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The 2018 autumn selling season saw fewer bidders at its weekend auctions, which triggered a marked decline in clearance rates along with property prices beginning to fall.
On the final Autumn weekend, agents secured a national clearance rate of 59.7 per cent, according to CoreLogic, which was well down on summer's final weekend when 70.5 per cent of stock was sold in late February.
The gardening guru television host Brendan Moar is among the last minute Autumn listings with his Camperdown going to auction next weekend, before the cyclical winter listings hibernation takes effect from the June Queens Birthday long weekend.
Moar's four bedroom home is a fusion of futuristic modernist styles, according to the marketing by the BresicWhitney Glebe agents Chris Nunn and Nick Playfair.
They describe the home as a one-off poolside entertainer spanning three levels. 
A top floor master retreat comes with its own roof garden.
Moar paid $1,265,000 in 2009 for the home that is scheduled for June 2 auction with a price guide of $2.5 million.
The garden recently featured on The Living Room on Channel 10.
Sydney had the nation's dearest weekend result. It was a parkside lagoon four bedroom house at Manly (top).
The <a id="x_mcntLPlnk590898" class="x_mcntOWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-manly-128275026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">53 Eurobin Avenue offering</a> sold to a Singaporean, according to Fairfax Media, for $4.615 million just above its $4.5 million expectations through Clarke and Humel agent Michael Clarke.
Melbourne had the nation's cheapest sale.
The $225,000 sale was a <a id="x_mcntLPlnk235819" class="x_mcntOWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/20-16-south-circular-road-gladstone-park-vic/property-details-buy-residential-11831239/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one bedroom unit at Gladstone Park</a>. The 20/16 South Circular Road offering (below) last sold in 2016 at $185,000. It had been listed with $190,000 to $209,000 price guidance.
<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/2018/5/28/glad.jpg" alt="">
It was offered on a secure fixed lease until January 2019 at $978 per calendar month. It comes with a covenant stating that its occupier - but not necessarily its owner - must be 55 years of age or older, the marketing agent advised.
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-paras x_mcntsection">
The most expensive Melbourne house was Granada, a five bedroom house at St Kilda (below). The <a id="x_mcntLPlnk541754" class="x_mcntOWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/28-eildon-road-st-kilda-vic/property-details-sold-residential-11835567/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">28 Eildon Road</a> property, a 1928 architect designed five bedroom Spanish Mission trophy home, sold through Marshall White for $4 million.
<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/2018/5/28/st%20kilda1.jpg" alt="">
The buyers guide was $2.7 million to $2.9 million, with the property announced on the market at $3 million.
It last sold at $885,000 in 1998.
</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Adelaide recorded the highest capital city clearance rate of 66 percent, with only 31 percent of homes sold in Perth.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Melbourne recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 60 per cent.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Sydney, with 808 auctions held across the city, returned a 62 per cent preliminary clearance rate.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/5/28/May28_auctions.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"><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/2018/5/28/May28_auctions.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan expected final results to be lower after unreported auctions were added to the calculation.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver told Domain that finalised clearance rates in the low 50 per cent range had been historically associated with falling prices.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">53 Eurobin Av, Manly NSW 2095, 4 br House, Clarke &amp; Humel Property Management Pty Ltd</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$4,615,000</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">28 Eildon Rd, St Kilda VIC 3182, 5 br House, Marshall White Bayside</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$4,000,000</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 Owen St, Goodwood SA 5034, 3 br House, Klemich Real Estate - RLA174424</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$1,010,000</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">107 Upper Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007, 4 br House, RW Ascot</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,550,000</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">9 Warramoo Cr, Narrabundah ACT 2604, 5 br House, Belle Property Kingston</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,578,000</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">20/68 Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011, 0 br Studio, Laing+Simmons Potts Point</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$436,000</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">20/16 South Circular Rd, Gladstone Park VIC 3043, 1 br Unit, Barry Plant Gladstone Park</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$225,000</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">11 McNamara St, Modbury Heights SA 5092, 3 br House, Weeks &amp; Macklin</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$310,000</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">55 Bestman Av, Bongaree QLD 4507, 2 br House, RW Bribie Island</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$490,000</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">26/126 Thynne St, Bruce ACT 2617, 2 br Unit, LJH Belconnen</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$344,000 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
SOURCE APM
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Autumn auctions sees price fall as clearance rate declines

