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The redundant Potts Point apartment of printing magnate Michael Hannan has sold for a building record $6,025,000.
The fourth level 2000 built block cost Hannan $4.85 million in 2015, reflecting over seven percent annual price growth.
Spanning 280 sqm, the apartment has has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a loggia style space adjoining the outdoor terracing.
Hannan, a non executive director at PMP, has recently upgraded to the $8,325,000 duplex penthouse crowning the Ikon building up the street.
The three bedroom apartment spans 340 sqm of living space with 95 sqm of terraces. It was bought from New York-based private equity boss Leonard Harlan and wife Fleur.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Printer Michael Hannan upgrades in Potts Point

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All but two of Melbourne’s 31 metropolitan councils are increasing rates next financial year by an average of 2.25 per cent, according to the Herald Sun.
Monash wants to bust the cap, pushing for a 3.53 per cent rise in rates unless it can introduce a new waste charge to deal with the recycling crisis.
China's ban on some recycling imports, including those from Australia, is behind the desire.
Victoria previously exported the majority of its recycling to China, where it was processed and used to fuel factories.
Major recycling companies including Visy, SKM and Polytrade would pay councils about $60 to $70 a tonne for the contents of residents' yellow bins and sell it to China at a higher price.
Now unable to do that, it is understood recycling companies plan to charge councils about $60 a tonne to take the material.
The Glen Waverley-based Monash council is one of a few that doesn’t currently have a separate rubbish levy.
The usual annual rate rise is mandated to be a maximum of 2.25 per cent, but waste charges are excluded from that cap.
Nillumbik will increase rates by an average of only 1.95 per cent. Mayor Peter Clarke, who froze rates last year, has been a long-time critic of council budgeting practices.
Several councils are also increasing their waste levies in the wake of the China recycling crisis. Bayside is proposing a 40 per cent, or $92.75 rise, to $324.55.
The paper suggests thousands of Victorian households will be hit with bigger-than-expected rate rises when notices go out next month.
Despite the state government cap of an average 2.25 per cent, high property revaluations will push up rates for many families above that limit, with estimated annual increases of up to $100 likely.
In the City of Melbourne, 57 per cent of ratepayers will pay more than the cap, with households in East Melbourne and Kensington hit hardest because of rising property values.
CBD and Docklands residents can expect their bills to be level with the cap or below, Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood said.
Ratepayers Victoria wants independent financial monitors to check on councils’ finances and the rates they charge.
Spokesman Frank Sullivan told The Herald Sun rate increases should not be automatic and the monitors would see if ratepayers’ money was used wisely.
In Stonnington, chief exec­utive Warren Roberts confirmed that almost one in three homes would receive a general rate rise above 2.25 per cent.
“The average residential rate increase is approximately $31 for the year, or 60 cents per week,’’ he said.
In Port Phillip, mayor Bernadene Voss said 28 per cent of ratepayers would receive an above-cap bill.
In Hume, in Melbourne’s outer north, about two-thirds would pay more.
In the outer-eastern Yarra Ranges, 58 per cent will pay above the cap, while in Hobsons Bay the figure is 68 per cent.
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Melbourne council rates set to rise

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Brisbane's weekend clearance rate sat at 50 percent.
Its top weekend sale was a <a id="x_mcntLPlnk575404" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-teneriffe-128312478" target="_blank">five bedroom Teneriffe offering</a>, Riverview that fetched $4,405,000.
There were seven registered bidders at the Sunday afternoon auction through McGrath agent Henry Hodge.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/4/bris2.jpg" alt="">
It last sold in 2007 at $3.4 million.
The Teneriffe Drive home was on a 700 sq m holding.
It was Teneriffe’s highest sale for a non-riverfront property in the past 12 years, Hodge said.
Nearby 61 Teneriffe Drive sold at $4.6 million in 2006.
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$4.4 million Riverview, Teneriffe Queensland sale

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Set on 70 acres over three titles in the Blue Mountains, a Mount Wilson three bedroom house on a garden estate with valley views has been listed for sale. 
The 14 Church Lane offering was listed by Brenton Gadsby from BradfieldCleary Double Bay.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/mount%20wilson%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-mount+wilson-128327470" target="_blank">Located at 8-14 Church Lane</a>, Mount Wilson, it comes with two lots with an 'Alice in Wonderland' style garden and one bush block. 
The gardens include a separate cedarwood Tea House.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/mount%20wilson%203.jpg" alt="">
The house features three bedrooms, vast living areas, outdoor terraces and four car garage.
It offers a range of exciting possibilities for a multitude of uses - as a private family estate or for commercial enterprises.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/mount%20wilson%204.jpg" alt="">
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Mount Wilson garden estate with valley views hits the market

