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Vicinity Centres, owners of QueensPlaza, has secured development approval from Brisbane City Council for a $36 million redevelopment for QueensPlaza.
It is marketed as Brisbane’s home of luxury shopping.
Vicinity Centres's Carolyn Viney said the redevelopment of the centre was focused on catering for growing demand for luxury brands.
It will also include two new signature restaurants, one featuring a new dining balcony looking over the Queen Street Mall.
“We want our customers as well as the over 1 million tourists who visit Brisbane’s CBD each year to take the time to indulge in the luxury and dining experience when they visit QueensPlaza.”
The new development concept has been prepared by Blight Rayner, with PDT Architects undertaking design architecture.
Vicinity Centres has appointed Mainbrace as the design and construction contractor.
The majority of development works will be completed in time for the busy Christmas period, with the entire project due for completion in mid-2019.
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QueenPlaza first opened in 2005 and houses anchor retailers David Jones and Coles as well as more than 60 specialty boutiques and high-end retailers
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

$36 million development approved for QueensPlaza

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Craigieburn is the busiest Melbourne suburb on the Queens Birthday long weekend.
A clearance rate of 62 per cent was recorded this week compared to 63 per cent last week and 77 per cent this week last year. There were 975 auctions reported to the REIV, with 606 selling and 369 being passed in, 191 of those on a vendor bid.
 
<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/2018/6/8/REIV%202.jpg" alt="">
 
The REIV collected 95% of auction results last week with a total of 1052 results including 48 withdrawn and 29 postponed.
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One upcoming auction in Cragieburn on Saturday is a three bedroom house with an indicative selling price ranging between $470,000 to $510,000 (pictured below).
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-craigieburn-128408738" target="_blank">Located at 25 Yarcombe Crescent</a>, it comes with three bedrooms, separate lounge, kitchen with adjoining meals area and double garage.
The house situated on a 600 sqm land is within walking distance to local bus stops, train station, schools and shops.
<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/2018/6/8/craigieburn%201.jpg" alt="">
Another Waterview Boulevard four bedroom house also has been scheduled for auction on June 9 with the indicative selling price ranging between $780,000 to $840,000 (pictured below).
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-craigieburn-128345446" target="_blank">The 113 Waterview Boulevard</a> home features ducted heating, garden shed evaporative cooling, video intercom, and double garage.
The ground level consist of a master bedroom with WIR, study, and a kitchen with family size bench spaces.
Upstairs offers a kids retreat area with three good sized bedrooms, and a central bathroom.
It is just minutes from schools, parks, transport and Craigieburn Central.
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Craigieburn ranks as busiest long weekend auction locality in Victoria: REIV

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ASIC has permanently banned Mr Max Kiattisak Eung (also known as Kiattisak Eungpongpan), of Tempe, New South Wales from providing financial services and engaging in credit activities.
Mr Eung was banned following an ASIC investigation into his conduct between March 2016 and December 2016 while he was a financial adviser with NAB. It was alleged that during this period Mr Eung engaged in conduct including:
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<li>creating two false bank accounts in the names of his clients;</li>
<li>falsifying documents to open the false bank accounts;</li>
<li>causing withdrawals to be made from client funds to the false bank accounts and misappropriating client funds; and</li>
<li>impersonating his clients to attempt to obtain access to funds in the second false bank account.</li>
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Subsequently, Mr Eung incorporated a company for the purpose of operating a mortgage broking business and became a Credit Representative to provide credit assistance within that business.
ASIC found that Mr Eung had engaged in dishonest conduct, was likely to contravene a financial services law, and was not of good character. ASIC also found that Mr Eung was likely to contravene credit legislation and was not a fit and proper person to engage in credit activities.
ASIC’s investigation into Mr Eung is continuing.
Mr Eung was an authorised representative and financial adviser with NAB from 21 May 2015 to 20 December 2016 and a credit representative of Connective Credit Services Pty Ltd from 14 September 2017 to 23 October 2017.
Mr Eung’s banning will be recorded on ASIC’s Banned and Disqualified Persons Register and the Financial Advisers and Credit Representatives Registers.
Mr Eung has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC's decision.
ASIC's MoneySmart website has useful information for clients of advisers to help them understand what to do if their adviser has been banned.
The banning of Mr Eung is part of ASIC's Wealth Management Project. The Wealth Management Project was established in October 2014 to lift the standards of major financial advice providers. The Wealth Management Project focuses on the conduct of the largest financial advice firms (NAB, Westpac, CBA, ANZ, Macquarie and AMP).
ASIC's work in the Wealth Management Project covers a number of areas including:
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<li>working with the largest financial advice firms to address the identification and remediation of non-compliant advice; and</li>
<li>seeking regulatory outcomes, where appropriate, against licensees and advisers.</li>
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As part of its Wealth Management Project, ASIC has banned 47 advisers and one director from the financial services industry. Four bannings are the subject of appeals, with a further banning stayed pending the outcome of an appeal.
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ASIC permanently bans former NAB financial adviser