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The Mid-century modern house at Church Point, the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, has been sold by Iolanda Trovatello and Simon Rawson from Wiseberry.
Perched amongst the trees, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-church+point-127514694" target="_blank">105 McCarrs Creek Road </a>home was designed in the 1960's by renowned Australian architect Stan Symonds.
<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/2018/3/14/church%20point%202.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom home offers an abundance of natural light with bespoke floor to ceiling glass windows, and encompasses its surroundings with a rock feature in the upstairs living area.
The 1229sqm property comes with sun-drenched living/dining room flows onto balcony with Pittwater glimpses, spacious kitchen and two undercover car spaces.
The Waterfront Cafe, restaurant and Holmeport Marina are within short walking distance. 
 
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Church Point Mid-century modern house sold by Wiseberry 

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An Eaglemont four bedroom house that won the prestigious Victorian Architecture Medal for the RAIA's Best House Of The Year in 1965, has been listed for sale with a price guide of $1.855m. 
The Mid-century modern home has been listed by Paul Carbone and Brad Pearce from Miles Real Estate. 
<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/2018/5/23/EAGLEMONT%202.jpg" alt="">
Set on a cul-de-sac end, the 1034 sqm property is within the Glenard Estate.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-eaglemont-127939858" target="_blank">4 Ormond Road </a>home features four fitted bedrooms, living room with full-height windows and doors, dining room with cantilevered table and sun-filled family room. 
<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/2018/5/23/EAGLEMONT%202.jpg" alt="">
There is potential for second-level views over the Yarra Valley to the ranges. 
Another Eaglemont three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-eaglemont-127634670" target="_blank">78 Studley Road</a> was sold for $1.29 million earlier this month. 
<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/2018/5/23/EAGLEMONT%203.jpg" alt="">
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Award winning modernist Eaglemont trophy home listed

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GUEST OBSERVATION
As politicians raise concerns about immigration straining infrastructure and public services in Australia’s state capitals, the federal government is considering the idea of binding immigrants to particular regional and rural areas.
The minister for citizenship and multicultural affairs, Alan Tudge, was quoted as saying:
"We’re looking at ways that we can effectively bind people to the regions if they’ve got a sponsorship to go to those locations."
The idea behind these sorts of policies is also to develop regional and rural economies. But in recent research with co-authors Louise Roos and John Madden, we find that binding migrants on temporary 457 visas to the country is largely ineffective in boosting regional economies in the long run.
The 457 visa program (replaced in April 2017 with a stricter but essentially similar temporary skill shortage visa) allowed employers to bring in foreign skilled workers for up to four years. While employers in any location can apply, the program can be used to direct migrants to non-urban areas, because visa holders are bound to the employers and their locations.
As part of our research, we modelled two scenarios. In the first we looked at what happens with regionally targeted 457 visas, by assigning workers on these visas to non-metropolitan regions. In the second we modelled what would happen if the visa holders were to settle across regions according to their current settlement patterns.
We took into account the labour market and visa details of workers in each capital city and in the rest of each state or territory (except for the ACT, which we treated as one territory). We also factored in the desire of workers to change occupations and regions due to movements in wages.
At the national level, we found that employment and real GDP increase by nearly identical amounts and, likewise, decreases in national wages are the same under programs where immigrants are targeted to rural and regional areas and where they haven’t been targeted.
At the regional level, in the short run, we found targeted visa programs boost regional activity. But this does not hold in the long run. After five to 10 years, economic variables such as real regional GDP and regional employment start to look the same as the untargeted scenario.
The reason for this largely lies in the regional displacement of workers already in the country. In the short run, the targeted migration program boosts workers in the target region. This causes wages in the region to fall relative to wages in other regions. This discourages workers from other regions from moving to the region, and encourages workers in the region to leave.
We have also examined what would happen with permanent skilled migration programs targeted at regional and rural areas.
There are a number of permanent regional skilled migration programs, such as the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, the skilled nominated visa and the skilled regional visa. In these schemes visa holders can remain in the country indefinitely, although they must remain in their nominated region for at least two years. This is in contrast to temporary visa holders, who must eventually depart Australia unless, as many do, they transition to a permanent visa.
In investigating targeted permanent visas, we found similar results to temporary visas. The short-run employment and regional GDP gains from regionally targeted migration programs, whether under permanent or temporary visa arrangements, gradually become like those of untargeted programs.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96852/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Over time, new immigrants move to other regions, mostly to capital cities, or go overseas. Even if implementable and effective policies could be found to bind new immigrants to regions, the displacement effect we’ve outlined would continue to weaken the long-run impact on regional populations and economies.
James Giesecke, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, Victoria University
Nhi Tran, Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/forcing-immigrants-to-work-in-regional-areas-will-not-boost-regional-economies-in-the-long-run-96852" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Forcing immigrants to work in regional areas will not boost regional economies in the long run

