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<p><span>Gladstone has mostly always managed to live in its own little bubble when it comes to how its market performs, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential repot. </span></p>
<div><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></div>
<p><span>It has at various times over </span>the past few decades bucked the trends that were occurring around the state at the same time, such as when most other regional markets were suffering the effects of the GFC, Gladstone remained relatively buoyant on the back of major industrial announcements which would eventually turn into the biggest boom period Gladstone had ever seen.</p>
<p>"No doubt about it, Gladstone has been and probably always will be a boom and bust town whose residential market is not too heavily influenced by national or international trends but one that is definitely driven by strong local drivers," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Major industry announcements have the potential to change Gladstone markets on their heads basically overnight and these announcements, followed by boom periods, have occurred several times over the past few decades – think LNG, Yarwun 2, the refinery and the smelter.</p>
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<p><span>Over the past few years, the market has been driven by something most people are not accustomed to in our region and that is the affordability of property, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>"Yes, Gladstone went from being one of the most expensive regions to live </span>in the state to one of the cheapest regions in the space of about five years.</p>
<p>"Affordability is likely to remain the key driver for our markets in the foreseeable future," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>While there is always talk of new industrial projects in Gladstone, more often than not, it remains as just talk. There are no major industrial projects of substance that will have a massive impact on our markets, however smaller projects such as the proposed solar farms, the proposed hydrogen plant and the Phillip Street Communities precinct will have positive flow on effects for our markets and our economy.</p>
<p><span>"On the back of affordability, we have seen a definite shift in the residential market with a good mix of buyer types currently active in the market, including first home buyers, upgraders, empty </span>nesters and investors.</p>
<p>"We predict the market will move slowly and steadily over the next few years basically until the region meets a more realistic price point which is in line with its regional neighbours or another major industry project approval is ticked off creating another boom. " </p>
<p>A recent sale was a three storey unit in Gladstone Central</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/The%203/46%20Yarroon%20Street." target="_blank">3/46 Yarroon Street </a>home (pictured below) has been sold for $195,000.</p>
<p>It comprises three bedrooms, three bathrooms, open plan lounge, modern kitchen and dining. </p>
<div><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/2020/5/18/gladstone%201.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>A South Gladstone renovated house is currently on the market with a price guide of $259,000.</div>
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<div>The three bedroom, one bathroom home is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-south+gladstone-133438366" target="_blank">94 Elizabeth Street</a> (pictured below).</div>
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<div>It features ceiling fans, extra-large timber deck, double garage and established gardens. </div>
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<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em> </em></span></div>
<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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Gladstone property market expected to move steadily over the next few years: HTW residential 

