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UNSW researchers have released a free app designed to give people with disabilities and older Australians the product information they need to modify their homes and stay in them for longer.
Known as DIYmodify, it will help consumers make decisions around purchasing five common home modifications including grab rails and handheld showers.
“Overwhelmingly, people want to stay in their own homes rather than go into care,” remarked UNSW associate professor Catherine Bridge, director of the HMinfo Clearinghouse.
“Our aim is to keep people better informed, safer and able to stay in their homes for longer,” she said.
UNSW research shows more than 15,000 DIY home modifications are undertaken by people with disability and older Australians each year in NSW alone.
The HMinfo Clearinghouse analysed consumer sales data from the largest national hardware chain by monitoring the sale of five products: grab rails; handrails, hand-held showers, shower infills and small ramps.
“When people complete their own home modifications, they can choose the products they want and have control over the process – the DIYmodify app is designed to assist them with this and shows that grab rails and ramps can be installed in a way that won’t make their home look like a hospital.”
The app was co-designed with input from people with disability and seniors to ensure the highest level of accessibility for people with cognitive, vision and physical impairment, as well as non-English speakers.
“We’re giving people information at the time they need it, presented in a way that is understandable to them. For example, many people don’t know that they can add a ramp to their shower, to raise its level and it will only cost them $100 rather than $2000,” Bridge said.
DIYmodify will be launched on 19 May by the NSW Minister for Disability Services, Ray Williams. It is available for both iPhone/iPad and Android devices. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

New app to help people with disabilities choose home modifications

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Shadow banks are charging interest-only investors nearly 60 basis points less for standard variable loans than the big bank competitors.
The big savings for property buyers explains their growing popularity, analysts have suggested.
Shadow bankers are however bracing for growth speed limits and pressures to constrain interest-only lending as faced by their major peers. 
John Khall, chief executive and founder of Pacific Mortgage Group, said it has not happened yet "but we expect some changes."
Their acceptance been facilitated by their prominence on online best-price comparator websites.
Moves by prudential regulators to increase regulation of the big banks has assisted in the shift to shadow banking finance. 
The shadow banks are non-authorised deposit taking institutions known as non-bank lenders.
Data suggests almost half their loan portfolios are interest-only borrowers, well above new regulatory standards intended to slow speculative lending. 
The big banks now need to keep interest-only loans to a 30 percent limit with their overall loan book. 
Shadow banks typically use securitisations to raise funding.
The are able to use low-cost distribution and lower regulatory capital requirements to out-price rivals.
Shadow banks on average out-price the majors on standard variable residential principal and interest by 60 basis points, standard variable investment principal and interest by 64 basis points, standard variable residential interest-only by 43 basis points and standard variable investment interest-only by 57 basis points.
The analysis published in Fairfax Media by Canstar, which monitors financial service products, is based on a $1 million loan with a loan-to-value ratio of 80 percent.
Using the ‘other financial intermediaries’ (OFIs) measure, the RBA said some time back that Australia's shadow banking sector is small relative to the global average, although they have surged after the APRA restrictions on investor lending. The RBA said earlier this year that it is watching the sector.
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Interest only buyers seeking shadow banks to outprice the majors