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<div>The top weekend auction offering was a trophy home at Bellevue Hill. </div>
<div title="Page 1">
<div>
It was sold, at an undisclosed price, after being passed in at $16.2 million through The Agency agent Ben Collier at its onsite auction.
The home of UniLodge student accomodation company founder Jane Hewitt and husband, Mariner Securities director Gary Symons, had been listed with $15 million hopes.
They paid $11.71 million for the six bedroom Drumalbyn Road home (above) in 2013 when buying from APN News and Media chairman Peter Cosgrove.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellevue+hill-128298906" target="_blank">The contemporary home</a> with Mediterranean overtones sits on 1415 square metres with a heated Peter Glass swimming pool.
The Agency's Ben Collier had the auction listing.
<div>Sydney's preliminary clearance rate fell to 52.3 per cent, down on last weekend’s final clearance rate of 56.1 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"As results are collected it will be interesting to see if the final clearance rate will remain above 50 per cent," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The last time Sydney’s clearance rate fell below 50 per cent was between late 2010 and 2012 as the market moved through a downturn. </div>
<div title="Page 1">
The first week of winter saw 2,272 auctions across the capital cities, with the market returning a preliminary clearance rate of 57.6 per cent.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/4/results-june4.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/2018/6/4/results-june4.jpg" alt="">
Adelaide was the strongest capital at 68.2 per cent, with Canberra is second place at 65.9 per cent, while only 26.7 per cent of homes sold across Perth.
<div>
Melbourne returned a preliminary clearance rate of 61.6 per cent this week, increasing on last week’s 59 per cent final clearance. 
</div>
</div>
The top under the hammer sale was in Sydney's Greenwich when interior architect, Freya Reid, a principal of architecture firm Cave + Reid Design, and her husband, Peter Reid secured $5,750,000, which was $250,000 above reserve.
</div>
<div>
Four of the eight bidders participated in bidding on the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-greenwich-128267890">20 Wilona Avenue</a>, The Sunday Telegraph noted.
The contemporary home comes with heritage listed former coach house on its 713sqm block. 
They’d bought the property in 2007 for $1.9 million and completed a full redesign and rebuild in 2016.
Melbourne's highest sale was $5.44 million in Middle Park through Cayzer Real Estate. The 80 Nimmo Street offering was listed with $5 million to $5.5 million hopes.
</div>
</div>
It was an <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-middle+park-128298970" target="_blank">original Edwardian residence</a>, with Little Page Street along its side, offered for the first time in over 60 years. 
Melbourne had the nation's cheapest sale when $255,000 was paid for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-vic-dandenong-128299778" target="_blank">39/39 King Street, Dandenong</a>.
Its price guide had been $210,000 to $230,000.
The two bedroom, two storey townhouse last sold at $157,000 in 2007.
<div title="Page 1">
Weekend auction sales also included Brendan Moar, the gardening guru, who accepted $2.5 million in Camperdown.
It was sold at the pre-auction price guide, with just the one bidding of the two registered parties.
</div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<h2>Auction highlights this week</h2>
</td>
<td>Saturday, 2 June 2018 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<thead><tr>
<th>City </th>
<th colspan="2">Location </th>
<th>Value Sold </th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most expensive
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">20 Wilona Av, Greenwich NSW 2065, 4 br House, Belle Property Lane Cove</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$5,750,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_1" colspan="2">80 Nimmo St, Middle Park VIC 3206, 4 br House, Cayzer Real Estate</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$5,440,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_2" colspan="2">9 St Anns Pl, Parkside SA 5063, 3 br House, Ouwens Casserly</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$1,205,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_3" colspan="2">95 Gordon St, Gordon Park QLD 4031, 5 br House, Place Newmarket</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,683,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_4" colspan="2">16 Goble St, Hughes ACT 2605, 4 br House, RW Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,312,500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most affordable
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_0" colspan="2">8/62 Alice St, Harris Park NSW 2150, 2 br Unit, AB Property Consultants</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_1" colspan="2">39/39 King St, Dandenong VIC 3175, 2 br Unit, Del Real Estate</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$255,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_2" colspan="2">15 Bradford St, Prospect SA 5082, 3 br House, HAR Property People</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$422,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_3" colspan="2">25 MacSwiney St, Collingwood Park QLD 4301, 4 br House, HAR Springfield</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$325,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_4" colspan="2">10/41 Blackall St, Barton ACT 2600, 2 br Unit, Philip Kouvelis Real estate</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$690,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 SOURCE Domain
 
