<html><body>
In 2005, when I was chair of the <a href="http://www.soilscienceaustralia.org/ncst" target="_blank">National Committee on Soil and Terrain</a>, I started a debate: where is Australia’s whitest beach? This was a diversion from the committee’s normal business of looking at the sustainable management of Australia’s soils, but it led down a path I hadn’t expected.
What began as a bit of after-hours banter became a serious look across Australia in search of our whitest beaches. New South Wales had already laid claim to the title, arguing that Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay has the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://open.abc.net.au/explore/28273" target="_blank">whitest sand in the world</a>, purportedly backed up by Guinness World Records.
As it turned out, both claims were false. Guinness World Records has no such category, and the whitest beach (as we found) is actually elsewhere.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198664/original/file-20171211-9383-1x292qs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198664/original/file-20171211-9383-1x292qs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Hyams beach in Jervis Bay, NSW, has been rumoured to have the whitest sand in Australia. Kristina Kl./Flickr, Author provided
So we drafted terms of reference, and the search for <a href="http://www.whitestbeach.com" target="_blank">Australia’s Whitest Beach</a> began. Over the next year samples were collected across the nation. The criteria were simple: samples had to be taken from the swash zone (the gently sloping area between the water and the dunes) and the samples could not be treated in any way apart from air-drying. No bleaching. No sieving out of impurities. Marine environment only.
The results of the first judging in 2006 were startling. Of all the states and territories, the much promoted Hyams Beach in New South Wales came in fourth. Third was Victoria, second Queensland, and first Western Australia.
The other states and territories came in at Tasmania fifth, Northern Territory sixth, and South Australia seventh. The ACT didn’t have a beach to sample, although technically some of the Commonwealth lands around our coasts could possibly come in under their banner (but that’s another debate altogether).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198662/original/file-20171211-9383-1y7qak8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198662/original/file-20171211-9383-1y7qak8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A sample of the main contenders for the whitest beach in Australia. Unfortunately, samples submitted from South Australia didn’t make the final cut. Photo: Noel Schoknecht, Author provided
The winning beach was Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park on WA’s south coast, but in reality any of the beaches in this area could have been winners – Hellfire Bay, Thistle Cove and Wharton’s beach (just to name a few) are all magnificently white.
A quick qualification here: the southwestern end of Lucky Bay, where many people enter the beach, is covered with seaweed – not the whitest bit! I should also note that all of the finalists in the whitest beach challenge were in their own right fabulously white. But when compared side-by-side, some beaches are clearly whiter than others.
The Queensland team felt aggrieved, so in 2007 I carried out a repechage with new samples from Queensland at Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, and Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island. Lake McKenzie was ultimately disallowed as it is a freshwater lake and the rules stipulated a marine environment. Meanwhile, Whitehaven didn’t quite cut the mustard in the judging and Lucky Bay in WA was again the winner.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198665/original/file-20171211-9416-v5kr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198665/original/file-20171211-9416-v5kr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Whitehaven beach in Queensland just missed out on the top spot in the recount. Jared Yeh/Flickr, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-NC-SA</a>
<h2>So what makes a beach white, and is it important anyway?</h2>
The assessments were based on a visual comparison, so to remove any possible visual bias after the 2007 challenge all the samples were scanned for their reflectance – how much light bounced off the sand, essentially – in the visible and infrared wavelengths. Our assumption was that higher reflectance throughout the visual spectrum correlates with greater whiteness.
As it turned out, the results from the scanning exactly correlated with the visual assessments. The eye is quite good at discerning small differences in colour and reflectance. (More background and the results from the competition are available <a href="http://www.whitestbeach.com" target="_blank">here</a>.)
So what makes a beach white? Obviously, a pristine environment helps. Another factor is the distance from rivers, which deliver coloured organic and clay contaminants to the coast.
The geology of the area and the source of the sand are also critical, with quartz seemingly a major requirement for fine sands. Most white sandy beaches are derived from granitic, or less commonly sandstone, geologies that weather to produce fine, frosted quartz sand grains. Interestingly, sands made from shell or coral fragments just aren’t as white.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198671/original/file-20171212-9392-1b85svb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198671/original/file-20171212-9392-1b85svb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The source of the sand is very important; sand made from shells or coral aren’t as white as quartz. Tracey Croke/Flickr, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
<h2>Is it important?</h2>
While this competition began in fun, I do believe it’s important. Beaches are places of refuge in this crazy world, and a pristine white beach indicates a cleanliness that is worth striving for. The reflectance of light off these sands through shallow waters near the beach creates a surreal, magical turquoise colour. White beaches are like the canary in the coalmine – once they’re spoiled, we know we’re in trouble.
Even though this study was a first look at some of Australia’s whitest beaches, and sampling was limited, it did highlight the sheer number of wonderful sandy beaches that Australia has.
The story’s not finished though. There are many white beaches out there yet to be sampled, and if you’d like to alert me to your potentially award-winning beach please <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/whitestbeachinaustralia@gmail.com" target="_blank">email me</a> or leave a comment on the <a href="https://whitestbeach.com/feedback/" target="_blank">whitest beach website</a>.
It’s our responsibility, and I believe honour, to protect these amazing places. I’m sure there are more wonderful beaches out there that we haven’t sampled which may defeat Lucky Bay.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88393/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Shelburne Bay in northern Queensland, for example, is a contender yet to be sampled, and there are some magnificent beaches on the east coast of Tasmania. Whatever the outcome, let’s celebrate the natural wonders that surround our country.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/noel-schoknecht-429567" target="_blank">Noel Schoknecht</a>, Senior research associate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746" target="_blank">Murdoch 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/lucky-winner-why-this-beach-in-wa-claims-the-crown-of-australias-whitest-sand-88393" target="_blank">original article</a>.
{mijopolls 148}
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Our whitest sandy beach: Why this beach in WA claims

