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GUEST OBSERVATION
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-30/international-students-arrive-in-australia-coronavirus-nt/12933370">arrival at Darwin airport</a> on Monday of 63 students from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia on a charter flight from Singapore ended an eight-month hiatus in international student arrivals in Australia. They are now in the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-27/nt-chief-minister-covid-cap-on-international-arrivals-doubles/12927552">Howard Springs quarantine facility</a>.
Quarantine capacity is a major issue, given the <a href="/news">numbers of international students</a>. Using student accommodation to quarantine newly arrived students is a way to increase this capacity. <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/research-papers/enhancing-the-design-quality-of-purpose-built-student-accommodation">Our research</a>, released today, shows this could be important for solving the quarantine issue.
But shouldn’t Australians get priority?
Over the years we have become accustomed to hundreds of thousands of young learners crossing our borders. In airport arrival halls incoming international students rubbed shoulders with Australian students returning from exchanges, study tours and internships. In departure lounges departing international students, with perhaps some hints of an Australian twang in their accents, mingled with Australian students setting off on their big adventures.
Despite student mobility being a normal feature of modern Australia, it was inevitable “Australians first” critics would deride the arrivals. Tasmanian Senator Jacquie Lambie <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-30/international-students-arrive-in-australia-coronavirus-nt/12933370">said</a> she found the student quarantine program “sickening”.
The Department of Home Affairs <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-30/international-students-arrive-in-australia-coronavirus-nt/12933370">said</a> the students arriving in Darwin were in addition to the government’s <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/limits-passenger-flights-australia">returning passenger caps</a>. And that is the way it should be. Just as international students do not displace any local students from university places, it is important their arrival does not delay the return of Australian citizens and permanent residents.
All Australian states are considering plans to create secure corridors for students to return for the 2021 academic year. Universities, schools and colleges across the country are planning for their return, albeit with some online learning continuing to allow for social distancing on campus. The Commonwealth has sadly remained lukewarm on the states’ proposals to date. 
Student housing provides an answer
The investment in purpose-built student accommodation over the past decade has been enormous.
Our research identified nearly 67,000 beds in this form of accommodation in Australia’s capital city CBDs alone. The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://studentaccassoc.com.au/news/9376655">Student Accommodation Association</a> estimates there are over 95,000 beds Australia-wide. Major developments are due to open soon that will swell those numbers.
As well as dramatic increases in scale, the character of this purpose-built accommodation has changed significantly. Older student dormitories are relatively small and closely affiliated with universities, religious orders and other not-for-profit organisations. The newer commercial developments are large-scale properties, usually in city centres.
According to City of Melbourne data, between 2011 and 2018 the average height of purpose-built student accommodation increased from five storeys to 24. The average number of beds increased from 82 to 579! The largest planning application for a new property in Melbourne comprised 901 beds across 49 storeys, while the tallest building is 63 storeys with 740 beds.
A large proportion of these beds are now sitting empty. These facilities provide an ideal means for developing parallel pathways for these students to return to Australia without using existing channels for repatriating Australians. Whole buildings with hundreds of beds could easily be dedicated to housing the international students waiting to begin or resume their studies here.
How would student quarantine work?
The design of these buildings varies considerably. Authorities would be able to choose from many different bedroom and communal space configurations.
At first, it is likely quarantine authorities will want students to be kept in isolation for 14 days, so student apartments with their own kitchenettes and bathrooms are likely to be chosen. Over time, as confidence builds and systems to manage risks are refined, small clusters may be possible, using buildings in which several rooms share a kitchen and living space.
In either model, student accommodation properties are better suited to quarantine than hotels. They already provide pastoral care, security and staff attuned to the needs of newly arrived young people as a matter of course.
They should have no trouble implementing rigorous quarantine requirements to ensure no further outbreaks are caused by contagion through support staff, as has occurred in other contexts in Melbourne and Adelaide. Staff would have minimal contact with student residents. Meals could be left at the door, and rubbish collected at the door.
Staff and education providers could deliver support services by phone and video. Many universities are already providing daily exercise classes and arranging virtual meet-ups. These programs could easily be tailored to students in quarantine.
We have learned much this year about how to reduce the risk of transmission from incoming travellers. We know contact between quarantine workers and the broader community poses a serious risk. Thus, most staff working in student quarantine facilities would likely live on site. The scale of the newer properties makes this easy to implement.
Risks can be further reduced by arranging direct flights from a city with few cases to an Australian city where the students are transported directly to one facility, thereby avoiding flight transfers in busy hub airports. Testing would be required prior to departure and again before leaving quarantine. Staff would be tested regularly.
Students and education providers cover costs
These arrangements need place no burden on the Australian community. The Darwin model, in which students pay for their flights and the university covers quarantine costs, seems like a reasonable split.
 