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The Lismore region has seen an increase in sale prices over the past six month, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) report.
The property valuation firm says that there is a lack of good quality stock with high demand.
Agents are reporting well-presented houses being sold within days, sometimes hours, of hitting the market.
The top end of the market ($450,000 plus) is considered hot.
“We are seeing evidence of increases of up to 15% on houses that have resold within 12 months,” the report stated.
“Four-bedroom, two-bathroom brick and tile houses built after 2010 are proving to be very popular.”
The majority of purchasers are families looking to upsize or get into a home of their own.
The other popular dwelling is the classic, older 1900 to 1940s renovated property, however the renovation needs to be modern and opulent while staying true to the original design.
This is a hard combination to pull off, but when done right the market will pay handsomely, HTW advises.
The report said there were two sales last year in Girards Hill that managed to get the right mix of modern and classic and were sold for $740,000 and $750,000, while traditionally this area achieves $300,000 to $375,000.
The level of demand and lack of available stock is pushing prices up with premiums being paid to secure a property.
This is not considered sustainable over the long term.
“We caution that if there were to be an increase in stock or changes in the economic climate, the higher end of the market would be impacted more dramatically than the lower end,” the report warned.
With the pressure on the higher end of the market we are seeing good demand for lower end (sub $300,000), fixer upper, older style properties with good bones that can be readily updated to be flipped or kept as a first home.
This is proving popular with the younger demographic as an affordable way to enter the market.
Since the beginning of 2017, both Casino and Kyogle enjoyed an improving trend of potential buyer enquiries.
The type of buyer comprises a mixture of first home buyers, investors and existing home owners.
However what is interesting to note is that there has been an increase in non local interest, i.e. people moving into the area where it has been mentioned that the local area (Kyogle and Richmond Valley Council area) is considerably more affordable than other areas within the Northern Rivers.
Predominantly, the properties of interest within Casino and Kyogle are houses in the $200,000 to $300,000 price bracket and modern, well presented, rural residential estate properties on a typical one to five acres around the $400,000 to $600,000 price mark.
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-casino-125155786" target="_blank">2 Cascade Drive</a>, Casino (above) has been listed for $269,000.
Similarly a two bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-kyogle-125068454" target="_blank">21 Caddie Avenue</a>, Kyogle (below) has been listed for $329,000.
<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/2017/04/20/21%20Caddie%20Avenue.jpg" alt="">
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Lismore property prices on the rise: HTW

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Hobart has seen a drop in listings over the past 12 months, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the number of new listings in Hobart has increased by 8.1% to 360.
However, Hobart recorded the highest decline among the capitals in total number of properties with a decrease of 26.5% over the past 12 months to 1519.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-15%20at%2010.56.37%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/05/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-15%20at%2010.56.37%20am.jpg" alt="">
Canberra has the biggest 12 month change to the number of total listings with an increase of 8.4% to 2037.
It also has the biggest growth in the number of new listings which has increased by 35.9% to 799.
A four bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-howrah-125466794" target="_blank">22 Norfolk Drive</a>, Howrah (above) has been listed for between $535,000 to $565,000.
Similarly a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-lindisfarne-122994246" target="_blank">1/5 Nietta Road</a>, Lindisfarne (below) has been listed for over $249,000.
<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/2017/05/15/1_5%20Nietta%20Road.jpg" alt="">
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Hobart listings drop by 26.5%: CoreLogic

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Perth is the slowest locality to sell a property across the country, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that the median time for a property to be sold in Perth is around 80 days or higher.
Houses in the West Australian capital require an average vendor discount of 7.4% to sell, while the average discount for units is 9%.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-15%20at%2010.57.11%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/05/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-15%20at%2010.57.11%20am.jpg" alt="">
This is significantly slower than Sydney or Melbourne where it only takes a month for properties to be sold.
The second slowest locality to sell a property is Darwin where it can take up to 65 days for houses and 72 days for units.
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Perth the slowest capital for property sellers: CoreLogic

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New land prices in the south-east corner of Queensland have increased nearly 80 percent over the last 10 years, with the average square metre of new land now costing about $523, according to research from property services group Oliver Hume.
The analysis of new land prices from 2006 to 2016 shows the average block of land has shrunk from 632 sqm to 466 sqm, while average prices have increased from $184,000 to $244,000.
The combination of growing prices and shrinking lots means the average price of a square metre of land in the south east has increased from $291 to $523, or 79.7 percent.
Brinton Keath, Oliver Hume Queensland Joint Managing Director said the increase represented some of the strongest returns from any investment class over the last 10 years.
“If you had acquired an average block of land at a new development in 2006 the same block of land now would probably fetch more than $330,000,” he said.
“The large blocks that were being sold back then are extremely rare these days and would probably attract a healthy premium on top of that.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/16/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-16%20at%2010.17.31%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/05/16/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-16%20at%2010.17.31%20am.jpg" alt="">
Source: Oliver Hume
“As the cost of development has increased over the last 10 years because of things like infrastructure charges, englobo land price increases, construction costs and red and green tape the size of lots have had to come down to maintain affordability.
"There is also increasing demand for smaller blocks which are lower maintenance.
"The research also showed prices for residential land in the south east increased about 6 percent throughout 2016.
"The pace of growth over the last 12 months reflected continued low levels of supply, with limited new land coming on to the market.
“Prices will continue to rise while there is such a shortage of new land coming on to the market.
“Unless governments at all levels can find ways to release more land for sale, prices will continue to rise at above inflation.”
“We expect similar levels of growth in 2017 with the Gold Coast, which is experiencing a major shortfall in new land, set to experience the strongest growth."
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South East Queensland new land prices up 80 percent in 10 years

