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A rare street-to-waterfront Oyster Bay home sold through Pulse's Lucas Pratt and Cameron Mattison for $2.4 million. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-oyster+bay-133626446" target="_blank">Ward Crescent </a>property has driveway access right to the house as well as direct access to Georges River. 
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom family home is set over three levels with water views and three separate living areas, and a timber kitchen with granite bench tops and a breakfast bar. 
The 828 sqm parcel of land features a spacious outdoor entertaining areas and a water-edge pool overlooking the river. 
<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/2020/5/27/6_Oyster%20Bay%20Pool.jpg" alt="">
A choice of water facilities include a boat shed, slipway, jetty and pontoon, and a lock-up garage with three car spaces.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Waterfront luxury home in Oyster Bay sold for $2.4 million 

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A coastal home with ocean views in Curl Curl has hit the market with $5.6 million hopes via expressions of interest. 
The five bedroom, three bathroom contemporary style home is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-curl+curl-133917682" target="_blank">12 Seaview Avenue</a>. 
It boasts living and dining area opening to alfresco terrace, gourmet kitchen, parent retreat with spa, four additional bedrooms and double garage. 
<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/2020/8/3/curl%20curl%202.jpg" alt="">
Set on a 490sqm block, the double brick home also features entertainer deck, resort-style pool and sun-drenched garden. 
It is located within a two-minute stroll to Curl Curl beach. 
Brendan Pomponio and Daniel Hindmarsh of Belle Property Dee Why Mona Vale have the listing. 
The expression of interest campaign for the property closes towards the end of August. 
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Curl Curl coastal home with ocean views hits the market 

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One of the only two penthouse residences in the York Apartment building in Newcastle East has been sold for $5.45 million. 
The three bedroom, three bathroom beachfront apartment is located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-newcastle+east-133891226" target="_blank">1201/61 Shortland Esplanade</a>.
It offers custom kitchen, living areas with access to beachfront deck, alfresco entertaining areas and garage parking for three vehicles. 
The home also features sleek storage throughout, wine fridge, double shower, and remote control blinds and curtains. 
It is situated within close proximity to the beach and cafes. 
Mark Kentwell and Jesse Wilton of PRDnationwide - Newcastle/Lake Macquarie sold the property. 
It was last sold in 2012 for $2.43 million. 
 
 
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Newcastle penthouse apartment sold for $5.45 million 

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A double storey home in Caroline Spring, Victoria has been sold by mortgagee for $820,000. 
It was offered by Las Anastasiadis and Vikas Kumar from Barry Plant Caroline Springs. 
Set on a 779 sqm block, the home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-caroline+springs-132330870" target="_blank">6 Parramatta Court </a>comprises four bedrooms, study, formal lounge, central kitchen, theatre room and family room.
It also features bathrooms on each level, sunroom, pergola and double garage with internal access. 
The property was last sold in 2015 for $755,000.
 
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Caroline Springs, Victoria mortgagee home sold for minor profit

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A double storey townhouse in Craigieburn, Victoria has been sold by mortgagee for $320,000.
It was listed by Joseph Sassine from Jason Real Estate Tullamarine. 
The home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-craigieburn-133271722" target="_blank"> 27/29 Ardsley Circuit </a>comprises lounge area, modern kitchen, dining and means area, and two bedrooms. 
It also features laundry, power room, rear yard and lock up carport. 
The home was last sold in 2013 for $329,000. 
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Craigieburn, Victoria mortgagee home sold for minor loss

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A low maintenance mortgagee house in Morphett Vale, South Australia has been sold for $235,000.
It was listed by Rick Pittard of Morphett Vale/Christies Beach. 
Set on 361 sqm, the home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-morphett+vale-133020122" target="_blank"> 56 Bains Road </a>comprises three bedrooms, large lounge and dining, and updated kitchen.
It also comes with polished floorboards, heating and cooling and updated wet areas.
The home was last sold in 2011 for $269,000. 
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Morphett Vale, South Australia mortgagee home sold for minor loss

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A four bedroom house in Kellyville has been sold by mortgagee for $1.017 million. 
It was listed by Soha Sheila and Chris De Celis of The Avenue Real Estate Agency, Castle Hill. 
The family home at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-kellyville-133780758" target="_blank"> 90 Lucas Circuit</a> comprises four bedrooms, study, rumpus room and low maintenance backyard. 
Set on a 484sqm allotment, the home also features ducted air conditioning and new carpet throughout. 
It is located close to metro station, Kellyville Village and schools. 
The property was last sold for $950,000 in 2016. 
 
