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Online lender <a href="http://loans.com.au/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://loans.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1518571026670000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEDFZS7g-pwfjSJyfsyomnKSrxPtw">loans.com.au</a> has cuts home loan interest rates for homebuyers to just 3.52 percent.
Its managing director Marie Mortimer said the decisive 12 basis point cut would force the banks to lower their rates or continue losing market share to <a href="http://loans.com.au/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://loans.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1518571026670000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEDFZS7g-pwfjSJyfsyomnKSrxPtw">loans.com.au</a>.
“We have grown from nothing in 2011 to almost $6 billion in loans under management today by consistently offering the lowest interest rates to Australian borrowers,” Ms Mortimer said. 
For owner occupier borrowers who are purchasing or refinancing, the site has dropped the rate on its streamlined Essentials product to just 3.52 per cent, and its Offset product to 3.60 per cent.
For investors, the innovative Smart Loan Package starts at 3.89 percent.
Mortimer said the new rates would help the site in its mission to rapidly drive online lending from five to 25 per cent of the Australian lending market.
Parent company Firstmac has surged to become the 14th largest residential mortgage lender in Australia, ahead of household names including Citbank, Heritage Bank, and Newcastle Permanent.
It is also Australa’s largest non-bank lender with aspirations to become an ADI.  
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Online lender loans.com.au cuts rates for investors and home buyers

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Frasers Property Australia has purchased a 23 hectare parcel of industrial land in Braeside from Saltview Pty Ltd, a Hudson Conway subsidiary company.
Lynton Williams from Savills brokered the deal.
The land parcel is located on the corner of Governor Road and the proposed Mordialloc Bypass in Melbourne’s South-Eastern suburb of Braeside.
The acquisition of Braeside has been described as a natural extension of its 116 hectare The Key Industrial Park in Keysborough, which is approaching completion.
Braeside’s masterplan will comprise a mix of options including land sales, A-grade buildings for leases and turnkey opportunities for owner-occupiers.
Braeside estate is located adjacent to Mordialloc Bypass with construction set to commence by mid-2019. 
Frasers Property has recently completed several transactions in The Key Industrial Park including a 16,000sqm turnkey warehouse for ARB ($19.4 million) and ten year leases with Stanley Black &amp; Decker (21,722sqm), CH2 (21,200sqm), Silvan (11,948sqm), Rubies Deerfield (9,030sqm). The Stanley Black &amp; Decker and CH2 facilities are owned by Frasers Logistics &amp; Industrial Trust.
These combined transactions total $122 million worth of new purpose-built facilities. To date Stanley Black &amp; Decker and ARB have moved into the estate, while Silvan, Rubies Deerfield and CH2 are all expected to move into their warehouses in the first half of this year.
Frasers Property has also recently sold 16 lots in The Key Industrial Park – Stage 8 ranging in size from 1,999sqm to 4,071sqm totalling $17.4 million.
Braeside estate is expected to launch in mid-2018. 
 
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Savills secure Hudson Conway sale at Braeside

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A three bedroom Edmonton house has been sold for $330,000 by mortgagees. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-edmonton-127134422" target="_blank">south Cairns</a> home in Queensland was sold by Therese Plath from Ray White.
It had sold at $350,000 in 2014.
Located at 17 Maren Street, it came with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and swimming pool.
Other features in this home include security screens throughout, garden shed, external covered laundry and double carport.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price is $350,000.
 
 
 
 
 
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Loss taking Edmonton, South Cairns home sold by mortgagee 

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Lawson Arcade, the prime retail and office building in Byron Bay, has been listed for sale with expectations of more $5.5 million.
It last traded for $5.26 million in 2003, so slow price growth for the commercial investment.
The commercial property offers 15 metre frontage to the busy Lawson Street.
It has been listed fully let.
Lawson Arcade on 865 sqm comprises a modern, double storey brick building of nearly 600 sqm. 
It has three shops, two restaurants and four office suites, with a gross annual income of around $465,000.
There was a recent $250,000 refurbishment which included interior exterior paint, new LED lighting, tenant signage and landscaping.
Teska Carson agent Michael Ludski is marketing the commercial building inconjunction with Byron Bay Property Sales agent Kathy Vaubel.
"There is no doubt that Byron Bay is one of the most popular beach resorts in Australia attracting high levels of tourists – currently more than two million - throughout the year," Ludksi says.
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Lawson Arcade at Byron Bay set for investor battle