<html><body>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Superannuation funds posted double-digit gains in 2017 for the first time in five years, outperforming property returns.
But despite the residential market cooling expected to continue, experts in the Australian Financial Review have warned that the stellar super performance is unlikely to be repeated in 2018.
The average balanced super fund recorded a rise of 10.5 per cent in the 12 months to December, comfortably above the 9.1 per cent total average return from property across Australian capital cities.
The last time super funds had double-digit returns was in 2013, when the average balanced fund gained 16.3 per cent, data from research house SuperRatings shows.
<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/2018/1/8/super2.jpg" alt="">
"It would be a huge mistake for people to believe these returns are sustainable. They are not sustainable," said Martin Fahy, chief executive of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Fahy said the slowdown in property prices, which he attributed in part to tougher lending rules imposed on the banks by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, was evidence that asset classes could not outperform indefinitely.
<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/2018/1/8/super1.jpg" alt="">
"The market reverts to the mean. Long-term outperformance is very difficult to achieve," he said.
CoreLogic data suggests the only property markets to outperform super were those in Melbourne and Hobart, while Canberra was in line with the average super fund return.
The total return includes house-price inflation plus the rental yield.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<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/2018/1/8/2017%20prices.jpg" alt="">
SuperRatings chief executive Kirby Rapell noted that the 10.5 per cent estimated super fund return for 2017 was well above the 5.6 per cent average annual return over the past decade, although the long-term performance was marred by the global financial crisis, which pummeled shares in 2008.
"Longer-term returns continue to sit close to funds' targets, with the seven-year return reaching a very healthy 8.4 per cent per annum," Mr Rapell said.
The average balanced fund has returned more than 120 per cent on a cumulative basis since the depths of the global financial crisis in February 2009, according to Chant West, another research firm.
The biggest contributor to last year's strong result was global equities, which rallied thanks to low interest rates, the expectation of tax cuts in the US and a global economic recovery. On a hedged basis, international shares surged more than 18 per cent, and on an unhedged basis more than 16 per cent.
Australian shares added more than 10 per cent and unlisted infrastructure and property are both expected to have returned at least 8 per cent, according to Chant West.
Debbie Alliston, head of multi-asset portfolio management at AMP Capital, said 2018 was likely to be more challenging, particularly towards the second half of the year.
"The tailwind that has supported yield-type assets is likely to become a headwind," she told Fairfax Media.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
 