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Kellyville, NSW mortgagee home sold for over $1 million

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A four bedroom mortgagee home located in the right of the Hunter Valley has been sold for $450,000.
It was listed by Kane Bradley from LJ Hooker Maitland. 
Set on a 644sqm allotment, the home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-north+rothbury-133399130" target="_blank">35 Bendeich Drive, North Rothbury</a> comes with a 17.9m frontage. 
It offers four large bedrooms, multiple living spaces with theatre room, modern kitchen and outdoor alfresco area. 
The home is located only 5 minutes' drive to Branxton and 2 minutes to the currently under construction Coles shopping precinct. 
 
 
 
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North Rothbury, NSW mortgagee home sold for $450,000

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COVID-19 and the growing recession concentrated in the services sector will not just increase social inequality, but accelerate the growing spatial divide in our cities.
As our new research report shows, the pandemic’s impacts reinforce the ongoing trend towards the suburbanisation of inequality.
There are two reasons for this. First, the industries vulnerable to the economic impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns rely heavily on low-wage, part-time employment. Second, the inner suburbs are home to the largest concentration of COVID-vulnerable workers.
If we do not act now, more people will get pushed out of inner areas rich in jobs and amenities to lower-cost outer suburbs with poor access to jobs and community services.
<h2>Which industries and workers are vulnerable?</h2>
Our <a href="https://www.monash.edu/mada/research/navigating-economic-uncertainty-in-post-covid-cities" target="_blank">research</a> analyses where people employed in the industries most vulnerable to COVID-19 lockdowns live and the kind of work they do. We map vulnerable employment areas in all suburbs of Australia’s five largest capital cities. We then examine the characteristics of people in vulnerable employment living in all suburbs of Australia’s current coronavirus hotspot, metropolitan Melbourne.
We define vulnerable employment based on a detailed review of industries with one-third or more firms reporting <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/5676.0.55.003Main%20Features3Week%20Commencing%2030%20March%202020?opendocument&amp;tabname=Summary&amp;prodno=5676.0.55.003&amp;issue=Week%20Commencing%2030%20March%202020&amp;num=&amp;view=" target="_blank">reduced worker hours</a> one week after the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 30 2020). These firms are mainly in the consumer, travel and community services sectors. They employ people working in accommodation and food, arts and entertainment, education, “non-essential” <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-16/coronavirus-leaves-medical-practices-on-verge-of-collapse/12359282" target="_blank">health care</a>, retail and transport.
We profile the characteristics of vulnerable workers in each of these sub-industries and by suburb. We classify suburbs (using <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/Australian+Statistical+Geography+Standard+(ASGS)" target="_blank">SA2 level</a> data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics) by share of vulnerable employment based on the worker’s place of usual residence.
<h2>Many at-risk workers live in inner suburbs</h2>
As the map below shows, the largest shares of vulnerable workers live in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349503/original/file-20200727-25-754ql2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349503/original/file-20200727-25-754ql2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Source: ABS (2016) Census data, by place of residence at SA2 level. Map by Declan Martin and Alexa Gower, Author provided
Vulnerability levels clearly diminish moving outward from the city centre. In other words, many vulnerable workers live in some of the highest-rent suburbs.
On average, the share of vulnerable workers in the very high vulnerability suburbs is 32.2% of employed residents. The figure exceeds 40% in some of these areas.
<h2>Workers likely to be forced to move</h2>
Living in the inner suburbs, combined with the nature of their jobs, puts many COVID-vulnerable workers at high risk of displacement.
In the very high vulnerability suburbs, 47% of vulnerable workers are on low or very low incomes. And 54.3% work part-time (less than 38 hours a week). A large proportion (41.9%) are aged under 30 and about one-third are 30-44.
In fact, over half (53.5%) of the vulnerable workforce living in very high-vulnerability suburbs hold jobs in the most precarious, low-wage consumer services industries – accommodation and food services and retail and personal services. Another 30% work in arts, entertainment and education.
Suppressed consumer demand will not only have short-run employment impacts, but might permanently alter consumption patterns. The result would be enduring business closures and job losses for workers who live in these areas.
To make ends meet, many of those facing job loss and other employment pressures such as reduced hours will seek more affordable housing in the middle and outer suburbs.
However, although the outer areas are now home to the smallest proportion of vulnerable workers, the vulnerable workers that live there tend to be worse off. Just over 66% are on low or very low incomes and 60% work part-time.