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The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has suspended the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of Vesta Living Communities Ltd after concluding that it had not maintained adequate compliance measures to meet its licence obligations.
ASIC found Vesta had not met the organisational competence and financial resource requirements of its licence.
Specific findings included that Vesta failed to replace the key person under the licence following a resignation and to lodge financial reports on time.
Vesta’s AFS licence has been suspended from 28 May 2018 until 25 November 2018, at which point ASIC will determine whether to cancel the licence.
This decision will be based on whether Vesta is able to demonstrate that it is able to meet all compliance and reporting obligations.
The suspension of Vesta' AFS licence is part of ASIC's ongoing efforts to improve standards across the financial services industry.
Vesta has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC's decision.
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ASIC suspends AFS licence of Vesta Living Communities

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Boyuan Holdings has sold the Peachtree Hotel in Penrith, Western Sydney for $16.5 million.
It was bought in July 2017 to provide the company with additional revenue.
It sold to an "experienced third party hotel operator," understood to be hotelier Jason Marlow of Marlow Hotels. 
The Boyuan chief executive Caden Wan said the sale followers a strategic review.
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The pub stands on a large 10,055 square metre site on Castlereagh Road close to the Penrith CBD.
It was bought from long-time owners the Parras family for $15.5 million.
The Parras family had paid $6.95 million in 2002 before undertaking a major upgrade.
Its facilities include a beer garden, bistro and bottle shop.
Boyuan, an offshoot of the Hong Kong-listed real estate company Jiayuan, became the first Chinese real estate company to list on the Australian Securities Exchange when it floated in October in 2016.
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<div>It owns residential and commercial development sites in outer Sydney and the Hunter Valley.</div>
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<div>Last month the ASX-listed property group Boyuan Limited announced it will lead a consortium to develop a 344-hectare masterplanned health, retail and logistics development, the "Northern Gateway development", at Sydney's proposed second airport, Badgerys Creek.</div>
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Boyuan sells Peachtree Hotel for $16.5 million

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The HiLife Health and Beauty boss Peter Nicholas, and his partner Belinda Rudd are seeking $10 million in the expressions of interest campaign for their Darling Point apartment.
They paid $8.25 million in 2014 for the apartment that consists of more than 400sq m over one level.
It was bought from Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow.
The apartment has four bedrooms, a home office, home gym, cinema and a waterfront terrace.
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Nicholas had previously created Skin Doctors, which was sold in over 48 countries, before he divested the company.
In 2009, Nicholas made model Jacinta Campbell the face of his number 1 selling make-up brand, Nude By Nature.
The couple, now looking for a house with a backyard in Sydney's east, have its listed through LJ Hooker Double Bay agent David Malouf.
 
 
 
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HiLife Health boss Peter Nicholas lists in Darling Point

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The RBA have released their chart pack for the June cash rate decision.
We focus on the key charts which will have helped the institution come to its decision to hold rates at 1.5 percent for the 20th consecutive meeting.
Housing prices took a sharp downturn, however household debt continues to rise.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/7/prices-debt.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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House prices continue their downward trend.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/7/prices.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Consumer sentiment is continuing to hover above average.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/7/sentiment.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/6/7/sentiment.jpg" alt="">
Owner occupier home loan approvals continue to outstrip investors after running close in 2016.
The graph below shows a recent sharp dip in investor approvals, while there's been a surge in owner-occupier approvals over the last few years.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/7/approvals.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/6/7/approvals.jpg" alt="">
To see the full chart pack <a href="http://www.rba.gov.au/chart-pack/" target="_blank">click here.</a>
 