</div>
</body></html>

Super returns in 2017 outperformed property

<html><body>
It was marketed as the closest to the beach as is possible in Perth.
The 5/11 Perlinte View, North Coogee offering had a reduced $1,195,000 asking price through Jon Brady and Fleur Schrader at Acton.
It fetched $1.15 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-north+coogee-124739738" target="_blank">The three bedroom, two bathroom apartment</a> is close to the Omeo (1905) dive wreck just meters from the shore.
Nearby iconic Coogee jetty was chosen for the state's first safe swimming enclosure ideal for morning laps and a pontoon slide for kids. There's cafes, the fitness centre and surf club.
The apartment's living/dining area comes with Regal Oak floor by Godfrey Hurst with acoustic underlay.
<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/2018/1/8/COOGEE2.jpg" alt="">
The double glazing to all windows with argon fill and exterior walls of concrete with 60mm polystyrene internal lining contribute to its 9 star energy efficiency.
It had been for sale since last February when it came with $1.39 million hopes.
It was briefly under offer in mid-2017 at $1,275,000.
Local builder Janet Williamson and architect Ed Eames combined to create a state-of-the-art apartment complex of six apartments.
The previous highest price sales in the complex were in 2015 off the plan at $1,125,000.
</body></html>

9 star energy North Coogee apartment sold

<html><body>
<div>
The young high flying Sydney investor Nathan Birch has been quietly sued by a lender after his company defaulted on a $535,000 mortgage on a Gold Coast investment property.
Birch has confirmed he had "briefly" fallen behind on "one or two mortgages" citing increased lending restrictions arising from the much-heralded Australian Prudential Regulation Authority investor crackdown.
Birch (below), who proudly describes himself as a little bit bogan, drives a $200,000 Bentley bearing the number plate CSHFLO.
He was named Your Investment Property magazine's runner-up investor of the year in 2013.
The arrears situation is a small part of the portfolio built up by Birch who describes himself as "young, bold, brash" - and "one of Australia’s most successful, respected and listened-to property investors."
His $50 million portfolio of over 200+ properties, saw him tally a net worth exceeding $30 million dollars with a passive income after expenses north of $2 million since buying his first property at eighteen.
Court documents cited by the Australian Financial Review showed Birch's company HLG One Holdings Pty Ltd had failed to pay amounts owing on a $535,000, 30-year interest-only mortgage for 9 Victor Avenue, Paradise Point, which has three two-bedroom rental units on one title.
<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/2018/1/8/nathan.jpg" alt="">
</div>
<div>
HLG One Holdings, of which Birch is the sole shareholder and guarantor over the loan, was given 31 days to remedy the situation or be in mid-year default.
At the time in a <a href="https://binvested.com.au/nathan-birch-selling-properties/" target="_blank">blog post</a>, Birch announced he was selling down his portfolio.
“For a long time now, I’ve been collecting properties like kids collect action figurines in a Happy Meal,” he wrote. “I never like to see one go.
“But recently, the finance environment has changed. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for a buy-and-hold investor — but I need to optimise to [suit] the times we are in by letting go.”
Birch told news.com.au mid-year he was looking to offload up to 20 properties estimating he would reduce his debt to about $18 million.
</div>
<div>Birch blogged that he was adjusting his portfolio and riding the finance challenge "without breaking a sweat".</div>
<div>
"For years now I have been channelling equity into deposits for new properties, but it's no secret that equity is very hard to release these days – even if you have millions of dollars of it," he told his many devotees.
His recent HLG company sales include a Box Hill, outer Sydney holding which fetched $625,000 last November, having cost $567,000 in 2015.
Among the property HLG retains is a townhouse at Woodridge in Queensland which was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-woodridge-120184193" target="_blank">bought in 2015 at $124,000 when tenanted at $220 a week</a>. Last month it sought tenants at $200 a week having sought tenants in November at $230 a week.
<div>Permanent Mortgages sued HLG One Holdings and Birch claiming repossession of the property together with $548,367 and interest accrued on the amount at a rate of 11.94 per cent a year from August. The claim was filed in the Brisbane District Court by solicitors Dunstan Hardcastle, acting on behalf of Permanent Mortgages, a subsidiary of non-bank lender La Trobe Financial.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>On October 24 Permanent Mortgages secured judgement against HLG One Holdings, but has yet to undertake any public sale. It <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unitblock-qld-paradise+point-121557538" target="_blank">last sold in 2016</a> at $815,000, then returning a total of $780p/w.
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>In his recent emailed response on the court matter to the Financial Review, Birch advised 2017 had "more than anything highlighted just how important strong cashflow is".</div>
<div>
He said that he had had to adapt his investment strategy.
"As a result of the tighter lending practices, I have simply sold some smaller properties and purchased larger ones to set myself up for a development phase in my portfolio," he advised.
</div>
</body></html>