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<p><span>There is no doubt that the Mackay economy is heavily influenced by the resource sector in the Bowen Basin and associated service industries located in Paget, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes Mackay enjoyed a significant and sustained mining boom which lasted until about 2012/2013 when a major downturn in the resource sector had a massive flow on effect on the Mackay economy and residential housing market. </span></p>
<p><span>There were definitely some very hard times with significant job losses. The residential market fell between 20 percent and 30 percent, with the median house price falling around $100,000 during this time.</span></p>
<p><span>"The downturn did have some positive effects in Mackay, allowing the economy to diversify and </span>not be fully reliant on a booming resource sector," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Housing affordability became a real positive for the city, with workers who had been previously priced out of the housing and rental markets now able to enter the market.</p>
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<p><span>Since 2017, the Mackay residential market stabilised, the report noted. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Mackay has seen large infrastructure projects (such as the Mackay Ring Road project), an improved resource sector and increased employment opportunities have seen improved market conditions in the residential sector. </span></p>
<p><span>Throw in historic low interest rates and all the ingredients are there for sustained growth in residential real estate in the short to medium term.</span></p>
<p><span>"The one big caveat to this is the current COVID-19 pandemic and the economic effects it might have.</span></p>
<p><span>"At the time of writing, there has been limited disruption to the major industries in Mackay and the Bowen Basin, however, should the virus make its way here and into the Bowen Basin resulting in large disruptions and possible mining shutdowns, the effects could become quite pronounced. I guess only time will tell," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>A two bedroom townhouse in Mackay has recently been sold for $200,000.</span></p>
<p>Te <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-qld-mackay-132809774" target="_blank">5/54 Goldsmith Street </a>home (pictured below) was last sold in 2007 for $230,000.</p>
<p><span>The townhouse features raked ceilings, lock up garage, wet </span>room, and gardens. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/18/mackay%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>A new listing is a two bedroom unit situated on the fringe of Mackay CBD.</p>
<p>The 72sqm unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-mackay-133596482" target="_blank">4/12 East Gordon Street </a>(pictured below) has been listed for sale with a price guide of $160,000.</p>
<p>It comes with family room, courtyard, large bathroom and private courtyard. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/18/mackay%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
<div>
<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
</div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></div>
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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Mackay property market remains unclear: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The main driver of the Coffs Coast market is population growth, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span> The report suggests the continual growth can be attributed to the traditional housing market role (attracting families and retirees from the greater Sydney and metropolitan areas further south), combined with the many natural assets, relatively diverse industrial base, growing health and education sectors plus transport infrastructure such as roads, airport and rail link.</span></p>
<p><span> This means the area is not entirely dependent on tourism which makes it a less risky investment with a higher liveability factor than some other coastal towns.</span></p>
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<p><span>"The proposed Pacific Highway bypass which is expected to start by the end of 2020 will have a significant injection into the local economy and increase short to medium term rental demand," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The region to the south of Coffs Harbour encompassing Urunga, Valla, Valla Beach, Nambucca Heads and Macksville have all experienced a surge in activity over recent years driven by the Pacific Highway upgrade between Warrell Creek and Raleigh seeing strong rental demand and buyer demand under $650,000.</span></p>
<p><span>A Nambucca Heads house sitting on a 686sqm block has recently been sold for $443,000.</span></p>
<p>The four bedroom, two bathroom home is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-nambucca+heads-132619938" target="_blank">5 Nambucca Street</a> (pictured below).</p>
<p><span>It features kitchen with walk-in pantry, fourth bedroom or rumpus room, and double garage. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/4/nambucca%20heads.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>The HTW report notes another area of strong performance is the historic rural township of Bellingen being popular with Sydney and greater metropolitan buyers looking for the green change.</span></p>
<p><span>A three bedroom home in Bellingen has been listed for sale with a price guide of $445,000.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bellingen-133466154" target="_blank">7 Halpin Street</a> (pictured below) home comes with bathroom with separate toilet, covered patios, and established garden. </p>
<p><span>It is situated within walking distance to shops and schools. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/4/bellingen.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p><span>In general, the Coffs Coast has seen strong performance in all sectors of the market, not being isolated to any particular locality or product type.</span></p>
<p><span> There is a diverse type of product available from suburban family homes to prestige beachside properties or rural lifestyle options from small acreage close to town to larger rural holdings all within a 45 minute drive of Coffs Harbour.</span></p>
<p><span>"The region is seen as a solid investment opportunity offering diverse property outcomes supported by a range of lifestyle choices, services and good regional access. </span></p>
<p><span>"The strong levels of demand from buyers has been driven by investors and owner-occupiers looking to take advantage of these lifestyle factors, consistent long-term capital growth, expanding work base and strong rental returns, all of which are underpinned by the low interest rate climate experienced over recent years," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regarding COVID-19</em></span></div>
<div><span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span></div>
<div><em> </em></div>
<div><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></div>
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Coffs Harbour sees strong performance in all property market sectors: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The Sunshine Coast, like most regional property markets, is underpinned by population growth, according to a recent Herron Todd While (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The repot notes Sunshine Coast has traditionally been one of the fastest growing regions in Australia with the latest official population count of 375,271 as at 30 June 2018.</span></p>
<p><span>Population growth on the Sunshine Coast has slowed from the halcyon rates of close to six percent per annum in the early 1990s and touched a low point of 1.4 percent in 2011 due to the subdued state of the economy at the time. </span>Population growth has since reverted to an average of 2.4 percent per annum from 2011 through to 2018.</p>
<p><span>Official state government projections indicate that the Sunshine Coast’s population will reach approximately 583,000 residents in 2041. </span></p>
<p><span>Although this implies a strong increase in numerical terms, it envisages that the rate of population growth will only average two percent per annum over the 25 years from 2016 to 2041, considerably less than the 3.2 percent average experienced over the 25 years from 1991 to 2016.</span></p>
<p><span>Future growth will nevertheless remain well in excess of the Queensland and national averages, the report noted. </span></p>
<p>"When looking at the sales volumes of residential properties, we can see that there is a direct correlation to population growth. In circa 2003, we see the high peaks in our population, which is reflected in the sale volumes in the corresponding period.</p>
<p>"Equally in 2011, when the Sunshine Coast was at its lowest growth point, sales volumes were also at their lowest," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>Within the local economy, main drivers traditionally are the tourism and construction sectors, and for a </span>number of years both these sectors have been performing pretty well, the report noted. </p>
<p>Over the past few years there have been a number of infrastructure projects that have helped to bring a level of maturity to the Sunshine Coast.</p>
<p>The first major project was the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and the continued growth surrounding the university which has benefited both the health and education sectors.</p>
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<p><span>A Wurtulla</span> unit situated within walking distance to the Sunshine Coast University has recently been sold for $416,000.</p>
<p>The two bedroom, two bathroom unit is located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-wurtulla-132413894" target="_blank">29/46 Regatta Boulevard</a> (pictured below).</p>
<p>It comes with large outdoor verandah, private balcony, study nook, and spacious dining and living area. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/18/wurtulla%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><span>More recently the Maroochydore CBD, Sunshine Coast Airport expansion and the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Submarine Cable project are all under construction and are all massive for the area.</span></p>
<p><span>A two bedroom inner city apartment in Maroochydore is currently on the market with $330,000 hopes. </span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-maroochydore-133129146" target="_blank">5303/5 Emporio Place</a> apartment (pictured below) features open plan living, kitchen with stone benches and one secure car parking space. </p>
<p><span>It is situated within walking distance to dining, parklands, retail and commercial </span>facilities.</p>
<p><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/2020/5/18/maroochydore.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><span>"All these projects will continue to attract people to the Sunshine Coast and drive the market in the future," the valuation said. </span></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
<div>
<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
</div>
<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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Sunshine Coast property market underpinned by population growth: HTW residential 