Curiously, Charles Darwin University was not the first Australian university to organise charter flights and dedicated quarantine arrangements for students. In September, <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.vn/news/all-news/2020/sep/rmit-vietnam-students-returned-home-through-bamboo-airways-partnership">RMIT chartered a flight</a> from Melbourne to Vietnam to return 270 people, including many students from RMIT’s Vietnam campus who had been on exchange in Melbourne when the virus hit, as well as RMIT staff and business partners. A second RMIT charter flight from Melbourne landed in Da Nang on November 28.
Australia’s international education sector has the capacity to manage such logistics. Our universities have extensive experience in moving tens of thousands of students around the world every year. Our accommodation providers have huge capacity in new facilities specifically designed for students.
Expanding parallel pathways for students to return to Australia need not interfere at all with the return of Australians.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/150180/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-ziguras-956941">Christopher Ziguras</a>, Professor of Global Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tom-alves-1183729">Tom Alves</a>, Head of Development, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-housing-and-urban-research-institute-1038">Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute </a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-unis-can-use-student-housing-to-solve-international-student-quarantine-issues-150180">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

How universities can use student housing to solve international student quarantine issues

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Four of five tenanted investments in the Noosa region’s new retail development, Shops on Hilton, have sold to local investors after recent strata titling.
Located at 11-19 Hilton Terrace, the development is situated on a busy road linking Noosaville to Tewantin.
Ray White’s Louisa Blennerhassett and David Brinkley have been leasing the properties since it opened for trade in 2019.
“Yields achieved have ranged from 5.7 per cent to 6.2 per cent with buyers recognising the value of a brand-new building in a prominent location,” Blennerhassett said.
According to the agents, enquiry has been “very strong” on the individual tenancies, coming from Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
“We feel that local buyers are witnessing firsthand the strength of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa markets and want to be part of this growth”, Brinkley said.
All tenants at the properties were in the early stages of three to five-year terms, with options, indicating that investors are seeking quality tenants and long-term investments.
“Given low interest rates, yields are tightening to levels we have not seen before”, Brinkley said.
“These results are confirming what we already know - that the Sunshine Coast is on a strong upwards growth curve which certainly has not slowed in recent months”, he said.
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Tenanted investments in Noosa's new retail development attracts local investors

There are 2,125 auctions scheduled to take place across the combined capital cities this week, down slightly from last week when 2,168 auctions were held, according to CoreLogic data.

This time last year, a considerably higher 2,912 homes were taken to auction over the same week.

There are 884 Melbourne homes set to go under the hammer this week, a slight decrease on last week’s 909 auctions held, and around 40% below the levels seen last year.

There are currently 913 homes set for auction in Sydney over the week, rising on last week’s 886 auctions held, although lower than the 976 homes taken to auction one year ago.

Across the smaller auction markets, Perth is the only city set to see a rise in activity over the week with 21 auctions set to take place, with scheduled volumes lower in Adelaide (-11.7%), Brisbane (-21%), Canberra (-6.1%) and Tasmania (3 auctions).

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ee19662-2628-45a0-b523-75dbf2eadaa1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/b6aed8b9-5bc4-4c8b-89da-6ba547502947.png?VersionId=rcCDE_8P2ZCb4iPaZDxpozlat2LKEzdo" />

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Mosman took the lead in NSW auction volumes this weekend with 13 homes set to go under the auctioneers gavel, according to SQM Research.

One such property is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-134802378" target="_blank">14 Dalton Road</a>, (pictured) which saw so much interest that it sold ahead of its scheduled December 5 auction.

The four bedroom, two bathroom abode sits on a 247 sqm plot.

It previously sold for $920,000 in 2009.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4cdb3b79-8dca-4d66-b5a0-59a85ad1ae53" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/e09e2a49-f3a9-409d-a27a-e37339f7a55c.png?VersionId=gpbdRAmDSAX20TO0.ysDHBZyJO3TvbEx" />

Another example of the spread of auctions in Mosman is 1/28 Orlando Avenue.