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Groundwater being pumped from a highland aquifer, only to be whisked away in tankers and sold in little plastic bottles by a multinational corporation – it’s a difficult concept for a small farming town to swallow.
Just ask the residents of Stanley, Victoria, whose four-year court battle to stop a farmer bottling local groundwater for Japanese beverage giant Asahi ended in failure last month. They were left with a A$90,000 bill for legal costs.
Locals have clashed with the bottled water industry in many parts of the world, including the United States and Canada, and perhaps most famously in the French spa town of Vittel, where residents have accused Nestlé of selling so much of their water to the rest of the world that they barely have enough left for themselves.
These conflicts demonstrate the challenge of balancing the competing demands on water drawn from underground. Compared with surface water, which is less tricky to monitor, groundwater is far harder to govern.
Under the Australian Constitution, water is primarily governed by the states. In Victoria, groundwater in high-use areas is managed using groundwater management plans under the Water Act, and water for commercial or irrigation purposes requires a take and use licence. This licence specifies the maximum volume of water a user is allowed to divert each year and under what conditions - what is often called an ‘entitlement’.
If a licence-holder wants to amend their licence, they need to apply to their regional water corporation.
It was one such application that triggered the dispute in Stanley. Local farmer Tim Carey applied to change the source of 19 million litres of his existing licence from surface water to groundwater, and from agricultural to commercial purposes. This would allow him to truck the water to a bottling plant run by Mountain H2O, owned by Asahi.
The changes were approved by Goulburn-Murray Water under the local water management plan. Stanley’s residents were concerned about the impact on irrigation and the environment, and tried to challenge Carey’s operation under local planning laws. But the court said that his approved water licence meant he didn’t need planning approval too. With no clear legal options now left for local residents, that may well prove to be the final say on the matter.
How did this happen?
Unfortunately, before about 1980, water entitlements were given away like kittens by various water agencies. As a result, in some areas, users are entitled to much more water than they actually use - sometimes more than is sustainable. And politics generally precludes any intervention to amend these inflated entitlements once the licence-holders have become used to having them.
Extensive droughts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, combined with the Darling River’s striking algal bloom in the early 1990s, catapulted the importance of effective water management into the public consciousness.
In 1997, this resulted in “the cap” – limits on surface water diversions in the Murray-Darling Basin. However, the cap didn’t limit groundwater extractions, which then increased dramatically. The regulation of groundwater, memorably described in an 1861 court case as too “secret, occult and concealed” to even attempt, has long lagged behind that of surface water.
It wasn’t until the Millennium Drought (2000-09), with the advent of the National Water Initiative and the federal Water Act 2007 that Australian groundwater management underwent significant, large-scale reform. The main thrusts of the reforms were the development of legal and planning frameworks to achieve sustainable management of surface and groundwater, and the restructuring of water markets to be nationally compatible.
The new water governance regime created under the federal Water Act, under which the Commonwealth assumed important powers over waters in the Murray-Darling Basin, allows for groundwater markets and new limits on groundwater withdrawals. Groundwater trading is generally constrained by rules that require the “to” and “from” locations to be hydrologically connected to one another.
Stanley’s groundwater falls within a new mega-planning area that covers great swathes of northern Victoria. The new management plan for this area is due at the end of the year, but is currently only 30% complete.
Even if the plan is finished on time, groundwater sustainability in regions like the Ovens might elude us. Limits on water extraction are generally based on the entitlements in the area. But as current groundwater usage is less than those entitlements, “sleeper” licences can still be activated. During shortages, when the economic value of water peaks, people can trade water that would otherwise remain unused. In some management regions, the total entitlement volume is roughly double or more than the actual usage.
The Stanley case shows how communities can mobilise when groundwater moves from one use to another. If new plans further encourage groundwater markets, we should brace ourselves for more of the same – although it is unclear whether other communities would enjoy any more legal success than the people of Stanley.
What are management decisions based on?
High-profile cases like Stanley’s highlight the need for a robust scientific basis for licensing decisions. Communities facing change will have a difficult time accepting decisions that are not supported by rigorous science.
Unfortunately when it comes to groundwater, it’s far from straightforward to work out how much water is down there and where it goes. An expert hydrogeologist retained by Stanley’s residents argued that the modelling used to estimate the impact of the bottled water extractions was very simplistic. Mapping groundwater with an overly simplistic model is akin to using an identikit sketch of a smiley face to catch a criminal.
But water corporations have finite resources, and if we want in-depth analysis, then we need to invest in management planning tools such as drilling programs and numerical groundwater models supported by monitoring data and surveys of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. This sort of analysis is time-consuming, expensive and currently a political stretch. Governments only tend to spend serious money on groundwater investigations once people start running out of water.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96418/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">However, if we want to get groundwater licensing right, it needs to be scientifically robust, environmentally sustainable, and procedurally fair. As Stanley’s residents discovered, there might be no second chance.
Emma Kathryn White, PhD Candidate, Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne
Rebecca Louise Nelson, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-to-small-towns-whose-water-becomes-big-business-for-bottled-brands-96418" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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What happens to small towns whose water becomes big business for bottled brands?