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Scruffy Murphy's, the Sydney CBD Irish pub, is set to make way for a new hotel and residential tower.
A $127 million development has been lodged by the site's owners, KGH Co Pty Ltd, who also secured the neighbouring site.
KGH Co Pty Ltd, owned by Pierre Wakim and Mario Khaicy have proposed the 40-storey building.
KHG Co Pty Ltd, who along with Scruffy Murphy's, now owns the sites between 698 and 704 George Street.
The hotel will run from the fourth level to the 21st level, with the first three levels dedicated to the existing apartments at the heritage Kiss Building and Haymarket House, along with a gym and foyers.
From the 21st floor up there will be private apartments.
There will be 240 rooms in the hotel.
Knight Frank is marketing the offering. 
 
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Scruffy Murphy's Sydney pub site to make way for new tower  

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<div>
Commercial property agency JLL's Australian arm have seen revenue rise for the eighth consecutive year.
Revenues were up 17 per cent in the 2017 calendar year on 2016, with profits 18 per cent in the past year.
The Australian Financial Review said the result was led by contributions from JLL's facilities management business.
Facilities management revenues rose 67 per cent year-on-year after the agency won large government outsourcing contracts.
</div>
<div>Its chief executive of JLL Australia, Stephen Conry, said the company's whole of Australian government contract win covering 34 government entities and its Victorian government contract win covering 276 properties were behind the large increase in revenue from facilities management.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The agency booked a 13 per cent lift in its property management fees.</div>
<div>
JLL's investment sales business had revenues up year-on-year by 10 per cent
The commercial real estate agency booked a record full year revenue of $US7.9 billion in its global operations.
</div>
<div>
In its Asia Pacific business, revenue rose 20 per cent to $US1.6 billion and fee revenue was up 14 per cent to $US1.2 billion.
The increase in 2017 fee revenue was led by Greater China, Australia, India and Japan, the company said. 
Meanwhile US listed real estate agency CBRE recorded an all-time high for both revenue and earnings in 2017, driven by occupier outsourcing and leasing fee revenue.
<div>
Global revenue hit $US14.2 billion ($18 billion), an increase of nine per cent, with CBRE's Pacific business reporting a record revenue result in the fourth quarter after a nine per cent increase in revenue compared with the previous corresponding quarter.
CBRE's president and chief executive for the Pacific, Ray Pittman said the performance was driven by brokerage and professional services teams.
</div>
<div>
However, APAC sales revenue fell seven per cent compared with the fourth quarter of 2016, when sales had surged 42 per cent.
</div>
</div>
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JLL Australia see revenues rise for eighth year

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The first stage of the $1.5 billion Ripley Town Centre has secured an array of new leases as construction of the $40 million project is well advanced.
The latest leases lift its occupancy to over 80 per cent in what will be a marketplace-style centre anchored by a Coles supermarket.
It will be supported by 20 specialty stores, a medical centre and commercial office space.
Ripley Town Centre has secured tenancies from liquor giant BWS, a bakery, newsagent, nail salon, hairdresser, massage centre and café.
The Victoria-based Quay Family Healthcare signed up for the major medical centre to operate on the site.
Other health and medical tenants secured include The Discount Chemist, dentist Dr Nauv Kashyap who is opening his eighth South East Queensland practice, and Ipswich veterinarian Andrew Hemming who is targeting a second surgery to complement his existing Flinders View Veterinary Surgery.
Construction of the 9000sqm first stage is now well advanced with the roof installed, glazing and shopfronts currently being installed.  
“We’re pleased with construction progress over the past year, and we’re thrilled to see the number of retailers and commercial businesses moving to capitalise on the potential of the regional town centre,” said Ripley Town Centre development manager Taku Hashimoto. 
The new regional hub will service up to 120,000 people expected to call the Ripley region home over the coming years.
Ripley Town Centre has implemented several sustainability initiatives to secure a 5 Star Green Star Design through the installation of 1800 individual solar panels, with the majority to be installed on the 360 vehicle carpark shade structures as part of the 480kW system that will help generate a sizable portion of the town centre’s power needs at peak times.
<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/2018/2/13/RTC%202.jpg" alt="">
 