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A one bedroom apartment at Glen Huntly has been sold for $260,000 making it Melbourne’s most cheapest auction sale last weekend.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-glen+huntly-125226550" target="_blank">8/131 Grange Road</a>, the property has recently had a fresh makeover.
The apartment last sold for $175,000 in 2005.
It was also last sold in 1977 for $18,500.
Featuring living room with panel heating along with kitchen and bathroom.
The bedroom is generously proportioned and features built-in wardrobes.
<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/2017/05/14/8_131%20Grange%20Road-2.jpg" alt="">
Other feature includes a carport.
Located close to shops, transports, parks, amenities and restaurants.
The property was offered through Woodards agents Clare Adams and Ruth Roberts.
The last sale in the block of a one bedroom apartment at 7/131 Grange Road for $270,000.
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One bedroom Glen Huntly apartment sold for $260,000

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Median properties in Canberra can cost between $400,000 to $605,000, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that units in Canberra have a median price of $400,000 while houses come around a $605,000 median.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-15%20at%2010.56.58%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click 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/2017/05/15/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-15%20at%2010.56.58%20am.jpg" alt="">
This puts Canberra as the third expensive locality to purchase a house, with Sydney and Melbourne above it.
However it is also the third cheapest locality to purchase a unit with Adelaide and Hobart units being much cheaper.
A three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-charnwood-125323746" target="_blank">9 Holtermann Place</a>, Charnwood (above) has been listed for $510,000 plus.
Similarly a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-macgregor-125384290" target="_blank">62 Hollows Circuit</a>, MacGregor (below) has been listed for $439,000 plus.
<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/2017/05/15/62%20Hollows%20Circuit.jpg" alt="">
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Median Canberra property prices sit between $400,000 to $600,000: CoreLogic

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Brisbane’s inner-city vacancy rate dropped to 4.4 percent in the March quarter, with regional Queensland also showing strong improvement, according to new data from the REIQ.
Antonia Mercorella, REIQ CEO said it is the normal cyclical nature of property – demand builds to a point where pressure triggers the increase of supply.
“The 2016 Census revealed that Queensland has moved from about 30 per cent of our population renting to about 50 per cent now renting and we can conclude that rental accommodation will always be in demand,” she said.
“Then supply starts to build and keeps going until we see that that demand has been met. Typically, supply will briefly outstrip demand before easing back and then demand will start to build again and so the cycle goes.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/10/rsz_rates1final.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/10/rsz_rates1final.png" alt="">
In the Brisbane LGA ,the 5-20km ring, vacancies tightened from 3.3 percent to 3.1 percent.
In Greater Brisbane, across Ipswich, Logan and Moreton Bay vacancies all tightened.
Antonia Mercorella said the housing market in regional Queensland is closely tied to these two industries and we can see that workers are being attracted back to these cities with the tightening of vacancy rate figures.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/10/rsz_rates2.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/10/rsz_rates2.png" alt="">
Gladstone was the star performer in the March quarter data, falling 3.5 percentage points to 6.4 percent, its lowest vacancy rate since June quarter 2015.
Mackay fell 1.5 percentage points from 7.9 percent to 6.4 percent, its lowest level since September 2013.
Townsville fell 0.2 percentage points to 6.2 percent, the lowest vacancy rate since March 2016.
Toowoomba moved from 2.8 percent to 2.9 percent.
Pine Rivers at Moreton Bay is the tightest rental market in the state at 1.3 percent.
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Brisbane’s March quarter inner-city vacancy rate at 4.4 percent

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The Prince of Malaysia Tunku Naquiyuddin and his wife Her Royal Highness Tunku Hyati mingled with a VIP guest list at the launch of Crown Group’s $400-million residential project, Waterfall last night.
His Royal Highness joined City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Indonesian supermodel Paula Verhoeven at the red-carpet affair, which was expected to draw more than 1800 attendees.
Other highlights of the red carpet included local celebrities such as The Block Glasshouse winners, Simon and Shannon Voss (below) who were pictured conducting media interviews. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/18/rsz_1crownparty.png" alt="">
Guests were treated to the first glimpse of the model of the 331-apartment development.
The four-tower residential development is designed by Sydney-based architects SJB and will feature Australia’s tallest man-made waterfall.
Waterfall by Crown Group features studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, courtyard apartments and double-storey penthouses.
Iwan Sunito, chairman and group CEO, Crown Group, said after much-anticipation the company is pleased to share their vision creating a building which will revolutionise the use of green space in residential developments. 
“In 2015, Crown Group attracted more than 1500 guests to the red-carpet unveiling of its Green Square project, Infinity by Crown Group," he said.
“The evening was a unique celebration of innovation and design; a reflection of our continued push to go beyond the traditional boundaries of design to meet the needs of the future."
For more information, <a href="https://waterfallbycrowngroup.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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Prince of Malyasia attends Waterfall launch 