The two bedroom, one bathroom apartment goes to auction without a price guide.

Sydney takes baton back for first week of December auctions

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The Melbourne developer GURNER and fund manager Qualitas have announced a partnership to enter the multi-family housing sector.
They will soon launch of capital raising for a dedicated build-to-rent fund with three seed projects in the works with total value of over $1 billion and 1,200 plus apartments.
GURNER and Qualitas aim to become the largest multi-family housing players over the next one to two years.
In September Gurner announced a strategic agreement with the private real estate financier for an equity allocation of up to $150 million on residential apartment projects.
Gurner's decision to partner with Qualities comes six months after Tim Gurner labelled the emerging sector a "stupid model" and warned that institutional investors like Blackstone and Greystar would wipe out mum-and-dad investors.
However he has since qualified the comments that came in a spat with Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp who'd suggested that BTR was a great way of delivering affordable housing.
Gurner maintains the asset class was about delivering a premium product and compelling returns to investors.
He told The Australian Financial Review a significant reduction in apartment supply, falling interest rates, and land tax breaks and incentives introduced in NSW and Victoria this year specifically would make returns "very attractive".
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Melbourne developer Gurner and Qualitas seek to be Australia's largest muti-family housing player

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A Boomerang Beach weekender has sold for a record $4.35 million.
The sale came just 25 days into its marketing by Chantal Hooper at Pillinger Real Estate.
88 Sur, the Boomerang Beach holiday home was sold by former investment banker Paul Bernasconi.
It was listed five years ago with more than $2.8 million hopes.
His no-expense-spared project with a mix of concrete, timber, zinc and glass was undertaken 15 years ago.
Next door is known as 88 Nord, that sold at $2.35 million in 2017.
He bought the double block in 2002 for $1.12 million.
The two residences were designed by Collins &amp; Turner Architects.
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Record $4.35 million Boomerang Beach trophy home sale

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There has been an $8.9 million record price paid for a St Kilda house.
The sale was an off-market deal for the 1904 Queen Anne style period home at 8a St Leonards Avenue.
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<div id="adspot-1x1-pos-5" class="ad" data-google-query-id="CL35teGOsO0CFcHScwEdWwIKLA">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_//31694718/domain.com.au/news_0__container__"><iframe title="3rd party ad content" name="google_ads_iframe_//31694718/domain.com.au/news_0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="1" height="1" data-google-container-id="5" data-integralas-id-f7d4ffe2-20e9-23f0-6b9b-029d435b4799="" data-load-complete="true"></iframe></div>
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</div>
<div class="in-content-ad">It has five bedrooms and four bathrooms, on its 1300 sqm plus holding.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
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<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-st+kilda-113069475" target="_blank">It last sold</a> in 2013 at $4,317,000.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="in-content-ad">It sold in 1999 at $1.65 million and at $77,500 in 1978.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="in-content-ad">A Fitzroy Street terrace across two titles fetched $7 million in 2012 with higher prices secured for a contemporary St Kilda West house trading for $11.7 million.</div>
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Record $8.9 million St Kilda house price

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Sweeping changes have been proposed to NSW's infrastructure contributions system.
It follows a new report from the NSW Productivity Commission to be considered by the NSW Government Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet.
They welcomed the report which lays out a roadmap for "the biggest shake-up to the contributions regime in three decades."
Stokes said he commissioned the review into the system to fix uncertainty of developer contributions, unlock new housing supply, deliver infrastructure and drive investment. 
“The development industry has been telling us for years that uncertainty surrounding infrastructure contributions was driving up house prices and slowing down progress,” Mr Stokes said.
“Those who complain about growth in Sydney often have the same gripe - too much housing, not enough infrastructure. This report recommends a complete shift in thinking, where land rezoning, infrastructure planning and funding is considered together at the start of the process.
 “If the changes in this new report are implemented, these barriers will be removed and development will be coordinated with the right infrastructure.”
Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat’s comprehensive review of the system makes 29 recommendations, including:
<ul>
<li>         Changing the funding mix for more efficient infrastructure delivery;</li>
<li>         Linking council rates more closely with population growth;</li>
<li>         Developing a digital tool for calculating infrastructure contributions;</li>
<li>         Ensuring infrastructure contributions plans are in place upfront during the rezoning process;</li>
<li>         Supporting better open space provision through a system for the direct land dedication following re-zoning;</li>
<li>         Reforming state contributions so funding goes where infrastructure is required.</li>
</ul>
 