Cash flow issues catch up with investor Nathan Birch on Paradise Point property

<html><body>
Moyne River Cottage at Point Fairy has been listed for sale for the first time for two decades.
The<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-port+fairy-127249614" target="_blank"> Gipps Street home</a> with traditional charm is set among other historical homes in the sought after river precinct.
Built in the early 1850s, the property has been restored behind the classic weatherboard facade. 
It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
A terraced garden leads down a large waterside landing.
It has $1.55 million to $1.65 million price guidance through Robertson Port Fairy agents Paul Ross and Di MacKirdy.
Moyne River Cottage last traded for $245,000 in 1998.
The comparable street sales sheet cite a home nearby which sold for $1.6 million at the start of 2017.
</body></html>

Port Fairy's 1850s Moyne River Cottage listed for sale

<html><body>
The weather is getting warmer, and gardens are coming alive with bees, flies, butterflies, dragonflies, praying mantises, beetles, millipedes, centipedes, and spiders.
For some of us it is exciting to see these strange and wonderful creatures return. For others, it’s a sign to contact the local pest control company or go to the supermarket to stock up on sprays.
But while some bugs do us very few favours – like <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-worst-year-for-mosquitoes-ever-heres-how-we-find-out-68433" target="_blank">mozzies</a>, snails and cockroaches – killing all insects and bugs isn’t always necessary or effective. It can also damage ecosystems and our own health.
There are times when insecticides are needed (especially when pest populations are surging or the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-we-kept-disease-spreading-asian-tiger-mozzies-away-from-the-australian-mainland-72873" target="_blank">risk of disease is high</a>) but you don’t have to reach for the spray every time. Here are five good reasons to avoid pesticides wherever possible, and live and let live.
<h2>1. Encourage the bees and butterflies, enjoy more fruits and flowers</h2>
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/191979/original/file-20171026-28083-92nvqq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">Hover fly. dakluza/flickr
Flowers and fruits are the focal points of even the smallest gardens, and many of our favourites rely on visits from insect pollinators. We all know about the benefits of European honey bees (Apis mellifera), but how about our “home grown” pollinators – our <a href="http://www.aussiebee.com.au/beesinyourarea" target="_blank">native bees</a>, hover flies, beetles, moths and butterflies. <a href="https://australianmuseum.net.au/pollination" target="_blank">All these species contribute to the pollination</a> of our native plants and fruits and veggies.
You can encourage these helpful pollinators by growing plants that flower at different times of the year (especially natives) and looking into sugar-water feeders or <a href="https://www.growveg.com.au/guides/insect-hotels-encourage-beneficial-insects-into-your-garden/" target="_blank">insect hotels</a>.
<h2>2. Delight your decomposers, they’re like mini bulldozers</h2>
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/191978/original/file-20171026-28071-1310clk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">Slaters improve your soil quality. Alan Kwok
To break down leaf litter and other organic waste you need decomposers. Worms, beetles and slaters will munch through decaying vegetation, releasing nutrients into the soil that can be used by plants.
The problem is that urban soils are frequently disturbed and can contain high levels of heavy metals that <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749111005719" target="_blank">affects decomposer communities</a>. If there are fewer “bugs” in the soil, decomposition is slower – so we need to conserve our underground allies.
You can help them out with compost heaps and worm farms that can be dug into the ground. It’s also good to keep some areas of your lawn un-mowed, and to create areas of leaf litter. Keeping your garden well-watered will also help your underground ecosystems, but be mindful of water restrictions and encouraging mosquitoes.
<h2>3. An army of beneficial bugs can eat your pests</h2>
Mantises and dragonflies are just some of the hundreds of fascinating and beautiful bugs we are lucky to see around our homes. Many of these wonderful creatures are predators of mozzies, house flies and cockroaches, yet people are using broad-spectrum insecticides which kill these beneficial bugs alongside the pests.
