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The $1 billion offering of one of Australia’s biggest agricultural empires, with 16 northern cattle stations, has begun.
The vast offering, which includes a herd of 400,000 cattle, is the Consolidated Pastoral Company empire.
The CPC cattle kingdom, once owned by the Packer media family, has been owned for the past nine years by Britain-based Terra Firma private equity group.
Around $1 billion is being sought for the stations that cover 5.5 million hectares in prized cattle country in the WA Kimberley, Northern Territory and Queensland.
Frenetic action around sale is being compared to the $386 million disposal of the much bigger, but less valuable, Kidman cattle and land empire two years ago.
But CPC chief executive Troy Setter told The Australian there was already keen interest from Australian bidders for the properties, which include Newcastle Waters in the NT
Ads, which are part of FIRB compliance, have been placed by Goldman Sachs which will oversee the sale, which is expected to take more than six months.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Terra Firma's $1 billion CPC cattle kingdom offering

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The general market in southern and western New South Wales continues to show strengthening signs, according to the latest HTW report.
"Generally we have seen the level of sales activity drop slightly, however this is a reflection of a lack of stock rather than a softening of market interest overall," the March 2018 update by the valuation firm advised.
In far western New South Wales, HTW valuer Scott Fuller noted new benchmark levels set in dollar per DSE rates achieved.
The sale of Berta Station which is a 43,500 hectare holding with a carrying capacity of 10,000 DSE located 120 kilometres south-west of Broken Hill on the South Australian border recently sold for $5.38 million which equates to $124 per hectare overall.
From a productive capacity basis this equates to $527 per DSE.
"These rates are generally seen in tablelands country in far higher rainfall areas," Fuller said.
"Like all market activity there are always outlying sales and it appears that this sale is one of those, however it does indicate the willingness of buyers in the current market to stretch the normal excepted boundaries in terms of a value perspective," he said. 
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Two examples of the level of strengthening included a recently visited, large mostly arable grazing property in the Cootamundra area which we last valued in June 2016. 
"Our current assessed value for the same property has risen by 26 percent over the 19 month period, with a number of solid large-scale sales to support this assessment. 
"This equates to 1.4% per month over 19 months which is quite phenomenal. 
"We have also revisited some larger grazing properties to the north-east of Broken Hill which were last valued in late 2014. 
"Our current assessment indicated a 28.8% rise in overall value which equates to 9% per annum - still a strong result."
Fuller advised when building a business plan for a rural purchase at present, it would be prudent not to allow for any capital growth in the short to medium term as this same situation occurred back in 2008.
"Our experience then indicated that generally the market in New South Wales peaked in late 2008 and general value levels softened slightly and then were steady for a number of years.
"There were a number of corporate purchases made at this time and our relationship with these assets over the ensuing years showed that the original value levels were not reached again for approximately six to seven years.
"While we are not saying that the market will perform exactly the same, it does have a history of repeating and our expectations are that a similar scenario will result over the coming 12 to 18 months.
"The difference in 2018 is that our interest rates are at record lows and are still encouraging investment from within the industry, so we may just see the golden period continue for a bit longer yet!"
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Far west NSW rural prices matching tablelands country: HTW

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Former Cronulla Sharks star James Maloney has been a mover over summer. Now signed with Penrith Panthers, the star five-eighth has bought at Glenmore Park.
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He and wife Jessica Anderson, who have two children, have settled on a $1,265,000 home, just 10km south of his new training ground.
It is in the same suburb that fellow Panther James Tamou bought when he moved his family down from North Queensland.
The marketing through The Property Company Penrith selling agents Adam and Danii Leatherbarrow described the street as “one of the area’s best cul-de-sacs”.
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<div class="image-wrapper"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/544b5ad7d3b8faa38075014aca932597" alt="Room for the whole family here." width="650" height="488"></div>
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Set on 615sqm, the architecturally designed entertainer has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a study.
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A covered alfresco area overlooks the swimming pool, while there are two separate living areas either side of the central kitchen.
Maloney, who had a stellar debut in the trial game last week against the Roosters, has leased the family’s five-bedroom Maroubra home.
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<div class="image-wrapper"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/69b18f5e47e7583b33e05deec6eb99b2" alt="Great for cooling off after training." width="650" height="488"></div>
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<div class="image-wrapper">Earlier this year Maloney, who traded places with Panthers young gun Matt Moylan, also scored $500,000 from the sale of his former home in Pelican, near Lake Macquarie.</div>
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The home, Maloney’s first, had a guide of $490,000 to $538,000 through First National Blacksmiths agent Andrew McGrath. Maloney had paid $295,000 for the home more than a decade ago when he was a 21-year-old playing for Parramatta Eels reserve grade.
Maloney failed to break into the first team, prompting his move to Melbourne, where he kicked off his NRL career. 
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There’s been no purchase yet for Moylan nearer his new club, after leasing his former home — a Gledswood Hills house near Camden.
He paid $575,000 for the home in 2016 but settlement of the newly built three-bedroom townhouse has only just revealed the star fullback as the purchaser.
Moylan also owns an apartment at St Clair in Penrith heartland.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
 