Perrottet said the long-term benefits of boosting productivity was vital for NSW and the state’s recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19 
“This is ultimately about providing greater certainty for all parties, ensuring better infrastructure for the community and unlocking more than $12 billion for our economy.”
The Treasurer said $14.8 million was allocated in the recent 2020-21 NSW Budget for the development of a contributions calculator, which would make it easier to determine project development costs at the start of the process. 
The Government will now review the report’s recommendations and consult with industry to develop a formal Government response and roadmap for implementation by early 2021.
To read the report visit <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/TbccC81V1xhDE1YNtn6Rua?domain=productivity.nsw.gov.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/TbccC81V1xhDE1YNtn6Rua?domain%3Dproductivity.nsw.gov.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1607030959064000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEH9uicyt8Hol7vQxlB1H5FQLj-qQ">http://productivity.nsw.gov.au/infrastructure-contributions-review</a>
The Urban Taskforce identified the key recommendations and outcomes in the report as: 
▪ removing the disincentive for councils to accept development and growth by allowing for the local government rate peg to reflect population growth
▪ ensuring charges can be properly factored into feasibility studies by requiring contributions plans be developed prior to rezoning
▪ introducing a direct land contribution obligation for landowners following rezoning to provide early and adequate funding for land
▪ managing costs and complexity of section 7.11 local contributions plans by using benchmark costs and focusing the role of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in reviewing plans
▪ removing barriers to construction and improving project feasibility by deferring payment of local contributions to the occupation certificate stage
▪ providing a simpler option for councils by increasing the maximum rate of section 7.12 fixed development consent levies to 3% in certain circumstances
▪ limiting the use of state and local planning agreements to direct delivery of works and supporting infrastructure for ‘out-of-sequence’ developments
▪ addressing insufficient and ad hoc section 7.24 special infrastructure contributions (State Government infrastructure levies) through implementation of modest and simple broad-based regional charges
▪ ensuring the beneficiaries of major transport investments contribute to the cost by implementing an additional state contribution for rezoned properties within station service
catchments
▪ taking pressure off household water bills by transitioning to cost reflective charges for water connections
▪ making the system easier to navigate and comply with by providing and maintaining clear and rationalised guidance and comprehensive digital tools
▪ being more transparent in reporting on how much money is collected and where it is spent.
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Developer contributions reform coming to NSW

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The plans to replace Sydney Harbour’s Sirius building have been lodged.
With its public housing tenants relocated to the suburbs, developer JDH Capital, controlled by former Macquarie Bank executive Jean-Dominque Huynh, seeks 76 apartments.
Huynh bought the brutalist style in a Savills tender for around $150 million last year from the NSW government.
The plans show one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, with penthouses with private swimming pools.
Interiors were designed by architecture firm BVN and leading British interior designer Kelly Hoppen.
Passionate about making her design ethos accessible to the masses, Kelly has authored nine books.
 As a successful business woman she was awarded a CBE in October 2020 for her work in helping to promote British creativity, business and commerce globally.
<a href="https://kellyhoppeninteriors.com/work-in-progress/" target="_blank">Her current works in progress</a> are dominated by China projects.
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Kelly Hoppen interiors for replacement Sirius residential complex

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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">Australia is officially out of a recession.</div>
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) advised that the nation's Gross Domestic Product – or GDP – rose 3.3 per cent in the September quarter.</div>
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">CommSec's Craig James called it a "Christmas miracle."</div>
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It was the strongest quarterly growth since the March quarter 1976. 
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">However throughout 2020 Australia's GDP has fallen 3.8 per cent.</div>
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">A technical recession is defined as two consecutive quarters in negative growth.</div>
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">The three months to June saw the nation's GDP shrink by seven per cent, the biggest drop since records began in 1959.</div>
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">The previous quarter to March saw Australia's GDP fall by 0.3 per cent.</div>
<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"> </div>
<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">The market had been predicting that the economy would grow 2.5 per cent in the September quarter. Westpac had forecast three per cent growth.</div>
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<div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">"The key dynamic of the covid recession and the re-opening of the economy relates to the restrictions on the movement of people and on travel, with the closure of the borders," Westpac economist Andrew Hanlan said.</div>
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"Consumer spending plunged by 12.5% in Q2 reflecting the reduced opportunities for people to spend.
"As restrictions were eased, consumers returned to the shops in greater numbers and consumer spending rebounded by 7.9% in Q3 (providing the upside surprise to our forecast).
"Another key feature of this recession has been the massive income transfer from the government to households and businesses – on an unprecedented scale."
 