It may sound counterproductive to stop using pesticides in order to control pests around the home, but that’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v466/n7302/abs/nature09183" target="_blank">exactly what organic farmers do</a>. By reducing pesticides you allow populations of natural enemies to thrive.
Many farmers <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ento.45.1.175" target="_blank">grow specific plants to encourage beneficial insects</a>, which has been shown to reduce the damage to their crops.
This form of pest control in growing in popularity because spraying can result in insecticide resistance. Fortunately, it’s easy to encourage these bugs: they go where their prey is. If you have a good range of insects in your yard, these helpful predators are probably also present.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/193118/original/file-20171102-26426-1kkfe0j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">Jumping spiders are great at eating flies and other pests. Craig Franke
<h2>4. Your garden will support more wildlife, both big and small</h2>
Spraying with broad-spectrum pesticides will kill off more than just insects and spiders – you’re also going after the animals that eat them. The more insects are around, the more birds, <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-bats-eat-mozzies-or-moths-the-clue-is-in-the-poo-19400" target="_blank">mammals</a>, reptiles and frogs will thrive in your backyard.
Baiting for snails, for example, will deter the blue-tongue lizards that eat them, so cage your vegetables to protect them instead. Keeping your garden well-watered, and including waterbaths, will also encourage a balanced ecosystem (but change the waterbaths regularly).
<h2>5. You and your family be happier and healthier</h2>
Engaging with nature <a href="https://theconversation.com/green-for-wellbeing-science-tells-us-how-to-design-urban-spaces-that-heal-us-82437" target="_blank">increases well-being</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.pnas.org/content/112/26/7937" target="_blank">stimulates learning in children</a>. Insects are a fantastic way to engage with nature, and where better to do this than in your own back yard! Observing and experimenting on insects is a wonderful <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ento.42.1.269" target="_blank">teaching tool</a> for everything from life cycles to the scientific method. It will also teach your kids to value nature and live sustainably.
It’s also a hard truth that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1519137/?page=1" target="_blank">domestic pesticides present a significant risk of poisoning</a>, especially for small children.
In reality, the risk of exposing your children to the pesticides far outweighs the nuisance of having a few bugs around. Instead, integrated pest management, which combines non-chemical techniques like <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241688/" target="_blank">cleaning of food residues, removal of potential nutrients, and sealing cracks and crevices</a>, is safer for your family and your garden ecosystems.
<h2>Think globally, act locally</h2>
Your backyard has a surprising impact on the broader health of your neighbourhood, and gardens can make <a href="https://kar.kent.ac.uk/28303/1/Davies_et_al._Biological_Conservation_2009.pdf" target="_blank">significant contributions to local biodiversity</a>. Insects are an important part of ecosystem conservation, and encouraging them will improve the health of your local environment (and probably your health and well-being too).
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/85673/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">In the end, insects and spiders are not out to get you. For the sake of our kids and our environment, you should give them a chance.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lizzy-lowe-92423" target="_blank">Lizzy Lowe</a>, Postdoctoral researcher, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174" target="_blank">Macquarie University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736" target="_blank">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841" target="_blank">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-umbers-416078" target="_blank">Kate Umbers</a>, Lecturer in Zoology, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092" target="_blank">Western Sydney 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/five-reasons-not-to-spray-the-bugs-in-your-garden-this-summer-85673" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