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RBA's June chart pack cites house price drop

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The Gold Coast is bright spot for apartment sales, with 33% increase in apartment sales compared to last quarter, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials report.   Research by the property consultants found that in Q1 2018 sales were buoyed by the recent Commonwealth Games excitement.
There have been nine new project launches, equating to over 1,000 new apartments.
Apartment approvals dropped in the quarter to 1,385, the third consecutive drop since mid-2017.
However, compared to Brisbane where only just over 300 apartments were approved in the quarter, the pipeline of supply continues to build, National Director of Property Economics and Research at Urbis, Clinton Ostwald noted.
Some 65 per cent of sales were the two-bedroom, two-bathroom product.
The weighted average sale price was recorded at $729,856.
In late 2017 the Gold Coast weighted average sale price across the four precincts registered $619,737 in the December quarter.
The Gold Coast Central Precinct recorded the highest weighted average sale price at $731,786, due to its higher level of high rise developments selling.
The most affordable precinct was the Coastal Fringe Precinct, which recorded a weighted average sale price of $537,013 in late 2017. The Coastal Fringe Precinct was also the top selling precinct during the quarter, registering 37% of total sales, and also the top selling precinct for 2017.
A recent Urbis advisory calculated owner occupier sales dominated in the Gold Coast, making up 54% of sales respectively.
The Gold Coast apartment market performance, with the recent Commonwealth Games stimulating project launches and the local apartment market, will be tested, Mr Ostwald said, adding it would be interesting to see how long the Commonwealth Games uplift would continue for as this market is likely to have benefited to the additional exposure. 
By contrast inner Brisbane apartments are still primarily a product aimed at investors, and this was represented in the data with 43% of sales being to foreign investor buyers.
Urbis senior Consultant Lynda Campbell said recently there are currently 22 projects yielding over 2,000 apartments which could potentially launch across the Gold Coast in the first half of 2018.
“A quarter of these are in the Southern Beaches Precinct, which has gone from being one of the most undersupplied markets to now having the second highest level of future supply and the highest level of active supply."
*Coastal Fringe suburbs include Arundel, Parkwood, Molendinar, Ashmore, Benowa, Bundall, Carrara, Robina, Clear Island Waters, Merrimac and Varsity Lakes. *North Shore suburbs include Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Helensvale, Hollywell, Hope Island, Paradise Point and Runaway Bay. *Gold Coast Central suburbs include Labrador, Southport, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach and Broadbeach Waters. *Southern Beaches suburbs include Bilinga, Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Casuarina, Coolangatta, Currumbin, Kingscliff, Kirra, Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Waters, Miami, Palm Beach, Tugun and Tweed Heads.
 
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Gold Coast new apartment sales averaging $730,000

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The latest Urbis data on new apartment supply indicates the Brisbane market registered a big drop in apartment approvals during the first quarter.
It was down from 2686 in the previous quarter to just 306 new approved apartments.
The number of new Brisbane apartment projects launched plummeted to just 12 in 2017 compared with 57 in 2016.
Urbis director of property economics and research, Mark Dawson, said it was "clear the market is self-regulating".
"Though launches have slowed. the appetite for quality new apartment product is still there, and with the right mix of product, price and marketing, developers are able to successfully launch new developments to the public" he told Fairfax Media.
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Debt investment manager MaxCap Group recently took over Invesco's debt in AMP's Skytower apartment project in Brisbane.
The US funds giant Invesco lent about $160 million in 2016 to develop the city's next tallest tower where the first stage of apartments is currently settling.
The tower will rise 90 storeys with 1128 apartments.
MaxCap's newly appointed investment director for NSW, QLD, ACT Eddie Law said the lender had confidence in the Brisbane apartment market.
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"From a supply perspective, we are seeing a number of projects in the pipeline being pushed back or put on hold.
"New apartment completions appear to have peaked last year, with a reduced forward pipeline helping to stabilise apartment prices."
MaxCap's Eddie Law said the price of Brisbane apartments also remained affordable relative to other cities.
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<div>"Average median apartment prices in Brisbane are 80 per cent more affordable than Sydney apartments and 37 per cent more affordable than Melbourne apartments."</div>
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Brisbane new apartment approvals see big drop in supply