 
 
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James Maloney buys in Panther heartland

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Banana growers in north Queensland affected by Panama disease are encouraged to contact their bank to access a range of hardship measures on offer. 
Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said banks understood the challenges facing growers in the region because of the new outbreak of the disease and were on hand to help. 
“This is a challenging time for banana growers in north Queensland who are contending with the effects of the Panama disease or the threat of it,” Ms Bligh said.
“An outbreak, or threat of outbreak, can have a significant impact on income and cashflow, causing heavy financial strain on farmers. 
“We strongly encourage farmers who are concerned about their financial situation to contact their bank as early as possible to access the many forms of assistance available.
“Banks understand that agriculture can be heavily impacted by weather and seasons therefore can be flexible where needed to help customers in need,” she said.
Over the past few months Australia’s major banks have met with representatives from the Queensland Government and the banana industry about the effects of Panama disease.
The type of assistance offered will depend on individual circumstances, but may include a deferral of scheduled loan repayments, waiving fees and charges, interest free periods or no interest rate increases; and debt consolidation to help make repayments more manageable.
Find out the contact details of your bank’s financial hardship team <a id="m_2170294376519089879LPlnk518030" href="https://www.ausbanking.org.au/images/uploads/ArticleDocuments/206/Banks%20hardship%20contacts%20Jan%202016.pdf" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=https://www.ausbanking.org.au/images/uploads/ArticleDocuments/206/Banks%2520hardship%2520contacts%2520Jan%25202016.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1519947570499000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH89cc-F2BIrugqnxfiqrn0N6B11g">here</a>.  
 
 
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Support from banks for Panama disease affected banana growers

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The Churches of Christ has offloaded a major corner site in Glen Iris for $9.5 million, demonstrating the ongoing demand for boutique development sites in Melbourne’s east. 
A Chinese developer was the buyer of <a href="https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/1536-1542-malvern-road-glen-iris-vic-3146-2014139482" target="_blank">1536 Malvern Road</a>, a 1,850 sqm corner site close to Burke Road.
The luxury apartment development site was sold by Savills Australia’s Clinton Baxter, Jesse Radisich, Nick Peden and Benson Zhou.
“The sale price reflects a land rate of $5,135 per sqm, which is a huge result for a site of this nature,” Mr Baxter said.
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Mr Baxter said 2018 had commenced with “a clear sense of optimism and confidence” throughout the development market. 
“The sale campaign generated widespread interest and a 50/50 split of local and Chinese buyers,” he said.
“We received 12 separate bids which ultimately resulted in the sale price of $9.5million – well in excess of the $8 million expectations.”
Baxter said that despite media reports of a withdrawal of Chinese money from Melbourne’s commercial property market, Savills was witnessing the opposite.
“That has not been the case for us at all,” he said.
“We are actually experiencing a surge in Chinese interest in the sub-$20million price range right across the market.”
Peden said that with “interest rates effectively on hold for most or all of 2018”, the market was likely to accelerate as the year unfolded and buyer confidence continued to grow.
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Chinese buyer swoops on Glen Iris church

