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 Australasian architecture firm The Buchan Group has unveiled the design details behind the new Broadbeach Mall dining precinct at the popular Oasis Shopping Centre at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. 
The $8 million upgrade received a commendation in the City of Gold Coast 2017 Urban Design Awards announced in November. 
The Buchan Group, Lat27 and Hutchinson Builders were congratulated for their work on the upgrade of the centre’s outdoor dining precinct, which opened earlier this year and included a new awning structure, entry statement, paving, landscaping and lighting.  
The Buchan Group Gold Coast Principal Brett Saville said Buchan’s architectural and design teams were appointed by the centre owners in 2018.  
“One component of the centre masterplan that was prepared was to redesign the outdoor dining precinct at ground level facing Broadbeach mall,” Mr Saville said.
“Oasis is a 1980s retail and residential development that replaced the original Broadbeach International Hotel that first opened in 1955.
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“The mall and shopping centre precinct is a popular destination for tourists and locals, and this work has invigorated a critical element of the central Broadbeach entertainment precinct.
“Tenants along the southern entrance enjoy a retail location shielded from the south-east winds, with uninterrupted winter sun and easy pedestrian access via the mall frontages. 
“The new awnings, paving, landscaping and lighting are designed to open the dining spaces out to the mall and the main pedestrian boulevard that runs along the northern face of the dining areas.”
Saville said the main awning over dining places provided an open, airy environment while ensuring protection from rain via roll-down blinds.
“This allows sun protection in summer while allowing an appropriate amount of sun penetration in winter,” he said.
“The rhythm created by the structural frames of the awning modulate the very linear form of the precinct. This rhythm is enhanced by the signage and at night by strip LED lighting in the posts.”
Flooring colours and materials were selected to complement the Gold Coast City Council’s streetscaping palette for Broadbeach, including painted steel, timber, glass and coloured concrete paving to accentuate a contemporary feel. 
“To further complement this, large planters with advanced trees feature, as well as quick growing flowering vines that climb vertically and will continue across the overhead wires under the glazed section of the awning structure.  “Our team drew on its extensive national and international retail experience to create a new feel to the precinct that is contemporary and complementary to the Broadbeach Central Masterplan.” 
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Buchan unveils design details behind new Broadbeach Mall precinct, Gold Coast

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Supply lines for Parramatta and North Sydney are set to increase in size over the next few years, according to the Colliers International Q1 Metro Office Research and Forecast Report for 2018. 
The light rail is continuing to transform the dynamics of Parramatta, who has seen grade B vacancy slash more than half.
From the six months to January 2018, it dropped from 6.3% to 2.7%. 
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Kristina Mastrullo, associate director of research at Colliers International said the upward rents are expected to continue.
“B grade rents are expecting to continue their upward trajectory, with the ability to further increase A grade rents," she noted.
"Sizeable B grade space becoming available is when Property NSW vacates 5,700sqm in 93 George Street, moving to Parramatta Square."
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Mastrullo suggested Parramatta will continue with historically low vacancy rates.
“The next two years will see Parramatta continue with historically low vacancy rates, increased rents and decreasing incentives as Lessors look to capitalise.
"2021 will deliver new developments and much-needed opportunities not only for large occupiers but medium sized businesses.”
“Adding to demand is interest from co-working / serviced office groups who are seeking A grade quality as either majority or whole-building occupiers i.e. over 3,000sqm, delivering scale.”
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“Demand is particularly strong at the top end of the market, leading to off market transactions occurring on a more frequent basis.”
Mastrullo also cited North Sydney as somewhere businesses are targeting.
“With the Sydney Metro, the Victoria Cross Integrated Station Development and increasing investment in retail and public amenity, requirements for North Sydney office space is likely to strengthen moving forward, encouraging organisations to consider North Sydney as a first option for accommodation.”
“Its an exciting time for North Sydney; the market is going through a transformation and we are seeing high profile corporates choosing North Sydney as a location,” said Louise Rowe, National Director of Office Leasing at Colliers International. 
“The quality of amenity, the affordability of workspaces and the accessibility to the CBD and outer suburbs is giving tenants what they want in a location for their business.” 
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Parramatta and North Sydney office market primed for increase: Colliers