Apartment buyers in New South Wales are set to gain a decade of insurance-backed protection against major building defects, after the NSW Parliament passed the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.&nbsp;

The Bill establishes decennial defect insurance, known in the market as Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), as an alternative to the existing two-year strata building bond. It cleared the Legislative Council with amendments on Tuesday evening (August 4, 2026), with the Legislative Assembly agreeing to those amendments shortly after.

Under the reform, eligible developers can satisfy their statutory bond obligation by taking out an approved decennial-style policy that gives owners 10 years of cover for major structural defects from completion, claimable directly, without first having to pursue developers or builders through costly legal action.&nbsp;

The change forms the final tranche of amendments arising from the 2021 statutory review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and related legislation.

Resilience Insurance, which originated the cover in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022, welcomed the passage and credited the NSW Government for delivering it.

“This is protection apartment buyers have needed for a long time, and the credit for delivering it belongs to the NSW Government,”&nbsp;said Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

“Minister Chanthivong and his team have shown real leadership in replacing an outdated two-year bond with cover that matches the lifespan of the buildings people are buying into. Reform like this is what good, evidence-based regulation looks like.”

Resilience has delivered LDI in NSW since 2022, protecting thousands of apartments, giving the State, and now the country, real-world evidence of how decade-long, no-fault protection works in practice.

The reform also places NSW within a wider national shift.

NSW is the third jurisdiction to put decennial cover into law. The ACT legislated for it in 2024, with the scheme taking effect in late 2025, and Victoria passed its own framework on 17 June. Between them, the three cover the majority of Australia's apartment market.

The reform commences once the legislation is proclaimed, which is expected in the coming weeks. From that point, developers of Class 2 residential apartment buildings can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial policy in place of the bond.

Buyers who purchased into projects that took out the cover early are among the first in the country to take keys to apartments carrying decade-long structural protection.

“With the legislation passed, the focus now turns to making it work for buyers,”&nbsp;Nugent said.

“There are already thousands of apartments in NSW covered by this insurance, bought by developers who moved early. The question every buyer should be asking in a display suite is a simple one: does this building come with 10-year defect cover, and who stands behind it?&nbsp;

“We look forward to working with the Government and the Building Commission in coming weeks as the framework moves to implementation, and to sharing what we have learned over the past four years so the protection reaches owners as smoothly and quickly as possible.”

Other states are working through their own reform programs. Western Australia has indicated that decennial cover is within consideration a later stage of its reform sequence, and Queensland has been examining the settings as it looks at the development pipeline ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Resilience Insurance acknowledges the NSW Government’s continued focus on strengthening consumer protection while supporting housing delivery across the State.

Fast Facts: What the reform means

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Proven at scale:&nbsp;Decennial cover has operated in NSW since 2022, protecting thousand of apartments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">10 years of cover:&nbsp;Protection for major structural defects runs for a decade from completion, claimable directly and with no legal action required.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">An alternative to the bond:&nbsp;Eligible developers can meet their statutory obligation with an approved decennial-style policy in place of the 2% strata building bond.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Part of a national shift:&nbsp;The ACT has had decennial provisions in force since 2025 and Victoria passed its framework in June. NSW now joins them.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">No-fault, first resort:&nbsp;Owners corporations claim directly from the insurer without first having to establish who is liable for the defect.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost-competitive:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the 2% bond while offering broader, longer protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market position:&nbsp;Resilience originated LDI in Australia and has delivered it in NSW since 2022.</li>
</ul>

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?

