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A architecturally designed five bedroom Greenvale house on a 462 square metre of land has been sold by mortgagees for $832,000.
It was sold by Lilian Farrugia and Albert Edward from Stockdale &amp; Leggo Gladstone Park on June 2.
It was last traded at $762,000 in 2016.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-greenvale-128229326" target="_blank">Located at 4 Kea Place, Greenvale</a>, in Melbourne's North, comes with five bedrooms, centralised family bathroom, kitchen on a grand scale and tiled alfresco.
Other features include video intercom, CCTV, alarm system, solar panels and double glazed windows. 
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price sits on $692,000. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Greenvale five bedroom home sold for $832,000 by mortgagee

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The Dover Financial Group is set to close leaving the $4 billion dollars of investor funds from around 30,000 clients in the lurch.
It follows news that Dover Financial Group's founder, Terry McMaster has entered the final stages of its agreement with the corporate regulator, Australian Securities and Investments Commission following his recent royal commission appearance that ended in him requiring hospitalisation.
The regulator intends stripping the firm of its operating licence.
The ABC reported McMaster's email announcement to his staff on Friday, where Mr McMaster stated that ASIC, required the firm to "cancel its AFSL [Australian Financial Services Licence] by 6 July 2018" and "terminate the appointment of its authorised representatives". 
 Advisers have to cease giving new advice immediately and stop servicing the clients completely by the first week of July.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has confirmed that its inquiries into the firm were ongoing.
Fairfax Media reported McMaster had sought until the end of the year to wind down his business but that ASIC had told him that his time was up.
The 400 advisers will need to find another licence-holder to work under.
In the period to 1 April 2018 Dover incorporated a document known as the Dover Client Protection Policy into its financial services guides and its statements of advice.
On 22 March 2018 Dover was notified by ASIC that it had reviewed the Dover Client Protection Policy and believed it contained certain provisions which were unlawful and void.
The Dover website noted it does not know of any client adversely effected by those provisions.
"In good faith Dover cooperated with ASIC and immediately withdrew the Dover Client Protection Policy and replaced it with the Dover Client Information Policy, with retrospective effect, and undertook to not rely on the relevant provisions.
"Dover also wrote to each client potentially affected by those provisions."
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Dover Financial Group begins ASIC-forced shutdown

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Melbourne's top weekend auction sale was when a Sydney buyer secured a luxury $2,062,000 Williamstown townhouse.
The <a id="LPlnk408407" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.domain.com.au/4-stanley-street-williamstown-vic-3016-2014367621" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4</a><a id="LPlnk157413" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-williamstown-128317538" target="_blank"> Stanley Street</a> three-bedroom home was built two years ago, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the bay towards the city.
<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/2018/6/12/williamstown2.jpg" alt="">
It had been offered by Williams agent Michael Harvey with $1.8 million to $1.9 million hopes.
Williamstown's median house price sits at nearly $1.5 million.
 
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Sydney buyer secures townhouse at Williamstown

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In Fitzroy North, it was buyers from North Queensland who paid $1.3 million post-auction on an award winning two-bedroom home, Casa de Gatos, which translates to house of cats in Spanish. 
The single storey <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-fitzroy+north-128374126" target="_blank">49 Rae Street property</a> had come with $1.2 million to $1.3 million price guidance after its design by WOWOWA Architects.
The home won the <a id="LPlnk696956" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.wowowa.com.au/portfolio/casa-de-gatos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Victorian Australian Institute of Architects 2017 Small Projects Award</a>, expressly designed with the owners two dogs and two cats in mind.
<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/2018/6/cats2.jpg" alt="">
Husband and wife team Monique and Scott Woodward are the founding directors of WOWOWA – a studio “governed by the metric of happiness”.
Its most striking feature is a curved, carpeted, orange cat wall topped by an aerial cat walkway.
Nelson Alexander agent Rick Daniel told The Age it wasn’t the biggest selling point for the new owners.
 
