<html><body>
The Melbourne suburbs, Moonee Ponds and Plumpton, ranked first when it comes to the biggest recent increase in stock for sale. 
Moonee Ponds apartment stock is up 188 percent, from 33 units this time last year to its current 95 offerings. Many are off the plan apartments. 
The house stock in Plumpton has increased from 106 houses this time last year to its current 266 houses. The growth is up 151 percent. Many are building lots.
Investar puts median rental of Moonee Ponds at $360 a week, and Plumpton $430 a week.
The median unit value of Moonee Ponds sits on $462,500, and the median house value of Plumpton is $495,000, according to CoreLogic.
A one bedroom apartment currently on the market in Moonee Ponds is a Homer Street offering which priced at $459,500 off the plan.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-moonee+ponds-127391798" target="_blank">1402/55 Homer Street </a>apartment comes with one bedroom, one garage space and north facing balcony (pictured top).
A two bedroom apartment has been sold for $477, 500 this January. 
Situated on the 11th floor within the MONDO apartment building, the 1102/341 Ascot Vale Road apartment is close to public transport, shops and restaurants. 
Another apartment in Moonee Ponds sold for $402,000 last year. 
Located in Moonee Ponds shopping precinct,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-moonee+ponds-125806106" target="_blank"> the </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-moonee+ponds-125806106" target="_blank">4/40 Young Street apartment</a> also came with two bedrooms (pictured below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/young.jpg" alt="">
A four bedroom Plumpton house sold for $488,000 in July last year.
Set on<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-plumpton-125887566" target="_blank"> 98 Aspire Boulevard</a>, the Porter Davis built home came with open study and large central kitchen.
Another Everest Street offering has been recently on the market (below) as a 325 sqm building opportunity at $307,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-vic-plumpton-202032486" target="_blank">The 315 Everest Street</a> lot offering has been marketed as suitable for a  house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an expansive family, dining and kitchen area.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/everest.jpg" alt="">
 
 
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Moonee Ponds and Plumpton rank top in Investar biggest stock increase, VIC

<html><body>
A Tarneit three bedroom house has been listed for sale by mortgagees with $455,000 to $500,000 hopes.
It has been scheduled for March 10.
The Victorian home sets on a 415m2 block (approx) in the location along the walking and bike tracks of Davis Creek &amp; Werribee River.  
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-tarneit-127585002">The 45 Hope Way house</a> comes with three bedrooms, two garage spaces and open plan kitchen.
It has been a $320 a week rental.
It last traded at $140,000 in 2007.
The suburb's median house price sits on $500,000, according to CoreLogic. 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Hope Way, Tarneit house offered by mortgagee