<ul style="color:#222222; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:small; font-style:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; text-align:start; white-space:normal; background-color:#ffffff; text-decoration-thickness:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-decoration-color:initial">
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI):&nbsp;Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Consumer-first:&nbsp;Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Cost advantage:&nbsp;At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:15px; font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:#000000">Market leader:&nbsp;&nbsp;Resilience Insurance originated LDI in Australia and is the national market leader.</li>
</ul>

Joel Robinson

NSW parliament passes 10-year defect insurance laws for new apartment buyers

Builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mcnab-developments">McNab</a> has wasted little time reshaping one of South Brisbane's most significant undeveloped apartment sites after acquiring the property earlier this year.&nbsp;

McNab has lodged plans to scrap an existing approval for two 30-storey towers and instead deliver a single 28-storey residential building, preserving part of the site for a future development opportunity.

The proposal, lodged over <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-peel-street-south-brisbane-qld-4101">64 Peel Street and 9 Cordelia Street</a>, is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising 124 apartments above a landscaped podium, alongside a boundary realignment that preserves part of the land for a future residential project.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="743bf564-3f8f-45fc-b8d3-bbf18f5b628f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20Peel%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=EhCxGrVn_VFH3qTbKnI4WppGwaMnOn0t" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, the development will deliver 119 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments across 23 residential levels. A five-level podium will accommodate 135 car spaces, while the ground floor will include a 66 sqm commercial tenancy, an activated residential lobby with work-from-home spaces, and a publicly accessible landscaped plaza linking Cordelia and Peel streets.&nbsp;

Communal amenities will span Level 6 and the rooftop, including indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, a swimming pool, barbecue facilities, kitchen and dining areas, lawn space, sauna, steam room and yoga facilities.

The application also proposes a boundary realignment to create a standalone 1,290 sqm development lot while retaining an adjacent parcel for future redevelopment, allowing the balance of the site to contribute additional housing over time.

Hayball said the architecture has been shaped by the site's elevated corner position at the intersection of Peel and Cordelia streets and Brisbane's subtropical climate.

The design incorporates generous landscaped setbacks, a masonry podium wrapped with planting, large north-facing balconies, and a slender tower profile intended to maximise natural light, cross ventilation and long-range views. The rooftop has been conceived as a wellness-focused retreat overlooking Brisbane, with amenities positioned to capture views towards Mount Coot-tha and the CBD.

<img alt="First look: McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5f99e84-6ad8-4a87-82d1-869685b754d2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/mcnab%20tower%20perspective.png?VersionId=Gw0IuJaSAlk.tvGBxInhZOcQAdIB..2b" />

The planning submission positions the proposal as a response to both changing market conditions and Brisbane's Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning reforms.

McNab acquired the site after the previous approval was granted, with the existing scheme no longer reflecting current residential market demands, economic conditions, construction challenges, construction efficiencies or the quality of development outcome now being pursued, the planning report noted.

McNab continues to expand its residential development pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The developer recently launched The Tannery in West End, securing more than 60 per cent of apartments before the project's public release. It is also delivering Elements Budds Beach in Surfers Paradise and Lucia Highgate Hill, an eight-apartment boutique development overlooking the Brisbane River.

McNab resets decade-old South Brisbane approval with 124-apartment tower

A steeply sloping Bellevue Hill site is set to accommodate a new mid-rise apartment development, with plans lodged for 20 homes that respond to the site's dramatic topography.

The proposal for the consolidated land at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/138a-140-bellevue-road-bellevue-hill-nsw-2023">138A-140 Bellevue Road</a> has been designed by Sydney architecture practice Common Office, which has used the site’s substantial fall to distribute the building’s scale and unlock 20 apartments without presenting the full height to the street.&nbsp;

“The unique design strategy leverages the site’s substantial topographical fall to facilitate increased density, presenting a seven-storey profile to Bellevue Road while rising to 10 storeys at the rear,” Common Office said in its architectural design report.

The apartment mix spans one, two, three- and four-bedroom residences. Four two-bedroom apartments are designated as affordable housing, while the plans also include two adaptable dwellings. The mix is majority three-beds, with the typical three-bed apartment offering around 144 sqm internally, with balconies of around 15 sqm.

The affordable housing component represents 15 per cent of the residential floor area and allows the project to access additional height and floor space under the NSW Government’s in-fill affordable housing provisions. The site also falls within the inner area of the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy because it is within 400 metres walking distance of Double Bay Town Centre.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1230d0f-3bfa-4a11-abaf-0928c66ef345" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da.png?VersionId=dZeMK3P.OutGjN8ycjsxm8uNsj_QFWQv" />

Common Office has arranged the building around a masonry podium and a lighter upper volume, drawing on two recurring elements of Bellevue Hill’s established architecture: sandstone bases and the vertical proportions of local Inter-war Art Deco apartment buildings.