 
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Australia is officially out of recession after 3.3 per cent rise in GDP in the September quarter

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Experts are positive that Australia is on track to exit a recession, and that property prices will return to 2019 levels next year, according to this month's Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey.
Of the 40 experts and economists who weighed in on future cash rate moves and shared their key economic and financial predictions for 2021; all 40 correctly predicted that the cash rate would remain at 0.10%.
From the closure of major bricks-and-mortar retail stores to the national uptake of a COVID-19 vaccine, experts were asked to rate the likelihood of various economic scenarios unfolding in the year ahead.
Australia will exit recession
When asked about the likelihood of Australia exiting and staying out of a recession in 2021, all 28 experts who weighed in agree that this is either “likely” (54%, 15) or “very likely” (46%, 13).
Economists are also optimistic about the nation’s GDP growth, with 79% (22) expecting the economy to see its first quarter of growth before the end of 2020.
Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder, said that the nation’s economy may have already recovered.
“Official GDP figures for the September quarter will be released this Wednesday, with the general consensus being that Australia may have already exited a recession.
“This can largely be attributed to almost $500 billion in government and central bank stimulus and effective COVID-19 control measures alongside news of a vaccine, strong consumer spending, and a resilient property market.
“It remains to be seen if our economy can keep moving uphill once the training wheels come off.
“The December quarter is likely to be robust as well, meaning it’s highly probable that we may see a gradual recovery of GDP through 2021,” Cooke said.
Property prices and sales volume to return to 2019 levels
Australia’s property price recovery looks set to continue.
More than 4 in 5 experts (85%, 24/28) predict that house prices will increase above 2019 levels next year, and 79% (22/28) think that sales volumes will recover to match or exceed 2019 levels.
CoreLogic data shows that, despite predictions of up to 15% drops in value earlier in the year, house prices in Australia have proved resilient.
Prices increased in all capitals bar Melbourne in October and were significantly higher compared to October 2019 in all cities bar Perth, which saw a marginal price increase of only 0.04%.
According to Matthew Tiller of LJ Hooker, record-low interest rates have been a key driver of market stability.
“One of the main beneficiaries of the ongoing record low rates has been property markets, with LJ Hooker agents reporting a significant increase in enquiries and strong levels of sales transaction volumes,” he said.
Closure of major bricks-and-mortar stores due to increase in online shopping
E-commerce surged during the pandemic, with more than 8.5 million households shopping online between March and October in 2020 according to Australia Post figures.
Yet over half of the experts (56%, 15/27) believe that the recent uptick in online shopping could be the death knell for major bricks-and-mortar department stores like Myer and David Jones.
Cooke said that Aussie shoppers are becoming increasingly wise to the outdated retail model used by department stores.
“Department stores operate on an old-fashioned regular discounting model, where an item is advertised at an inflated price for several weeks, only then be ‘on sale’ for several more weeks.
“Consumers are becoming annoyed by this false discounting, and they prefer the flat low-cost pricing offered online,” Cooke said.
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Australian property to bounce back in 2021: Finder.com.au survey

<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hvFB2uWTRfEyEcpTSnnK9" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis" target="_blank">Fortis</a>&nbsp;is continuing its stronghold on Sydn​ey’s eastern suburbs apartment market, launching&nbsp;in September&nbsp;its latest boutique&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0GI5S9-wNeiLUnM-d1uYkw" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">Double Bay</a>&nbsp;development,&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2YNouJQcFjiTTgVHbgDLA-" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">55 William</a>.

55 William presents&nbsp;just eight north-facing&nbsp;two-bedroom, three-bedroom and full-floor&nbsp;residences to the market, priced from $4.5 million.