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<p><span>Local drivers for the residential market in the Melbourne CBD include the influence of the educational sector, population growth, local and international migration as well as local employment, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"The performance of the property market in the CBD is a result of the demand for rental properties in this area and the attractive yields that come with it," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes this is due to the strong migration and appeal of Melbourne to higher education students coming from other states and countries as well as workers relocating to be closer to the business district. This creates a high demand for apartments in the city, which makes it attractive for long term investors.</span></p>
<p><span>Drivers impacting the residential property market are also quickly changing in light of the recent events this year, such as the Australian bushfires and the global pandemic of the Coronavirus.</span></p>
<p><span>"We have since seen cuts to the interest rate by the Reserve Bank of Australia to a historic low of 0.5 percent and economic stimulus packages to be </span>announced with the aim of boosting the economy and easing the financial fallout of these events," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>"Notwithstanding the COVID-19 crisis, with the recent announcement of a lowered cash rate, there may be an increased interest for those seeking to buy their first home as applicants will be in a better position to refinance their current mortgage so they are able to make lower repayments each month and less interest over the life of the home loan." </span></p>
<p><span>A two bedroom apartment located in the heart of Melbourne CBD has recently sold for $490,000.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-132944150" target="_blank">2107/11 Rose Lane</a> home (pictured below) comes with designer kitchen, open plan living and secure car park. </p>
<p><span>It is located within moments to shops, public transport, restarts and cafes. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/4/melbourne%201.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p>A new listing is a one bedroom Melbourne CBD apartment priced at $329,000.</p>
<p>The 25th floor apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-melbourne-133530370" target="_blank">2512/181 A'Beckett Street </a>(pictured below) comprises bedroom, bathroom, open plan living and dining and stone-topped kitchen. </p>
<p>The building features resort-style facilities, including gym, lounge, bike storage and rooftop BBQ terrace. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/4/melbourne%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Note regards COVID-19</span></em></p>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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High demand for Melbourne CBD apartments attracts long term investors: HTW residential 