 
 
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Ripley Town Centre secures 80 percent occupancy well ahead of opening

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A Gold Coast real estate agent was ordered to pay $14,364 in fines and compensation in the Southport Magistrates Court following an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
Neil Hart, director of Wealthbuilt Realty in Molendinar, was fined $10,000, and ordered to pay $4,364 in witness and court costs after failing to organise repairs to two rental properties, despite collecting payments for them to be undertaken.
The OFT investigation revealed discrepancies between quotes obtained by the real estate agent for repairs to the properties, the amounts paid by insurance companies against those quotes, and then finally the amounts paid to tradespeople to conduct the repairs.
The OFT also established the deceptions relied on the agent creating and supplying a fake invoice and on failing to deposit repair money into the agency’s trust account.
In sentencing, the court considered Mr Hart’s guilty plea and previously unblemished record.
Fair Trading Acting Executive Director Craig Turner said real estate agents are in a position of trust and have no right producing false documents.
“Consumers have the right to expect that all paperwork received for transactions are accurate; they are not a tool for manipulation,” Mr Turner said.
“The OFT will not stand for any agent committing such duplicitous acts within the property industry.”
 
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Gold Coast agent fined after tenant repair discrepancies  

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Auction volumes continued to increase across the combined capital cities last weekend, according to CoreLogic.
The national auctions recorded a preliminary clearance rate of near 68 percent.
Number of listings nearly doubled, with 1,464 homes going under the hammer this weekend in comparison to 790 the weekend before.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%201.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%201.jpg" alt="">
The nation are still behind from this time last year when there were 1,591 auctions held. The February 2017 clearance rate was stronger too, up at 72 percent.
Melbourne had the strongest clearance rate at 72.5 percent, while Sydney was at 68.7 percent, up from 57 last week.
The strongest of Sydney's 15 sub-regions were the Eastern Suburbs (85.2 per cent), the Northern Beaches (79.1 per cent) and the Inner West (75 per cent) regions. 
The lowest clearance rate was across the Sutherland Shire where 46.7 per cent of the 30 reported auctions were successful.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%20.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge. </a>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%20.jpg" target="_blank"><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/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%20.jpg" alt=""></a>
There was a big divergence in success rates between Sydney's east and the Sutherland Shire. 
<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/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%207.jpg" alt="">
The gap was not as great in Melbourne between strongest region and weakest, i.e. the inner city and the Mornington Peninsula.
<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/2018/2/12/CORELOGIC%208.jpg" alt="">
 
 
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Clearance rates warming up after January slowdown: CoreLogic

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Lisa Halpin has been appointed by Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty to head up its new North Gold Coast office.
Ms Halpin started working within the Gold Coast real estate industry just five years ago.
Her strong sales have garnered more than $130 million in recent residential property deals.
Having formerly worked with other prestigious firms, McGrath estate agents and Savills, Ms Halpin started with Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty at the Main Beach office.
The North Gold Coast office, of which she will be Director and Principal, is due to open in Spring.
“I knew the Sotheby’s brand well from England, where I’m originally from, and also in Dubai where I lived for 12 years and owned and managed my own real estate business," she said.
Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty CEO, Paul Arthur, says the office will service Mount Tamborine, Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove, Sovereign Island and south along the Broadwater to Runaway Bay, with everything from prestigious country estates to luxurious waterfront mansions and FIRB-approved residences in Sanctuary Cove and Hope Island Resort.  
Her appointment comes off the back of the opening of a new Tropical North Queensland office headed up by Barbara Wolveridge.
left to right: Paul Arthur (CEO), Deanne Arthur (CMO),Lisa Halpin (Principal North Gold Coast) 
 
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Lisa Halpin to open Sotheby’s North Gold Coast office

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;

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

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