The upcoming launch comes just weeks after Fortis secured approval for the $80 million development, its third eastern suburbs approval in two months. Construction is already underway, with completion targeted for 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376250]

55 William adds to a growing concentration of Fortis projects in and around Double Bay, a market the developer has become increasingly active in over recent years.

Fortis previously completed the nine-residence Marmont on New South Head Road, while it is currently developing a mixed-use residential and retail project at 12 Cross Street. Its wider Double Bay footprint also extends into commercial and retail development.

The developer's broader Sydney residential pipeline is particularly concentrated across the eastern suburbs, with projects spanning Doub​le Bay, Ro​se Bay, Wo​ollahra, Dar​ling Point, Poi​nt Piper and Eli​zabeth Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376253]

At 55 William, Fortis has again turned to MHN Design Union, the architecture practice behind several of its eastern suburbs projects, while London-based 1508 London has been appointed to handle the interiors and Wyer &amp; Co the landscaping.

The six-level building will comprise a combination of two and three-bedroom apartments, including a garden residence, full-floor apartments, a sub-penthouse and penthouse. Each residence will have secure basement parking and private outdoor space.

A rooftop terrace for all residents, along with select apartments, enjoys views across Double Bay Harbour and toward the Sydney skyline.

Ceiling heights will reach up to three metres&nbsp;in select residences, while the kitchens will feature natural stone and integrated Gaggenau appliances.

&nbsp;

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The boutique nature of the project reflects the type of stock Fortis has increasingly targeted across Sydney's eastern suburbs, where larger apartments and smaller buildings are being pitched primarily toward local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

Fortis Group General Manager Ed Eve said the developer continues to see demand from buyers wanting to remain in the eastern suburbs but move into newer, lower-maintenance housing.

“We're seeing continued demand from local owner-occupiers and downsizers looking for high-quality homes that allow them to remain in the eastern suburbs, close to the lifestyle and community they know,” Eve said.

55 William is also one of the early projects to respond directly to the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms. Fortis had previously secured approval for just two townhouses on the 599 sqm site before revising the scheme to eight apartments following the planning changes.

Situated one street back from Double Bay's water's edge, the project enjoys an enviable harbourside setting within walking distance of Double Bay Village and the ferry wharf.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376252]

Fortis has increasingly made the eastern suburbs a major focus of its Sydney pipeline. Beyond Double Bay, it recently completed the 14-residence Piper in Point Piper and has projects underway or planned across Rose Bay, Woollahra and Darling Point.

The developer recently secured approval for Verano in Rose Bay, a six-level development comprising 21 two, three and four-bedroom apartments, also designed by MHNDU.

55 William&nbsp;is soon to be release to the market with VIP appointments commencing early September,&nbsp;with residences priced from $4.5 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152579]

Joel Robinson

Fortis continues eastern suburbs push with 55 William launch

UAE-based developer Arada has unveiled plans for a $2 billion twin-tower apartment development in Broadbeach, marking its first move into Queensland as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia.

Arada will develop 952 apartments across two towers on a prominent site opposite the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the project targeted for completion ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The project represents Arada's largest commitment to the Australian market since arriving in the country in 2024 and significantly expands a local pipeline that has now grown to eight projects and more than 5,000 homes.

It will also be the first major Queensland project delivered by Roberts Co since the tier-one contractor was acquired by Arada Group in 2025.

Plus Studio has designed the Broadbeach development, which will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two towers connected by a landscaped podium.

A significant resident amenity offering will include lagoon and lap pools, a gym, sauna and steam room, alongside a mist room, infrared room and salt scrub facilities. Communal terraces, private dining areas, a library, residents' lounge and work-from-home spaces are also planned. Around 1,200 sqm of retail and hospitality space will occupy the ground floor.

The site puts Arada in one of the Gold Coast's most active apartment markets, directly opposite the convention centre and within walking distance of Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and Broadbeach's dining and retail precinct.

It also has immediate access to the Gold Coast light rail network and sits just a few blocks from the beach.

Arada Group Chief Executive Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said Broadbeach represented an opportunity for the developer to expand beyond its initial NSW pipeline.

“Broadbeach is a world-class address that gives us the canvas to create a community of exceptional design and lifestyle quality that genuinely enriches the daily lives of the people who call it home,” Alkhoshaibi said.

“This is our first development outside New South Wales, and it reflects our growing ambition to grow in key urban markets around the country.”