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$16 million plus Bellevue Hill sale among weekend auction listings

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Neisha and John Pitt, winners of the 2013 Channel 9 series, The Block, sold their Bexley investment property which was listed for weekend auction.
The couple paid $1.1 million in 2016 for the home on 600 sqm which was listed for weekend auction.
They accepted $1.06 million <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bexley-128337686" target="_blank">for the 1920s home</a>.
They'd envisaged <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/st-george-area/bexley/380099" target="_blank">the home</a> at 28 Highworth Avenue as a child care centre, but the couple had the opportunity to recently secure other premises.
McGrath Brighton Le Sands agent Matthew King, who secured the weekend result, had helped them sell their winning The Block apartment.
It was when they competed against contestants who included Mark and Duncan, the fat tradies who finished second.  
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Block couple Neisha and John sell in Bexley

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Queensland government passed legislation last month to prevent the clearing of high-value regrowth vegetation on freehold and Indigenous land. The move has been deeply unpopular with many landholders. They have argued that they are footing the bill for the commmunity’s environmental aspirations – without compensation.
The government’s intention was to reinstate a “responsible vegetation management framework”, broadly in line with legislation first passed in 2004, but which the Newman government repealed in 2013.
But time has moved on since 2004. Instead of relying on a heavy-handed regulatory approach, a mix of carrots and sticks might have generated economic value for landholders, and reduced land clearing into the bargain.
Why landholders are fuming
Broadly speaking, landholders are worried the government hasn’t listened to their concerns and won’t pay for the land that is now effectively under state regulatory control. The parliamentary committee set up to report on the bill received more than 13,000 submissions (including 777 non-pro-forma submissions) – the largest number received by any committee of the Queensland parliament.
The government itself has admitted stakeholders were not consulted in the preparation of the bill, although the department report cites a “substantial history” of consultation on many of its measures. Nevertheless, the Queensland Law Society felt that further consultation would have been appropriate given “the sensitive nature of this legislation”.
Many submissions raised concerns about information shortfalls, regulatory duplication and excessive red tape. The department’s fallback position was simply to argue that “the proposed amendments are consistent with the government’s 2017 election commitment”.
Ironically, it is not only landholders who have lost out financially. The Queensland government is now effectively in control of an additional 1.76 million hectares of land, which it intends to leave undeveloped. But, in today’s world, the carbon stored in this land has a market price as well as an environmental value, if it’s properly managed.
Better alternatives
With a little more preparation and creative thinking, the government might have been able to spare our vegetation, create a huge pool of lucrative carbon offsets ready to market to the world, and provide compensation to affected landholders.
For instance, instead of an outright prohibition on land clearing, the government could have put in place a three-year moratorium on land clearing. Landholders could then be given a chance to opt out of the moratorium by transferring their land to a permanent conservation covenant or similar arrangement.
Although some careful drafting would be required to ensure the offsets integrity standards and other regulatory requirements are met, landholders who opted out of the temporary moratorium could become eligible to earn carbon offsets, or any other available financial incentives.
On the other hand, landholders who do not respond to this financial “carrot” would run the risk of being hit with the (uncompensated) “stick” of a more prescriptive approach (temporary or not) at the end of the moratorium period.
The government could help this transition along by helping landholders sign up for one or more of the various existing schemes for conservation covenants, carbon offsets and biodiversity offsets. One of the main factors preventing greater participation in these schemes is prohibitively high transaction costs, especially in the early stages.
I realise there is a degree of wishful thinking about this proposal. Several hurdles, particularly political ones, would need to be overcome. But if we want serious, fair and enduring land use reform, I think these options merit a more meaningful investigation.
At the moment, a heavy-handed sweep of a pen by politicians in Brisbane has locked both landholders and government out of the market for ecosystem services. Given that the government now essentially owns a huge store of carbon assets, it’s a missed opportunity.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97178/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">With a little more creative thinking, Queensland might have provided compensation to landholders at no cost to itself. Instead, it has used a regulatory hammer to impose rules that – judging by past performance – have no guarantee of surviving past the next election.
Philippa England, Senior Lecturer, Griffith Law School, Griffith University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/queenslands-new-land-clearing-laws-are-all-stick-and-no-carrot-but-its-time-to-do-better-97178" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Queensland's new land-clearing laws are all stick and no carrot: Philippa England