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Award-winning 'house of cats' home in Melbourne sells

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Perth’s median house price stabilised in May, with reiwa.com data showing a small 0.3 per cent decline in price compared to April.
REIWA President Hayden Groves said the Perth median house price for May 2018 was $520,500, which was down from $522,000 in April 2018.
“This negligible adjustment in price over the month signals house prices are overall very stable, with the minor decline attributed to a small variance in the composition of sales between April and May.
“Importantly, when we compare house prices to three months ago (February), Perth’s median price is actually up 1.1 per cent,” Mr Groves said.
The latest reiwa.com figures are also supported by CoreLogic data, which shows Perth house values increased 0.1 per cent in May and were up 0.5 per cent compared to February.
“What we’re seeing in the Perth market is a slow and steady improvement, which is what REIWA forecast back in December. While we don’t expect rapid house price growth this year, we also don’t expect there will be substantial declines either,” Mr Groves said.
Prices in Perth’s unit market are also holding up well, with reiwa.com data showing the median unit price increased 0.8 per cent to $419,000 during May 2018.
“Similar to the median house price, when we compare Perth’s latest median unit price to three months ago, prices have increased more significantly by 2.9 per cent, which is very encouraging,” Mr Groves said.
“We are seeing similar trends in the house and unit medians, which is good news as it suggests one sector of the market is not recovering at the expense of the other.
“REIWA expects house and unit prices to remain fairly stable for the remainder of the year, however provided the WA economy remains on this path of recovery and consumer sentiment continues to build, we should start to see genuine improvements in price during 2019.”
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Stable prices in Perth signal turning point for the market

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Sydney and Melbourne's house prices could slide by another 9 per cent in the event of Labor's planned property tax changes, according to property consultants.
RiskWise Property Research and Wargent Advisory suggest the impacts would vary around the country, hitting the most vulnerable areas including Darwin, Mackay, inner-city Perth and Townsville, which could suffer falls of up to 12 per cent.
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<div>Labor's long planned initiative would see negative gearing limited to new rental dwellings as well as a halving of the capital gains tax discount from 50 per cent to 25 per cent. 
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<div>It took the measures to the last election amid concerns about housing affordability.</div>
The RiskWise paper utilised Corelogic data to take local factors into account, including rates of unit development, construction, and the recent price falls.
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<div id="article-inline-ad">The shadow treasurer Chris Bowen recently shrugged off suggestions the changes be scrapped because prices are now falling making homes more affordable.</div>
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<div>Bowen said that the changes are about making long-term structural adjustments rather than addressing the short-term property cycle.</div>
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<div>Brisbane-based analyst Pete Wargent, who helped write the report, noted the slide by another nine per cent under Labor's planned property tax changes which would be the equivalent of borrowing costs rising by more than 20 per cent in the Sydney market.</div>
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"It would be a defacto tightening of financial conditions for households, with potential knock-on effects from that," he told The Australian Financial Review.
"While the stated intention of the policy was to cool housing markets – at the time in 2016 that was a hot political issue as in Sydney and Melbourne markets were running away – if you were to introduce it today, it would impact markets that are already struggling."
Modelling by the firms suggest the changes would be equivalent to a sudden 1.15 percentage point hike in interest rates.
Prices in NSW and Victoria for houses would drop by 9 per cent, followed by WA and the Northern Territory with 7 per cent declines, and 6 per cent in South Australia and the ACT. Tasmania's impact would be the least, falling 3 per cent. Unit prices would drop between 10 per cent and 2 per cent.
"The report concludes that while there would be some positive initial impacts on housing affordability, these would only be sustained in the largest capital cities if appropriate policies are implemented to encourage the supply of owner-occupier suitable housing in addition to investment units," the authors say.
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Wargent noted that Sydney and Melbourne's markets would likely find a new equilibrium within two years of the changes.
"Rental yields will come up and one way or another, investors will come back to the market," he said.
"So while prices would decline, it probably wouldn't be catastrophic because demand for housing is high."
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Melbourne prices could fall by 9 percent under Labor policies 