Five reasons not to spray the bugs in your garden this summer

<html><body>
The Sovereign Islands estate Villa Blue Waters remains listed for sale on Queensland's Gold Coast.
It's the glamourous Paradise Point property which comes with a $9.99 million asking price by the longtime luxury boat broker Grant Torrens. 
It is for sale through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-sovereign+islands-126134314" target="_blank">Ali Mian at Ray White.</a>
It was built originally by a Japanese owner as a corporate retreat with five king-size en suite bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a day spa and an eight-car internal garage, along with approvals in place for an extra level to the home.
<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/2018/1/5/sov2.jpg" alt="">
It was last bought for $3.45 million in 2013 from Christian Ainsworth.
Villa Blue Waters had previously traded in 2010 for $7.2 million when sold by Gary McPherson.
With a 1950 sqm waterfront holding, the estate boasts a 64 metre straight line private marina frontage and a 70 metre super yacht marina berth, the largest in Queensland.
The are nine bathrooms and five kingsize bedrooms, one coming with a firework style bed head.
The property features a Versace Italian mosaic hydrotherapy room, a Turkish plunge spa and a waterfront gymnasium.
There is also fully sell contained Teppanyaki Cabana close to its 12 metre resort style mosaic pool.
</body></html>

Villa Blue Waters, Paradise Point relisted at $9.99 million

Craig James sees only one possible rate rise in 2018

<html><body>
The RBA has released its January chart pack which contributed to their decision to leave cash rates on hold again at 1.5 percent.
The full pack can be <a href="http://www.rba.gov.au/chart-pack/" target="_blank">found here.</a>
Consumer sentiment is has been fluctuating over the year.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/1/4/chart1.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/2018/1/4/chart1.jpg" alt="">
Housing prices and house hold debt are both peaking, however the house prices are just beginning to level out.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/1/4/chart2.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/2018/1/4/chart2.jpg" alt="">
National house price growth has considerably stumbled since the middle of 2017.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/1/4/chart3.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/2018/1/4/chart3.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Three charts that helped the RBA decide to keep the cash rate on hold

<html><body>
The embattled luxury retailer Oroton has secured a lifeline after one of its major shareholders, Will Vicars offered to take over the company.
Oroton Group's administrator Deloitte has accepted a purchase proposal from the fund manager who owns 18 per cent of Oroton's ASX-listed shares.
The deal marks the end of an era for the Lane family, who founded the business in 1938.
The ASX-listed brand went into voluntary administration in late November. In July the clothing distributor Gazal Corp bought a 7.3 per cent stake for $3.1 million which valued the company as worth $44 million.
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Oroton Group was 21 per cent owned by the founding Lane family and 17 per cent owned by Caledonia Funds Management chief investment officer Will Vicars.
</div>
The deal should see Oroton avoid a break-up of its business and allow its 50 stores across Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia to continue trading.
The administrator has not revealed the value of the deal or how much creditors can expect to receive.
"Despite interest, there was no other offer that would have resulted in a superior outcome for the business or employees," administrator Vaughan Strawbridge from Deloitte told shareholders.
Under the binding and exclusive agreement Mr Vicars signed late on December 23 with Strawbridge, he will propose a deed of company arrangement that will rescue the business.
No details of the size of the rescue package, or the returns to creditors, have yet been provided. 
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Vicars had been a director of Oroton for 16 years until he resigned in May, having previously acted as the company's white knight when in June he put up $3 million in credit support for the company's working capital facility with Westpac.
Its annual revenue was $123 million.
The board held 10 meetings during the past year, plus 33 unscheduled board meetings to seek to set the company afloat.
</div>
</body></html>

Luxury retailer Oroton secures trading lifeline from Will Vicars

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