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<p><span>International buyer enquires have more than doubled over recent weeks for apartments in The Pacifica residential tower, in Auckland’s CBD.</span></p>
<p><span>With much of the world in lockdown due to COVID-19, buyers are looking into New Zealand as a safe investment choice.</span></p>
<p><span>According to CBRE, who are marketing the building, international enquiries have risen by over 200% in recent weeks, with two types of overseas buyers looking at The Pacifica now: buyers looking at New Zealand as a safe haven to invest, and buyers wishing to seek residency.</span></p>
<p><span>“We are receiving enquires from expat Kiwis living in London, New York, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Many of these buyers are looking back into New Zealand with a potential view to returning home. We have also seen a significant uplift in enquiry from across Asia and USA, with buyers seeking a safe ‘bolt-hole’ investment,” said CBRE’s National Director of Residential Projects in New Zealand, Gavin Lloyd.</span></p>
<p><span>The Pacifica was the first project among a handful of properties to gain an exemption certificate from the Overseas Investment Office to allow overseas buyers to buy apartments.</span></p>
<p><span>Lloyd added that since the lockdown $8 million in contracts have been issued for apartments in the building.</span></p>
<p><span>Last month the sale of one of the 235 square metre penthouse apartments was concluded, and an Australian buyer amalgamated two adjoining apartments for his New Zealand residence.</span></p>
<p><span>The 57-level tower will ultimately have 279 apartments, and will feature a heated lap pool, sauna, steam room, spa, gym, media room, residents’ lounge, library and barbeque terrace.</span></p>
<p><span>Construction on the building began in November 2017, and completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020.</span></p>
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Pacifica tower in New Zealand sees 200% uptick in inquiries 

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<p>DomaCom, a fractional investment platform, has rolled out a new model for seniors’ equity release that takes a different approach to the reverse mortgage model or Government Pension Loan Scheme.</p>
<p>According to the company, instead of raising a debt where the interest is capitalised against the property like a reverse mortgage, “the fractional model is a shared equity structure, meaning that seniors can sell part of their property to one or more investors while remaining in the property for as long as they want.”</p>
<p>“It is an ASIC-registered financial product that operates in similar fashion to a syndicate,” said DomaCom Marketing Manager, Warren Gibson.</p>
<p>“The only difference is that the title stays with the owner, and DomaCom protects the investors’ interest with a mortgage instrument over the property. When the senior decides to sell the property, the investors will receive a share of the net sale proceeds in proportion to the amount they invested.”</p>
<p>DomaCom has launched a campaign to gather expressions of interest from seniors “who would prefer to access equity in their home instead of raiding their superannuation or selling other assets.”</p>
<p>The company is hoping that demand from seniors may also fuel interest in funding equity release by some of Australia’s larger financial institutions, as well as bring the senior financial advice demand to the fore for financial planners and government.</p>
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New solution unveiled for seniors looking to raise funds