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EXPERT OBSERVATION

With the advent of lower clearance rates, we are seeing more Melbourne auctions ending in a pass in.

A “pass in” occurs when the bidding at an auction does not reach the vendor’s reserve and, as such, the auctioneer having failed to illicit a high enough bid, passes the property in and according to the rules of the auction, must negotiate with the highest bidder first. 

If you have been to many auctions, you will probably have heard the auctioneer open up the auction with a “vendor bid”.

This is a bid, made by the auctioneer, on behalf of the vendor, quite often, to kick things off and get the bidding started.

But it is sometimes used by auctioneers to advance the bidding if they have only one bidder.

In other words, a bidder from the crowd bids $600,000 and nobody else says anything, so the auctioneer will bid $650,000 “Vendor Bid” and then ask the original bidder to go over the top. 

Now the auctioneer will say things like, only the top bidder gets the lawful right of first negotiation and as the Vendor Bid is the highest, then nobody has this right.

This is totally incorrect and a total lie.

The highest “real bid” from the audience does have the first right to negotiate with the vendor. 

In both 2012 and again in 2016 the Real Estate Institute of Victoria analysed the rules and publicly acknowledged that if a genuine bid had been made, that no vendor bid could be used to remove the right to first negotiation. 

<a href="https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/buying-and-selling-property/selling-property/selling-property-by-auction" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs Victoria </a>have also addressed this exact situation and on their website has said that the highest bidder has the first right too negotiate with the vendor.

This includes if the property is passed in on a vendor bid.

So, if you are bidding anywhere in Victoria on Saturday and you have the highest bid, and the auctioneer tries to remove your right of first negotiation by continually vendor bidding over you, call him out.

If you are the highest “real” bid you do have the first right to negotiate ahead of anyone else.

