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Behind the white picket fence, a single level, Neil Robertson architect designed home has been listed in Peppermint Grove in Western Australia.
Built in the classic character style, the charming cottage exterior has been maintained over the last 20 years since its construction.
The formal front garden at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-peppermint+grove-126493478" target="_blank">2 Harvey Street</a> was designed in the style of leading Australian landscape gardener Paul Bangay.
There are established fruit trees of mango, citrus, pomegranate and macadamia.
Set on 750 square metres, the home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms. 
The charming cottage exterior belies the size and scale of the interior, the Peter Burns at Mack Hall listing agency said.
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Neil Robertson-designed home in Paul Bangay gardens at Peppermint Grove

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Interest for childcare centres continues unabated, with more properties under the asset class sold so far in 2017 than previously.
A recent analysis by commercial real estate agency Burgess Rawson of its sales over the past seven years shows 65 properties have been sold in 2017 so far, higher than previously. 
The average yield has risen to more than 5.5%, their report says.
Burgess Rawson, which has nearly three-quarters of the market share for childcare centre sales in Australia, says in a new report that average yields have fallen to 5.84% in the year to date from 7.58% since 2013. 
Burgess Rawson’s director Billy Holderhead was quoted by the Australian Property Journal as saying that unlike other property sectors where a surge in supply would normally result in an oversupply and push yields higher, childcare investment yields have declined further.
Supply increased a massive 550% between 2013 and 2014, yet yields compressed further by 10% from 7.58% to 6.89%.
“The sales history shows that despite increased supply, compression yields and greater price volumes continued. Therefore equilibrium, where demand is met, in our opinion has not been reached,” he said in the article carried on Burgess Rawson’s website.
“We see this trajectory continuing into the foreseeable future.”
Even the collapse of ABC Learning Centres has not dented the popularity of childcare centres, with 96% of all ABC centres now assigned to Goodstart, a consortium of The Benevolent Society, Mission Australia, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Social Ventures Australia.
Burgess Rawson’s associate director Adam Thomas said childcare centres truly are one of the few remaining “set and forget’’ property investments, with strong similarities to supermarkets in a previous era when leases were more favourable to landlords.
“This shows the core fundamentals are there,” he added.
In the last five years, rents have surged too. Rents range from $1,500 and $6,000 per childcare place, per year, with metropolitan centres sold this year averaging $3,000 per place, according to Burgess Rawson.
Five years back, the metro range was nearly $2,000 and has now climbed to the high $3,000’s.
Earlier this year, a record low yield was set at an auction in Sydney when a 36-place G8 Childcare centre property (picture above) in Vaucluse sold for $4.425 million on a yield of 3.57%.
Another research by Ray White, Between The Lines: WA Child Care, says the child care market as an income producing asset class has grown in appeal across the East Coast for the two years with a push into the Western Australian market has heated up during the second half of 2017.
“It says high supply over the last five years in the East Coast was realised due to the large increases in population and the undersupply of facilities, in more recent times its heavily subsidised income stream has not gone unnoticed by savvy investors,” it says.
The prospects for childcare centres looks secure with the federal government projected to spend $8.8 billion in 2018/19 and as much as $10 billion by 2020, according to Burgess Rawson childcare specialist Michael Vanstone.
The government predicts this investment will return 90,000 parents back to the workforce, which will add $3.1 billion to the economy, adds the Burgess Rawson report.
The Ray White report, which focuses on WA, says the market there is still in its supply phase with a high volume of stock recently entering the market and a pipeline in the works.
Researchers Vanessa Vader and Stephen Harrison say the demand for childcare centres is high as investors can see the value and attractive yields still on offer. Added to that is the ease of funding for child care assets.
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Childcare centres one of the few remaining 'set and forget' investments: Burgess Rawson

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Recent Macquarie Group updates to clients indicate a continued decline in arrears.
Mortgage arrears figures charted by Macquarie Bank show RMBS arrears at near decade lows across all days in arrears categories.
<img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2ndcZbNAVA/Wg7pDwx1ycI/AAAAAAAAnEA/lQGvGmAfsA8xOuOWByOVj2RTwZv0a351QCLcBGAs/s640/RMBS.jpg" width="640" height="332" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1279">
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Home loan arrears at near-decade low: Macquarie chart

