysis.
The US research also suggests it’s not just the housing that matters, but the neighbourhood too. Children of families who moved to areas with lower concentrations of poverty and crime when the children were young (below age 13) showed significantly improved educational outcomes and earnings later in life.
Why does this matter?
All of this highlights the importance of separately measuring the cohort-specific effects of programs and taking into account the neighbourhood characteristics of where people live.
Our research was unable to sufficiently take account of these factors, as we had no access to suitable large datasets, or those that include the children of residents. Much of the data that would enable this kind of analysis resides in isolation across government departments. Poor links between these sources limits researchers’ access to it.
Having access to data to conduct such analysis would give governments an opportunity to consider if the current approach of only providing social housing to the most vulnerable is optimal. Or whether they should, perhaps, expand the social housing program to capture other at-risk cohorts.
Cost-benefit analysis is routinely used to assess the value of major transport infrastructure projects. But business cases for social infrastructure projects tend to rely on qualitative assessments of benefits. We have the tools to quantify the impacts of social housing but these need to be applied to the right data.
This will help ensure governments make the right investment decisions and allocate resources more efficiently while still keeping equity concerns top of mind.
Rosanna Scutella, Senior Research Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97446/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">David Prentice, Principal Economic Advisor at Infrastructure Victoria, contributed to this article.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-housing-protects-against-homelessness-but-other-benefits-are-less-clear-97446" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Social housing protects against homelessness – but other benefits are less clear

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The Greater Brisbane dwelling market is diverging by property type in terms of resale losses, according to the latest Pain &amp; Gain report from CoreLogic.
The divergence between houses and units for loss making sales is likely attributable to higher supply levels of units across key areas of the inner city and the subsequent falling unit values.
The highest proportion of resales at a loss occurred in Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Brisbane.
Throughout south-east Queensland, the council regions with the lowest proportion of resales at a loss were Sunshine Coast, Logan and Redland. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/2/PG%20Graph%204-1.JPG" alt="">
Based on resales across Greater Brisbane over the first quarter of 2018, the total value of resales at a profit was $1.2 billion while the total value of resales at a loss was recorded at $29 million.
Brisbane generated 7.8% of the total value of resale profits nationally over the quarter and 6.8% of the losses..
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/2/PG%20Graph%204-2.JPG" alt="" width="744" height="425">
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Greater Brisbane house and apartment resale markets diverge strongly: CoreLogic

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AMP Capital announced new appointments in its real estate business, including a new role focused on growing its real estate capabilities in international markets.
Kylie O’Connor has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for Real Estate, responsible for AMP Capital Real Estate’s group-wide functions of finance, strategy, research, governance, risk and compliance, sustainability, business platforms and corporate marketing and communications.
Currently Fund Manager for AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF), AMP Capital’s largest pooled real estate fund.
To continue to leverage the strengths of AMP Capital’s real estate capabilities globally, Merran Edwards has been appointed to the new role of Head of International Strategy, Real Estate. 
Merran Edwards joined AMP Capital in March 2016 as Executive Manager, Origination and soon after was appointed to the role of Head of Corporate Portfolio Strategy. 
Luke Briscoe, as Managing Director Office &amp; Industrial, will assume a broader role with accountability for office and mixed-use development. This change aligns with AMP Capital’s integrated management model and includes the delivery of office development including the Quay Quarter Sydney project.
AMP Capital Global Head of Real Estate Carmel Hourigan said she was delighted to announce these appointments to her leadership team, and Briscoe’s expanded role.
“I’m confident these changes support our continual focus on delivering outstanding investment experiences and our aspiration to maximise opportunities for our clients. The changes align to our ambitious international and domestic growth strategy and also demonstrate the strong talent pipeline and succession planning of our people,” Hourigan said.
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AMP Capital expands their real estate team

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A five bedroom house in Western Australia's Kallaroo has been sold by mortgagees.
The Joondalup district cut de sac offering sold at $1,050,000, down on its earlier $1,300,000 asking price when offered in 2017.
It was sold by Scott Langley at RayWhite.
It was built in 1989 and last traded at $2.05 million in 2006.
The <a href="https://reiwa.com.au/4-woolwich-close-kallaroo-4042347/" target="_blank">4 Woolwich Close, Kallaroo</a> house features five large bedrooms all with robes, three bathrooms plus two powder rooms.
It also features a spacious kitchen with breakfast bar, formal and informal living/dining areas, study and a teenager's retreat/gymnasium, split-level theatre room, circular balcony overlooking pool, other balconies with views and private courtyards, and wine cave.
It has a double garage, with separate storage areas
The suburb's median house price sits on <a href="/news">$778,000</a> according to CoreLogic.
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Half price $1,050,000 Kallaroo, WA house sold by mortgagee