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<p>GUEST OBSERVATION</p>
<p>The Commonwealth government says if enough of us download its COVIDSafe app, restrictions on our movements and activities can be lifted more quickly and life can return to normal.</p>
<p>As important as it is to contain the spread of coronavirus, no government decision about how to do that is beyond question. For those of us concerned about the social and political life of our increasingly “smart” cities, the thinking behind the COVIDSafe app and other “smart city” technology must be open to challenge.</p>
<p>The public focus has been on the app’s privacy implications, but other important issues warrant critical scrutiny too. Indeed, the app could help to entrench problematic forms of social and corporate power over our lives.</p>
<p><strong>Social control</strong></p>
<p>As research on the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0263775818812084" target="_blank">politics of smart technologies in our cities insists</a>, while personal privacy is important, it’s not the only issue here. Apps like this have implications for the forms of social control that operate in dense urban environments – where use of a digital technology is technically “voluntary”, but ends up being required if people want access to urban spaces and infrastructures.</p>
<p>Some protections are being promised in the case of the COVIDSafe app. These include a prohibition on employers, government authorities and others requiring any individual to install the app. The law still might not stop this in practice. Some business groups have <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-employers-want-power-over-covidsafe-app/news-story/8d1cc1decd2df8a875fd48bf1bd4d949&amp;usg=AOvVaw1CMMU-5bHCGy-_rOxOFAOj" target="_blank">lobbied government</a> to enable employers to require employees to use the app.</p>
<p>Even if this legal prohibition holds, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been making thinly veiled threats about more people needing to download the app before he lifts restrictions. App uptake is being demanded in the name of a public interest (in this case, public health).</p>
<p>There’s also significant risk of mission creep here. What other “public interests” might be used to justify contract tracing based on this precedent? It’s easy to imagine government agencies and authorities desiring contact tracing in the service of a range of interests that could be discriminatory and oppressive – the policing of immigrants, welfare recipients and activists, for example.</p>
<p>We must guard against such surveillance creep.</p>
<p><strong>Privacy protections</strong></p>
<p>Compared to other government and corporate apps, the COVIDSafe app now has relatively strong privacy protections. It keeps information about who you share space or associate with, but not where you go. It does this by storing encrypted data on the user’s phone about any other phones in range of a Bluetooth “handshake” that are also running the app.</p>
<p>Data will be automatically deleted after 21 days. Data will only be shared after a user has tested positive for COVID-19 and agreed to share the data. Only state health authorities may request and access data for contact tracing.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.itnews.com.au/news/covidsafe-privacy-protections-now-locked-in-law-548119" target="_blank">legislated protections</a> represent a big advance on some other government apps. For instance, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/technology/no-warrants-needed-to-access-opal-card-records-20140708-zt02j" target="_blank">over 100 government authorities have access</a> to the data the New South Wales government collects from its public transport Opal smartcard.</p>
<p>It may be that neither governments nor corporations can assume people will continue to uncritically accept “<a href="https://reallifemag.com/the-authoritarian-trade-off/" target="_blank">trade-offs</a>” of public goods like personal privacy and autonomy for the convenience and benefits of digital technology.</p>
<p>However, <a href="https://www.iispartners.com/blog" target="_blank">some important privacy issues</a> remain unresolved, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>the amount of data stored, which is <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covidsafe-application-privacy-impact-assessment" target="_blank">about all devices in range</a>, not just those in range for more than 15 minutes</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>whether data stored on Amazon servers will <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/may/14/questions-remain-over-whether-data-collected-by-covidsafe-app-could-be-accessed-by-us-law-enforcement" target="_blank">potentially be accessible for US law enforcement agencies</a>,</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>when and how the data and app will finally be deleted.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Questions of power and profit</strong></p>
<p>It’s also important to ask who benefits from the mass uptake of this app.</p>
<p>A government agency developed the app, drawing in part on an open-source app made available by the Singapore government. But even when an app is “free” and no one profits from its sale, remember that smartphones and data are not free.</p>
<p>Data storage has been contracted out to Amazon Web Services. It was the only company asked to tender for this lucrative government contract. That has <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/sovereign-capability-and-that-shocking-aws-deal/" target="_blank">raised both security concerns and questions</a> about why locally owned, security-accredited providers were not invited.</p>
<p>Like so many instances of “smart” technology being offered as the solution to pressing problems, the profits of big tech and big telcos who sell us devices, connectivity and data storage are being presented as natural and aligned with public good. It is clear tech corporations see the coronavirus crisis as an <a href="https://theintercept.com/2020/05/08/andrew-cuomo-eric-schmidt-coronavirus-tech-shock-doctrine/" target="_blank">opportunity to consolidate and expand their profits and their power</a>. Every problem <a href="https://www.lawfareblog.com/location-surveillance-counter-covid-19-efficacy-what-matters" target="_blank">looks like a nail to the folks who have hammers to sell</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Will it work?</strong></p>
<p>Given these concerns, will the COVIDSafe app even perform as promised? Here, the jury is still out.</p>
<p>Much discussion has focused on the minimum number of app users required for its coverage to be effective. But the app has other limitations too. It <a href="https://theconversation.com/contact-tracing-apps-are-vital-tools-in-the-fight-against-coronavirus-but-who-decides-how-they-work-138206" target="_blank">doesn’t yet work properly on iPhones</a>, for a start.</p>
<p>Most importantly, the app treats treats Bluetooth handshakes as a proxy for spatial proximity of devices, it treats this spatial proximity as a proxy for contact between people, and it treats prolonged contact between people as a proxy for viral transmission. Each step in this chain is <a href="http://progcity.maynoothuniversity.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Digital-tech-spread-of-coronavirus-Rob-Kitchin-PC-WP44.pdf" target="_blank">prone to significant failures and error</a>.</p>
<p>Fortunately, then, the government is not proposing to replace contact tracing performed by human health professionals. Data from the app will be used to support that process.</p>
<p>It’s vital we expand the scope of public discussion about this app and others in our increasingly “smart” cities and societies. Otherwise, we risk embracing “smart” solutions that create new surveillance infrastructures that further concentrate state and corporate power at the expense of our autonomy and alternative solutions to pressing societal problems.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/138296/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;"></p>
<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kurt-iveson-1223" target="_blank">Kurt Iveson</a>, Associate Professor of Urban Geography and Research Lead, Sydney Policy Lab, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841" target="_blank">University of Sydney</a></em></span></p>
<p>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/the-trade-offs-smart-city-apps-like-covidsafe-ask-us-to-make-go-well-beyond-privacy-138296" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Trade-offs ‘smart city’ apps like COVIDSafe ask us go well beyond privacy