“The proposal is governed by a holistic design language that reconciles the solid horizontal masonry of the neighbourhood’s podiums with the elegant verticality of its Art Deco heritage,” the architect said.

“The building maintains a consistent rhythmic logic utilising deep recesses and a sophisticated material transition to break down the 10-storey scale into a series of articulated, human-scale volumes.”

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0147f503-1af1-4d51-97fb-c2f1cba63a9d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20bldg.png?VersionId=GoW7q3NlK67OpnePXhk7zvklrlKb72Qc" />

Large-format sandstone tiles will define the lower levels, establishing a robust base that negotiates the change in elevation from Bellevue Road. Above, red-tinted precast concrete frames, recessed balconies, anodised aluminium screens and expanded metal details will create a more vertically expressed façade. Integrated planter beds will introduce greenery across balcony edges and recessed sections of the building.

The elongated northern façade has been divided into three recessed vertical masses to reduce its perceived length. Triangular window elements and metal privacy screens reference the geometry of nearby Art Deco buildings while controlling overlooking toward surrounding homes. The southern elevation will incorporate further privacy screening, landscaped edges and deep balconies to maintain light and ventilation.

<img alt="First Look: Plans lodged for topography-led affordable housing project in Bellevue Hill" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8679cf1-18bc-4447-8a0f-0052b94ab83c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bellevue%20da%20rooftop.png?VersionId=5SQqQqRFf76rvE2p1TbxJSweMN70AIbc" />

Private and communal landscaping is distributed throughout the development. A landscaped garden apartment is positioned within the lower portion of the site, while a communal terrace on Level 5 will include a central timber deck, barbecue facilities, resident planting plots and areas for outdoor dining and informal gatherings.

Common Office described the terrace as an elevated sanctuary designed to capture district views and sunlight. Its planting strategy incorporates endemic species associated with the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, extending the landscape vertically through the building and providing habitat for local flora and fauna.

A second communal outdoor area is proposed at roof level, with built-in seating, paved gathering areas and perimeter planting.

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction. Positive Investment Enterprise is delivering the 16-apartment Kew Palm House on Birriga Road, while Chanine Developments is also under construction at Florian, a 36-apartment project on Banksia Road.

&nbsp;

Bellevue Hill is enjoying renewed momentum in the new apartment market, with several boutique developments recently launched and currently under construction.

First Look: Apartment development pitched for Bellevue Hill, Double Bay fringe

South Brisbane's apartment pipeline continues to build momentum, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/trk-property-group">TRK Property Group</a> lodging plans for a 161-apartment tower on Montague Road as developers accelerate investment across the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

The proposal for 176–186 Montague Road would replace an existing office building with a 20-storey residential tower designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, adding to a growing pipeline of high-density projects reshaping one of Brisbane's fastest-evolving inner-city precincts.

The project has been conceived as a "living building", featuring a flowing tower form, extensive vertical landscaping, and generous communal spaces that respond to the evolving Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct.

TRK Property Group Development Director Matt Kan said the project reflected the confidence developers have in South Brisbane's long-term future.

"South Brisbane is entering an incredibly exciting period, and we see Montague Road sitting right at the heart of that evolution," Kan said.

"With the former Visy site directly opposite us and significant investment planned throughout the broader Kurilpa precinct, there is a real sense of momentum around this part of the city and what it will become over the coming years.

"For TRK, this is an opportunity to be part of that next chapter and deliver a project that responds to where the precinct is heading, while contributing to the continued evolution of Brisbane's river edge."

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="590fe1ad-f892-4446-a679-80e33a16d029" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20tower%20facade.png?VersionId=uOJStrcKpyHFcPE1w6_9SMAFzVMCcZll" />

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, incorporating multi-purpose rooms in selected residences to provide additional flexibility for home offices or expanded living areas. The proposed mix comprises 15 one-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom plus MPR, 73 two-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom plus MPR, 30 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom apartments.

Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear tower, COX Architecture has developed a sculpted form inspired by the movement of the Brisbane River.

