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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span>48 lenders have cut at least one fixed home loan rate in the past week since the RBA's emergency rate cut, according to <span>financial comparison website</span> RateCity.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span>ING, <span>Australia's fifth largest lender, </span>set to offer the country's lowest home loan rate at just 2.09 per cent, fixed for two years, available from March 26. </span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span>The company announced cuts to its fixed home loan rates by up to 50 per cent for owner-occupiers with the Orange Advantage package. </span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span><span>Around 80 per cent of fixed home loan rates are now below 3 per cent and more than two dozen lenders offering fixed rates under 2.5 per cent. </span><span><br></span></span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Sally Tindall, research director at RateCity.com.au, said the fixed rate space was hitting boiling point.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“Lenders are putting all of their cards on the table as panicked borrowers seek out home loan security in a market that is changing daily,” she said.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“The move from ING comes after the major banks kicked off a rate war last week with Westpac, NAB and ANZ cutting rates to 2.19 per cent. The question is ‘how low can they go?’.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">She noted that we are not far from seeing fixed rates below 2.0 per cent. </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Like many banks, ING has chosen not to cut variable rates following Thursday’s RBA announcement, but offered payment deferrals for up to 6 months for home loans, personal loans and credit cards.</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">“This will support a lot of Australians in the coming months, particularly those who have been impacted financially as a result of the coronavirus,” she said. </p>
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Fixed rates plunge after RBA emergency rate cut

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<p>Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee says only about 10 per cent of residential sales in Queensland utilise the auction process. </p>
<p>“Brisbane’s not a big auction market anyway so it won’t have the same impact we’ll see in Melbourne and Sydney,” Ms Conisbee told realestate.com.au.</p>
<p>Realestate.com.au has launched <a href="https://help.realestate.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/360001177803-How-to-add-a-video-or-a-3D-tour-to-a-listing" target="_blank">virtual tours of properties</a> listed on its site to help home hunters.</p>
<p>"To continue to view properties online, it introduced digital inspections showing all the features.</p>
<p>“For people looking to buy, the bigger deal will be not being able to go into the home,” Ms Conisbee said.</p>
<p>There are two main ways of going about adding a video or a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://help.realestate.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/360000354766">three-dimensional tour</a> to a listing.</p>
<p>The first being via an <a href="https://help.realestate.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/115004480103-Search-a-listing-in-Agent-Admin" target="_blank">Agent Admin</a> where you will need to find the listing. When you have found the listing, through the 'Images and Copy' tab, scroll down to 'Links'. This is where you can add video links to the Video URL field, or Online Tour 1 field for 3D tours. </p>
<p>A video or 3D tour can also be added via your third-party listing uploader where you would have to update the listing directly through its portal. </p>
<p>There are a range of 3D tour companies that can be embedded in the image carousel of Realestate.com.au listings. For instance, Scann3D, Ticketyview, DIAKRIT, Augment Space, Google Tour Creator, Virtual Tours Creator, CampaignTrack and BWRM. </p>
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Brisbane won't be as affected by onsite auction ban as Sydney and Melbourne

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<p>The REIQ has sought "clarity" from the Federal Government regarding holding outdoor residential auctions that adhere to coronavirus outdoor restrictions already in place.</p>
<p>The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) is the state’s peak professional association for real estate practitioners.</p>
<p>It advised maintaining stability in Australia’s property market played an integral part of Australia’s economic infrastructure.</p>
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<p>“Every Australian needs a home," said Antonia Mercorella, CEO of The REIQ.</p>
<p>“It’s vital real estate professionals are allowed continuity of operation throughout the current crisis, to ensure the market is a solid foundation for the economy not only now as we move through the pandemic, but also when the recovery process begins.”</p>
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<p>Her comments came after the Prime Minister unveiled new restrictions from the national cabinet meeting to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).</p>
<p>From midnight, Wednesday 25 March, public auctions of real estate auctions and open house inspections will cease until further notice.</p>
<p>The REIQ, together with other State peak bodies, have already been working collectively with real estate professionals across Australia. </p>
<p>“The Prime Minister’s announcement is not a total ban on real estate transactions from taking place as that would have a devastating impact on the Australian economy,” says Ms. Mercorella.</p>
<p>“While in-room auctions cannot be conducted for the foreseeable future, online and telephone auctions will inevitably become the new normal.</p>
<p>"The REIQ will seek further clarity from the Federal Government regarding outdoor residential auctions that adhere to outdoor restrictions already in place."</p>
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REIQ seeks "clarity" from Federal Government on holding banned outdoor residential auctions

