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Colliers International has released its Asia Pacific Market Snapshot Q2 2020 report, highlighting that activity and investor interest in Asia Pacific property markets remained robust in the second quarter.
Large-scale commercial and industrial transactions in multiple markets helped offset weakness in some other sectors, according to the multi-sector report, which examines the previous quarter’s property market performance in 19 Asia Pacific markets and provides forecasts for the current and upcoming quarters.
“We have observed emerging and encouraging signs of recovery in the region, which has been reflected in investor appetite and investment activity remaining fairly firm in the past quarter. These are highly encouraging upward trends that transactions are picking up against a backdrop of economic volatility and uncertainty,” Terence Tang, Managing Director of Capital Markets &amp; Investment Services Asia at Colliers International, said. 
The industrials sector, both logistics and technology centres, will continue to appeal to investors given the strong uptake of e-commerce and accelerated digital transformation across the region, while interest in quality office assets in major cities remain high. We are anticipating investment activity to gain pace in the coming months as investors move to take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge as economies further stabilise and markets bounce back.” 
“We are expecting an increase in investment activity in the second half of the year,” John Marasco, Managing Director of Capital Markets &amp; Investment Services Australia &amp; New Zealand, said. “Demand for office assets in Australia’s key cities should remain high as companies activate ‘return to office’ policies, while investors are also looking to buy into New Zealand.”
Singapore logistics, office properties shine 
Confidence and stability are expected to return to the market in the coming quarters, helped by government support measures and improving stock market conditions.   Big-ticket transactions returned to Singapore’s commercial and industrial property sectors despite the implementation of tough ‘circuit breaker’ measures that dented overall transaction volumes for the quarter. 
Australia still an investor favourite 
The second quarter saw the completion of several significant transactions in Australia’s major cities, including an AU$145 million (US$100.6 million) office deal in Melbourne that demonstrated sustained investor appetite for commercial property. Deal flows are expected to increase in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the second half of the year as conditions normalise, given Australia’s enduring appeal as a regional and global investment destination. 
Hong Kong residential property market expected to gain traction
Demand for residential property is likely to remain strong given continued limited supply, helping to balance a less positive outlook in the retail and hospitality sectors due to limited visitor numbers. However, while sentiment remains cautious, there were signs in the second quarter of mainland Chinese investors returning to Hong Kong’s property market as China emerged from lockdown. 
China policymakers move to support market
The second quarter saw a raft of policy measures from local and national governments in China that are likely to bolster the country’s property markets in the months ahead. These included the resumption of infrastructure real estate investment trust (REIT) pilot projects, and new high-profile industrial and business developments in major hubs like Shanghai and Guangzhou. 
Japan office markets hold firm 
Office properties in Tokyo and Osaka remained in relatively high demand in the second quarter, even amid lower participation by overseas investors. Logistics has a broadly positive outlook given a scarcity of quality stock near major urban centres and the rapid growth of e-commerce. The retail and hospitality sectors also continued to attract investor interest despite the lack of international tourism. 
Domestic investors active in Korea 
Strong interest from domestic institutional investors, particularly in Seoul’s Gangnam business district, helped push total office transactions in Korea for the quarter to KRW2.5 trillion (US$2.1 billion). The positive trend is expected to continue in the months ahead with several major office transactions in the pipeline and a generally supportive policy backdrop. 
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Asia Pacific property markets demonstrate resilience in Q2

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The median Adelaide rental yield has fallen slightly, according to the CoreLogic June 2020 quarterly rental review.
House yields in the South Australia capital sit at 4.2% (down from 4.3% 12 months ago), and unit yields sit at 5.3% (down from 5.4% 12 months ago).
The current combined median yield (for all property types) is 4.4%, down from 4.5% 12 months ago.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%20cities%20yield.png" alt="">
This reflects a downturn of 0.2% month-on-month and 0.1% over the quarter.
For renters, this translates to a median rental price of $397 ($410 for houses and $343 for units).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/cap%202.png" alt="">
In the 12 months to June, rental yields fell across seven of the eight capital city markets. Perth was the only exception.
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Adelaide rental yields drop off in June: CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review 