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Mellifont, the historic Annandale Federation Queen Anne building which had been the Calliope Child and Family Centre psychiatrists, has sold for $2.6 million.
The property on the <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-medical+consulting-nsw-annandale-502723886" target="_blank">corner of Albion and Johnston Street</a> last traded for $445,000 in 1996 and comprised of a number of consulting rooms.
The local family purchasers are to convert it back to a residence.
It could be turned into a five or six bedroom family home, suggested Pilcher Residential selling agents Simon Pilcher and Rocco Colosi.
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The home on 375 square metres has four car parking and a large wine cellar.
It was once the home of Mary Philomena and John Cahill.
Cahill owned the Australia Soapworks at Camperdown in the 19th century.
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Historic Mellifont building in Annandale sold

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Australia has record levels of supply of new properties but despite various government interventions, housing still remains unaffordable for many.
Our study found the government could use more direct methods to deliver homes for people on low and moderate incomes, while leveraging the market. These methods, widespread across the United Kingdom and in major cities of the United States, are known as “inclusionary planning”.
This includes requiring developers to make a financial contribution towards affordable housing, or to dedicate completed dwellings, as part of the development approval process.
We studied the outcomes of inclusionary planning programs in parts of the United States and the United Kingdom, and more recent approaches in South Australia and New South Wales.
What techniques can ensure affordable housing in the mix
“Inclusionary zoning”, a common type of inclusionary planning, was first developed in the United States to counteract land use rules which excluded the lower end of the property market. For example, where rules would only permit large homes on single allotments.
Some states in the US have also adopted “anti-snob” laws. Under these laws, developers whose schemes include affordable housing can bypass local zoning controls, if an area has insufficient affordable housing for those on low and moderate incomes.
More recently, inclusionary planning programs are being used in many US cities in a bid to ensure that transport and infrastructure investment does not price out or displace lower income renters.
There are now more than 500 inclusionary planning schemes operating in municipalities across the US. Some require developers to include affordable housing as part of development in a particular zone (usually a fixed percentage of units or floor space).
For example inclusionary planning programs in the city of San Francisco, California (population of around 830,000) generate around 150–250 affordable units per year (around 12% of the city’s total supply).
Other schemes allow variations to planning rules in return for affordable housing. These variations might permit additional density in certain areas or waive certain requirements that would normally apply or expedite the development assessment process.
Other schemes require financial contributions from developers to offset the impact of a project on affordable housing demand or supply.
These programs provide a way for governments to ensure affordable housing for lower income residents even in rapidly gentrifying neighbourhoods.
How this plays out in England and Scotland
In England and Scotland, the supply of affordable housing is negotiated through the planning process. The general expectation is that 20 to 40% of new housing developments will be affordable. But proportions of affordable housing are allowed to vary on a case by case basis in light of the housing market and the costs of undertaking the development.
The main methods for this in England are section 106 agreements. These agreements, which come under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, specify the amount and type of affordable housing to be provided as part of a development.
Section 106 agreements have steadily gained traction since the 1990s. Between 2005–16, 83,790 affordable dwellings were secured through these agreements in England. This included 9,640 new dwellings in 2015–16.
Section 106 agreements have resulted in different types of affordable housing, including social housing, discounted home ownership, share equity schemes and affordable rental housing (offered at 20% less rent than for comparable properties in the same local housing market).
Our study found that when inclusionary planning model requirements are predictable and applied in a consistent way, developers accept them because they can factor costs into the price paid for land.
We also found most models work in conjunction with other government funding or subsidies, extending the value of this funding by reducing the cost of land for social or affordable housing.
What usually happens in Australia
Only the South Australia and New South Wales governments have similar types of planning schemes in Australia, although there are signs that other states may follow.
The SA government’s inclusionary planning target, announced in 2005, aims for 15% of significant new housing developments to be affordable.
By 2016 more than 2,000 affordable homes had been built and a further 3,476 homes committed. This amounts to about 17% of new housing supply in South Australia.
In NSW, inclusionary planning schemes only deliver affordable rental housing.
In the mid 1990s an inclusionary zoning scheme pilot was introduced to Pyrmont and Ultimo. This scheme was then extended to Green Square.
These schemes require that developers dedicate 0.8 to 3% of the floor area of developments for affordable housing, or that a monetary contribution be made in lieu of direct affordable housing provision.
However, to date, the NSW state government and many in the development sector have favoured voluntary mechanisms (such as density bonuses for providing affordable housing) over mandatory ones to supply affordable rental housing.
For our study, we estimated the volume of affordable housing delivered through voluntary planning agreements and state policy giving a density bonus for affordable housing inclusion by examining individual development approval records.
We found that voluntary measures have so far delivered about 1,300 dwellings or between 0.5 to 1% of Sydney’s housing supply between 2009 and 2017.
How viable is inclusionary planning?
We found that voluntary planning incentives can encourage affordable housing, but as part of incremental residential development, within the existing planning framework.
However, affordable housing should be mandated when land is rezoned for residential development, when planning rules are varied for particular projects, or following major infrastructure investment.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/94581/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Inclusionary planning can’t replace government funding in providing housing for those on the lowest incomes. However, inclusionary planning schemes can reduce land costs and ensure that affordable homes are well located near jobs and services.
Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Sydney
Catherine Gilbert, Research Assistant and PhD Candidate, Urban Housing Lab, 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/england-expects-40-of-new-housing-developments-will-be-affordable-why-cant-australia-94581" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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England expects 40% of new housing developments will be affordable, why can't Australia?