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In a radically unsurprising decision on Tuesday the Reserve Bank of Australia left official interest rates unchanged at 1.5%.
<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2018/mr-18-05" target="_blank">In their announcement</a> there was plenty of what amounts to copy-and-paste from previous rate decisions.
For instance:
“Employment grew strongly over the past year and the unemployment rate declined… Notwithstanding the improving labour market, wage growth remains low. This is likely to continue for a while yet, although the stronger economy should see some lift in wage growth over time.”
And on inflation it’s still low with the consumer price index (CPI) and underlying inflation (inflationary pressures in the economy that are predominantly due to market forces like supply and demand), below 2%.
<iframe src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/5TxE0/3/" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="449"></iframe>These are the key factors that make raising rates unlikely. Indeed, perhaps the only thing preventing a cut in rates is the fear of a housing bubble.
On that front the RBA seemed to report progress, saying:
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“[the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority] APRA’s supervisory measures and tighter credit standards have been helpful in containing the build-up of risk in household balance sheets, although the level of household debt remains high.”
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Little wonder that markets are not predicting an increase in rates this year.
On the labour market front, <a href="http://www.media.anz.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=248677&amp;p=irol-jobad&amp;nyo=0" target="_blank">the ANZ job advertisements survey</a> revealed that the strong growth in ads from previous months was largely maintained. Although for the month of February ads were down 0.3%, the robust growth in previous months means that ads are still up 13.3% on the previous 12 month period. It seems that the strong employment growth from last year is set to continue, but there is still no real sign of this translating into wage growth.
The global puzzle of why employment growth is strong while wages growth is weak endures. And, as the RBA comments reveal, it is weighing on the minds of central bankers.
The volatile <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/latestProducts/8731.0Media%20Release1Jan%202018?OpenDocument" target="_blank">building approval data</a> jumped around again in January, with approvals up 17.1% in January, following a 20% fall in December. Approvals for apartments jumped a massive 42.2% in January. That’s an interesting figure for two reasons.
The strong growth in supply of apartments is one factor that is (slowly) helping housing affordability. In cities like Sydney, with geographic constraints on all sides, the only place to go is up in terms of building new dwellings.
And less happily, sharp increases in supply are typically how bubbles burst. An important question is who is going to buy all these new apartments, and how speculative are those purchases.
There is scant evidence on this point, but <a href="http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/flipping-properties-to-be-debt-free/news-story/6a426435d073784bd0b10d1798be7ff5" target="_blank">plenty of anecdotal fears</a> about people purchasing off the plan with significant leverage in the hope of flipping at a quick profit. The apartment market is a key indicator to watch in 2018.
<a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/latestProducts/5206.0Media%20Release1Dec%202017?OpenDocument" target="_blank">National accounts data</a> showed the Australian economy grew at the same rate in 2017 as is did in 2016, with GDP growth coming in at 2.4%. This points to one of the big, unresolved macreconomic questions of our time.
Is the “new normal” for economic growth something like 2% ? (This would put GDP growth per capita well below that.) Or was the great recession a damaging and long, but ultimately a temporary lull, and that we will return to 3%-plus growth sooner or later. I have consistently said I think its the former, but again it is too early to tell.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5368.0?OpenDocument">International trade data</a> released Thursday showed Australia’s trade balance at A$1.1 billion, up slightly from the previous month.
Speaking of trade, the biggest economic news of recent weeks was <a href="https://theconversation.com/americas-allies-will-bear-the-brunt-of-trumps-trade-protectionism-92735" target="_blank">the Trump administration’s announcement</a> that it would impose significant steel and aluminium tariffs (25% and 10% respectively). This has the potential to trigger a global trade war and tank economies around the world, although such a cataclysm is a fair way off yet.
Make no mistake, this is terrible policy. The worry is that its not just another cunning and cynical move by Trump, but that he actually believes in it. He has railed against trade deficits for 20 years, revealing the poverty of his understanding of economics.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/92829/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">For now its wait-and-see, but the fact that National Economic Council director Gary Cohn resigned in the wage of the announcement suggests that Trump might not flip-flop on this issue - and that there is more bad news to come.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107" target="_blank">Richard Holden</a>, Professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414" target="_blank">UNSW</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-the-one-thing-holding-back-an-rba-rate-cut-92829" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Vital Signs is a weekly economic wrap from UNSW economics professor and Harvard PhD Richard Holden (<a href="https://twitter.com/profholden" target="_blank">@profholden</a>).
Vital Signs aims to contextualise weekly economic events and cut through the noise of the data affecting global economies.
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The one thing holding back an RBA rate cut: Richard Holden