Ian James is a director at JPP Buyer Advocates

<h2>Recently listed properties in Melbourne:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3565]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4939]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]
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Don't get fooled by a vendor bid, Victorian bidders have rights: Ian James

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An 1890 Hunters Hill sandstone house was sold by Tracey Dixon and Nicholas Cowdrill from McGrath Hunters Hill last month.
Reinvented by architect Kerry Fyfe from Allen Jack and Cottier, the contemporary home features water views. 
<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/2018/5/25/hunters%20hill%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-hunters+hill-127617118" target="_blank">Located at 27 Glenview Crescent</a>, it comes with four bedrooms, formal and informal living areas, expansive timber balconies and gourmet island kitchen. 
Other features include swimming pool, four marble fireplaces, rosewood parquetry flooring and double garage. 
<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/2018/5/25/hunters%20hill%203.jpg" alt="">
It's only a stroll to Hunters Hill Village, shops, cafes and CBD transport.
The property had last sold at $770,000 in 1991.
<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/2018/5/25/hunters%20hill%204.jpg" alt="">
Its contents have been listed under instructions from the vendors due to the recent sale.
Charleston’s Fine Art Auctions have been appointed to sell the Victorian mahogany Dining table and sideboard, modular lounge suite, Aboriginal paintings by Gabriella Possum and Jeannie Pitjarra, Art of Stone chairs, fine Inlaid silk Keshan carpet, various Persian tribal rugs, Gillie and Marc and Mark Hanham paintings, and a large outdoor Children’s bronze.
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Sandstone 1890s Hunters Hill trophy home sold