<html><body>
<h1><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAerial_view_of_the_Darling_River.jpg" target="_blank">Given the </a><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-15/murray-darling-basin-plan-changes-blocked/9448280" target="_blank">outraged reaction from some state water ministers</a><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAerial_view_of_the_Darling_River.jpg" target="_blank"> to the disallowance of an </a><a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin-plan-roll-out/basin-plan-amendments/basin-plan-amendments-northern-basin" target="_blank">amendment</a><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAerial_view_of_the_Darling_River.jpg" target="_blank"> to the </a><a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin-plan" target="_blank">Murray Darling Basin Plan</a><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAerial_view_of_the_Darling_River.jpg" target="_blank">, you would be forgiven for thinking that a heinous crime had been committed against farmers in upstream states.</a></h1>
In fact, what happened was that the Senate voted for the Basin Plan to continue unchanged, rather than allow a modest increase in the water available to farms in the Murray Darling’s Northern Basin.
NSW water minister Niall Blair reacted by declaring that his state “will now start the process of withdrawing ourselves from the plan”, while his Victorian counterpart Lisa Neville <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/vic-declares-murray-darling-plan-over" target="_blank">angrily declared</a> that “the plan is over” (despite Victoria not even being in the Northern Basin).
The political friction is generating a lot of heat, but precious little light. The debate could use a few more facts, so here they are.
First of all, the amount of water involved in the amendment represents less than 1% of the average annual surface water extractions allowed by the Basin Plan. This is roughly equivalent to a single day’s irrigation use throughout the basin during the growing season.
In other words, irrigators already use huge amounts of water, and ensuring that environmental water recovery on the Darling River is not reduced by 70 billion litres will make very little difference to irrigators.
Second, the delivery of the environmental water target of 390 billion litres in the Northern Basin, rather than 320 billion litres as proposed in the amendment, will be undertaken with full compensation. In other words, no individual irrigator will be made worse off by allowing the original target to be delivered. No one is “taking water” from anyone.
Third, let’s just reiterate that no one has changed the Basin Plan, so the “loss” of 70 billion litres simply represents 70 billion litres less in diversions that farmers were hoping to receive in future, but now won’t.
Meanwhile, there is <a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin-plan-roll-out/proposed-adjustment-sustainable-diversion-limits" target="_blank">another amendment under consideration</a>, to be decided by May 7, that will potentially allow farmers across the Basin to divert an extra 605 billion litres from the river. These amendments are political compromises and not part of the scientific and economic assessments that led to the Basin Plan.
Fourth, the <a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/S%26E-economic-modelling-report-KPMG.pdf" target="_blank">claims</a> by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that the reduction in the environmental water recovery will save 200 jobs does not bear scrutiny. Jobs in agriculture have everything to do the weather, with commodity prices and the value of the Australian dollar, and very little to do with environmental water recovery. We should not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a consultant to get an “answer” that does not pass proper peer review in academic journals if we want good public policy outcomes.
Fifth, and finally, it’s time for some maths. The Basin Plan that was passed in 2012 had, on average, a surface water diversion limit (that is, the total amount that farmers and other water users were allowed to take) of 10,873 billion litres per year. Before surface water diversions were controlled in the mid-1990s, the average annual surface water diversions in the Basin were 10,684 billion litres per year. Between 2000-01 and 2014-15, the average was 7,956 billion litres per year.
In other words, the water limits allowed by the existing Basin Plan represent an increase, rather than a reduction, on what water users have been taking, on average, for the past 30 years. For this reason alone, we should be very careful about letting them have even more.
Politicians and vested interests are playing fast and loose with the facts. Let’s be clear, the Basin Plan will not keel over because of this disallowed amendment. But it will die if the irrigators who have already received billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, and who have billions allocated for them in the forward estimates, stop the Basin Plan from delivering on its original intentions.
It’s time our federal government stood up and defended the national interest and faithfully delivered on the original intent of the Basin Plan, and actually increase stream flows in the Basin by 2,750 billion litres per year.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91913/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">As <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-murray-darling-basin-plan-is-not-delivering-theres-no-more-time-to-waste-91076" target="_blank">we and our colleagues argued earlier this month</a>, that means establishing a truly independent scientific and expert body to evaluate the Basin’s health and what has been delivered in terms of increased net stream flows with the Basin Plan. It also means an end to further infrastructure subsidies and efficiency projects until the full facts are publicly known and scrutinised about what public benefits they provide.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/quentin-grafton-1941" target="_blank">Quentin Grafton</a>, Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292" target="_blank">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-williams-142565">John Williams</a>, Adjunct Professor Environment and Natural Resources, Crawford School of Public Policy, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877" target="_blank">Australian National University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/states-dummy-spit-over-the-murray-darling-basin-plan-clouds-the-real-facts-91913" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

States' dummy-spit over Murray-darling Basin Plan

<html><body>
High-profile real estate agent John McGrath has reportedly scrapped plans to step up as executive chairman of his agency. 
Peter Lewis seems set to be announced instead as the new chairman of the agency John McGrath founded in 1988. 
Lewis is Kerry Stoke's former chief financial officer, Peter Lewis.
He left the Seven Network in 2013, then joined Southern Cross Media, but left the radio and metropolitan radio broadcaster.
McGrath is to remain as an executive director, but not its chief executive.
<div class="_1665V undefined" data-reactid="372">
Privatising the company ''is off the agenda,'' spokesman Tim Allerton said on the weekend.
McGrath Estate Agents currently has 95 offices located throughout the east coast of Australia.
McGrath listed on the ASX in December 2015 at $2.10 and closed last week at 41¢.
</div>
 
</body></html>

McGrath looks to Peter Lewis to lead agency board

<html><body>
The Victorian residential price record was smashed last week when it emerged the Malvern mansion, Stonington sold for $52.5 million.
The big trophy home sale ranked firmly in the top 10 highest trophy home sales across the country.
Property Observer has pulled together the top 10 trophy home sales in Australian history.
 