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<p><span>The national Ray White agency says its agents will continue to host virtual property tours, private inspections and on-line/digital auctions.</span></p>
<p><span>Their determination was announced after the Tuesday night announcement of the Prime Minister on new </span>bans as of midnight Wednesday March 25, 2020. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We can take heart from the statement that 'all workers in the economy are essential' and we will carefully adhere to the latest restrictions," <span>Ray White Group managing director Dan White said.</span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"The key message to take away is that all real estate onsite and in room auctions and open house inspections will be cancelled as of Wednesday night, but our members will still be able to host virtual property tours, private inspections and on-line/digital auctions, as we have been encouraging."</span> </p>
<p dir="ltr">The industry had unsuccessfully lobbied politicians to make estate agents classified as essential.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Real estate auctions and open house inspections, in particular open house inspections — that cannot continue," PM Scott Morrison said last night.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><span>"In the retail space, auction houses, gatherings together in auction rooms, that can no longer continue," he added, noting Australians<span> would "stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary that you go out."</span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><span><span><span>“We’re trying to limit the gathering of people in large numbers that can relate to the transmission of that virus,” Mr Morrison said.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Mr White said the restrictions "will no doubt provide us with some challenges, we view them as necessary to face the current crisis and welcome the opportunity to continue to support the many Australians who rely on us to support them in renting, buying, selling and managing their homes." </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Mr White said n</span>o other restrictions were announced for either property management or sales businesses, subject to other restrictions on physical distancing and hygiene. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>He pointed out the "clear and significant need of the millions of residential and commercial tenants who will also need support during this time, whether it be for routine maintenance requests or for the more serious matters that will result from widespread financial hardship." </span></p>
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Ray White agents to continue to host private inspections and on-line/digital auctions