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GUEST OBSERVATION
In 2016-17 Australia’s third largest export, international education, leapt from A$23.6 billion to a record high of A$28 billion. Within the higher education sector, the highest intake of international students is of Chinese origin.
Behind these statistics are the individual stories and aspirations of Chinese students’ parents who provide them the financial resources and emotional support. Yet, we know so little about why it matters so much to their parents, and what long-term impacts overseas study has on them and their families when they return home.
Knowing what aspirations Chinese parents have for their children will help us understand what keeps our international education export industry vibrant today. And more importantly, sustainable tomorrow.
The shifting educational landscape in Shanghai-China
Focusing on a shifting landscape of education in Shanghai, I undertook a longitudinal pilot case-study of four bilingual kindergarten-secondary schools to investigate the aspirations Chinese middle-class parents have for their children’s education.
These schools are run privately. Their aim is to promote a dual stream model with a mission of implementing a bilingual “East-meets-West” education. Global competitiveness is driving the innovative change and quality of education in Shanghai.
In these schools, Chinese students are taught by local Chinese teachers in subjects like maths, Chinese language and values education. At the same time, they study a range of Western curriculum such as International Baccalaureate or General Certificate of Education at Advanced-Levels (the higher school certificate in the UK). These are co-taught by Western expatriate teachers and Chinese bilingual teachers, in subjects like English, arts, music, physical education, science and philosophy.
This emerging privatised education industry is a testament to how Shanghai-Chinese society is changing. By studying in such schools, their children can essentially opt out of the most stressful examination – the National University Entrance Examination (Gao Kao- 高考). In the eyes of Chinese middle-class parents, international education credentials open doors to the top jobs.
Under these circumstances, the provision of “international-local” school education has become the preferred choice for many Chinese middle-class families when it’s available and affordable to the local population.
In May this year, I went to Shanghai for a month to interview 46 Chinese middle-class parents whose children are attending such schools. Although they are from diverse educational and career backgrounds, a portion of these parents have overseas education credentials and are now doing well in Shanghai. There are also some whose close relatives or friends have either migrated or studied overseas.
A study from the UK of 652 Chinese international students after they returned home found the majority have experienced profound identity-transforming experiences with a renewed sense of self at home.
Today, Australia is an attractive destination for many Chinese students because of the ways the Australian international education system interacts with immigration policy. Not only will their children’s education at an Australian university be perceived as cultural capital for the family, they also want their children to gain post-study migration and employment opportunities.
‘Tiger’ or ‘chicken blood’ parents or neither
Students of Chinese ethnicity who are migrants in countries such as the UK and Australia are the highest performing ethnic group. Because of this, we are often led to believe it’s the high expectations Chinese parents have of their children that push them to perform well in schools.
But for some of these middle class Chinese parents I interviewed, who are successful in their educational experiences in China, they don’t want their children to have the same Chinese education they had. They want to avoid being parents of “chicken blood” (鸡血) – the Shanghai-Chinese term for demanding “tiger” mums or dads.
In their case, unlike what most research indicates about Chinese parenting styles, they want their children to have a broader worldview, to be fluent in English and Chinese, and still have a competitive edge over other local Chinese students without the stress of performing well academically.
Most of them have planned to send their children to study overseas because they did. Such attitudes and aspirations middle-class Chinese parents instil in their children make an important contribution to the continual influx of Chinese students to study in Western countries like Australia.
What next?
For Chinese international students who have returned home, they still aspire to provide a Western overseas education for their children. This is still significant in creating flexible citizenship for their child’s future.
For Australian international education, this means their children can potentially be second-generation international students. This is also why, for some of these middle class Chinese parents, the “East-meets-West” schooling system in Shanghai is a good option.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97257/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">If Australia is to remain a destination for world-class education, we need to be far more self-reflective and long-sighted about what Australian international education offers: global citizenship and transnational mobility. We need to listen to the voices of an increasing middle-class in China.
Hannah Soong, Lecturer in Teacher Education Practice, School of Education, University of South Australia
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-we-know-about-why-chinese-students-come-to-australia-to-study-97257" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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What we know about why Chinese students come to Australia to study: Hannah Soong

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.

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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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