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An Austin Maynard Architects designed home at Northcote has been listed for December auction.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-northcote-126852778" target="_blank">The 7 Walker Street four bedroom home</a> comes with $3.2 million to $3.4 million expectations.
It is set in the patch of the suburb known as Westgarth.
The Austin Maynard Architects work is set behind its Gothic Revival facade.
The December 2 auction is through Nelson Alexander agent Peter Stephens.
<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/2017/11/19/f2100d54007b40ab8ffc6b78ef671a4f.jpg" alt="">
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Gothic Revival facade hides Austin Maynard-designed Northcote trophy home

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GUEST OBSERVER
Metropolitan planning has a surprisingly long pedigree in Australia. Practices have evolved steadily in response to shifting large-scale urban problems. However, capital cities today present a suite of complex issues that challenge planning systems and demand better alignment between problem and response.
In major cities across Australia, there’s a stark contrast between lofty planning goals and the sprawling reality on the ground. Central to the story of each capital city is the evidence, after three decades of market-driven development, of a divide in access to opportunities and experiences.
In Sydney it has been dubbed the “latte line”. This is the divide between inner suburbs (affluent, dominating knowledge economy jobs, more likely to benefit from urban design initiatives) and outer suburbs (declining manufacturing employment, poor access to services and high car dependency).
The dominance of metropolitan development is not unique to Australia. Metropolitanisation has been described as “one of the most powerful trends shaping worldwide systems today”.
In The Metropolitan Revolution, Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution notes the fundamental importance of the urban in national affairs. This rests on a “simple but profound truth: cities and metropolitan areas are the engines of economic prosperity and social transformation”.
This global trend has led to calls for a global “Metropolitan Compact” to advance the UN’s New Urban Agenda. These are based on the need to strengthen connections between government, civil society, industry, academia and media.
This has obvious relevance to Australia. The major cities dominate settlement patterns and population growth. Two-thirds of Australians live in a capital city.
Taking stock of urban divides
Some of Australia’s leading urbanists have contributed to a new book, Planning Metropolitan Australia, with essays examining the spatial strategies governments have used to try to manage Australian metropolitan development in the 21st century.
These strategies are set against a dynamic background of economic change, spatial restructuring and a more diverse population with rising social and spatial inequality.
The book identifies a broad planning consensus about making metropolitan areas more compact and resilient. But there is a persistent gulf between the high-level aims of such strategies and our growing understanding of the complexity and diversity of the communities in which most people live.
So, what has been done in recent times?
Recent planning system reforms have been similar in most capital cities. These include:
<ul>
<li>simplified planning instruments across local council areas</li>
<li>reduced rights of appeal</li>
<li>a limited role for local councillors in assessing development proposals</li>
<li>a correspondingly increased role for state agencies or expert professional bodies.</li>
</ul>
As for the achievements of metropolitan plans, these too are increasingly similar. A wider variety of dwellings is being built in a range of locations. High-rise apartments (of variable quality) are increasingly evident in the central and inner city as plans seek higher density targets.
But metropolitan plans have generally failed to provide affordable housing. Most have also fallen short of their aspirations for higher use of public transport. This is largely because of inadequate investment in infrastructure. Where public transport use has increased, this has mostly involved journeys to the CBD or within the better-served inner suburbs (where most increases in walking and cycling are also observed).
Employment in middle and outer suburbs remains sparse. Poor access to job opportunities in these areas has generally added to labour market inequalities.
Rethinking neoliberal governance
In 2006 Clive Forster observed that Australian metropolitan plans were not sufficiently informed by the findings of urban research. He noted: "The existence of parallel urban universes: one occupied by metropolitan planning authorities and their containment – consolidation – centres consensus; the other by the realities of the increasingly complex, dispersed, residentially differentiated suburban metropolitan areas most Australians live in."
In a concluding essay to Planning Metropolitan Australia, Brendan Gleeson picks up the notion of “parallel universes”. He suggests Australian cities under weak metropolitan planning arrangements have made little progress towards long-held aspirations for sustainable resource use, social justice, inclusive and innovative economies, and more compact urban forms.
Rather, under neoliberal governance regimes, other forces have largely shaped our metros this century. These include national immigration, tax and finance policies, disruptive technological innovations, cultural shifts and increasingly dominant market power.
As we move deeper into the “metropolitan century”, more effective, nuanced, evidence-based metropolitan planning and governance arrangements become ever more urgent.
Robert Freestone, Professor of Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, UNSW. 
Stephen Hamnett, Emeritus Professor of Planning, University of South Australia.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-cities-and-their-metropolitan-plans-still-seem-to-be-parallel-universes-87603" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Photo: The right side of the ‘latte line’ in Sydney, looking across Paddington towards Bondi Junction and the eastern suburbs. R. Freestone, Author provided.
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Australian cities and their metropolitan plans still seem to be parallel universes