<h3>1. $71 million - Elaine, Double Bay, NSW, 2017</h3>
Elaine at Double Bay was the big story of last year.
The 7,000 sqm waterfront which had been in the established Fairfax family for nearly 130 years sold to tech billionaire Scott Farquhar and wife Kim.
Fronting Seven Shillings Beach, the 1863 built trophy home, described as 'tired', was bought by Geoffrey Evan Fairfax in 1891. He paid £2100.
In 2016 Elaine was given an $80 million asking price and spent three years on the market in total before being sold by Christie's International agent Ken Jacobs.
Farqhuar, co-founder of tech company Atlassian, had been based in a Pyrmont spread.
The 37 year old sits atop the BRW Young Rich List with fellow co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes with a combined net worth of $4.6 billion.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/elaine.jpg" alt=""> 
<h3>2. $70 million – La Mer, Wentworth Road, Vaucluse NSW, 2015</h3>
<div>
<div class="cT-imageLandscape lead">
James and Erica Packer sold their Vaucluse mansion for a new Australian house price record.
James and Erica Packer spent $30 million acquiring three properties in Sydney’s Vaucluse, before spending another $40 million to build the mansion La Mer. The photo below is prior to its construction/renovation.
The property sold to the Hunters Hill based Australian-Chinese billionaire businessman Chau Chak Wing.
</div>
</div>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/la%20mer.jpg" alt="">
<h3>3. $67 million* Phoenix Acres, Vaucluse, NSW, 2017</h3>
Hotelier Dr Jerry Schwartz and wife Debbie moved less than a kilometre across the Vaucluse waterfront to Phoenix Acres.
The six bedroom home belonged to Singaporean businessman Ck Ow and included a tennis court, resort-style pool and an old style English pub, a feature Ow had in his homes in London, Singapore and New Zealand.
A number of reports suggested it would set the national price record.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/acres.jpg" alt="">
<h3>4. $61.8 million Altona, Wunulla Road, Point Piper, NSW, 2016</h3>
Altona, the Victorian Italianate manor headlines the prices on Point Piper's pricey Wunulla Road.
With a who's who of owners, the Dods and Zuccon designed home spans 1,400 sqm floor space. It has three levels and a turret.
The property was bought in 2016 by the low-key, formerly Hunters Hill based Huang family. 
<div>The low-key owners of Altona in Point Piper are currently seeking approval for a gardener’s shed. </div>
It had been owned by former teenage magazine publishing industry entrepreneur Deke Miskin and his wife Eve, as well as the publishing Handbury family.
Actor Russell Crowe looked at buying it in 2007, as did the Lowy shopping centre family. 
Altona sits just a few doors along from the home of the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife, Lucy.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/altona.jpg" alt="">
<h3>5. $60.66 million Portofino, Wingadal Crescent, Point Piper, NSW, 2016.</h3>
In late 2016 luxury car importer Neville 'Croaky' Crichton sold his Point Piper home quietly to downsize to a $33 million home in the same suburb.
He shipped that one off quickly in six months for $36 million then bought a $39 million home nearby.
The $60.66 million Windgadal Crescent home (front and centre waterfront) sits next door to Aussie John's mansion which was believed to have received a $100 million offer from China last year.
Known as Portofino, the Tuscan-style residence has six bedrooms, a gym, private jetty and is set on 1500 sqm.
The home broke the headlines in 2011 after Title Tattle revealed Microsoft boss Bill Gates was set to rent the home during his Sydney sojourn.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/19/700_crichton2.jpg" alt="">