As a result, the migration of COVID-vulnerable workers to the outer areas will add to the existing concentration of spatial inequality in Greater Melbourne.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/350533/original/file-20200731-77137-1yq48ho.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/350533/original/file-20200731-77137-1yq48ho.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Table showing demographic breakdown of vulnerable employment communities for each level of vulnerability"></a>
Source: ABS 2016 Census data, by place of residence at the SA2 level, Author provided
<h2>What can be done about this?</h2>
COVID-19 puts people working in low-end <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-coronavirus-recession-puts-service-workers-at-risk-134869" target="_blank">service jobs</a> and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-3-in-4-australians-employed-in-the-creative-and-performing-arts-could-lose-their-jobs-136505" target="_blank">creative</a> and educational services at high risk of losing their jobs. Those who manage to live in the high-cost inner suburbs are now particularly vulnerable.
It is therefore crucial to expand rather than retract the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs. Proposed cuts to JobSeeker are estimated to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/24/weekly-cut-of-150-to-jobseeker-coronavirus-supplement-will-throw-370000-australians-into-poverty" target="_blank">push 370,000 Australians into poverty</a>, 123,000 in Victoria alone. In tandem, we need interim policy in the rental housing market to defuse the impending “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/19/we-dont-know-how-many-time-bombs-are-ticking-australias-rent-deferral-debt-trap" target="_blank">rent bomb</a>” of tenants facing eviction if they can’t pay the accumulated debt of deferred rent.
Longer-term strategies are also needed. We must confront the reality that many service sector jobs will not return.
This requires investment in skills-building courses tied to strengthening the recovery of TAFEs and universities, particularly in areas like “essential manufacturing” – medical supplies, recycling, food – and communications technologies. <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/jobtrainer-skills-package-economic-recovery-and-growth" target="_blank">JobTrainer</a> is a good start.
Given the spatial dimensions of the crisis, place-based programs are crucial too. Preserving <a href="https://theconversation.com/three-ways-to-fix-the-problems-caused-by-rezoning-inner-city-industrial-land-for-mixed-use-apartments-121566" target="_blank">inner suburban industrial land</a> can play a significant role in small enterprise start-ups, firm expansion and job creation. Inner industrial districts provide a flexible mix of space that allows businesses to grow and add quality jobs in place.
At the same time, policymakers can better develop community infrastructure and employment hubs in the outer suburbs. Community hubs provide flexible, multipurpose spaces that cater to various community needs. These services range from youth, aged care and health facilities to collaborative workspaces and settings for workforce training providers.
While COVID-19 is clearly taking an immediate toll on the health and economies of our cities, we need a conversation about the longer-term impacts and responses.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/143432/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carl-grodach-403324" target="_blank">Carl Grodach</a>, Professor and Director of Urban Planning &amp; Design, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065" target="_blank">Monash University</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-coronavirus-will-deepen-the-inequality-of-our-suburbs-143432" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why coronavirus will deepen the inequality of our suburbs

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The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) has finalised a $100 million agreement with NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) accelerating the delivery of new social and affordable housing in NSW.
The deal will allow LAHC to access up to $100 million in loans and grants through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF), which is administered by NHFIC.
NHFIC CEO Nathan Dal Bon said the funding would deliver crucial infrastructure supporting the development of much-needed community housing.
“NHFIC’s infrastructure facility was established to improve housing outcomes for everyday Australians. This agreement with NSW will support infrastructure works to enable the delivery of 781 new social and affordable homes at significant development sites across Sydney,” Mr Dal Bon said.
The NHIF offers both concessional loans and grant funding for new or upgraded infrastructure needed for new housing, such as roads, water, sewerage, electrical, communications, and remediation.
“This historic financial agreement showcases the opportunity for states and territories to work together and benefit from the NHIF, resulting in more housing supply across the country,” Mr Dal Bon said.
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NHFIC funding to deliver 781 new social and affordable homes for NSW

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

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