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<p><span>There’s been plenty of pain throughout Western Australia, but in many regions it appears that consumer confidence is on the up and consumers are spending again, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The valuation firm asked thei</span>r valuers to give an educated outlook on the residential market in their service areas.</p>
<p><span>"We’re starting 2020 with a positive mindset. It’s been a hard slog over the past seven years as market conditions contracted in line with construction activity in the resources industry.</span></p>
<p><span>"We believe that 2020 will be an educational year for many market participants on several fronts and in different markets. We also believe that the market will once again be influenced by activity in the state’s resources sector. Both of these points should see investors return to the market, particularly in the second half of the year. </span></p>
<p><span>"In fact, we consider that late in 2020, many market participants will either have or be actively looking to purchase, but will come to realise that the choice of stock has become more limited throughout the year," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report suggests a big driver this year is expected to be the resources industry.</span></p>
<p><span> 2019 was a relatively positive year in the industry. After a long period of routine maintenance, a construction phase has commenced, albeit not to the same extent as what occurred between 2006 and 2013. </span>Increased activity throughout Karratha in particular, but also Port and South Hedland, are lead indicators of demand.</p>
<p><span>Values in Karratha surged by double digits in 2019, with several suburbs in the town experiencing growth in excess of 20 percent for the year and the rental market being stripped of stock. </span></p>
<p><span>Construction projects in the inland Pilbara are expected to have further flow on </span>effects to Port Hedland, Newman and Tom Price, and the manpower required for these projects will positively affect net migration statistics.</p>
<p>"The big question this cycle is what will happen to wages? With extensive reconstruction projects occurring throughout many areas in the eastern states, will Western Australia attract enough skilled tradespeople to fill the order books? If so, what will that do to vacancy rates both in the Pilbara, but also in the fly in fly out base of Perth? What flow on effect will this create if and when investors return to the Perth housing market?</p>
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<p><span>"By the end of the year, we should have a decent indication of the scale this cycle will be," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The rental vacancy rate in Perth peaked in 2016 at 5.5 percent according to SQM Research and has been steadily declining since. </span></p>
<p><span>The rental vacancy rate stayed below three percent throughout 2019, reaching a low of 2.5 percent, which coincided </span>with a slight increase in the median rental amount.</p>
<p>According to REIWA, such a rate is representative of demand slowly outstripping supply and a good indicator that the median rental rate may continue to rise, subject to any increase in supply.</p>
<p>"Whilst a rate of 2.5 percent is somewhat high historically for Perth, we need to keep in mind that the majority of supply in the past seven years has been in outlying suburbs, hence we would expect that the actual rental vacancy rate in inner Perth is much lower and would be starting to look quite attractive to investors," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>"The outer suburbs are also interesting though and we do expect to see an increase in investor activity in these areas as well, but for a different reason," the valuation firm noted. </span></p>
<p><span>These oversupplied areas such as Ellenbrook, Baldivis, Clarkson and Piara Waters offer relatively new properties that may be more attractive from a depreciation point of view and </span>given the distinct lack of demand in recent years for near new dwellings in such locations, values have declined significantly.</p>
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<p><span>Ellenbrook currently has a median sale price of $346,000 and attracts a median rental of $330 per week, but there are more attractive offerings for bargain hunters.</span></p>
<p>For example, the property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-ellenbrook-131681290" target="_blank">15 Boyagarring Gardens, Ellenbrook</a> recently sold for $335,000, comprising a 2013 built brick and tile dwelling on a 452 square metre allotment.</p>
<p><span>Prior to its sale, </span>it was rented for $380 per week whilst offering attractive depreciation benefits.</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/2020/3/16/ellenbrook.jpg" alt=""> </p>
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<p><span>The report notes similar examples can be found in Clarkson, a modern suburb in Perth’s northern coastal corridor. </span></p>
<p>The following property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-clarkson-131547870" target="_blank">18 Walpole Place</a> sold for $350,000 in September, below Clarkson’s median house price of $363,500.</p>
<p><span> The property comprises of a 1995 built four-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling on a 648 square metre allotment and is subject to a lease of $400 per week.</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/2020/3/16/clarkson.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p><span>Similar examples are found throughout many of the establishing outlying areas of the Perth metropolitan area, where for several years the market has been dominated by first home buyer house and land packages, with minimal demandfor used dwellings placing continuous downward pressure on values.</span></p>
<p><span>"It will be interesting to see what happens in this space given the returns currently on offer for properties offering attractive depreciation benefits in a market where there are signs of an impending increase in demand. Watch this space!<br></span></p>