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Alex Perry Apartments in Brisbane’s upmarket Fortitude Valley, were designed to be an exclusive address at their launch in 2011 with much fanfare.
Then they ran into problems.
First, the developers of the delayed 11-storey apartment block removed all three-bedroom apartments from the design.
The three-bedders were replaced with one-bedroom apartments as part of a “redefined product”.
One-bedroom apartments were priced from $381,000 and two-bedroom units from $550,000.
However, since the initial sales, asking prices of the units have been steadily falling.
All apartments were designed by Alex Perry in conjunction with Cottee Parker Architects.
A one-bedroom apartment, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-125836930" target="_blank">1112/959 Ann Street</a>, spanning 59 sqm is for sale at $425,000.
The apartment has been on the market since July this year.
It previously sold for $463,439 in October 2013, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
A two-bedroom apartment, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/unit-404-959-ann-st-fortitude-valley-qld-4006" target="_blank">404/959 Ann Street</a>, remains listed after 769 days at $527,400. 
CoreLogic RP Data shows it last sold for $589,000 in July 2015.
Similarly, a two-bedroom unit, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-125455306" target="_blank">304/959 Ann Street</a>, which sold for $520,720 in  June 2013, is on the market. The description for the 73 sqm unit says “Urgent Sale for any reasonable offer”. But the listing doesn’t indicate a price. 
Another two-bedroom apartment, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/unit-309-959-ann-st-fortitude-valley-qld-4006" target="_blank">309/959 Ann Street</a> is listed for $522,000. It has been on the market for 528 days!
The apartment first sold in 2015 for $570,000.
A two-bedroom apartment, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-126124850" target="_blank">1111/959 Ann Street</a>, sold for $540,960 in 2013. It was listed again in March 2016 and is open to offers above $539,000.
CoreLogic records show that developer Chrome Property acquired the site at 959 Ann Street for $6.27 million in March 2010.
Meanwhile, the Australian fashion designer has secured a Sydney investment apartment in Darlinghurst for $1.7 million.
Perry retains an apartment in the FV complex.
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Asking prices going backwards in Alex Perry, Fortitude Valley

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The Surry Hills office of Uber Eats has been sold by the former Wallaby David Lyons.
The Victorian terrace at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-nsw-surry+hills-502100154" target="_blank">98 Foveaux Street</a> is a mixed-use office space.
It changed hands for $3.525 million. It had been bought for $1 million in 2011 with Lyons buying out his syndicate parter in 2016 at $861,000.
The sandstone Victorian terrace has potential for a home/office/showroom.
Nestled between Riley and Crown Street, the property comprises open plan living with options for gallery/office featuring terrazzo tiled floors.
The third level features front and huge rear outdoor terrace areas with potential to extend and enclose subject to council approval.
The zoning is B4 Mixed Use, allowing an array of usage rights.
<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/2017/11/27/UberEats2.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
It is on a land area of 180 sqm. 
The selling agent was Dominic D'Ettorre of D'Ettorre Real Estate.
 
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Uber Eats HQ sold in Surry Hills