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Microplastics in the ocean, pieces of plastic less than 5mm in size, have shot to infamy in the last few years. Governments and businesses targeted microbeads in cosmetics, some were banned, and the world felt a little better.
Dealing with microbeads in cosmetics is a positive first step, but the reality is that they are just a drop in the ocean (less than a billionth of the world’s ocean).
Microplastics in soil may be a far greater problem. Norwegian research estimates that in Europe and North America, between 110,000 and 730,000 tonnes of microplastic are transferred to agricultural soils each year.
Here lies the issue: we know almost nothing about microplastics in global soils, and even less in Australian soils. In this article we take a look at what we do know, and some questions we need to answer.
How microplastics get into agricultural soil
Sewage sludge and plastic mulch are the two biggest known contributors of microplastics to agricultural soil. Australia produces about 320,000 dry tonnes of biosolids each year, 55% of which is applied to agricultural land. Biosolids, while controversial, are an excellent source of nutrients for farmland. Of the essential plant nutrients, we can only manufacture nitrogen. The rest we must either mine or recycle.
Sewage treatment plants receive water from households, industry, and stormwater, each adding to the load of plastics. Technical clothing such as sportswear and quick-dry fabrics often contain polyesters and polyamides that break off when clothes are washed. Tyre debris and plastic films wash in with the stormwater. Treatment plants filter microplastics out of the water, retaining them in the sludge that is then trucked away and spread over agricultural land.
In agriculture, plastic mulch suppresses weeds, keeps the soil warm and damp to assist germination, and improves yield. Over time, these mulches break down, and some fragment into smaller pieces.
Biodegradable bioplastic mulches are designed to break down into carbon dioxide, water, and various “natural substances”. Environmentally friendly plastics are often more expensive, raising the question of whether businesses will be able to afford them.
Other potential sources of plastics in agricultural soil include polymer sealants on fertilisers and pesticides, and industrial compost. Unsold food is often sent to the composting facility still in plastic packaging, and with plastic stickers on every apple and kiwi fruit.
The Australian Standard for composts tacitly recognises that microplastics are likely to be present in these products by having acceptable levels of “visible contamination”. Anyone who has bought compost or garden loam from a landscaping supplier may have noticed pieces of plastic in the mix.
In horticulture, particularly as green walls and green roofs grace more buildings, polystyrenes are used deliberately to make lightweight ‘soil’.
There might be other pathways we don’t know about yet.
What happens once microplastics are in the soil?
Here we stand at the edge of the cavernous knowledge gap, because we don’t know the effect of microplastics in our soil. The overarching question, physically and biologically, is where do microplastics go?
How plastics fragment and degrade in the soil depends on the type of plastic and soil conditions. Compostable, PET, and various degradable plastics will behave differently, having different effects on soil physics and biology.
Fragments could move through soil cracks and pores. Larger soil fauna might disperse fragments vertically and laterally, while agricultural practices such as tillage could push plastics deeper into the soil. Some fragmented plastics can absorb agrochemicals.
Soil microbes can break down some plastics, but what are the byproducts and what are their effects? Newer, biodegradable bioplastics theoretically have limited impact as they break down into inert substances. But how long do they take to break down in different soil and climatic conditions, and what proportion in the soil are non-degradable PET plastics?
Both the main form of carbon in soil and polythene (the most common type of plastic) are carbon-based polymers. Could the two integrate? If they did, would this prevent plastics from moving deeper into the soil, but would it also stop them breaking down?
Could plastics be a hidden source of soil carbon storage?
Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation is when something builds up in a food chain.
Research into microplastic accumulation on land is sparse at best. A 2017 study in Mexico found microplastics in chicken gizzards. In the study area, waste management is poor and most plastics were ingested directly from the soil surface as opposed to having bioaccumulated.
Nematodes can take up polystyrene beads suggesting some potential for bioaccumulation, however earthworms have reduced growth rate and increased mortality when they ingest microbeads.
Larger microplastics are unlikely to cross plant cell membranes, but it’s possible that plants can absorb the chemicals formed when plastic degrades. Plants have natural mechanisms to keep contaminants out of their fruiting bodies – pieces of plastic in apples or berries is highly unlikely – but root vegetables and leafy greens are a different story.
Metals can accumulate in leafy greens and the skin of root vegetables – could plastics or their byproducts do the same?
This is before we even get to nanoplastics, which are 1-100 nanometres wide. Can plant roots can absorb nanoplastics, and can they pass through an animal’s gut membrane?
Where to now?
The first step is to quantify how much plastic is currently in the soil, where it is, and how much more to expect. This is more difficult in land than water, as it’s easier to filter plastics out the ocean than to separate them from soil samples. The smaller the plastics are, the harder they’ll be to track and identify – which is why research must start now.
Research needs to address the different types of plastics, including beads and other synthetic fibres. Each is likely to act differently in the soil and terrestrial ecosystems.
Understanding how these plastics react will inform the next obvious questions: at what quantity do they become hazardous to soil, plant and animal life, and how can we mitigate this impact?
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96858/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Plastics in soil represent artefacts of human civilisation. Soils are full of human artefacts; if this was not the case then there would be no field archaeology. However, the effects of microplastic may persist far longer than our own civilisation. We must fill in our knowledge gaps swiftly.
Alisa Bryce, Research Affiliate, University of Sydney
Alex McBratney, Professor of Digital Agriculture &amp; Soil Science; Director, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, University of Sydney
Budiman Minasny, Professor in Soil-Landscape Modelling, University of Sydney
Damien Field, Associate professor, University of Sydney
Stephen Cattle, Associate professor, University of Sydney
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-have-no-idea-how-much-microplastic-is-in-australias-soil-but-it-could-be-a-lot-96858" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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We have no idea how much microplastic is in Australia's soil (but it could be a lot)