<h3>6. $57.5 million – Saunders Street, Mosman Park, WA, 2014</h3>
Perth's residential record actually stood as a national price record for a few years.
The 2014 Mosman Park sale from mining heiress Angela Bennett to mining magnate Chris Ellison and wife Tia held the record for two years before James Packers La Mer sale.
It spans 7,567 sqm of Swan River land and included three self-contained buildings, private jetty, boathouse, gym, cinema, pool and tennis court.
The Ellison's have continued to expand, buying a further two adjoining properties which takes the total land to more than 8,800 sqm.
<img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/g/z/6/7/s/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1431344804947.jpg" alt="Sentiment has changed since iron ore heiress Angela Bennett's Mosman Park mansion sold for an Australian record price of $57.5 million in 2009." title="" width="100%">
<h3>7. $52.5 million Stonington, Glenferrie Road, Malvern, VIC, 2018</h3>
The most recent sale, the only in 2018, was Stonington, the historic Malvern mansion that sold last week.
Stonington belonged to art dealer Ron Menzies, who paid $17.5 million a decade ago. It sold to Chinese interests.
The 1890's home, built by Cobb &amp; Co coaches partner John Wagner, bettered the previous $39 million Toorak sale late last year.
He bought the 1.2 hectare estate from developers who had sliced off large sections of the yard on which were built townhouses and apartments.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/16/menzies2.jpg" alt=""> 
<h3>8. $52 million – Villa Veneto, Wolseley Road, Point Piper, NSW, 2010 </h3>
The waterfront Italianate villa’s sale price was made in two instalments, with only the initial $44 million showing on title records, but it was long credited as Sydney’s top price after documents were shown of a second $9 million transfer.
It was sold by recruitment entrepreneur Andrew Banks and his wife Andrea to dentist David Penn and his wife Linda in 2010.
The grand five-storey Italianate villa at the end of Wolseley Road was designed by Michael Suttor and has six bedrooms, a 21 person lift, home theatre, glass-roofed dining room, sauna, art gallery, gym, linen chute and library.
It has nine bathrooms – including one for the gardener.
<img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/y/g/m/9/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1406698115513.jpg" alt="1. 'Villa Veneto' Wolseley Road, Point Piper. Sold $53 million - 2010" title="" width="100%">
<h3>9.  $52 million – Altona, Wunulla Road, Point Piper, NSW, 2013</h3>
Altona appears on the list again when it was sold for $52 million in 2013 by Deke Miskin and wife Eve.
<div>
<div class="cT-imageLandscape lead"><img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/f/g/o/n/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1433406059826.jpg" alt="Point Piper's Altona." title="" width="100%"></div>
</div>
<h3>10. $45 million – Coolong, Coolong Road, Vaucluse, NSW, 2008</h3>
In 2008 the national house price record was set when Coolong, the Vaucluse waterfront trophy of the late Allco founder David Coe, sold for $45 million.
The 4,100 sqm home sold to expat currency trader Ivan Ritossa and wife Marina. It had $40 million-plus hopes.
The Sydney record had stood at $32.4 million when Craig-y-Mor, a non-waterfront Point Piper house, sold to a Chinese businessman a few months earlier 
<div>
<div class="cT-imageLandscape lead"><img src="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/y/g/n/w/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1406698115839.jpg" alt="3. 'Coolong' Coolong Road, Vaucluse. Sold $45 million - 2008" title="" width="100%"></div>
</div>
 