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The former Today show host Matt Lauer can keep his New Zealand ranch.
The NZ authorities concluded last week there wasn't enough evidence he'd breached a "good character" condition after sexual misconduct accusations saw him depart the broadcaster NBC last November.
His termination triggered an investigation by New Zealand authorities, who require foreign buyers of important assets to be of good character.
The provision is broad and includes criminal convictions as well as anything else that authorities decide reflects poorly on an owner's integrity.
Lauer last year purchased a lease for the Hunter Valley Station, a 10,750 hectare farm with lakeside ranch near Queenstown
The property runs 13,000 cattle and merino sheep.
It runs alongside a river that's filled with trout and salmon.
New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office (OIO) said that as part of its investigation, it had taken sworn statements from Lauer and had been in touch with NBC.
"Mr. Lauer has not been charged with any offence, nor convicted, and the evidence available to the OIO at this time does not establish that Mr. Lauer is unfit to continue to hold the asset," said Lisa Barrett, an official at Land Information New Zealand, in a statement. "However, in reaching this position, we do not condone the inappropriate way that Mr. Lauer has behaved."
Last year, Lauer and wife Annette Roque said in a statement they'd be visiting New Zealand for several years, and "every time we visit, we feel lucky to be in a place of such endless beauty, inspiration and adventure."
 
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Matt Lauer can keep New Zealand ranch after OIO investigation

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Robert Shand, who has recently stepped down as managing director at asset management giant Blue Sky, has sold his Queensland home.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-pullenvale-128381338" target="_blank">rural Pullenvale property</a> was scheduled for weekend auction.
The property is held in his wife's name.
<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/2018/6/12/shand2.jpg" alt="">
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The five bedroom Woodfield Road house is set on 2.4 acres with a pool, a dam and tennis court.
Around $1.5 million was expected for the home bought for $993,000 back 2013.
Fairfax Media indicated Shand, who stepped down from the role of chief executive of Blue Sky in April, been looking for another home in Brisbane's west. 
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Departed Blue Sky boss Robert Shand sells at Pullenvale

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Large fish species are rapidly declining around Australia, according to the first continental diver census of shallow reef fish. Contrary to years of sustainability reports, our study indicates that excessive fishing pressure is contributing to decline of many Australian fish species.
In areas open to fishing, we found that exploited populations fell by an average of 33% between 2005 and 2015. This rate closely matches the 32% downward trend in total Australian fishery catches through the same period.
In contrast, in marine parks where fishing is prohibited, the same species increased by an average of 25%. Other species not targeted by fishers showed a small downward trend (11% decline in fished zones; 16% decline in no-take marine reserves), indicating that recent marine heatwaves off southeastern and southwestern Australia have probably adversely affected marine life over a wide area.
Citizen science
Our audit of 531 study sites was made possible by combining data from 50-metre long transects repeatedly surveyed by Australian Institute of Marine Science and University of Tasmania research divers, and by highly trained volunteers participating in the citizen science Reef Life Survey program.
After the collapse of some high-profile fisheries in the 1990s, such as gemfish, orange roughy and southern bluefin tuna, federal and state agencies took a more conservative approach to fish capture. Australian fisheries are now regarded as among the most sustainable worldwide.
Regardless, the prevalence of downward population trends in our investigation indicates that a reduction in fishing pressure and additional caution is needed. Otherwise, more Australian fisheries may not be economically viable if this trend continues.
Our analysis identified a variety of issues that affect fishery management practices, many of which are also evident overseas, including:
<ul>
<li>little relevant data for decision-making related to ecological issues</li>
<li>a lack of no-fishing reference areas to scientifically assess impacts of fishing</li>
<li>poorly documented stock assessments with limited public accessibility</li>
<li>management decisions made by committees dominated by industry-aligned members</li>
<li>short-term catch maximisation prioritised over precaution</li>
<li>fishery models that rarely consider species interactions or climate impacts</li>
<li>wider effects of fishing on ecosystems and their resilience to multiple pressures are overlooked</li>
</ul>
No-fishing reserves work
Our study indicates that a highly effective but underused tool in the manager’s toolbox is expanded rollout of no-fishing “marine reserves”. Despite receiving wide public support, most Australian marine reserves are small and located in areas with few fishery resources. They consequently house few mature, egg-producing females and do little to assist in the rebuilding of overfished stocks. Nor are they likely to help much in the recovery of important ecosystem functions, as needed for fished-species populations to rebound after climate shocks and other pressures.
The July rollout of Australian Marine Parks, in particular, represents a lost opportunity that may prove a significant problem for fishers. Although covering 2.76 million square kilometres – the largest marine park in the world – it is of limited conservation value.
Through three rounds of public submissions, each largely aimed at minimising any remaining overlap with current fishing activities, the final zoning plans affect very few stakeholders. The outcome is neither an efficient nor effective solution to the actual problem of protecting the oceans.
For example, the Temperate East Zone covering waters from the Victorian border to southern Queensland includes no new “no-take” reserves shallower than 1,000m depth, although these waters are where virtually all fishing impacts occur in this region.
The widespread declaration of marine parks that allow current fishing to continue is perhaps useful when harmful fishing practices for ecosystems are excluded. However, our study indicates that this basic assumption does not apply to Australian Marine Parks.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97689/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">The environmental and economic debt for future generations is both huge and unfair.
Graham Edgar, Senior Marine Ecologist, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Trevor J Ward, Adjunct professor, University of Technology Sydney
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-commercial-fish-populations-drop-by-a-third-over-ten-years-97689" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Australian fished populations drop by a third over 10 years, study finds