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A Hove, Adelaide penthouse has been listed with $1.59 million to $1.69 million hopes.
Business consultant Antimo Spagnuolo and his wife Liliana are selling their penthouse in a boutique block of six apartments opposite St Vincent Gulf.
The couple paid $1.54 million in 2010.
The large three-bedroom, three bathroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-sa-hove-126839118" target="_blank">6/96 Esplanade, Hove</a>, comes with double height, open plan living spaces, an office and a mezzanine master suite with a north facing balcony.
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The marble kitchen has Miele appliances and a walk-in pantry.
It comes with air conditioning, a home automation system.
There are three secure car spaces. Cynthia Sajkunovic at Ouwens Casserly Real Estate has the listing.
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Hove trophy penthouse in boutique building listed

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Set on a 600 square metre Morayfield block, a three bedroom house in south-east Queensland has been sold at a loss by the mortgagees.
It was been listed by Cali Bernardin and Candice Calvert from Real Estate Morayfield, who secured $265,000. It last traded for $330,000 in 2010.
It sold at $235,000 in 2005 and in 2003.
The home at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/%20https:/www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-morayfield-127614810" target="_blank">40 Carmela Crescent</a>, the Morton Bay regional home features three bedrooms with built in robes, open plan living/dining/kitchen, and covered outdoor entertainment area.
Schools, shops and public transport are within walking distance. 
The suburb's median house price is $351,060 according to CoreLogic. 
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Mortgagees take loss on sale of Morayfield, Queensland home

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One of the last significant development sites near Macquarie Centre, Macquarie University and Macquarie University Station is set to break new records as the largest collective residential sale in NSW with 100 per cent unit entitlements.
The site at<a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/7-11-lachlan-avenue-157-159-herring-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113-2014277528" target="_blank"> 7-11 Lachlan Avenue and 157-159 Herring Road</a> at Macquarie Park in Sydney’s north west comprises five detached existing residential flat buildings, each on separate strata titles, accommodating 65 apartments constructed over four storeys.
They include ground floor secure garage parking on a 5,070 sqm site which was rezoned to B4 Mixed-Use in an amendment to the Ryde Local Environmental Plan 2014 which formed part of the Macquarie University Station Precinct revitalisation.
There is a 45 metre maximum height limit for the site with a Floor Space Ratio of 4:1.
The site lends itself to a premium mixed-use development capable of providing 20,288 sqm of GFA and potential for around 240 apartments.
Neil Cooke, Stuart Cox and Johnathon Broome of Savills Australia have been appointed to sell the collective site.
Cooke says the site represents a unique opportunity to acquire a well located, substantial parcel of land, with excellent development upside.
“Situated centrally within close proximity to all of the conveniences of Macquarie Park, the site provides exceptional district and city views to the east and Blue Mountains views to the western elevation and is nestled amongst one of Sydney’s fastest growing communities”, Cooke said.
“Very rarely do developers/ investors have the opportunity to acquire 100% of unit entitlements (65 of 65 existing residential units) in NSW and this site ticks every box for prospective developers and student accommodation providers, given the close proximity to one of Australia’s leading Universities and everything Macquarie Park has to offer” he continued.
The North facing site has three street frontages of near 80 metres along Herring Road, 74 metres along Windsor Drive and 58. metres along Lachlan Avenue. 
As at 2015, Macquarie University had 40,209 students made up of 31,568 domestic students and 8,641 international students.
Cooke said there is excellent demand for owner occupier residential apartments and student accommodation in this location. 
“This is supported by incessant population growth and extensive sales evidence from recent projects released to the North Shore market, predominantly within Macquarie Park and North Ryde” he said.
Last year, Savills Australia sold an amalgamated site at 12-14 Lachlan Ave and 13 Cottonwood Crescent in Macquarie Park for circa $54 million and a site at 15-21 Cottonwood Crescent in Macquarie Park which sold for in excess of $85 million.
The site will be sold by way of an international expressions of interest campaign which closes May 9.
 