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<p><span>Fractional investment platform provider </span><span>DomaCom Limited</span><span> announced that it had extended the term of the outstanding convertible notes by 12 months.</span></p>
<p><em>Extension terms</em></p>
<p><span>DomaCom has agreed to make a payment of A$300k + GST to secure the extension along with a revised nominal conversion price of 10 cents.</span></p>
<p><span>This agreement reduces the need for additional capital by A$3.6 million and positions the Company on a more secure footing, allowing it to focus on delivering the following key products: Equity Mortgage, Rent to Own, Essential Worker, and Senior Equity Release.</span></p>
<p><span>The notes were issued in late 2018. Specifically, DomaCom secured $2.95 million in funding through the issue of a Convertible Security to Thundering Herd Fund No. 1 and Thundering Herd Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based institutional investor [ASX Announcement: 10 December 2018].</span></p>
<p><em>New product overview</em></p>
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<p><strong>Equity Mortgage</strong><span><strong>:</strong> This product is being developed to be Shariah compliant and is targeting the Australian Islamic community and other communities that are prohibited from borrowing money. As this product is aiming to provide a method of obtaining leverage for people wishing to purchase a home, it is not believed to be as exposed to negative property investment segment as normal property investment is expected to be. The Company is targeting a launch in Q3 2020.</span></p>
<p><strong>Rent to Own: </strong><span>Work on this product is continuing with the Company’s first transaction expected to occur in May 2020. This product uses the developer distribution margin to provide a discount to investors whilst gifting equity to tenants each year.</span></p>
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<p><span><strong>Essential Worker:</strong> </span><span>DomaCom is progressing its Essential Worker affordable housing product with one </span>of Australia’s leading Community Housing Providers. This product aims to leverage the Government’s affordable housing lending facility to deliver a Rent To Own product for essential workers with a 25% discounted rent. This product is expected to be attractive due to low vacancy risk stemming from the security of the tenants’ employment (nurses, firefighters, teachers, police) in addition to the emotional impact of supporting our essential workers at this time. The targeted launch period for this product is Q3 CY20.</p>
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<p><span><strong>Senior Equity Release:</strong> </span><span>Adviser accreditation for the Company’s Senior Equity Release product has commenced with the first group of advisers having completed the accreditation these past few weeks. The product is now on Approved Product Groups of four financial planning firms. DomaCom is currently preparing a campaign direct to the retirees to help identify those needing equity from their homes. COVID-19’s recent impact on self-funded retirees income has increased the market for this product.</span></p>
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<p><span> </span><span>“It is pleasing that we have been able to secure an extension of our convertible notes. This is a significant outcome for us as it reduces our 2020 capital requirements by A$3.6 million. By reducing our need to raise capital, we will be able to better focus our efforts on launching the four new products currently in development. </span></p>
<p><span>"These products address key issues facing investors in Australia such as diversification, housing affordability and improved retirement outcomes. As our operations remain largely unimpacted by COVID-19, we hope to launch all of these products this year," DomaCom CEO Arthur Naoumidis said.</span></p>
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DomaCom reduces 2020 capital requirements via extension of convertible notes