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EXPERT OBSERVER 
Urban Taskforce has welcomed the announcement by the NSW Minister for Planning, Hon Rob Stokes, of plans to progress the renewal and redevelopment of the Pyrmont Peninsula.
This is a welcome move forward after a poison combination of politics and bureaucratic in-fighting stymied development of this critical location last year with the IPC determining that the Star Casio / Ritz Carlton Hotel development was not supported by Strategic plans for the precinct late last year.
It is fantastic to see that the NSW Government has acknowledged the critical role that Pyrmont plays in the future of Sydney as a global city.
The release of ‘Directions for the Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy’ by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is a good start as it promotes the renewal and redevelopment of Pyrmont and its surrounds. 
The new “strategy” establishes the strategic framework for high rise development in Pyrmont and the logical extension of the CBD along the Pyrmont peninsular.
This change has come about following a comprehensive review of the Independent Planning Commission, the public intervention by the Treasurer and a review of the precinct by the GSC. 
The Department of Planning’s submission on the Star proposal as sent to the Independent Planning Commission last year was anti-jobs and anti-growth. This is exactly the opposite to what is needed given the recession we now face.
Urban Taskforce is pleased to see that the Minister for Planning has taken hold of this matter and established a plan for the development of this important precinct.
A change of mind-set is needed across the planning system.
All those involved in the planning system need to stop and re-set. We must continue to deliver improved amenity for residents, improved environmental outcomes and improved architectural built form. But the interests of local NIMBY groups must now to be considered against the greater need for economic growth, increased housing supply, jobs and employment. 
Now is the time to shift the focus away from Strategic Planning and for Minister Stokes to use the powers he has a the Minister for Planning to drive through a COVID Recovery State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) which suspends the need to conform with Local Strategic Plans and facilitates approvals as a matter of priority. Jobs and investment are what is needed. This is in the hands of the NSW Government.
The GSC, having completed its Strategic Planning mandate, should now focus all its efforts on supporting the Department in calling in projects and fast-tracking them for approvals.
With all the legislative powers at his hands, Minister can make a new SEPP any time (based on a location, a precinct, power to suspend the need for concurrences or the need for lengthy exhibition processes. Minister, this is the time to use those powers. 
While most Councils are flat-out setting up working from home arrangements and managing public health, rubbish collection and general order, this is the time for the NSW Government to step in and drive our economy forward so we are ready to go as soon as the current health crisis abates.
Tom Forrest is the CEO of Urban Taskforce. 
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Urban Taskforce welcomes release of Pyrmont plan: Tom Forrest 

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Households recorded almost record high financial comfort levels in June, but residential property owners expect to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 downturn until at least 2021, according to the latest report from ME Bank.
"Australian household financial comfort increased 3% to 5.76 (out of 10) in the past six months to June 2020 − just shy of its historical high of 5.78 recorded in December 2014," the July 2020 ME Bank household financial comfort report found.
"Contrary to expectations, financial comfort has jumped the most among typically struggling cohorts such as casual workers, the unemployed, low income households and single parent households (though their comfort levels remain a great deal lower than the average household and higher-income Australians)."
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/ME%20bank%20graph%201.png" alt="">
Despite this, the report found that more owner occupiers (25%) expect the value of their property to fall during 2020/21 than rise (22%).
This represents a significant change from just six months ago, when only 6% expected property prices to fall and 47% expected them to rise.
Furthermore, the report found that expectations vary significantly across major capital cities, with occupiers in Sydney less pessimistic than Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Perth owner-occupiers are highly pessimistic, with 40% expecting lower prices in comparison to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane expecting a fall of 22%, 29% and 27%.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/29/ME%20bank%20graph%202.png" alt="">
Investors are more optimist about dwelling prices than six months ago, 26% now expect the value of their investment property to rise in the next twelve months.
Across households, those most worried about debt include 51% of those paying off a mortgage compared to 21% of households that own their home.
"Financial comfort levels are up for now, but many households are on the cliff's edge," the report said. 
"Many eyes will be on what governments do in the final months of 2020 and into next year."
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Financial comfort rises but property owners remain pessimistic: ME Bank July household financial comfort report