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The AVID Property Group has secures a 150ha site in Lower Hunter Valley region with the acquisition of the remaining 750 residential lots at Waterford County.
It is part of an established master-planned community in Chisholm, New South Wales.
AVID Property Group CEO Cameron Holt said the acquisition forms part of AVID’s growth strategy in New South Wales.
It supports his national goal to triple the company’s value over the next five years.
“We are no stranger to the region, with our development, Harvest, located just next door and benefitting from much of the same infrastructure investment we have made in the region,” Mr Holt said.
“The Lower Hunter is increasingly becoming an affordable alternative to the Sydney housing market with many buyers moving out of Sydney in favour of regional New South Wales ."
“Harvest and Waterford County are poised to meet demand for the booming population of nearby Newcastle, which is undergoing a $500 million revitalisation, increasing the need for housing in the region," suggested Mr Holt.
The second half of 2016 saw a 40 per cent rise in sales at Harvest, showing demand for property in the area, which is forecast to be home to more than 26,000 additional residents by 2036.
With an established primary school, childcare Centre and a new high school currently under construction and set to open in 2018 and a future town centre proposed in the area, AVID hopes to complete the masterplan over the next five years.
“We are looking forward to pushing through the completion of this large project,” stated Mr Holt
He concluded that “this project will complement the ongoing development of Harvest, which is 75 per cent complete and has already welcomed over 700 residents."
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AVID Property Group acquires the remaining residential lots in Waterford County

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A Bentleigh property owned by the Pellicano family for 30 years has been sold.
The property, with a permit for 52 apartments sold to a local Melbourne developer for $9.75 million.
CBRE agent Mark Wizel, who had marketed the property, said it had presented a "fantastic packaged opportunity to the market.’’ 
<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/2018/5/15/277-279%20Centre%20Road.jpg" alt="">
The 277-279 Centre Road property comprises a 1564 square metre Commercial 1 zoned allotment with a double storey commercial building of 1276 square metres offering a prominent retail strip frontage of over 33 metres with rear lane access to 36 car spaces.
The property, which is located within the coveted McKinnon Secondary College zone and across the road from an Aldi supermarket, is currently 90 per cent leased to nine tenants at a passing income of $267,000 per annum.  
The approved permit allows for a Rothelowman designed, mix-used development with 52 apartments and two significant ground floor retail spaces over seven levels. 
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/4/Table%20for%20Bentleigh.JPG" alt="">
Wizel said demand for housing in Bentleigh had driven prices past the Melbourne suburban average with a 21 per cent uplift in value over the last 18 months to register a median house price of just over $1.6 million. 
The property according to CBRE National Director Investments Mark Wizel, who brokered the deal with Julian White and Nathan Mufale, attracted a strong field of local, interstate and Asian purchasers.
Wizel said the permit appeared to unlock the best-use potential of the property although the 10-year average occupancy per tenant illustrated the strong and ongoing demand for commercial leases on the strip.
 
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Pellicano family sells their Bentleigh property

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A regional development inquiry has found another reason for a national settlement strategy.
The Planning Institute Australia (PIA) has welcomed a Parliamentary Select Committee’s call for greater investment in Australia’s rural and regional towns, citing their report, “Regions at the Ready: Investing in Australia’s Future”, as further clear evidence of the need for an integrated national settlement strategy.
After the Select Committee on Regional Development and Decentralisation report published its findings last week, Chief Policy Officer Rolf Fenner acknowledged PIA had consistently called for the Commonwealth to acknowledge the wider implications of its policy actions and investment decisions and to better promote regional development.
PIA believes that governments need to adequately fund research into the drivers of population change and settlement patterns in regional areas to understand to a greater degree the effects of it's policy actions.
As well as tp empower local communities to promote sustainable development and a better quality of life through integrated land use policies or spatial planning.
In its submission to the House of Representatives inquiry into the Australian Government’s role in the Development of Cities in 2017, PIA repeated its call for a "clear spatial planning framework" to guide and promote regional development and "guard against growing inequality between city and country Australia".
Mr Fenner said efforts to counter regional inequality needed to go beyond the traditional emphasis on direct tax/transfer redistribution and 'pork-barreling' grant programs.
Instead they should focus more on geographically appropriate and targeted investments.
These include infrastructure provision, training and job creation activities, and strategic urban and regional planning frameworks endorsed by all levels of government.
“It’s pleasing the inquiry grasps what PIA has long understood, namely that our rural and regional communities must be great places to live and work if Australia is to continue to prosper as a nation,” Mr Fenner said.
“The liveability or amenity of a city, town or community is essentially how it feels and looks: the choice, quality and location of buildings, the parks, streetscapes, and the access to shops, schools, and recreational facilities,” Mr Fenner said.
“If we fail to invest in amenity, we will also fail to entice people to live or invest in regional Australia,” he concluded.
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PIA support Parliamentary committee's call for increased rural and regional investment