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<p class="legacy">GUEST OBSERVER</p>
<p class="legacy">Stay-at-home orders have meant many people are happy to live in dispersed suburbs with free-standing, single-family homes. Quarantine feels less daunting with a backyard, plenty of storage space to stockpile supplies, and a big living room for morning stretches. Before the crisis, though, Australia was slowly moving toward urban density.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/highend-melbourne-apartment-developments-offer-amenities-fit-for-a-mansion-20170406-gvefx2/" target="_blank">More apartments with communal amenities</a>, rather than privatised space, were being built, creating less dependence on driving. It is easy to think these urbanites are now glumly looking out their windows towards the more spacious suburbs, wishing they had made different choices. Yet, despite the impacts of restrictions, Australia’s future is in urban density and not the suburban sprawl of the past.</p>
<h2>The benefits of density done well</h2>
<p>Before the world changed and Australians were ushered inside <em>en masse</em>, the country was making great strides toward creating more compact, walkable cities. Denser neighbourhoods provided multiple benefits:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>better access to transport alternatives to cars</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>the creation of vibrant commercial districts</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>increased ability to house more people during affordability and homelessness crises.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Nationally, we were building almost as many apartment units as single family homes. In cities like Melbourne and Sydney, <a href="https://blogs.unsw.edu.au/cityfutures/blog/2016/07/apartment-construction-boom-is-this-the-end-of-the-dream/" target="_blank">apartment construction even surpassed stand-alone houses</a> despite <a href="https://theconversation.com/life-in-a-windowless-box-the-vertical-slums-of-melbourne-41181" target="_blank">lax quality regulations</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/lack-of-information-on-apartment-defects-leaves-whole-market-on-shaky-footings-127007" target="_blank">design and construction flaws</a>.</p>
<p>Density was achieved not just through towers for <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/chinese-investors-are-pushing-into-melbourne-and-sydney-20141010-113q7x" target="_blank">Asian investors in CBDs</a>, but more subtle alterations such as townhouses and small blocks of flats. Residents moving into these neighbourhoods affirmed a sense of environmental consciousness, based on driving less, but also the belief in tight-knit communities with small businesses, parks and thriving street life.</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Beware the siren call of suburbia</span></p>
<p>With the onset of COVID-19, it seems Australia’s new-found love of city living might be over, reverting to the suburban norm. The suburbs always offered a sense of safety, now more than ever.</p>
<p>Yet much of this is illusory. People still have to go shopping and, in many cases, to work, where they could be exposed to the virus. People have just as much control over their physical space in an apartment as in a house. (The exception is the lifts, but distancing measures and gloves can easily reduce risk.)</p>
<p>Australians may be tempted to re-embrace suburbia out of nostalgia for pre-virus safety, but they should remember what brought them to cities in the first place. As the architect Robin Boyd <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=RDxR8Xu9WLIC&amp;pg=PA100&amp;dq=stealthy+crawl+like+dry+rot+eating&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwij9u_Mna3pAhV4yzgGHZqECt8Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&amp;q=stealthy%20crawl%20like%20dry%20rot%20eating&amp;f=false" target="_blank">bemoaned</a> way back in his 1960 critique of suburbanisation, The Australian Ugliness:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>… the suburbs’ stealthy crawl like dry rot eating into the forest edge.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With 60 years of government policy <a href="https://theconversation.com/50-years-on-from-the-melbourne-transportation-plan-what-can-we-learn-from-its-legacy-127721" target="_blank">propping up sprawl through freeway construction</a> and tax breaks like negative gearing, it continues to be its own kind of infection scarring the landscape.</p>
<h2>Don’t blame public health failures on density</h2>
<p>Despite re-animated fears of living closer together, many countries that have <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/high-density-living-should-not-be-feared-despite-the-spread-of-covid-19-945758/" target="_blank">successfully contained</a> the coronavirus have some of the <a href="http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-density-125" target="_blank">most densely populated cities</a> in the world. These cities include <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/05/how-south-korea-prevented-coronavirus-disaster-why-battle-is-not-over/" target="_blank">Seoul</a>, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kong-plans-bounce-back-after-two-weeks-with-no-local-coronavirus-cases-11588611222" target="_blank">Hong Kong</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/-taiwan-s-sars-experience-helped-it-beat-covid-19-/1830547" target="_blank">Taipei</a>. They have done this not by separating people but by increasing testing and contact tracing.</p>
<p>What is needed during a pandemic is not panic but effective public health. Prosperous, well-managed city governments are often best placed to offer these services to the community.</p>
<p>Negative examples like the United States, where the Trump administration has devolved responsibilities to states and cities, provide even more proof of why cities have to be at the forefront of public health campaigns, whether or not they choose that role voluntarily. The same could be said of Australia, where state governments in <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/scott-morrison-has-a-good-story-to-tell-but-the-world-isn-t-listening-20200424-p54mt3" target="_blank">Victoria and New South Wales took the lead</a> on restricting gatherings as the national government dithered.</p>
<p>Now, more than ever, we are appreciating urban life from afar: making lists of our favourite restaurants, changing our Zoom background during “virtual happy hour” to the interior of our local pub, and yearning for social connections that have migrated online.</p>
<p>We should listen to our desires and use this moment to double down on urban density when the crisis subsides, by funding mass transit and providing incentives to construct apartments rather than free-standing suburban homes.</p>
<p>Low-density living is less sustainable, less affordable and less fun. We should all remember that, despite currently having to keep our distance from one another.</p>
<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/max-holleran-548740" target="_blank">Max Holleran</a>, Lecturer in Sociology, University of Melbourne, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722" target="_blank">University of Melbourne</a></em></span></p>
<p>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-must-not-stop-australia-creating-denser-cities-137487" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Why coronavirus must not stop Australia creating denser cities