<p><span>"To be clear, we do not expect to see much capital growth in such suburbs throughout 2020, but there are other factors that may influence the purchasing decisions for market participants keen to buy in subdued market conditions, as opposed to the returns currently available in most other capital cities. Choice can play a large part in the buying decision and with stock on the market sitting at circa 12,000 properties, a quarter less than the same time last year, it’s obvious that the choice of stock available is on the decline," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<p><span>"At the other end of the scale, we have seen an increase in market activity in many more sought after areas. </span>These markets seemed to surge and pause throughout 2019 and caused a great deal of confusion as to where the market was at. What did become clear though, is that many market participants believed they had ample time to find the perfect property and quickly realised they had misread the market.</p>
<p>"We expect this to continue throughout 2020 as a sense of urgency returns to the market from those who missed out on previous offerings. In locations such as Nedlands, we are hearing (and witnessing) various surges in demand where the market will pause for a period of time, listings on the market slowly build and then a surge of demand will see multiple offers on many properties in a short period of time, or buyers who previously missed out on a property act swiftly with strong offers during the very early stages of a marketing campaign," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>The report notes whilst the average property in Perth takes 84 days to transact, the median to achieve a sale in Nedlands is currently 26 days – not bad for a suburb with a median sale price of $1.63 million.</p>
<p><span>"Returning to the more affordable end of the scale, we do expect that we will start to see an increase in activity in established secondary markets as the rental market tightens and rental values start to rise later in the year. </span></p>
<p><span>"We expect to see </span>an increased sense of urgency from those who have been renting as they watch the availability of decent stock dissipate, forcing them into a return to the housing market. We also expect to see an increase in upgrade and exchange buyers – those buyers who have been considering relocating and the dwindling stock supply creates a sense of urgency. With transactions comes discussions between friends, colleagues and the like and real estate becomes the topic of choice at barbecues."</p>
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<p><span>In the apartment market, government intervention has resulted in a period of concern, the report noted.</span></p>
<p><span> In 2019, the Western Australian government announced stamp duty exemptions for off the plan apartments on the proviso that construction of the development had not commenced yet.</span></p>
<p><span> Whilst there is method to the madness (build demand that will lead to a construction boom at some point in the future), the immediate effect was that demand for established complexes or those currently under construction declined overnight. </span></p>
<p><span>It also placed an additional level of caution over the long-suffering apartment market, at the lower to middle value ranges anyway.</span></p>
<p><span>"We expect this to persist throughout 2020 as developers secure pre-sales prior to committing to commencement of construction," the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span>"All in all, we see a fairly mixed bag for 2020, but largely a positive one. </span>We think that the market will educate itself that there is a finite time to bargain hunt and that trying to pinpoint where the bottom of the market is or was is a futile exercise, especially whilst above average returns are on offer.</p>
<p><span>"We see 2020 as a solid year for buyers ready to act on the choice of stock currently available, with the buying decision becoming harder later in the year and into 2021 as stock levels retract." </span></p>
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Perth property market to be driven by resources sector in 2020: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The Cairns economy and residential property market continue to plod along, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The valuation firm </span>asked their valuers to give an educated outlook on the residential market in their service areas.</p>
<p><span>"Our best guess is that 2020 will look a lot like 2019 (which looked a lot like 2018)," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes the $176 million redevelopment of the Cairns Convention Centre is due to commence in June 2020. With Riley, Bailey and Flynn (the Crystalbrook Collection Hotels) being finished, the first half of 2020 will lack a large construction project and the lack of activity may extend the normally quiet summer period further into 2020.</span></p>
<p><span>The changes to GST charges on foreign-flagged superyacht charters and predictions of a surge in superyachts visiting for leisure and maintenance is a real positive for Cairns and is exactly the type of stimulus needed to support the local property market.</span></p>
<p><span>2020 is an election year with council elections due on Saturday, 28 March 2020 and state government elections due on Saturday, 31 October 2020.</span></p>
<p><span>"Unfortunately the uncertainty elections cause tends to have a negative impact on market activity with people delaying decisions until after the dust has settled," the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span>"If we had to have a wager on where the residential market would be in December 2020 our bet would be the same or slightly less sales than 2019 and median prices similar to or slightly below 2019." </span></p>
<p><span>A two bedroom apartment in Cairns CBD has recently been sold for $232,000.</span></p>
<p>Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-qld-cairns+city-132182730" target="_blank">2/157 Grafton Street </a>(pictured below), the apartment comes with open plan living and dining, kitchen, balcony and two bedrooms upstairs.</p>
<p><span>The property last sold for $320,000 in 2005. </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/2020/3/9/cairns%20city.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>A current listing is a two bedroom apartment in Cairns City with uninterrupted views. </p>
<p>The apartment at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-cairns+city-132927182" target="_blank"> 3/138 Abbott Street </a>(pictured below) has been listed for sale with a price of over $400,000.</p>
<p>It comes with designer kitchen, open plan living, front patio and undercover parking.</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/2020/3/9/carins%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
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Cairns property market to continue to plod in 2020: HTW residential 