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Development site to break new records in NSW

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Aqualand Australia has lured high-­profile former Mirvac head of residential, John Carfi, to run its Sydney-focused operations.
Cafri has spent the last 18 months in the Middle East where he was the CEO of development at Dubai-based real estate firm Emaar Properties where he delivered multiple large-scale, mixed-use developments.
There was an end value of more than US $120B and annual turnover of more than US $15B.
Prior to his move to Emaar in 2016, Carfi had been Mirvac's CEO of residential development for 15 years.
He began his career in the real estate industry back in the late 1980s at Lendlease.
Carfi will become chief executive of the Chinese-backed Aqualand from July, The Australian reported.
Aqualand managing director Jin Lin told The Australian Carfi's appointment is the next step in Aqualand's long-term strategy.
“We’ve been speaking with John for a number of months because we truly believe he is one of the few in the industry with such a high level of leadership and ingenuity.
"This is a result of a very controlled strategy that has allowed us to meet our milestones to trigger our next growth stage. 
“While John will transition into our CEO, I will transition to Group Managing Director," Lin said.
"Already Aqualand has grown a significant portfolio of sites, recycling assets to improve future investment opportunities and we are now on the verge of a new frontier with a significant appetite for large-scale, masterplanned projects.
"John has delivered numerous masterplanned communities throughout Australia and internationally, and I believe with him at the helm, Aqualand is well-positioned to increase its market dominance.”
 
Carfi has held senior positions across industry organisations including Australian Chairman of the global property association Urban Land Institute (ULI), Member of The Urban Taskforce Executive Committee, Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and Director of the Australian Residential Development Council. 
He has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) degree from the University of Technology Sydney, along with business related qualifications from INSEAD and Chicago University.
 
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John Carfi takes top job at Aqualand

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Investors looking to snap up a slice of one of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks may be about to run out of time.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-128010046" target="_blank" title="www.realestate.com.au">76B and 76C Dendy Street Beach</a> in Brighton are set to go under the hammer, with price hopes in excess of $280,000 each, through Nick Johnstone director Nick Johnstone.
But the auction may be some of the final lots for the beach’s famous bathing boxes.
Bayside City Council have said that after the slated April auction of two bathing boxes at Dendy Street Beach, only one more will be built and sold during the 2018/2019 financial year.
“As part of its 2013 Dendy Street Beach Masterplan, Council proposed to construct eight additional bathing boxes at Brighton’s iconic Dendy Street Beach,” Bayside City Council acting director of corporate services Bill Shanahan told the Herald Sun.
“Since this time Council has built and auctioned one to two bathing boxes each year.
“Council does not have plans to construct any further bathing boxes at Dendy Street Beach following the completion of the current program.”
The original objective of the construction program was to fill in gaps between existing boxes, Brighton Bathing Box Association secretary John Rundle said.
“We have a neutral stance as to whether any more should be built,” Rundle said.
“We supported the infill objectives, and I don’t know if they could fit too many more in down that end of the beach.
“I’m not sure we’ll see any more built in the foreseeable future.”
Johnstone says that Brighton beach boxes are a rare opportunity to buy the boxes which are often held by families across generations.
“They’re a fantastic lifestyle opportunity, with great scope for capital growth; in my opinion they’re still undervalued when you compare them to some along the Mornington Peninsula,” he said.
Bayside residents and rate payers are the only people permitted to purchase the beach boxes.
The auction is scheduled for on Saturday, April 28.
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Brand new Brighton bathing box auctions may be about to cease