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With a budget of $700,000, the best opportunities in the southern Gold Coast region are in areas such as Miami or Burleigh Waters, according to the July 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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"For your money, you could get a two- or three-bedroom duplex or townhouse in either of these suburbs," the valuation firm said.
Both these areas and properties offer a good opportunity to purchase a relatively good sized property at the entry level price for the suburb.
The report notes either an original three-bedroom or a renovated two-bedroom duplex or townhouse unit is achievable within the price bracket and can provide good investment returns.
The buyer profile for this area is generally couples purchasing their first investment or first property for renovation. 
The rental returns in the current market have significantly dropped from talking to local property managers but they are all confident there will be a rebound in the next six months.
"If you were looking to purchase multiple properties or achieve a good return, any purchase close to Bond University will ensure strong rental returns and if you have $700,000 to spend, there are opportunities to purchase two one-bedroom units around Varsity for about $300,000 each with rental returns of between $375 and 450 per week," the valuation firm said. 
A two bedroom, two bathroom townhouse at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-qld-burleigh+waters-133875574" target="_blank">2/2 Barbet Place, Burleigh Waters</a> has recently been sold for $450,000.
The home comes with open plan living, upgraded kitchen, separate laundry and single lock up garage. 
It is situated within walking distance of beaches, local shops, schools and public transport. 
<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/2020/8/14/burleigh%20waters%20.jpg" alt="">
 A two bedroom, two bathroom unit at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-miami-134148946" target="_blank"> 63/7 Redondo Avenue, Miami </a>(pictured below) has hit the market with a price of $449,000.
The unit comes with renovated bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, and underground car park.
It is located within 100m to the beach. 
<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/2020/8/14/miami.jpg" alt="">
Covid 19 update:
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To date, the impact of the pandemic on the southern regions of the Gold Coast hasn’t translated into a downturn either in property sales or prices, the report noted. 
House prices remain firm, however some properties are staying on the market a little longer, although still transacting within a three-month period, with some properties as short as a few days.
"The rental market has been negatively impacted with heavy discounts being provided for new leases or pauses on current leases.
"This may see a downturn in future sale prices but this hasn’t been realised yet in sale prices currently being achieved," the valuation firm said. 
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What a lazy $700,000 can buy in Southern Gold Coast: HTW residential 

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Former Screaming Jets drummer, auctioneer and sales agent Craig Rosevear, aka ‘Rosie’, has taken the helm of The Agency’s Newcastle operation. 
Craig Rosevear, joined by his wife Belinda, have decades of property experience between them and are much-loved local identities. “I am so excited about Craig and Belinda Rosevear joining The Agency and representing us in Newcastle. Their varied creative talents, property market knowledge and community networks are quite extraordinary,” Matt Lahood, The Agency’s CEO, explains.
 “They are wonderful people with the community at heart and have been passionate about property for 20 years. Craig is an extremely talented auctioneer and licensed agent, Belinda has been successfully flipping houses for 15 years.” 
In the 90s Craig Rosevear travelled the world with the Screaming Jets, eventually landing in Los Angeles. 
Two things happened when Craig and Belinda Rosevear returned to Newcastle in 2005, they set up Rosie’s School of Rock to teach young people the art of music and give them confidence in life, and they purchased their first property in Hamilton North. This was the beginning of their love affair with property.  Rosie’s School of Rock grew to a team of 23 and became a local institution. Belinda Rosevear focussed on flipping Newcastle-based properties, while Craig Rosevear became a licensed agent and auctioneer in 2016, joining Damien Cooley’s highly-awarded Cooley Auctions’ team.
On top of all of this, Craig Rosevear also became a TV presenter on the 9NBN property lifestyle show, Location...Lifestyle...Living.
“Belinda and I have always been passionate about property, when Covid-19 took hold earlier in the year, we decided to close Rosie’s School of Rock and focus on real estate,” Craig Rosevear says. 
As Matt Lahood shares, the connection with Craig Rosevear was a fortuitous alignment, given Cooley Auctions became our key NSW auctioneering partner in July this year.
<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/2020/8/24/Craig%20Rosevear%20Rosie%20Screaming%20Jets%20and%20now%20The%20Agency%20Newcastle.jpg" alt=""> “Craig had already been calling The Agency’s Newcastle auctions for some time, he was our first choice. Then Damien Cooley and his team became our official auctioneering partners in July, strengthening our already close relationship with Craig.
"And now, he and Belinda will be leading The Agency sales charge and building an amazing local team!” Matt Lahood says. 
Craig and Belinda Rosevear will be focused on building The Agency brand and team in Newcastle. The duo are already in discussions with key individuals who fit the premium property market they will be targeting.
According to Craig Rosevear, it was The Agency’s positive energy, vibrancy and close-knit team that drew him and Belinda to the brand.  “The agents connected with the brand have always seemed so supportive of each other and there’s a general ‘abundance’ mentality within the brand,” Craig Rosevear shares. 
“We’re Newcastle born and bred, but having lived in Sydney and LA, we truly understand the unique appeal of where we live. In recent years Newcastle has transformed from a town to a city and I’ve never been a prouder Novocastrian.
"Covid-19 has shown that you can successfully work remotely, or perhaps a hybrid of work from home and a couple of days in the office. Newcastle’s role as a satellite town to Sydney has never been more appealing.”
 