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The Victorian government has stepped in to protect real estate agent commission payments after agents were using non-compliant contracts sold by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) that had been approved by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The faulty contracts were Exclusive Sales Agreement (ESA), legally binding documents that give an agent the right to sell a vendor's home and be paid for their services. 
The Victorian government said it would amend the Estate Agents Act 1980 to "protect agent commissions after contracts with incomplete rebate statements were used".
Amendments will be introduced into the Victorian Parliament after <a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/vic/estate-agents-commissions-under-threat-after-real-estate-institute-of-victoria-blunder-20180511-h0zyb6">a Ray White St Albans agent was ruled ineligible for commission</a> on a land sale because the County Court ruled the ESA form was non-compliant.
In April, Victoria's Court of Appeal upheld the initial 2017 County Court ruling that denied the Ray White agent his commission.
There has been another case yet to be heard where a vendor, Marika Sutherland, seeks a ruling preventing agents Globe Real Estate from collecting an $82,000 commission on the 2017 sale of her Beaumaris home.
Despite speculation of a likely flood of claims against both the REIV and CAV, the situation has not escalated but no agent who used these forms will be penalised because of an error in the paperwork, said Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz.
"We're fixing this problem, giving agents who acted in good faith reassurance their commissions will be protected by law," she added.
The changes would not apply to disputes over commissions already dealt with by the court.
The property law expert Robert Hay, QC, warned there was no legal defence for those agents who are challenged over commissions.
"As it stands, there's not much they can do. There could be lots of innocent agents, who could be disgorged of their commissions,'' he told Fairfax Media.
Lawyers acting for Sutherland will seek $138,500 – the 10% deposit paid on the $1,385,000 sale of her home at 37 Oak Street, Beaumaris, in February 2017 – from Globe Real Estate, plus interest and legal costs.
The deposit, of which $81,616 is due to be paid out in commission, remains held in the trust account of Globe Real Estate's lawyers Marsh &amp; Maher following a dispute over payment. The property settled in April last year.
In August, Sutherland's solicitor Bill Gioutlou filed a motion in the Supreme Court seeking a declaration that the ESA form used by Globe Real Estate did not comply with section 49A of the Estate Agents Act of 1980 and because of this, Globe Real Estate is "not entitled to retain any commission or money ... in respect of the sale of the property". 
Bentleigh-based Globe Real Estate, which is owned by Yufang "Kiki" Jiang, opposes the motion.
In October last year, Globe Real Estate joined the REIV as a third party to the proceedings alleging the REIV was ultimately responsible for any non-compliance.
This would entitle Globe Real Estate to claim from the REIV relief, including any costs, losses or damages that arise out of the legal proceedings.
It is understood the REIV, which in its filed defence denies any negligence in providing the ESA form and notes it was approved by Consumer Affairs Victoria, lobbied the state government to retrospectively amend real estate laws.
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Victorian government steps in to protect agent commissions from non-compliant contracts

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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