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The budget end of Melbourne’s prestige market faces tough challenged, according to Melbourne buyers' agent Nicole Jacobs. 
Jacobs defines the entry-level prestige market as between $2.5 million to $3.5 million. 
"This gets you a fairly modest family abode in Hampton close to the beach, a single-fronted home in Albert Park that is liveable or a sizeable apartment or, if you are lucky, a townhouse in Toorak," she blogged.
But this section of the market had changed slowly over the past 12 auction weekends. 
"Properties that are compromised by way of position or floor plan, are unrenovated or on the wrong side of the street, are finding it tough," she told Domain readers.
"The family home market at this level is very discerning and it is often the buyer’s first big property upgrade.
"Expectations are high and the competition tough.
"They also know when the price does not reflect the value in the area.
The clear message for vendors was "meet the market or be on the market for some time".
"The market is changing and it is now time for buyers to have the upper hand," she says. 
Jacobs agrees good properties in this price bracket were still selling well, but the key was getting the price right. 
"Get it wrong and the property no longer attracts competition among anxious buyers. 
"It is passing in, in many cases on a vendor bid, and then appearing as a private sale with an asking price at or above the original advertised price range.
"Clearly, the only competition is the vendor."
Emma Bloom, from Melbourne buyer's agent Morrell &amp; Koren, told Fairfax Media that auctioneers were pulling out all stops to get the tiny number of bidders to raise their paddles. Many agents were also hitting the panic button and selling before auction.
"If you put in any bid, it's yours," she suggested.
"Everyone's standing around with their hands in their pockets."
But last month following a $9 million sale of a 2000sq m luxury house in Glen Iris, she expressed the opinion: "It was a ridiculous price." 
"Whoever says there is a slowdown needs to be watching what's happening in the leafy inner suburbs of Melbourne," she said.
Emma Bloom further claimed many expats fear the Australian property market could become even more competitive and expensive because of record low interest rates and high immigration.
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<div id="article-inline-ad" class="adWrapper">"They are super nervous about the tide going out and being left with nothing," she advised, in an article on the $5 million plus market.</div>
<div class="adWrapper"> </div>
<div class="adWrapper">"They fear not having anywhere to live if they don't buy now."</div>
<div class="adWrapper"> </div>
<div class="adWrapper">Informed weekend market commentary came from long-established real estate agent Greg Hocking, from Greg Hocking Holdsworth, who suggested it was "a mixed bag at the moment.”</div>
<div class="adWrapper"> </div>
<div class="adWrapper">“Buyers are becoming more critical and that is very evident.</div>
<div class="adWrapper"> </div>
<div class="adWrapper">"We had a couple of decent sales today, but there were a couple of others where prospective buyers just stood there and did nothing.”</div>
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Nicole Jacobs says Melbourne's 'budget prestige' market is becoming a buyers' market

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A Zeehan four bedroom house near the west coast of Tasmania has been listed for $75,000 by mortgagees.
It is offered by Jenelle Carey from Harcourts having last sold in 2005 at $80,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-zeehan-128261174" target="_blank">Located at 55 Main Street</a>, Zeehan, the Tasmanian home comes with four bedrooms, open plan kitchen/lounge/dining, and sunroom.
Nestled on a 1076 square metre block, it also features reverse cycle air conditioner and three garage space.
The council rates are $1,100 per annum.
The suburb's median price sits on $79,500, according to CoreLogic. 
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Zeehan, Tasmania mining town cottage listing by mortgagee

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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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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