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The quickest path for first home buyers to purchasing a house in Greater Darwin is Berrimah, according to a report released by Domain.
<img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/3c2bfe62-6996-4bdd-b052-948574a94f5c.png">
The time needed to save for a house or unit has dropped over the past year in Greater Darwin.
 It’s now 11 months quicker to save for an entry price house deposit and nine months quicker to save for an entry price unit deposit.
 Along with Greater Perth, Greater Darwin is the only other city where the savings journey is shorter for both houses and units than the previous year. The market has softened in Greater Darwin shaving significant time off the journey to saving a deposit, which is a positive for first home buyers.
The fastest path to unit ownership is Nightcliff
<img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b16c0b957ea98f662ab985606/images/cdad63bf-caef-4784-9015-2bb290f63258.png">
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Berrimah ranked the quickest FHB path to house ownership in Greater Darwin: Domain

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Laing+Simmons has welcomed a branch to the franchise.
Laing+Simmons Hunters Hill joins the network this week under the local leadership of Richard Pickton.
The Laing+Simmons Hunters Hill team was formerly Ray White.
Mr Pickton says the decision to join the Laing+Simmons family was based on "culture".
“We recognised it was time to elevate our business to the next level in terms of growth, and to do this we wanted to ensure we would have the right support and, importantly, the right culture behind us,” Mr Pickton says.
“The real estate market locally is going through a new phase where buyers are taking a more cautious approach to maximise value for money, yet the quality of properties and  lifestyle on offer in Hunters Hill ensure demand remains robust."
“Local expertise is the most crucial ingredient in these changing times and this, combined with the customer-first focus that characterises Laing+Simmons, will hold us in great stead going forward,” he says.
Laing+Simmons Network Growth Manager Travis Wentriro says the Hunters Hill office represents a key strategic addition in the company’s growth plans.
“This is a market where we needed to have a presence and with Richard and his team now part of the family, we’re fortunate to welcome the area’s leading team to the group and we look forward to supporting their long-term growth,” Mr Wentriro says.
The new Hunters Hill office is the latest in a string of new offices to join the Laing+Simmons network this year, and there’ll be more to come soon, Mr Wentriro says.
“We’re in advanced discussions with several best-in-business operators, both in Sydney and in key regional areas, and anticipate making some further announcements in the near future,” he concluded
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Hunters Hill Ray White, now a part of Laing+Simmons network

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Teska Carson is marketing a retail/residential investment opportunity at Malvern in Melbourne’s inner east.
The 1411 Malvern Road property comprising a two level 200 sqm building with both retail and residential components will be auctioned July 20 at 1pm on site.
It is located between Cressy Street and Tooronga Road.
The ground floor includes a self-contained retail tenancy accessed from Malvern Road and a rear one-bedroom apartment which is accessed from the laneway, while upstairs, also with access from the rear, is a first floor, two bedroom and study apartment with a north facing balcony.
The 241 square metre site, zoned Commercial 1, has seven metres street frontage and rear laneway access to parking for three cars.
The property will be sold subject to three lease agreements currently returning a combined $83,228 per annum on 12 month and less expiries.
Teska Carson’s Matthew Feld and Michael Ludski have marketed the property as "a lot of potential as a secure investment in a prime location" with potential for reconfiguration and multiple owners.
Mr Ludski said the low vacancy rate within the precinct reflected the demand for inner-east property generally but particularly along key thoroughfares such as Malvern Road.
 
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Malvern Road, Malvern retail/residential site listed

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."

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[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.

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[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

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