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A Hong Kong based private investor has paid $6.48 million on a tight 4.7 per cent yield for Lawson Arcade, a prized retail asset in the heart of Byron Bay, one of Australia’s most popular beach resorts.
Teska Carson Director Michael Ludski, who brokered the deal with Byron Bay Property Sales’ Kath Vaubell, said the fully let property attracted 100 enquiries predominantly from Melbourne, Sydney and off-shore, with nine formal offers lodged.
Ludski said investors had recognised the tremendous growth potential in one of Australia’s most popular beach resorts and the limited retail space available in the town.  
He said Byron Bay’s popularity, attracting high levels of tourists – currently more than 2 million a year -  and new residents, was a key factor.
"These resident and tourist numbers continue to provide significant returns and excellent growth potential underpinning local businesses,’’ Mr Ludski said.
The <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-nsw-byron+bay-502693282" target="_blank">17 Lawson Street</a> property comprises a modern, double storey, brick building of 594 square metres (GLA) comprising three shops, two restaurants and four office suites with a central arcade providing pedestrian access to the rear shops and car parking on an 866 square metre site.
The arcade had recently undergone a $250,000 refurbishment.
The property was sold fully let at a gross annual income of approximately $465,000.
 
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Hong Kong purchaser pays $6.48m for Byron's Lawson Arcade

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Restrictive zoning contributes about 40% to the price of houses in Sydney and Melbourne, according to <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2018/pdf/rdp2018-03.pdf" target="_blank">new research from the Reserve Bank of Australia</a>. The study looked at zoning restrictions, such as minimum lot sizes and maximum building heights, which affect what kind of housing can be built, and where.
Of course, zoning and planning rules <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/productivity-review/report/productivity-review-supporting10.pdf" target="_blank">play an important role</a> in managing the growth of cities and protecting the character of particular neighbourhoods. But as Australia confronts a housing affordability crisis, the question is whether the costs of our planning rules outweigh the benefits.
Zoning restrictions added A$489,000 to the price of a detached house in Sydney in 2016, according to <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2018/pdf/rdp2018-03.pdf" target="_blank">the research</a> by RBA economists Ross Kendall and Peter Tulip. The figure was A$324,000 in Melbourne, A$159,000 in Brisbane, and A$206,000 in Perth.
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The RBA research refers to the impact of zoning restrictions on house prices as the “zoning effect”. This can be thought of as the price a developer would be willing to pay for permission to build a home on a given plot of land, if the rules allowed them to.
Within Sydney, the zoning effect is largest in northern councils such as Willoughby and the Northern Beaches; in Melbourne it’s in inner and eastern councils, including Boroondara and Stonnington.
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Sydney zoning effect estimate by local government area. Figures are an average from 2016, A$‘000s. ABS; Authors’ calculations; CoreLogic
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Melbourne zoning effect estimate by local government area. Figures are an average from 2016, A$‘000s. ABS Authors’ calculations; CoreLogic
The impact is not restricted to houses. The zoning effect added about A$400,000 to the price of an average apartment in Sydney in 2016. For apartments in Melbourne and Brisbane, the extra cost was more than A$100,000.
By contrast, the RBA economists find that zoning rules added relatively little to the cost of housing in Australia 15 years ago. As demand for housing has increased, the zoning effect as a share of the price of housing has increased.
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The RBA research adds to international studies on the costs of zoning rules.
A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.jstor.org/stable/26297967?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" target="_blank">study in the United States</a> found the prices of existing homes vastly exceed the cost of building new housing in a handful of coastal cities with the most restrictive planning rules, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston.
<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ecoj.12213/abstract" target="_blank">Another study</a> found that house prices in the south-east of the United Kingdom would be 35% lower if as many planning permits were issued as in the north-east. And a <a href="http://www.superu.govt.nz/sites/default/files/Impact%20of%20land%20use%20report%20110717.pdf" target="_blank">study in New Zealand last year</a> also found that land use regulation accounts for a large share of the cost of homes in major cities, particularly Auckland and Wellington.
The RBA research does not measure the benefits of zoning restrictions in Australia, but overseas studies generally conclude that the local benefits of current planning rules (such as protecting the character of particular neighbourhoods) are not nearly large enough to justify the costs.
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<h2>Increasing supply will make the biggest difference to affordability in the long run</h2>
The new RBA research confirms that planning rules have pushed up the price of housing by restricting the number of new homes built at a time of strong demand. <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-migration-affects-housing-affordability-92502">Our own research</a> shows that for much of the decade from 2005 to 2014, annual housing construction was at or lower than the average of the previous 25 years, even though population growth was much higher.
We estimate that if an extra 50,000 homes were built each year for the next decade, national house prices could be between 5% and 20% lower than they would be otherwise. And building more homes will improve housing affordability for everyone, not just those who purchase new houses.
All levels of government in Australia need to build the public case for increased density. State and local governments should change planning rules to allow more medium-density housing in established suburbs that are close to jobs and transport.
State governments should allow denser development along key transport corridors, with height limits set-up front. State governments should also use carrots and sticks to ensure local councils help meet the housing needs of our growing cities.
When councils fail to meet housing targets, independent planning panels should be given power to assess development applications, as is increasingly occurring in Sydney.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/93064/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Housing affordability is a big problem. The RBA’s findings show that reforming planning rules is a big part of the solution.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-daley-1870" target="_blank">John Daley</a>, Chief Executive Officer, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168" target="_blank">Grattan Institute</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-coates-154644" target="_blank">Brendan Coates</a>, Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168" target="_blank">Grattan Institute</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/trent-wiltshire-316914" target="_blank">Trent Wiltshire</a>, Associate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168" target="_blank">Grattan Institute</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/rba-research-shows-that-zoning-restrictions-are-driving-up-housing-prices-93064" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Zoning restrictions are driving house prices up: Grattan Institute