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Rockstar, auctioneer and agent Craig Rosevear leads The Agency Newcastle

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A 27-level high state-of-the-art commercial office building on Little Collins Street has been approved by the City of Melbourne.
It is set to redefine the traditional office space by creating a vertical community with a strong emphasis on sustainability, technology, health and well-being.
Developed by Golden Age Group and featuring an all-star design team by Cox Architecture, Hecker Guthrie and Jack Merlo, 130 Little Collins Street will combine retail and office spaces, including state-of-the-art amenities, private end of trip facilities and sustainable garden terraces throughout.
Golden Age purchased the site in 2019 from the Uniting Church, where it served as the Uniting Church’s Victorian and Tasmanian headquarters for the last 52 years since the building was built in 1967.
Golden Age Group Founder and Managing Director Jeff Xu said 130 Little Collins Street reimagines the typical commercial office building and in a post-COVID world, is more relevant than ever before.
“The typical commercial building has been turned on its head as a result of COVID; businesses have realised they can work efficiently outside of the corporate environment and they no longer want to share with hundreds of other tenants.
“Instead, we’re foreseeing a preference towards more boutique floorplans as a result of businesses scaling down their requirements for an office, coupled with something that greater emphasises lifestyle, which we’ve achieved through sustainable design, state of the art amenities and new-age technology.
“!30 Little Collins Street is more akin to a lifestyle hotel design than a typical commercial office tower,” he said.
On offer will be food and beverage offerings; a business centre; office spaces throughout; garden terraces; an airline lounge and a communal garden rooftop terrace.
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With an emphasis on sustainability and wellbeing, 130 Little Collins Street will look to target 5-Star NABERS, 5-Star Green Star Design &amp; As-Built, in addition to WELL Certification.
The project is set to launch to market in the coming months.
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Golden Age Group receives green light for new state-of-the-art commercial office building

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Albion Central, a fully leased new service and retail and medical centre boasting a 10-year WALE has been announced for sale. 
The property is being sold by JLL together with Morrison Project Consulting. 
JLL Senior Director and Joint Head of Retail Investments Australia, said Albion Central was of the most outstanding convenience retail centres in Brisbane’s affluent inner north.  
“The freehold interest provides a secure, long term income stream, in addition to a strong capital growth outlook and long-term re-development potential.” 
“At home on 2,400sqm, the centre caters to a high-profile demographic and has a tenancy mix to suit - all are on brand-new 10-year leases with fixed annual rent reviews of 3.50% or higher.
“Offering a 10-year WALE, Albion Central will provide the successful purchaser with a secure, long term income stream. Given the rental position, after 10 years the property will be producing a gross income of over $1,321,000 per annum.” 
The property occupies a corner position fronting the Albion Fiveways on the doorstep to the blue-ribbon suburb of Ascot, Clayfield and Hamilton, with exposure to over 80,000 passing cars per day. 
Just opened in July 2020, the centre is fully leased to seven boutique retailers, anchored by Albion Marketplace and Next Practice Medical.  
Albion Central is being offered For Sale via Expressions of Interest closing September 17.
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Albion Central, Brisbane’s inner north retail centre listed for sale