<p data-end="256" data-start="0"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.</p>

<p data-end="446" data-start="258">The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.</p>

<p data-end="645" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="448">Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" /></p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.</p>

<p>The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.</p>

<p>The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”</p>

<p data-end="626" data-start="350">Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.</p>

<p data-end="928" data-start="628">“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”</p>

<p data-end="1147" data-start="930">Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.</p>

<p data-end="1510" data-start="1149">“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”</p>

<p data-end="1510" data-start="1149"><img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.</p>

<p>Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.</p>

<p>The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.</p>

<p>The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.</p>

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
<p data-end="305" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="0">The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.</p>
</section>


Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

<p style="text-align:start">The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.</p>

<p>The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.</p>

<p>Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.</p>

<p>The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.</p>

<p>As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.</p>

<p><img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" /></p>

<p>The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.</p>

<p>An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.</p>

<p>The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.</p>

<p>Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.</p>

<p>“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.</p>

<p>“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.</p>

<p>“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.</p>

<p>“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”</p>


Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

<p>Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.</p>

<p>A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.</p>

<p>Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.</p>

<p>“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.</p>

<p>Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.</p>

<p>“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.</p>

<p>The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.</p>

<p>It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.</p>

<p>The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.</p>

<p>One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.</p>

<p>Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.</p>

<p>The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.</p>

<p>Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.</p>

<p>Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.</p>

<p>Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.</p>

<p>“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”</p>

<p>Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.</p>

<p>Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.</p>

<p>Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.</p>


400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

<p>Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.</p>

<p>The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.</p>

<p>Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" /></p>

<p>“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.</p>

<p>The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”</p>

<p>The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" /></p>

<p>The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.</p>

<p>According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.</p>

<p>“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.</p>

<p>A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.</p>

<p>Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" /></p>

<p>All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.</p>

<p>The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.</p>


Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

<p>Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.</p>

<p>The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.</p>

<p>Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" /></p>

<p>Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.</p>

<p>The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.</p>

<p>"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.</p>

<p>The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.</p>

<p>The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" /></p>

<p>Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.</p>

<p>Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.</p>


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