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<p><span>Overall Tassie’s housing market remained the star performer nationwide in 2019 with six of the top 10 suburbs all coming from the apple isle, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes many regions achieved above 10 percent growth and much of the state was above five percent.</span></p>
<p><span>"So what of 2020?</span></p>
<p><span>"Simply due to the strength in the local economy, population growth, near nil vacancy rates in the rental market and ongoing housing shortage, we feel that 2020 will deliver continued growth, a steady market in Hobart and we remain positive with regard to overall pricing," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The outer ring lower socio economic suburbs such as Bridgewater and Gagebrook have recently led the capital growth path. </span></p>
<p>"We would expect this to slow a touch as some realism comes back into the market," the valuation firm stated. </p>
<p>A three bedroom house in Bridgewater (pictured below) has recently been sold for $335,000.</p>
<p>Built in 2015, the house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-tas-bridgewater-132977278" target="_blank">24 Hurst Street </a>comes with three bedrooms, one bathroom, living and dining area, and kitchen. </p>
<p>The property last sold for $45,000 in 2014.</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/2020/3/16/bridgewater.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Middle and inner ring suburbs continue to experience firm demand conditions and upward pressure on pricing.</p>
<p>"We expect this to be ongoing," the valuation firm stated. </p>
<p><span>In the north, Launceston was one of the standouts in 2019 with solid growth through all price segments and most locations, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span> Continued expansion of the tourism sector (yes, there is a crane in the sky), the impending commencement of the next stage of the university campus (sod to be turned </span>in January 2022) and a generally buoyant outlook would suggest that 2020 will be no different.</p>
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<p><span>The north-west coast and west coast regions continue to have their own economic challenges and in some regions, continue to struggle, especially the mining based townships along the west coast. </span></p>
<p><span>"We are expecting Devonport to continue its momentum of 2019. Burnie has no doubt turned the corner with a continuation of improved conditions during 2019. We expect both these major centres to continue upward in 2020," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>A Georgian home in Devonport (pictured below) has hit the market with over $849,000 hopes. </span></p>
<p>The four bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-devonport-132992210" target="_blank">13 George street</a>. </p>
<p><span>Set on a 1,095sqm parcel of land, the home comes with open plan kitchen, dining and living, sitting room, in-ground pool and dual length 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/2020/3/16/devonport.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>"The areas to watch for this year? </span>Climate change is now one of the main drivers attracting people to migrate to the state.</p>
<p><span>"Look out for the coastal towns, especially those that offer medical or nearby medical facilities such as St Helens (has medical facilities) &amp; Orford (one hour from Hobart). We are expecting to see the sea change and climate change effect continue, especially from Queensland and Western Australia as buyers seek to relocate to a milder climate. </span></p>
<p><span>"Cashing in the interstate family home, buying a very nice holding on the Tassie coast and having money left over in the bank to play with - what more could you want?" the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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Tasmania expected to see a steady property market in 2020: HTW residential 