<h3> </h3>
</body></html>

Stonington sale ranks seventh highest in Australian top 10 trophy homes list 

<html><body>
Last weekend's Ipswich offering of 38 Bassett Lane, Rosewood was the nation's cheapest capital city result.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-rosewood-127285694" target="_blank">38 Bassett Lane</a> five bedroom house on 1320 sqm sold for $200,000.
It had traded at $315,000 in pre-gfc 2008.
Vacant land nearby sold at $160,000 recently, just $100 more than its $159,900 in 2010 for the 850 sqm 48 Upper John Street offering.
</body></html>

Nations cheapest auction sale goes backwards in price

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Housing affordability is a <a href="https://myaccount.news.com.au/sites/themercury/subscribe?sourceCode=TMWEB_WRE170_a&amp;mode=premium&amp;dest=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/families-forced-to-live-in-tents-at-hobart-showgrounds/news-story/c297721586a2d2129dba7ec6a3186456?memtype=anonymous" target="_blank">central issue</a> in the Tasmanian election, but <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/tasmanian-election-promise-tracker/9373438" target="_blank">regulating Airbnb</a> is not the answer.
Our <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118352" target="_blank">ongoing research</a> shows that Airbnb is beneficial for the economy, especially in remote areas. In addition to creating accommodation for tourists and providing income for hosts, we found that the recommendations Airbnb hosts provide are incredibly important for small businesses.
<a href="http://www.anglicare.asn.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/rental-affordability-snapshot-2017.pdf" target="_blank">A 2017 Anglicare report</a> acknowledged that Airbnb might be taking some of the private rental market in Tasmania but it didn’t have any evidence to confirm this.
Our <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsbm.12368/full" target="_blank">prior research</a> shows that shops and eateries in regional and rural areas struggle to attract visitors. The word-of-mouth marketing provided by Airbnb hosts is helping to solve this problem.
One of the Airbnb hosts in our study said:
It’s an opportunity for people to get an honest insight into where they’re staying … you might know of a local place that doesn’t have great marketing or money to spend on marketing that you know [guests] wouldn’t have found otherwise.
The Tasmanian government <a href="http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/embracing_the_sharing_economy" target="_blank">deregulated</a> Airbnb in 2017, allowing owners to rent up to four rooms on sharing platforms. Airbnb <a href="https://www.airbnbcitizen.com/tasmania-embraces-home-sharing/">claims</a> to have hosted 169,000 guests in the 12 months to January 2017. This is around 10% of all tourists to Tasmania in that period.
According to a <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/au/Documents/Economics/deloitte-au-economics-airbnb-economic-effects-in-australia-tasmania-010517.pdf" target="_blank">report by Deloitte Access Economics</a>, a majority of Airbnb listings are located outside traditional hotel districts. Airbnb guests spent an estimated A$27.3 million outside the greater Hobart region in 2015-16.
In <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118352" target="_blank">our research</a>, we have interviewed hosts, guests and small business operators in Tasmania. Many hosts rent out rooms that would not otherwise be available through long-term rental, which deflates some of the arguments that Airbnb is removing large portions of the supply of rental units.
Our study also confirmed Airbnb guests stayed, and spent money, in areas outside major tourist destinations. This provides opportunities for small local businesses located on the city fringe, as well as in suburban, coastal and rural regions.
Airbnb guests <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13683500.2013.827159?scroll=top&amp;needAccess=true" target="_blank">want to make deep connections with their destination</a>. They therefore desire alternative sources of information in addition to mainstream tourism marketing. Who better to give an insider’s view than a local?
As a result Airbnb visitors are discovering more local small businesses, in a variety of locations, through word-of-mouth recommendations from Airbnb hosts.
One Airbnb guest in our study said:
<blockquote>
I’m looking for a host to tell me what’s going on, and I would value that above any other source of information really … it makes a big difference what the host says.
</blockquote>
The demographics of the hosts are also important to note. <a href="https://www.airbnbaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Airbnb_SeniorHostsEuropeReport_English_9-13-16.pdf" target="_blank">Many Airbnb hosts</a> are single women. Hosting allows them to supplement their incomes and helps them pay rent or mortgages.
“I think it’s a positive way of making life a bit easier for everyone involved… it gives a sense for almost everyone to be an entrepreneur … maybe it’s a bit cheesy, but it empowers people…,” said one female host.
As the number of Airbnb hosts grows across Tasmania, <a href="http://www.themercury.com.au/realestate/bidto-curb-airbnb-surge-as-hobart-city-council-wants-house-limit-at-two-rooms-not-four/news-story/306f73e76b5c4eb2b7e72edd623e7bb7" target="_blank">local councils</a>, residents, <a href="http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4929443/tourism-chief-says-council-motion-is-leading-the-way-on-airbnb-regulation/" target="_blank">tourism and hospitality lobby groups</a> and small accommodation businesses continue to grapple with its impact.
Some on Hobart City Council want <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-19/councils-may-consider-taxes-to-deal-with-airbnb-tourists/8624710" target="_blank">to regulate and tax</a> Airbnb to discourage the conversion of rental properties into short-term rentals.
The Tasmanian Greens <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-05/tasmanian-election-promise-tracker/9373438" target="_blank">have promised</a> to regulate Airbnb if they are successful in the upcoming election.
But Tasmania is experiencing an <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/363899848/Accommodation-Supply-Analysis-in-Launceston-Part-1" target="_blank">acute tourist accommodation shortage</a> thanks to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-19/tourism-boom-on-track-in-tasmania/8367412" target="_blank">recent improvements in wilderness infrastructure</a> and the “<a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/the-mona-effect-towns-want-in-on-david-walshs-museum-act/news-story/f803dae3f027a31eb59e4a461303e345" target="_blank">MONA effect</a>”, among other factors.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91566/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Airbnb not only utilises existing infrastructure to meet this demand, our research shows it empowers female hosts and encourages tourists to discover, visit and spend in remote communities.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082" target="_blank">Louise Grimmer</a>, Lecturer in Marketing, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank">University of Tasmania</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/maria-massey-441127" target="_blank">Maria Massey</a>, PhD Candidate, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, ARC Training Centre for Innovative Horticultural Products, School of Land and Food, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank">University of Tasmania</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/oskaras-vorobjovas-pinta-443280" target="_blank">Oskaras Vorobjovas-Pinta</a>, Lecturer in Management, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank">University of Tasmania</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/airbnb-is-blamed-for-tasmanias-housing-affordability-problems-but-its-actually-helping-small-businesses-91566" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Airbnb is blamed for Tasmania's housing affordability problems