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Dahua Group Australia has launched its Westwood residential community in Melbourne’s fast growing Plumpton. 
The suburb was recently renamed as Fraser Rise.
Westwood provides an affordable and aspirational lifestyle offering with latest stage release price from $258,000.
Hugh Lu, Development Manager for Westwood says there was a positive response with stage one selling out over a weekend.
Situated 30km north-west of the CBD, Plumpton is a family-focused community with a population of 153,120, which is projected to reach 381,987 by 2040.
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Westwood, Dahua’s residential community, is located at 235 Beattys Road, Plumpton. 
It will consist of over 1,400 land lots that will be sold in 24 stages. 
Stage one’s 20 land lots sold out at launch weekend to local purchasers. 
Westwood includes a parkland spine (The Walk) with interconnecting parks designed by Spiire Landscape Architects, sporting ovals, and council community centre. Construction is expected to commence in May 2018.
 
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Dahua Group's Westwood sells out first release 

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John McGrath, the McGrath Estate Agents founder, has slammed Harry Dent’s forecasts on Australian property.
In a column published in Switzer Daily, McGrath noted Dent was echoing Australian housing bubble predictions he made in 2014 and 2011, despite them being proved wrong.
McGrath criticised Dent for failing to account for the “ingenuity of Australians, not to mention our long-embedded culture”.
Dent admitted, in a Channel 9 interview and one to <a href="/expert-insights/investing/80453-harry-dent-repeats-bubble-forecast-for-sydney" target="_blank">the Daily Telegraph</a>, that his predictions in previous years had been off the mark but maintained Australian property was in a bubble that would inevitably burst.
McGrath said Dent lacked an understanding of the local housing market, typical of overseas commentators who did not understand the local housing market.
“I can understand why Dent would look at Sydney, in particular, and think it’s overvalued.
"That’s how it might look on paper to an analyst who doesn’t understand how things work here,” <a href="http://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/john-mcgrath-property-expert" target="_blank">McGrath wrote</a>. 
"Good quality Australian real estate, held over the long term, is one of the safest and most reliable asset classes you’ll find anywhere in the world.
“He fails to take into account all the unique factors that have kept our property prices growing while also protecting our market from collapse.”
Strong population growth was not the only reason the market weathered the GFC relatively unscathed, according to McGrath. 
High levels of prudential oversight in the local banking system and the high concentration of Australia’s total population living in Sydney and Melbourne ensured steady demand for housing, despite high prices, he said.
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Dent’s forecasts also failed to account for issues such as Sydney’s geography, which has encouraged a housing undersupply, McGrath said.
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“When you’re having a growing population that is very concentrated around a small group of cities — and two in particular, you’re going to have much greater stability in home values no matter how high prices go,” he said.
“Additionally, in major growing cities like Sydney where urban sprawl has gone about as far as it can, we now have a chronic undersupply of new housing that is also serving as a strong foundation for ongoing growth.
“On top of this, we have low unemployment, a strong and resilient economy, low interest rates, a tax system that rewards property investment and a growing market of international buyers.”
 
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John McGrath says Harry Dent doesn't get it on Sydney 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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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<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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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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