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<p>2019 was a positive year not only for the Mackay residential market but for the general Mackay economy, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report.</p>

<p>The report notes a buoyant resource sector coupled with large infrastructure projects, particularly the Mackay Ring Road, saw increased employment opportunities and population growth throughout the year.</p>

<p>The residential market saw increased demand and slight capital growth. The rental market really gathered momentum in 2019, with vacancies below two percent and rental values increasing significantly.</p>

<p><span>"In 2019, Mackay’s economy was strong, we had record low interest rates and there were excellent employment prospects across most industries, but we only saw minor property value growth. </span>There are a number of factors that contributed to this," the valuation firm said. </p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=94823]</p>

<p><span>Firstly, the median house price for Mackay fell from $438,000 to around $340,000 at the bottom of the market, a drop of around $100,000. This equity reduction eroded the purchasing power </span>of a number of people who purchased property, particularly if they purchased at the height of the market.</p>

<p>Also, the strict lending policies of banks meant that a far greater deposit was required to purchase property.</p>

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<p><span>"As we head into 2020, there appears to be no slowdown in the resource sector with significant employment opportunities available," the valuation firm said.</span></p>

<p><span>Also, the Mackay Ring Road project is well underway, with the government approving Stage 2 and </span>the Walkerston Bypass being recently listed on the National Infrastructure Priority list.</p>

<p>Add the smaller local projects, including The Resource Centre of Excellence, retail expansion including Coles at Andergrove and the Northern Beaches Emporium development plus other council projects including the Mackay CBD to Harbour link, Queens Park revitalisation project and the Rotary lookout in North Mackay and all of these projects and opportunities should keep the economic recovery of Mackay continuing into 2020.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=94830]</p>

<p>The report notes interest rates are expected to continue at record low levels for the short term and there appears to be a softening of some of the strict criteria of the banks.</p>