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The $1 billion mixed-use M-City development in Clayton has been completed by contractor Multiplex, on behalf of Schiavello Group.
The site is prominently located at 2109-2125 Dandenong Road, on the corner of Princess Highway and Blackburn Road.
Designed by the Buchan Group, M-City is one of the largest master-planned community single stage developments undertaken in Victoria to date.
"We are delighted to complete one of the most significant new developments in Victoria. M-City is a vibrant miniature city in itself delivering premium office, residential, retail and hotel accommodation. It will quickly become a new lifestyle destination in Clayton," said Graham Cottam, Regional Managing Director of Multiplex Victoria.
Multiplex commenced work on M-City in July, 2018 and construction spanned a two- year period, with up to 1,100 workers on-site during peak periods.
<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/2020/7/29/M-city%202.jpg" alt="">
The 30,000 square metre site has a combined built area of over 18 hectares.
Four residential buildings have been built, ranging from three to 12 levels.
There are a total of 665 apartments.
The apartment towers feature rooftop gardens, tennis courts, a swimming pool and spa, a fitness centre, and BBQs.
M-City also features a 4.5-star international hotel that will be operated by Park Royal.
M-City has an eight-level commercial office tower providing 14,000 square metres of commercial space above a two-level retail podium.
The 30,450 square metre retail centre comprises 78 stores including Woolworths, K- Mart, Village cinema complex, a medical centre and a childcare centre with a two-level carpark providing 2,000 car spaces.
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Clayton's $1 billion M-City development completed