Alkhoshaibi said bringing Roberts Co into the project would give Arada greater control over the development and construction process.

“Delivering this project through Roberts Co, our own tier-one construction business, means we can bring the quality, pace and accountability that our buyers expect.”

The move into Broadbeach comes as Arada accelerates its Australian expansion following its entry into the market two years ago. The developer has assembled a pipeline of eight projects comprising more than 5,000 homes, while the acquisition of Roberts Co last year gave the group its own Australian construction capability.

Globally, Arada has a development portfolio valued at $50 billion comprising more than 55,000 homes across the UAE, United Kingdom and Australia.

The Gold Coast is emerging as the next major market for the developer, with strong population growth and infrastructure spending ahead of the 2032 Games continuing to underpin significant apartment development across the coastal strip.

Arada plots $2 billion Broadbeach towers in major Queensland move

Sydney’s downsizer market is changing, with a growing cohort of buyers prioritising the right home over simply finding a smaller one.

Coronation Property Head of Sales Cam Porter says the traditional idea of downsizing does not necessarily reflect what many buyers are now looking for, particularly those moving from established family homes across Sydney.

Instead, he says they are increasingly becoming “right-sizers”, seeking lower-maintenance homes without sacrificing the space, amenity or quality they have become accustomed to.

“We are increasingly seeing buyers who are not motivated by the idea of simply moving into a smaller property,” Porter says.

“They are right-sizers. They want a home that is easier to manage and better connected, but they still expect generosity, quality and a floorplan that supports the way they live.”

It is a subtle but important distinction in a market where apartment developers are increasingly targeting established owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377495]

For many of these buyers, moving from a house to an apartment is not driven by a desire to dramatically reduce their living space. Instead, the appeal is in removing some of the maintenance associated with a larger home while retaining generous living areas, storage and enough flexibility to accommodate family and friends.

Coronation’s sales team is seeing buyers place particular importance on natural light, practical storage and additional rooms that can be used as guest bedrooms, home offices or secondary living spaces.

Kitchens and dining areas are also playing an increasingly important role, particularly for buyers who regularly entertain or have children and grandchildren visit.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377494]

“These buyers still want their home to feel generous,” Porter says.

“They may want less maintenance, but they are not looking for less life.”

The challenge for the broader housing market is providing enough of the right stock to encourage that move.

While much of the discussion around Sydney’s housing shortage has centred on the number of homes being delivered, Porter says the diversity of those homes is equally important.

Older homeowners can remain in large family houses for longer when they cannot find an appropriate alternative in the neighbourhoods where they have built their lives.

“The decision is rarely as simple as wanting fewer bedrooms,” Porter says.

“People are weighing up their connection to a neighbourhood, the space they need for family, the quality of the home and whether it will continue to work for them over the long term.”

It also has implications beyond the downsizer market. Providing suitable apartments for smaller households can free up established houses for families who need the additional bedrooms and land, creating greater movement through the housing market.

<h2>Lillian targets the next stage of apartment buyer</h2>

It is a buyer Coronation is targeting at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lillian-erskineville-9-metters-street-erskineville-nsw-2043">Lillian</a>, its new collection of apartments, terraces and penthouses at Erskineville Village.

Designed by Silvester Fuller, Lillian has been shaped around larger living spaces, natural light and flexible floorplans, alongside landscaped areas, wellness amenity and communal spaces for residents.

The development will form part of Coronation’s broader Erskineville Village precinct, which will combine new homes with green space, retail, hospitality and new pedestrian connections.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377688]

McPherson Park will sit at the centre of the precinct, creating a significant new green space alongside the project’s retail and hospitality offering.

For Porter, the opportunity is to give buyers another housing option without forcing them to leave the part of Sydney they already know.

“People should be able to change the type of home they live in without having to change their entire life,” he says.

“For many buyers, Lillian offers the opportunity to remain connected to the Inner West and the city, while gaining access to a more convenient, walkable and considered way of living.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377687]

Coronation will explore the changing <a href="https://lillianresidences.com.au/news/lillian-x-space-x-downsizers-event-27-august/">right-sizer market at an event on August 27</a>, bringing together experts across property, design and lifestyle.

Held in partnership with SPACE, Poliform and Downsizer.com.au, the event will include a property market outlook from economist Michael Blythe alongside discussion around the considerations facing buyers planning their next move.