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GUEST OBSERVER
Ten years ago the Australian government launched a National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH). It injected A$800 million into homelessness services and A$300 million to build 600 new homes for people experiencing homelessness. It was later announced that another A$400 million would be available under the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) to build new housing and supported accommodation for the homeless. Total recurrent expenditure (at 2016-17 prices) on homelessness services has increased by 28.8%, from A$634.2 million in 2012-13 to A$817.4 million in 2016-17.
But despite this, the number of people experiencing homelessness and the rate of homelessness have both increased. Our research points to problems in the public housing system as one of the more important causes of these increases.
According to census figures released on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the number of homeless people in Australia has risen by 14% to 116,427. The rate of homelessness has increased from 47.6 people per 10,000 of the population in 2011, to 49.8 per 10,000 now. (The ABS defines homelessness here.)
There is some good news: the numbers of Indigenous homeless and homeless children and youth (aged 12-18) have declined by 26%, 11% and 7% respectively since 2011. But on the downside, increases are particularly pronounced in New South Wales (where the homelessness rate rose by 27% and among people aged over 65 (by just over 30%) and overseas-born migrants (by 40%).
Why are we still going backwards?
Changes in Australian housing and welfare systems and wider social and economic developments appear to have more than offset any benefits from the NPAH and NAHA. Our research sheds some light on the role played by Australia’s housing system. Using the internationally recognised and unique Journeys Home longitudinal survey, we find that public housing is the most important factor in preventing homelessness among vulnerable people.
Public housing is particularly effective because it is affordable. It has also traditionally offered a long-term refuge for precariously housed people. This is because public housing leases provide the benefits of security of tenure commonly associated with home ownership.
It is perhaps no accident that NSW was one of the first states to introduce fixed-term tenancies in public housing. This eroded one of the major attributes of tenure, in a state that has seen relatively large increases in homelessness numbers.
The empirical evidence also suggests that community housing fails to provide the same protection for people at risk of homelessness. While community housing is affordable, the security of tenure is weaker, which may explain these findings.
Despite such evidence, the stock of public housing continued to decline between the 2011 and 2016 censuses. State government-initiated transfers of stock to the community housing sector accelerated this trend. In 2013 Australia had a public housing stock of 325,226 dwellings. This declined by 3.2% to 314,864 usable dwellings in 2017.
Where are the additional homeless coming from?
One of the more alarming changes is a sharp increase in the number of homeless people over 65. This partly reflects Australia’s ageing population. However, the increase is such that the elderly’s share of the total homelessness count has also risen.
Furthermore, our research suggests that this trend could become protracted. This is because the homeless elderly have much less chance of escaping into formal housing than younger people experiencing homelessness. We have little understanding of the reasons for this, but gaps in service provision to the aged could be partly responsible.
The other group who feature prominently among the homeless are overseas migrants. They now make up 46% of the homeless, despite representing just 28% of the Australian population. The number of homeless overseas-born migrants has soared by 40% since the 2011 Census, from 38,085 to 53,606 people.
It turns out that homeless overseas-born migrants are concentrated among those living in severely overcrowded dwellings – a little over half of those living in these conditions were born overseas. We know little about these homeless people. Discrimination could be a factor, though some characterise this group as students living in group households who should not be considered homeless. But this is speculation and further study is certainly required.
In view of the latest census results, it is clear to us that governments need to reassess their approach to what is turning into an intractable social problem.
We do not deny that situational factors, such as drug abuse, domestic violence and so forth, are important here. But equally, there is strong evidence that structural problems in our housing market are a significant cause of growth in the numbers of homeless people.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/93417/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Until these problems are resolved, service provision and support will remain a band-aid masking deeper social and housing system issues.
Gavin Wood, Emeritus Professor of Housing and Housing Studies, RMIT University
Guy Johnson, Professor, Urban Housing and Homelessness, RMIT University
Juliet Watson, Lecturer, Urban Housing and Homelessness, RMIT University
Rosanna Scutella, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Applied Social Research, RMIT University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/homeless-numbers-will-keep-rising-until-governments-change-course-on-housing-93417" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Homeless numbers will keep rising until governments change course on housing

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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