<p><span>"So what do we think will happen to residential property in 2020? We think the momentum gained in Mackay over the past two years will continue into 2020. </span></p>

<p><span>"We anticipate modest price growth throughout the year across all market sectors, with rentals to remain tight. With continuing record low interest rates, good employment opportunities and a general feeling of optimism across Mackay, we think 2020 will be a good year for the residential real estate market." </span></p>

<p><span>A fully finished self contained apartment in Mackay has been listed for rent with a price of $340 per week.</span></p>

<p>Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-mackay-417251618" target="_blank">4/24 East Gordon Street</a> (pictured below), the apartment comes with master bedroom, open plan living area, and well-equipped kitchen.</p>

<p>It is located within walking distance to the Town Beach and only a short drive to CBD.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/mackay%20.jpg"></p>

<p>A three bedroom Queenslander situated close to Mackay CBD has been sold for $280,000.</p>

<p>Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-mackay-132385018" target="_blank">26 Juliet Street </a>(pictured below), the house comes with renovated kitchen, open plan lounge and dining, and functional bathroom.</p>

<p>It's situated close to restaurants, schools, sporting grounds and parklands. </p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/3/9/mackay%202.jpg"></p>
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Mackay to see price growth throughout 2020 across all property market sectors: HTW residential 

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<p>2020 is shaping up to be a continuation of the previous tough few years for the Darwin residential property market with a number of factors still contributing to the current financial position of the Territory, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<p>The valuation firm asked their valuers to give an educated outlook on the residential market in their service areas.</p>
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<p><span>The report notes with some long-term projects getting the green light and more in discussion, the flow on effect will not be seen in 2020 and sentiment will continue to remain weak across the residential market and wider economy in general.</span></p>
<p><span>With the completion of the construction phase of the Ichthys Gas project and remaining construction workers now onto the next project, the focus shifts to what is next for Darwin and the Territory overall, as new projects are needed.</span></p>
<p><span> The $200 million CBD revitalisation including the newly announced CDU campus is well underway. </span></p>
<p><span>"It is hoped that with a more vibrant city as well as more bodies on the ground, will have a flow on effect for businesses and therefore uptake in CBD dwellings. This will have a direct positive impact on the residential unit market, with increased demand for rental accommodation in the CBD," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>A two bedroom apartment in Darwin City has recently been sold for $390,000 (pictured below).</span></p>
<p>The near new apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nt-darwin+city-124636170" target="_blank">P01/16 Harvey Street</a> comes with living and dining area, wrap around verandah and centrepiece kitchen. </p>
<p><span>The complex features lifestyle facilities including resort style pool, gymnasium and children's play area. </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/2020/3/16/darwin%20city.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>Further projects such as the announcement of the $400 million ship lift facility, the $1.05 billion Todd Gold mine construction, $200 million Westin Hotel project, the $1.45 billion project Sea Dragon prawn farm and the longer term $20 billion sun cable project in Tenant Creek due to commence in 2023 that will supply 20 percent of Singapore’s </span>electricity.</p>
<p>"While these are positive announcements and major drivers of the economy long term, it is difficult to see an immediate positive impact in 2020 on the residential property space," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>"Looking at sales figures across 2019 it becomes clear that while sales volume appears to have increased particularly through the back end of the year, we have not seen any increase in equity and in most cases people are in a negative equity position," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>While property prices remain low it makes it more difficult for local or smaller investors to re-enter the market and add to their portfolio. The REINT have reported that median house price as at the end of Sept 2019 of $460,000 is in line with 2009 prices, while median unit prices for greater Darwin of $294,000 is in line with March 2007.</span></p>
<p><span>A single level family home in Woodroffe (pictured below) is currently on the market with a price guide of $452,000.</span></p>
<p>The four bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-woodroffe-132863710" target="_blank">38 Baldwin Drive</a>. </p>
<p><span>It comes with L-shaped living-dining area, centre kitchen, and alfresco patio overlooking lawns and in-ground pool.</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/2020/3/16/woodroffe.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>"Looking into the Crystal ball for 2020, we see the most action in the residential market will be first home owners. As prices continue to soften and in conjunction with the newly released First Home owner deposit scheme, we believe that some of the saturated unit market will be absorbed by first home owners and entry level homes due to the low price point. </span></p>
<p><span>"This Federal Government scheme, which allows a purchase for Territory dwellings of up to $375,000 with a five per cent deposit, should take some of the lower price point stock off the market," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes the grants on offer certainly are not limited to first home owners.</span></p>
<p><span>"Currently in the territory we have on </span>offer, a $20,000 build bonus scheme if buying or building a new home from February 2019, limited to the first 600 applicants, a first home owner grant of $10,000 on new homes, Territory home owner discount, with up to $18,500 off stamp duty on the purchase of either a new or existing home for new home owners in the Territory and finally a $10,000 home renovation grant if buying your first home is an existing dwelling," the valuation firm added. </p>
<p>Only 200 of the 600 build bonus applications have been exhausted so there remains a strong stimulus to still be seen in the market.</p>
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<p><span>"It’s not all doom and gloom! Darwin presents great opportunity for the investor market with the highest yields for any capital city in the country. </span></p>
<p><span>"Investors can typically expect a gross return of over five per cent across both units and dwellings and with the lowest median house prices in the country at year end 2019, the entry into the property market is easier and in most cases a positively geared asset," the valuation firm concluded.</span></p>
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Darwin property market expected remain weak in 2020: HTW residential 