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Estate agents in Sydney’s inner west have been fined for underquoting in breach of the law after being caught in a crackdown by the NSW Department of Fair Trading.
Nineteen unidentified agents in breach of the law were fined for underquoting.
Of the 37 agents visited in the area, 27 were deemed non-compliant, according to a statement from the Minister of Better Regulation Matt Kean who noted more than $66,000 was secured in fines.
Agents were found to be “pitching expected sales prices far below the final value, or failing to provide mandatory written records on the expected price,” Kean said.
The agents targeted for inspection were in the suburbs of Ashfield, Burwood, Canterbury, Croydon Park, Drummoyne, Dulwich Hill, Five Dock, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Newtown, Petersham, Strathfield and Summer Hill.
The government did not name the agencies that were fined.
“The inner west is one of the busiest real estate markets in Sydney right now, with more people wanting to live in the area than ever before,” Kean said.
“I’m really disappointed to hear that some real estate agents are taking advantage of consumers, instead of looking out for their best interests.”
The Department regularly undertakes compliance programs based on a range of factors, including market research, intelligence and complaints data, the spokesperson said. 
Real estate agents on the Northern Beaches had Fair Trade compliance inspections in March, with seven of 17 were fined for underquoting.
Western Sydney agents <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/real-estate-agents-in-sydneys-west-fail-nsw-fair-trading-inspection-20180209-h0vuny/" target="_blank">were checked in February,</a> and 18 of the 24 agents inspected were fined for not meeting necessary standards, including underquoting.
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Sydney estate agents fined for underquoting 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Crime and insecurity are deeply entrenched in some cities. While we have rankings of the most dangerous cities in the world, this does not give a clear picture of how and why dangerous spaces develop in cities.
We are analysing case studies from cities in France, Colombia, Brazil and Australia to understand the factors that lead to insecurity, and to examine possible solutions.
Risks of ghettos in Australia
Australian cities aren’t immune to the dangers. While there is no clear upward trend in crime nationally, the social polarisation and concentration of certain crimes in parts of the cities of Sydney and Melbourne are cause for concern. As a result, New South Wales and Victoria are the states with the highest rates of unlawful entry and armed robbery.
Sydney in particular is experiencing a “ghettoisation effect”. Social polarisation between suburbs is increasing. Another issue in Sydney’s western suburbs is domestic violence.
While crime rates here are much lower than in cities in Latin America and France, we need to be mindful of how neighbourhoods can become dangerous through neglect by planners and policymakers.
What can we do about it?
Social disorganisation theory has dominated research in this field. Central to this approach are neighbourhood mechanisms to reduce crime and disorder.
Some have criticised this theory for not considering the influences on crime of the larger urban political economy. Political and economic decisions may have direct effects by increasing unemployment, residential instability (via planning and housing policies) or population density (via zoning policies).
Reducing crime is also the job of planners. Research has shown, for instance, that better planning can reduce the tragedies of domestic violence.
Incentives at the city scale – such as tax breaks and policies to decentralise public services and promote economic activity in poorer outer suburbs – need to be twinned with strategies to foster social integration at the neighbourhood level.
Latin America: a focus on Colombia and Brazil
Violence and high crime rates have created stark divisions in some Latin American cities. Residents have responded with several strategies to feel safe at home.
In Argentina, crime rates soared after the political and financial crisis of 2001. Citizens started building barricades and fortified their living environments with all types of security devices. Gated communities became the preferred type of housing, especially for upper-middle-class groups who could afford it.
However, gating and security devices have not been successful deterrents to crime. The strategies that have succeeded are linked to encouraging more social integration, shared use of public space, and less opposition to and marginalisation of “the other”.
“Social urbanism” policies in cities like Medellín, Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have led to dramatic reductions in crime. The idea of these interventions is not only to physically upgrade housing and public space, but to improve social outcomes.
In Medellín, public space was improved in some of the poorest neighbourhoods, which included new infrastructure. Alleys were upgraded, to make walking easier and increase safety, and the famous escalators were built. The community manages these escalators, which improve access to the upper areas of neighbourhoods and help create safer environments.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/217392/original/file-20180503-83693-dfjkg9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
One of the escalators managed by the local community in Medellín. Sonia Roitman. Author provided
The installation of aerial public transport (“metrocable” cable cars) also improved access and helped integrate these areas with the city centre. This in turn led to greater awareness of their existence and less prejudice against them as areas of marginalisation. Residents of other areas who wouldn’t normally travel through these poor neighbourhoods became more aware of them while using public transport.
In the case of Brazil, the Favela Bairro program to upgrade slums in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1990s succeeded in integrating favelas with the city to improve living conditions and reduce crime rates.
For such projects to succeed it is essential to have community participation, engagement and buy-in.
Urban policy in France
The 2005 riots in French cities were the results of both structural issues, such as unemployment and police violence, and long-term social and spatial segregation.
Since the 2000s, the “action on places” paradigm has dominated urban policy. Its goal has been to tackle spatial inequality, with the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU) playing a central role.
In exchange for state funding, cities had to commit to eradicate old social housing projects and build new residential buildings.
Previously, the policy for “deprived neighbourhoods” allowed elected officials and local representatives of the state a larger choice of strategies. These included renovation, positive discrimination, mediation, and the development of local community-led initiatives.
The urban renewal policy, launched in 2003, restricted the range of strategies. It is now criticised because it changed the urban form of neighbourhoods without really changing the social issues.
Today, the possible avenues for action are more diverse. Efforts are concentrated in the most deprived neighbourhoods, with employment, education and security as the budget priorities.
Build on existing social ties
Many strong social ties exist in these so-called deprived neighbourhoods. One promising avenue for action, but which currently attracts the least investment, is to focus on the strengths of those neighbourhoods. This can be done by supporting local initiatives, especially those led by women.
In the book Remake the City, two French researchers stress that it is illusory to think that solutions imposed from above can prevent ghettoisation. They see a need to learn from the experiments carried out in Latin America and in the United States. In the US, the rise of the “community development corporation” has helped to turn negative situations into experiences that foster social integration at the neighbourhood level and present a more positive image of the “ghetto”.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/94418/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Even if the contexts are very different, these examples show that the factors at work in places at risk of ghettoisation need to be analysed at different scales. Solutions need to integrate bottom-up actions with strong engagement from communities and a policy rethink on the structural drivers of strong social and spatial segregation in cities.
Sebastien Darchen, Lecturer in Planning, The University of Queensland
Gwendal Simon, Assistant Professor of Planning and Urban Planning, Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée (UPEM)
Sonia Roitman, Senior lecturer in Development Planning, The University of Queensland
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-neighbourhoods-become-dangerous-look-to-local-strengths-for-a-lifeline-94418" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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When neighbourhoods become dangerous, look to local strengths for a lifeline