"The proposal has been designed by COX Architecture as a 'living building' that responds to the site's riverine setting, floodplain history and evolving urban context within the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct," the planning report states.

"The architectural form draws from the fluid nature of the Brisbane River, with a curved and undulating tower form that creates a varied architectural edge and avoids a conventional rectilinear tower expression."

The podium has also been designed as an architectural feature rather than a conventional parking structure, with cascading planting, screening and natural-toned materials softening its appearance. Resident parking is elevated above ground level to address the site's flood constraints, while habitable apartments sit above flood planning levels. Upper-level communal facilities are designed to accommodate shelter-in-place arrangements during major flood events.

<img alt="First look: TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01fa15d0-90df-46c7-9555-7941fc45373c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/TRK%20podium.png?VersionId=mHyua.w1pHGBt9qEdWzrlsv.leztUCwO" />

Communal amenity is a major focus of the proposal. Around 1,815 sqm of shared resident space is proposed across the ground floor, level 19 and the rooftop, including co-working areas, indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, wellness facilities, dining and gathering areas, lawn spaces, a rooftop pool and spa, and extensive landscaping. At street level, a landscaped forecourt and approximately 345 sqm of publicly accessible open space along Montague Road are intended to improve the pedestrian experience while activating the building's frontage.

The development will provide 163 car spaces, including 152 resident bays and 11 visitor spaces, together with 144 bicycle spaces incorporating resident storage, visitor parking, bicycle maintenance facilities and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The site sits within one of Brisbane's fastest-changing inner-city precincts, less than two kilometres from the CBD and within easy reach of South Bank, West End, the Queensland Cultural Centre and extensive public transport connections. The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct planning framework is encouraging higher-density residential development to help meet Brisbane's housing supply targets while supporting walkable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

TRK Property joins South Brisbane apartment surge with Montague Road tower plans

Article summary

<ul data-end="785" data-start="311">
	<li data-end="459" data-section-id="5hbcyr" data-start="311">Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at Skye Kangaroo Point, headlined by a two-storey sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm.</li>
	<li data-end="561" data-section-id="1p7lq8n" data-start="460">Early buyer interest suggests the residences could set a new Queensland apartment price record.</li>
	<li data-end="667" data-section-id="1y70z0l" data-start="562">The collection includes four move-in ready penthouses and the highly customised Skye One residence.</li>
	<li data-end="785" data-section-id="yvm0y1" data-start="668">The release caps one of Bri​sbane's most ambitious luxury apartment developments overlooking the Brisbane River.</li>
</ul>

<hr data-end="790" data-start="787" />
Pikos Group has released the five-penthouse collection at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye by Pikos</a> development in Kangaroo Point, with early buyer interest indicating the flagship residences could eclipse every apartment sale previously recorded in Queensland.

The collection crowns the luxury riverfront development with five residences, including four completed penthouses and Skye One, a two-level sky home spanning more than 1,000 sqm that will be tailored to its eventual owner.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374075]

Wanting to offer a fully customisable home, Pikos is offering Skye One as a blank canvas, allowing the buyer to work alongside the developer's design team to customise the home's layout, finishes and internal spaces.

The residence will feature a 247 sqm private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor kitchen and multiple entertaining areas overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD skyline.

The remaining four penthouses have been completed and are ready for immediate occupation, each offering four bedrooms, expansive open-plan living areas, soaring ceilings and private lift access.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374059]

One of the defining features throughout the project is its use of Roman Classic Travertine, with more than 20,000 sqm of the natural stone imported from Italy after being personally selected by Pikos Group Founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos, interior designer Julie Williamson and third-generation stone specialist Mario Caucci.

Pikos said the penthouse collection represented the culmination of the company's long-term vision for Skye.

"True legacy isn't measured by what we build today, but by what endures tomorrow," Pikos said.

"Our ambition is to create places that become more valuable with time, enrich the lives of generations, and stand as timeless landmarks long after we've stepped away."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90059 project_image_fid=374060]

Williamson said the interiors were inspired by the natural character of Kangaroo Point and the Brisbane River rather than international design trends.

"Materiality tells the story of a place," Williamson said.

"We looked to the movement of the Brisbane River, the texture of the cliff face and the warmth of the surrounding landscape to create interiors that feel understated, enduring and unmistakably Brisbane."

Positioned above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye places residents within walking distance of Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank and James Street while offering uninterrupted river and city views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=90059]

Staff reporter

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