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The attention on Brisbane apartment oversupply has been on the newly completed off the plan settlements.
But many established apartments in Brisbane's inner city suburb of Fortitude Valley have quietly notched up resales below their previous sales prices.
Here's a list of some apartments that Property Observer has spotted selling below their first sale prices:
1) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/unit-509-25-connor-st-fortitude-valley-qld-4006" target="_blank">509/25 Connor Street</a> Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
The one-bedroom apartment in the M&amp;A apartment block (above) sold for $320,000 in January 2017, well below its last sold price of $359,660 in 2013, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
It was on the market for 71 days, and was offered for $339,000 earlier in 2016 as well, when it was advertised as the “best deal in Fortitude Valley”.
It was listed for renting for $380 per week in August 2015 and then again a year later in September 2016 for $395 per week.
2) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-fortitude+valley-124571858" target="_blank">504/25 Connor Street</a>, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006
This two-bedroom apartment with an area of 74 sqm sold for $425,000 in April 2017 after being on the market for 74 days.
It sold below its previous sale price of $492,000 in 2015. The apartment first sold for $519,000 in 2013, when it was built, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
3) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-122526038" target="_blank">306/25 Connor Street</a> Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
This one-bedroom apartment close to the CBD spanning 61 sqm sold for $315,000 in March 2017, according to CoreLogic RP Data. The apartment was on the market for 337 days.
According to its advert, Ray White agent said it was returning $395 per week.
It previously sold for $371,000.
4) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-125515742" target="_blank">305/25 Connor Street</a> Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
Another one-bedroom unit in the same apartment development - right next door - sold below its previous price.
The latest sale in August 2017 fetched $298,000, well below its previous sale in 2010 at $361,000, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
It was on the market for 188 days.
The unit was advertised for rent at $370 per week.
5) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-qld-fortitude+valley-125980430" target="_blank">212/25 Connor Street</a> Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
This two-bedroom unit, built in 2013, sold recently for $370,000 after being on the market for just 12 days. However, the sale price was well below its initial sold price of $499,000, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
Even rents have fallen. First advertised for rent in February 2016 for $495 per week, the asking rate was dropped to $480 within a week and earlier this year it was advertised for $450 per week.
6) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/unit-1016-8-church-st-fortitude-valley-qld-4006" target="_blank">1016/8 Church Street</a> Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
This two-bedroom unit in Mosaic Apartments last changed hands for $425,000 in November 2107.
The unit dropped significantly in price from its previous sale in 2012 when it fetched $542,225, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
Asking rents have fallen too from $500 per week in 2015 to $440 by April 2017.
7) <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/unit-5-125-robertson-st-fortitude-valley-qld-4006" target="_blank">5/125 Robertson Street</a> Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
This two-bedroom apartment was built in 2000 fetched $400,000 at its recent sale in July 2017, just marginally above its previous selling price of $394,000 in 2010, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The unit fetched $305,000 in 2006.
It was last advertised for rent at $400 per week. Asking rents have, however, been falling. It was on the market for $475 per week rent previously in 2010.
8) 10/53 Warry Street Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006
This two-bedroom unit sold for $319,000 in July 2017. Curiously, it sold for $318,000 earlier this year in January. But overall, it has appreciated from its sale in 1998 for $115,000, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
It was last advertised for rent at $380 per week.
 
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Up to $120,000 cheaper: eight loss making established apartment resales in Fortitude Valley 

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The NSW foreign investor land surcharge will increase to 2 percent per annum (from 0.75 percent per annum) with effect from 31 December 2017 for the 2018 land tax year.
The land tax surcharge was introduced in NSW with effect from 1 January 2017 to be imposed on owners of residential land who are 'foreign persons'.
The surcharge also extends to trusts that own residential land which have beneficiaries that are 'foreign persons'.
The land tax surcharge provisions are very broad and will catch discretionary trusts if the trust deed has a broad definition of beneficiaries, which is typical of most discretionary trust deeds.
Lawyers Meyer Vandenberg have warned "in this global age, given the wide class of beneficiaries," there is a high chance that a family member includes someone of international origins who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen.
If any of these potential family members themselves meet the definition of 'foreign person' or invest in a company that meets the definition of a 'foreign person', and the trust owns residential land in NSW, then the trustee is liable for the land tax surcharge.
"Our federal politicians are having to re-look at their family origins (though to confirm their eligibility for holding office!)," Meyer Vandenberg told its clients.
"It is a timely reminder to also consider reviewing your discretionary trust deed and your family situation.
"If the trust owns residential land in NSW or is considering owning residential land in NSW in the near future, it is worthwhile getting advice."
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NSW foreign investor surcharge increased from December 31, 2017

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JGL Properties has sold 95% of its new $40 million development the Grange Residences.
The two-bedroom and three-bedroom townhomes range in price from $625,000 to $1.6 million. 
Set in Brisbane's inner north, The Grange Residences have a low site coverage across the 1.15-hectare infill site.
North-east-facing over Kedron Brook, the project comprises 39 townhouses and two houses designed by architect Arkhefield.
It is under construction by Hutchinson Builders. 
The project is fully funded by Suncorp and Thakral Capital Australia.
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JGL's Brisbane townhouse project Grange Residences selling well

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.

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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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