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GUEST OBSERVATION
But that revolution has long been thwarted by resistance – crucially from management concerned about productivity and performance.
It was <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/what-telecommuting-looked-like-in-1973/418473/?sf43013774=1">the case in 1974</a>, according to Jack Nilles, who led <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://dl.acm.org/doi/book/10.5555/540203">the first major study</a> to evaluate the benefits of “telecommuting” (by a team from the University of Southern California). It was still the case in 2019, according to researchers from San Jose State University, whose studies showed <a href="https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/1860-Prager-Flexible-Workplaces-South-Bay_0.pdf">managerial and executive resistance</a> were the major perceived obstacles to the expansion of flexible working practices.
Our own research with Australian public service managers in 2018 found extensive managerial resistance to employees working from home.
Wondering how the enforced experience of working from home might change such attitudes, we surveyed 6,000 Australian public servants (including 1,400 managers) in June and July, and found the seeds for a revolution.
Only 8.4% of managers rated their teams less productive when working from home, while 57% thought productivity the same, and 34.6% believed it higher.
These findings, along with others, suggest working from home, at least for part of the week, may become the norm.
Negative perceptions
It is difficult to estimate precisely how many people had the option of working from home prior to the pandemic. Australian Bureau of Statistics data <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6333.0">published in September 2019 </a> indicated about a third of all employed people regularly worked from home. But it is likely this number also includes workers catching up on work after hours.
In the public sector, about one-third of executives worked away from the office, but <a href="https://www.apsc.gov.au/sites/default/files/apsc_state_of_the_service_report_2018-19.pdf">less than 15%</a> of non-executive employees did.
Our 2018 research, involving focus groups with nearly 300 managers across four state public services, found extensive managerial resistance to allowing work from home despite supportive policies permitting it.
Public sector managers shared with private sector managers concerns about performance and productivity, and the difficulty of remotely managing workers. They often framed their resistance around concerns about technology or work health and safety.
But on top of this, public service managers were sensitive about agreeing to any working arrangements that might feed community stereotypes about public servants having it easy.
Key findings
The COVID-19 pandemic rendered those objections irrelevant. By the end of May, <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6764395/the-numbers-that-reveal-%20%20%20the-scale-of-the-public-services-response-to-covid-19/">57%</a> of Australian Public Service employees were reportedly working from home.
To compile our findings we worked with the Community and Public Sector Union, which distributed the survey on our behalf. The 6,000 respondents included about 20% non-union members and 22% managers, across a broad range of occupations and agencies.
As noted, three times as many managers thought team productivity and performance had increased as those who perceived a decrease, with the majority neutral.
<hr>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/354017/original/file-20200821-14-awgoce.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/354017/original/file-20200821-14-awgoce.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Manager perceptions of team performance working from home, by gender."></a> Manager perceptions of team performance working from home, by gender. The authors, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a>
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Female managers were slightly more likely to perceive greater productivity (36.7% compared to 31.1% of male managers), as were managers of teams larger than ten employees.
One manager noted “people are either productive or not, and it doesn’t matter where they work from”. Others said it had changed their management style for the better, forcing them to realise they did not need to micromanage to get results.
Nearly two-thirds said they intended to be more supportive of working from home in the future (though 2% said they planned to be less supportive). Male managers were the most swayed, with 68% saying they would be more supportive, compared with 63.6% of female managers.
One manager noted:
I had always accepted the department line that working from home is a privilege and not a real workplace. Also that working from home makes you unavailable and disconnects you from the workplace. Discovered that I couldn’t have been more wrong.“
Generally, our results show employees were mostly positive about working from home, with more than four out of five saying it gave them more time with their family, two-thirds saying they got more work done, and three in five enjoying having more autonomy over their work.
The downsides
There can be downsides to working from home, however. As one respondent put it: "I hate my house, it’s cold, and the kids are annoying, the dog stinks.”
The <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-not-just-the-isolation-working-from-home-has-surprising-downsides-107140">key issues identified by research</a> are social isolation, lack of feedback and loss of separation of work from home life.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/354027/original/file-20200821-18-16za4ti.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Tired women using laptoop at night.">A quarter of workers reported working longer hours. Shutterstock
On the isolation and feedback front, our results were generally positive. Managers indicated communication technology enabled teams to stay in touch in multiple ways, from instant messaging to video conferencing. While just over 10% stuck to their usual meeting routine, the majority (about 60%) had increased their use of virtual meetings. This included scheduling social activities such as virtual coffee and drinks.
On the question of work-life balance, our results were more mixed.
Three-quarters reported they continued to work their usual work hours. But one in four reported working longer hours. Mostly this was due to increased workload, though almost 15% said they had been working more voluntarily because they were absorbed by their work. Many managers noted this increased motivation and mood.
Given the focus of the public service, this result is not necessarily one we can presume would apply across the entire workforce. That said, longer working hours do seem a feature of working from home during this pandemic. Based on data from more than 3 million in 16 cities, researchers found the average workday for those under lockdown <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-shorter-meetings-but-longer-days-how-covid-19-has-changed-the-way-we-work-143894">is about 48 minutes longer</a>.
These findings on longer hours potentially offset some of the positive perceptions of productivity improvements. The emergency conditions in which both managers and workers have been prepared to go the extra mile cannot become the baseline for expectations permanently.
Despite these caveats, and the need to point out that organisations still have much to do to embed flexibility in their cultures, our results add to the evidence that the great working-from-home experiment of 2020 has broken the back of decades of inherited managerial resistance. The revolution may have started.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/144850/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/linda-colley-22201">Linda Colley</a>, Associate Professor HRM/IR, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sue-williamson-104295">Sue Williamson</a>, Senior Lecturer, Human Resource Management, UNSW Canberra, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</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/with-management-resistance-overcome-working-from-home-may-be-here-to-stay-144850">original article</a>.
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With management resistance overcome, working from home may be here to stay

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Staff reporter

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