Attendees will also be able to learn more about the residences and amenity planned at Lillian Erskineville.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135149]

From downsizing to right-sizing: What Sydney buyers want from their next home

Family-owned builder and developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/omaya">Omaya</a> is bringing its 27-storey The Maybelle development to market, with the 229-apartment tower rising alongside Ismay Reserve near North Strathfield.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-maybelle-21-parramatta-road-homebush-nsw-2140">The Maybelle</a> will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with its height providing elevated outlooks towards the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge, while other residences will look across neighbouring Ismay Reserve.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/squillace-architects">Squillace Architects</a>, the tower combines its parkside setting with proximity to the established retail, dining and transport amenity around North Strathfield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376196]

Residences will feature open-plan living spaces and a choice of two interior schemes, while communal amenity is spread across two elevated levels of the building.

Level 8 will be home to the Garden Pavilion, a full-floor resident space incorporating communal entertaining and breakout areas, seating and recreation spaces. Further up the tower, a landscaped Sky Terrace on Level 14 will provide another communal area with panoramic views towards the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline.

At ground level, the development sits directly alongside Ismay Reserve, where lawns, walking paths, children's play areas, picnic spaces and recreational facilities extend the green space available immediately around the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376194]

The Maybelle is also within walking distance of North Strathfield and the Bakehouse Quarter, which provides a mix of cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services.

Existing rail and bus services provide connections across Sydney, while the future North Strathfield Metro and access to the M4 will add to the transport options available around the precinct. Walking and cycling routes also extend via Powells Creek towards Sydney Olympic Park and its sporting, entertainment and parkland precincts.

Families are also well positioned for access to a broad selection of established schools and education options across Strathfield and the surrounding Inner West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376181]

Omaya has operated in Sydney for more than 35 years, managing projects from acquisition and design through to construction and delivery. The family-owned company is both developer and builder of The Maybelle.

Apartments start from $560,000, with the development protected by 10-year Latent Defects Insurance.

Construction is well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026 and move-in anticipated from Q1 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134873]

The Maybelle brings 27-storey parkside tower to market near North Strathfield

Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a> has unveiled its vision for the former Water Tank Site in Ivanhoe, which would see it transformed into a thriving residential neighbourhood, complete with a 2000 sqm public park.&nbsp;

Delivered in partnership with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/development-victoria">Development Victoria</a>, the proposal would transform the prominent corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road into a connected community comprising two residential buildings, generous public open space and shared amenities.&nbsp;

The vision includes 287 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a minimum of 10 per cent allocated to affordable housing, alongside a 2,000-square-metre publicly accessible park featuring a children's playground, activity lawn, indigenous planting, timber climbing logs, seating areas and a rock gathering circle.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, the proposal draws on the site's industrial heritage, using a robust architectural language that references the former water tank through expressive structural elements and durable, self-finished materials.&nbsp;

Extensive landscaping has been woven throughout the development, creating a living landscape that strengthens connections to nature while responding sensitively to the surrounding neighbourhood. Two residential buildings ranging from three to 12 storeys are linked by a landscaped forecourt, creating a welcoming arrival experience and improving pedestrian connections through the site.&nbsp;

Residents would also enjoy more than 1,000 square metres of communal open space, including barbecue and dining facilities, vegetable gardens, landscaped seating pavilions and a dedicated coworking space.&nbsp;

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the vision reflected an opportunity to transform one of Ivanhoe's most recognisable sites into a place that balanced housing, community and landscape.&nbsp;

"This is an opportunity to reimagine an important site and create a neighbourhood that delivers lasting benefits for Ivanhoe," Giuliano said.&nbsp;

"We're creating much more than new homes. The vision brings together affordable housing, quality architecture, meaningful public open space and shared places that encourage people to connect, while respecting the site's history and its place within the local community."&nbsp;

Development Victoria’s Executive General Manager Precincts, Niall Cunningham, said the application is an important step for the government-owned site.&nbsp;

“This is about delivering more homes in a well-connected location, along with public open space that the Ivanhoe community will benefit from for years to come,” Cunningham said.&nbsp;

PDG was selected as development partner in late 2025 following a competitive tender process.&nbsp;

A planning submission for the project is currently being progressed through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with positive early engagement from both Banyule Council and the Department of Transport and Planning.

Staff reporter

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