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<p>During the middle part of 2019, the historically slow winter period was compounded by the federal election and lingering effects of the banking royal commission, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<p>The report notes the metropolitan market slowed with both state government and CoreLogic supplied data indicating a declining market.</p>
<p>Historically the South Australian market has lagged behind Sydney and Melbourne which both began to show signs of recovery in mid 2019.</p>
<p>On the back of this data it was hopefully only a matter of time before the tides turned. And turned they have.</p>
<p>The most recent CoreLogic Daily Home Value Index indicates that the metropolitan market has recovered to a point of 117.06 from a low of 114.99 in September 2019.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/3/9/corelogic%20adelaide.png" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: </p>
<p> <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/3/9/corelogic%20adelaide.png" alt=""></p>
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<p><span>This market fluctuation has been supported by agents who have reported that the middle part of 2019 saw a reduction in buyer activity and also a limited amount of available stock, only for market conditions to flip come spring.</span></p>
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<p><span>"So, with this being said and no known market disruptors on the horizon, there is no reason to indicate that this strengthening level of market activity won’t continue into 2020," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Market segments to watch throughout the year will be the middle ring $400,000 to $600,000, entry level character dwellings and the prestige market of $3 million plus.</span></p>
<p><span>The middle ring provides affordability for first home buyers and also a price point for cashed up investors who do not have to rely solely on a lending institution. </span></p>
<p><span>The report suggests fitting this profile are the suburbs of Felixstow, Seaton and Pasadena.</span></p>
<p><span>Felixstow is located seven kilometres north-east of the Adelaide CBD. This suburb was established in the 1960s with further development occurring in the late 1990s. </span></p>
<p><span>The suburb is currently going through a stage of urban renewal with a significant amount of older stock being demolished. </span></p>
<p><span>Felixstow has proximity to Linear Park, is serviced by Marden Shopping Centre and has direct access to the CBD via Payneham Road and the O-Bhan bus route.</span></p>
<p><span>"Zoning changes in 2017 allowing for higher density development saw the suburb’s median house </span>price spike to $685,000. This has since cooled off to a median dwelling price of $598,888 as at September 2019," the valuation firm said. </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/2020/3/9/felixstow.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>The report notes representing Felixstow’s past and present are the sales of 32 Wilson Avenue (pictured above), an original 1960s brick dwelling on 1000 square metres and <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-felixstow-132448430" target="_blank">11 Pearce Avenue</a> (pictured below), a circa 1993 three- bedroom, two-bathroom brick veneer dwelling on 380 square metres, which achieved sale prices of $574,500 and $571,000 respectively.</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/2020/3/23/felixstow.jpg" alt=""></p>
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<p><span>Seaton is located 11 kilometres north-west of the Adelaide CBD. This suburb was established in the 1950s and has since gone through a number of stages of urban renewal with a mixture of newer 1980s to 2000s dwellings. </span></p>
<p><span>The suburb has proximity to Grange Beach, is serviced by Westfield West Lakes and has The Royal Adelaide Golf </span>Club within its confines. This suburb has seen its median sale price steadily rise since mid-2015 and has a current median dwelling price of $495,000.</p>
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<p><span>"Older stock in Seaton is considered most popular, providing purchasers with the greatest potential to value add," the valuation firm stated.</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/2020/3/9/seaton%201.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p>Recent sales in this category are<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-seaton-132386386" target="_blank"> 39 Seaton Terrace </a>(pictured above) and <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-seaton-132336634" target="_blank">7 Stevens Street</a> (pictured below), both comprising partly updated 1960s brick dwellings on large allotments and achieving sale prices of $508,000 and $460,000 respectively.</p>
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<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/2020/3/9/seaton%202.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>Pasadena is located nine kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD. This suburb was established in the 1970s and is characterised by large brick homes on 700 square metre allotments.</span></p>
<p><span> A large portion of Pasadena extends into the Adelaide foothills, which provides many properties with local views and has restricted higher density development. </span></p>
<p>The epitome of this is the recent sale of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-pasadena-132126698" target="_blank">85 Quinton Court</a> (pictured below), which achieved a sale price of $585,000 in December. This is a two level brick dwelling disposed as three bedrooms and two bathrooms with local views and situated on an 820 square metre allotment.</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/2020/3/9/pasadena.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Pasadena has a direct route to the CBD via Goodwood Road and is located only a short distance from the Southern Expressway, which provides access to the Fleurieu Peninsula. Pasadena has a median dwelling price of $566,250, some 15% below the median dwelling price of the greater Mitcham Council.</p>
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<p><span>"With a buyer pool as deep as a baritone, entry level character dwellings continue to be the most popular property type within the inner and middle rings," the valuation firm continued. </span></p>
<p><span> Irrelevant of condition, there is upside in these properties for those looking to renovate, whilst the comfortable and renovated properties provide options for first home buyers and downsizers. </span></p>
<p><span>T</span>he entry price point varies depending on location. North and west of the CBD sees an entry price point of $500,000 to $700,000, whilst $600,000 to $800,000 represents the entry price point south and east of the CBD. Prospect (north), Mile End (west), Goodwood (south) and Kensington (east) of the CBD provide the best chances of picking up an entry level character dwelling.</p>
<p><span>"The prestige market of $3-million-plus offers purchasers a significant slice of house and land compared to a number of the other metropolitan markets," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Buyer activity has come locally as well as from interstate and overseas. </span></p>
<p><span>Within the inner ring, 1900s character mansions on larger land holdings are considered most popular whilst west of the city, properties require a high standard of finish </span>and ocean views to push the value past $3 million.</p>
<p>A number of suburbs achieved significant top end sales in the latter stages of 2019.</p>
<p>The inner south- eastern suburb of Fullarton had its first sale above $2.5 million when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-fullarton-132114566" target="_blank">137 Wattle Street </a>(pictured below) settled for $3 million in November.</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/2020/3/9/fullarton.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>West of the city, Glenelg North achieved only its highest transaction since 2012 with 10 Patawolanga Frontage achieving $4.04 million in December.</p>
<p>East of the city, Kensington Park achieved only its second sale above $4 million with 56 Yeronga Avenue settling at $4.2 million in December.</p>
<p>"Ironically, Kensington Park’s only previous sale above $4 million was 56 Yeronga Avenue which achieved $4.25 million in 2013," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>For those looking for capital growth, the CBD apartment market and outer ring should be treated with caution, the report notes. </span></p>
<p><span>Both these market segments have heightened levels of available stock, which creates a dynamic that isn’t conducive to an increasing market.</span></p>
<p><span>"We don’t claim to be able to tell the future but with data indicating a strengthening finish to </span>2019 and positive feedback from agents, the metropolitan market is in a position to enter the new decade on a positive note.</p>
<p>"Whether this trend continues can only be answered by the clairvoyants among us." </p>
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Adelaide metropolitan property market expected to strengthen in 2020: HTW residential 

<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>
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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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