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CoreLogic have looked at where you’ll find a unit with a median value of under $500,000 close to the CBD.
The results highlight that housing options under $500,000 are available much closer to the CBD for units compared with houses. This likely also goes some way to explaining why in Sydney and Melbourne, where house values are falling, the more affordable unit market is holding up better).
While most Australians still aspire to own a house, the cost of well located houses, particularly in the larger capital cities, is restrictive.
As a result an increasing number of buyers are choosing to purchase more affordable units which offer the ability for owners to live in more desirable suburbs at a lower price point than purchasing a house.
<ul>
<li>Sydney</li>
</ul>
Lakemba is the suburb closest to the city centre with a median unit value below $500,000.
Located just over 12km from the city centre, the median value is $435,314. Compared to other capital cities, unit values below $500,000 are typically much further away from the city centre.
<ul>
<li>Melbourne</li>
</ul>
The Melbourne CBD has a median unit value below $500,000 and most of the suburbs surrounding the CBD also offer units which are typically valued below $500,000. Compare this to the detached housing market where the suburb closest to the city with a median below $500,000 was 16km away.
<ul>
<li>Brisbane</li>
</ul>
Most suburbs in Greater Brisbane have a median unit value below $500,000. Even within the CBD and surrounds median unit values generally sit below $500,000 offering a much more affordable alternative, particularly in the inner city to houses.
<ul>
<li>Adelaide</li>
</ul>
Units are much more affordable than houses throughout the city. In fact, throughout the whole city there are only five suburbs in which median unit values are in excess of $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Perth</li>
</ul>
While most of the suburbs surrounding Perth’s CBD have a median unit value below $500,000 there remains many suburbs with a median value of more than $500,000. These suburbs are typically along the coast or along the Swan River in some of the more exclusive enclaves.
<ul>
<li>Hobart </li>
</ul>
With a citywide median unit value well below $500,000 most of the suburbs across Hobart have a median value below $500,000. In fact, across the whole city only 3 suburbs have a median unit value of more than $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Darwin</li>
</ul>
Only one suburb in all of Greater Darwin has a median unit value of more than $500,000. As a result, the supply of relatively affordable unit stock is significant, particularly when compared to houses below $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Canberra</li>
</ul>
While there was only 1 suburb with a median house value below $500,000 there are substantially more suburbs with a median unit value below $500,000. Many of these suburbs are also quite close to the city centre resulting in a cheaper and more viable housing alternative in these areas.
<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/2018/5/25/CORELOGIC%20PLUSE%201.jpg" alt="">
 
<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/2018/5/25/CORELOGIC%20PLUSE%202.jpg" alt="">
Property Observer spotted a Lakemba two bedroom unit in Sydney has been recently sold for $442,000 (pictured below).
Set back from the street on the second level, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-lakemba-128259782" target="_blank">9/94 Sproule St apartment</a> features two bedrooms, open living and dining zone, eat-in kitchen, and lock up garage. 
It is less than 10 minutes walk to Lakemba Station, buses 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/2018/5/25/lakemba%20.jpg" alt="">
A Brisbane City two bedroom apartment with city and mountains views currently on the market is priced at over $477,000 (pictured below).
Situated in popular Aurora Towers, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-brisbane+city-128310802" target="_blank">the 398/420 Queen Street apartment features two bedrooms, </a>open plan living and dining area and balcony with the views.
Aurora resident facilities include a pool, spa, sauna, gym, cinema, sun deck and BBQ area.
The 86 square metre apartment is close to dining, entertainment and retail options in the CBD, public transport and universities.
<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/2018/5/25/brisbane%20city.jpg" alt="">
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Where can you buy a sub-$500,000 unit in our capital cities?

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."

&nbsp;

[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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