<html><body>
The Chinese New Year weekend sees the Sydney launch of luxury apartments at the Roseville project, Chatswood Rose.
It is located at 1015 Pacific Hwy, Roseville, with views to the Chatswood skyline above leafy treetops.
The project incorporates the Seymours , an interwar Spanish Mission-style service station built in 1929, which is set to become cafe space.
Keco is the development developer of the seven floor project where prices for one bedders start at $795,000.
BVN, one of Australia’s leading architectural studios, designed the project which comes with landscaped gardens, rooftop playground and BBQ area
All apartments have parking and storage.
The three bedders have two car spaces with prices ranging from $2.1 million to $2.3 million.
CBRE is marketing the project as offering "the best of both worlds," i.e. vibrant, colourful and cosmopolitan, Chatswood one of Sydney’s most renowned retail and commercial centres, plus the relaxed sophistication of picturesque Roseville, the quintessential village.
The apartment sizes range from 53 internal sqms to 144 internal sqm, plus external spaces that range from 8 sqm to 80 sqm on some of the three bedders.
Australasia is the third top CNY vacation region for 2018, for Chinese consumers according to a Juwai survey.
Some 29% picked North America, 23% chose Asia, 20% chose Australasia, and 19% Europe.  
<div>The survey noted tourism is important because, of the Chinese who intend to buy international real estate this year, 60% intend to purchase property in their holiday destination, and 58% are considering emigrating there. </div>
<div><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/8/juwai%201.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Carrie Law, CEO of Juwai.com, the No. 1 Chinese international real estate website, said Chinese New Year was the biggest international travel period of the year for mainlanders.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Chinese who are considering buying real estate or even emigrating to Australia often use their holidays to combine fun and research. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Australia welcomed a record 1.33 million Chinese visitors last year, and a significant minority of that group are not just tourists — but also property investors or immigrants." </div>
</body></html>

Roseville's Chatswood Rose launch coincides with Chinese New Year

<html><body>
A two-level Carlton home, listed for sale at $2.3 million, has been quickly sold.
The 100 Barkly Street terrace was significantly rebuilt in the 1890s with an elaborate baroque façade, but had previously been an 1850s cottage owned by Patrick Costello, the great-great grandfather of high profile descendants, brothers, Peter and Tim Costello.
It last sold in 1984 at $80,500.
It was once the home of Di Gribble, the late publisher.
Agents Nicholas West and Charlie Barham from Nelson Alexander secured the sale.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price is $1.47 million. 
This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian.
</body></html>

Two-level Carlton terrace sold

<html><body>
The Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority has released a proposal that will require banks to differentiate risk weightings for residential mortgages.
It could potentially increase the cost of writing higher-risk loans.
The proposal seeks changes to the risk weightings banks should apply to owner-occupier, investor, interest-only and non-standard loans.
The paper noted APRA's view that there are "potential systemic vulnerabilities" to the financial system created from high levels of residential mortgages lending for investment purposes.
The Australian Broker news website reported ANZ and Westpac Group had introduced confidential changes to their assessment and approval of borrowers.
ANZ was adjusting the discretion available for its frontline mortgage assessors.
A spokesman for ANZ said the bank recently added "a higher level of approval for some discretions" used in its home loan policy for assessing serviceability.
Mortgage brokers claim banks seem to be showing less flexibility in interpreting guidelines on such matters as irregular income when assessing loan applications, BrokerNews advised after a report in the AFR.
The report also said that Westpac recently introduced strict tests of residential property borrowers' current and future capacities to repay their loans.
The change is said to be intended to identify scenarios that might affect borrowers' capacity to pay back their loans. These include having dependents with special needs that might require borrowers to spend on long-term care and treatment.
When asked for comment, a Westpac spokesperson told Australian Broker that the AFR report was based on a note the bank sent to brokers on Monday (12 February).
Earlier this month, Westpac amended its borrowing terms, including allowing the use of desktop valuations only for a maximum LVR of 90%.
A Westpac spokesperson told Australian Broker that the bank has also updated its household expenditure measure in line with the benchmark published by the Melbourne Institute for Social and Economic Research.
This followed Westpac's announcement in December that it would require home loan borrowers to disclose what they owe on short-term buy-now, pay-later loans on digital credit platforms like AfterPay and ZipPay. 
</body></html>

High risk home loans targeted by APRA

Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<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

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News